Chapter 17: CHAOS AT MARKET
Rudra and Samantha stepped out of the dungeon, their bodies covered in cuts and bruises, but victorious. The Kairous estate, however, was far from tranquil. Smoke billowed from one of the outer buildings, and the distant sound of battle echoed through the air.
"What's going on?" Samantha asked, her tone sharp.
Rudra clenched his fists. "The Syndicate. They're here."
MARKET ..The estate courtyard was in turmoil. Clembers fought Syndicate infiltrators clad in black, their weapons glowing with forbidden runes. Dhruv, Rudra's father, commanded the defense with precision. Veerendra stood tall, his staff radiating a protective aura over the estate.
> Enemy Identified: Veil Syndicate Operatives
Level Range: 25-30
Abilities: Shadow Step, Rune Barrage, Energy Sabotage
Nand came running out of the central hall, panting. "Rudra! Thank the heavens you're here. They've broken into the artifact vault!"
"The vault?" Rudra's eyes widened. The vault housed some of the most ancient and powerful relics tied to the Kairous Clan's history. "Samantha, we need to stop them."
"Lead the way," she said, igniting her Celestial Flame
The Artifact Vault
The artifact vault was heavily fortified, but several Syndicate agents had bypassed the defenses. Inside, they were attempting to steal the Seal of Tempestus. A tall man with a cold gaze stood at the center, directing the operation.
> Enemy Identified: Syndicate Commander Arjan
Level: 35
Talent: Rune Puppeteer (A-rank)
Abilities: Rune Control, Puppet Mastery
Arjan sneered when he saw Rudra and Samantha enter. "Ah, the prodigy returns. Too late to stop us, though."
"Wanna bet?" Rudra activated Tempest Saber, lightning sparking around him.
The clash was fierce. Syndicate operatives swarmed Rudra and Samantha, their attacks coordinated. Samantha's Celestial Flame burned through their ranks, while Rudra's Stormbreaker Smash sent waves of energy that disoriented their enemies.
Arjan summoned massive rune constructs to fight, but Rudra used Stormforge Bindings to shatter their foundations.
> Skill Activated: Tempest Saber!
Effect: High-speed slashes infused with lightning.
> EXP Gained: 2000
> Level Up!
Level: 28
Finally, Rudra and Samantha cornered Arjan. Samantha's flames immobilized him, and Rudra delivered a decisive blow with his saber.
> Enemy Defeated: Arjan
Loot Acquired: Rune Shard (Rare), Cloak of Shadows (Epic)
After mostly osing alomst everythis tbis is Costly Victory
The battle ended, but the damage was done. Several valuable artifacts had been stolen, and many clan members were injured. Veerendra approached Rudra, his expression somber.
"You fought well, Rudra," he said. "But this is a grim reminder of the danger we face. The Syndicate will stop at nothing to destroy us."
"We'll stop them," Rudra said firmly. "Whatever it takes."
---
A Moment of Reflection
Later that evening, the family gathered in the main hall. Dhruv, Lavanya, and Veerendra discussed the next steps while Rudra sat with Nand and Samantha.
"I don't get it," Nand said. "Why risk everything for those artifacts? What's their plan?"
Rudra shook his head. "Whatever it is, it's tied to the dungeon and the secrets of our clan. We'll need to uncover the truth."
Samantha added, "And we'll need to get stronger. The Syndicate won't stop here."
> Mission Update:
Objective: Investigate the Syndicate's motives.
Reward: Unknown.
New Skills and Rewards
Before heading to bed, Rudra reviewed his system updates.
> Mission Completed: Defend the Kairous Estate.
Reward: Thunderstorm Shard (Epic), 5000 EXP.
> EXP Gained: 5000
Level Up!
Level: 29
> New Skill Unlocked: Lightning Avatar (Epic)
Effect: Temporarily transforms the user into a being of pure lightning, greatly enhancing speed and attack power.
In a hidden lair, the Whisperer sat in silence, studying a glowing artifact stolen from the Kairous vault.
"Arjan failed," one of his subordinates said.
The Whisperer smirked. "Failures happen. What matters is that we have the artifacts. The pieces are falling into place."
"What about the Kairous boy?"
The Whisperer's eyes narrowed. "He's strong, but strength can be broken. We'll deal with him soon enough."