Chapter 98: Hall of remembrance
After their decision to gather allies, Yun-ho, Nova, and Ethan agreed it was time to visit the Hall of Remembrance—a place few dared venture. It held records of those who once faced the Heart of Darkness but failed, their memories etched into the walls as a somber reminder.
As they approached, the air seemed colder, heavier with the weight of ancient energies. The Hall was vast, lined with towering stone pillars, each inscribed with the names of past Contractors who met their end in pursuit of protecting the world. At the far end, a large obsidian door glimmered, sealing away the knowledge of those lost to darkness.
"This place gives me the creeps," Ethan muttered, rubbing his arms against the sudden chill. His usual optimism faded as the scale of what they faced grew clearer.
Yun-ho, however, was focused. "This is where we'll find the truth about the Heart of Darkness."
As they entered the deeper sections of the Hall, the walls began to glow faintly with inscriptions. Nova's eyes lingered on the strange runes, feeling an odd familiarity.
"Look," she pointed to a mural depicting a battle, long forgotten. Warriors, both human and otherworldly, fought against a monstrous blackened shape—a force of pure corruption. At the center was a figure that resembled Yun-ho, wielding a sickle much like his own Crimson Reaper, but enveloped in a light both azure and red.
"Could this be a prediction? Or the past repeating itself?" Nova whispered, eyes narrowing as she traced the lines of the ancient prophecy.
Yun-ho frowned. "I don't know. But it's clear this isn't the first time the Heart of Darkness has threatened the world."
Ethan knelt beside another panel. "Check this out." He wiped the dust away to reveal a set of names. At the top was "Arthenia," a mythical Contractor who once wielded a powerful relic known as the Eclipse Blade—a weapon said to have turned the tides of battle but disappeared into legend.
"Maybe we can find it," Ethan said, his excitement returning. "That relic could be the key."
Nova crossed her arms, deep in thought. "It could also be cursed. There's always a price with relics of that power."
Before they could debate further, a faint voice echoed through the chamber. "Seek the light amidst the darkness…" It was old, filled with sorrow, and seemed to reverberate through the very walls.
The trio spun around, scanning the dimly lit space. From the shadows, a figure materialized—a Celestial Spirit, a guardian of the Hall, its form flickering with ethereal energy.
"Who are you?" Yun-ho demanded, gripping Crimson Reaper.
"I am a memory… of one who failed. The Heart of Darkness cannot be destroyed by force alone. Only by understanding its origins can it be undone."
Yun-ho felt a weight settle over him. The Spirit's words, though cryptic, carried a sense of finality. Their battle wasn't just physical—it was deeply tied to the fabric of the world itself.
As the Spirit faded, Nova exchanged a glance with Yun-ho. "Looks like we'll need more than just allies."
Yun-ho nodded, determination burning in his eyes. The journey ahead was no longer about gathering power, but unraveling the mysteries left behind by those who came before them.