The echoes of battle receded, leaving the corridor behind them hollow and silent. William's pulse still throbbed with the lingering resonance of the crystal's energy, his skin prickling with an unfamiliar sensation—as if his own shadow were alive, bound to him and simmering under his control. The fight with the Corrupted Warden had altered something within him; he could feel it in the weight of his steps and in the wary glances from his companions.
Elara walked silently beside him, her gaze flickering between the shadows clinging to the walls and the flickering darkness that clung to William. Every so often, he could feel her watching him, as though searching for a sign that he was still… himself. Garret, usually a bastion of silent strength, seemed subdued, his earlier bravado tempered by the sight of William's transformation. The air was thick with unsaid words, unspoken fears.
"Will," Elara finally spoke, her voice almost a whisper. "What happened back there… with the crystal… it's beyond anything we've encountered before. How do you feel now?"
William's voice was quiet, but steady. "Like I've got this… power inside me, something dark, like I'm in tune with everything around us. But it's taking something from me too."
Garret's hand clenched his weapon, his expression unreadable. "This corruption, it's not something that just leaves you," he muttered. "It's in the very essence of this forest, and now… it's in you."
A heavy silence settled over them, but William only nodded. He understood the risks, felt them in every heartbeat that pulsed with dark energy. "I won't let it take control. I'm still… me. And if I lose sight of that, then I trust you to do what's necessary."
Elara's gaze softened, a mixture of sadness and resolve. "We're in this together. Whatever the Abyss has in store, we'll face it as one."
They moved deeper into the caverns, the walls widening into an open space where the air grew thinner, and the shadows flickered in strange patterns. The ground was littered with what seemed like crystalline roots, veins extending from the chamber they'd just left. The symbols etched on the walls shimmered faintly, each rune a pulsing reminder of the magic that flowed through Elarion's lifeblood.
A faint rumbling echoed through the tunnel ahead, drawing their attention. Garret's gaze sharpened as he gripped his weapon tighter. "We're not alone here."
Before anyone could respond, a surge of cold air rushed toward them, carrying the scent of decay. A shadow detached itself from the cavern wall, manifesting into a form twisted and hollow-eyed, its face contorted into a silent scream.
[System Alert: Enemy Detected]
Entity Type: Abyssal Shade
Threat Level: Moderate
Special Abilities: Soul Drain, Shadowmeld
William felt the pull of the corruption within him stir, sensing the shade like a kin, a dark connection reaching out from his own shadow. He braced himself, focusing on the ebb and flow of darkness inside him, channeling the newfound power from the Heartroot's influence.
"Elara, Garret, keep it at bay," William said, his voice resolute. "I'm going to try something."
With a deep breath, he extended his hands toward the creature, letting his shadow reach out to meet the shade. His vision blurred, and for a moment, the world around him faded as he entered the creature's essence, feeling its rage, its fear… its origins.
A flood of images washed over him: Elarion's forests, once pure and radiant, marred by creeping darkness. Faces, twisted in agony, as corruption swallowed them whole. And then… a name, carved into his mind, binding him to Elarion's pulse.
His last name. He saw it, felt it burned into his soul like a brand. Valen.
The creature's scream echoed in his mind, shattering the connection. His eyes snapped open, his pulse racing. He staggered back, feeling Garret's hand on his shoulder, steadying him.
"William, what was that?" Elara's voice was strained, concern etched across her features.
"Valen," he murmured, the name settling over him like an anchor. "I'm William Valen."
A renewed strength coursed through him as he took a shaky breath, nodding to himself. "The legacy of Thornveil may still be with me, but I am no longer bound to that name. I am William Valen now, and I'll wield this power on my terms."
Elara's face was resolute. "Then we'll face it head-on. Whatever lies at the heart of Var'Thal's corruption, we'll end it together."
Status Update - Post-Revelation
Name: William Valen
Level: 10 [3,500/9,000]
Corruption Resistance: 25%
Corruption Adaptation: Partial Symbiosis
Stats:
Strength: 14
Agility: 11
Endurance: 13
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 11
Skills:
Basic Combat IV
Dagger Mastery III [Evolution: Abyssal Edge Techniques]Corrupted Insight [Evolution: Shadow Sense]Reaver's EnduranceAbyssal Combat TechniquesShadow Blades (Linked to corruption affinity)
Status Effects:
Corruption Exposure (Moderate)Battle Fatigue (Reduced)Essence Integration (Permanent)Partial Symbiosis with Abyssal Corruption (Permanent)