The Vault chamber rumbled with a growing intensity as Elena forced herself upright, her luminous spear dimming but still alight. The shattered remnants of shadow soldiers littered the floor, their presence now replaced by an ominous silence.
The harbinger's defeat should have been a turning point, yet the oppressive atmosphere lingered like a storm on the horizon.
Elena's grip tightened around her weapon, the gash on her side burning as blood seeped through her armor. She glanced at the faint glow of the Vault's interior, the relics lining the walls pulsing softly, almost like heartbeats.
"What else are you hiding?" she muttered, her instincts screaming that the fight was far from over.
The shadows at the far end of the chamber began to writhe unnaturally, twisting and coalescing into a singular point. A deep, guttural growl echoed, vibrating through the very air.
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The last of the shadowy mist dissipated, and Sang-hoon stumbled back into the Vault's corridor, his body aching as though it had been run through a gauntlet.
Kaelith materialized beside him, the dragon sniffing the air frantically before his head snapped in Sang-hoon's direction.
Letting out an almost frantic chirp, Kaelith bounded toward him, his small but powerful legs propelling him forward until he collided with Sang-hoon's side.
The little dragon nuzzled against him, his warm scales a stark contrast to the cold dread Sang-hoon had felt in the Realm of Shadows.
"If you could talk, you'd probably be saying something like, 'You look like hell,' wouldn't you?" Sang-hoon muttered, managing a wry smile despite his exhaustion.
A chime echoed in his mind as the system window appeared:
[Skill Acquired: Shadowbane]
A radiant technique infused with shadows. Effective against dark entities and corrupt energies.
[Level Up!]
Level: 4 → 5
Attribute Points Available: 5
Sang-hoon leaned against the wall, his chest heaving as he opened the attribute window. He knew he had to use the points wisely if he wanted to make it out of this alive.
[Attributes]
Strength: 6
Agility: 8
Intelligence: 9
Vitality: 6
Willpower: 7
He selected Strength first, allocating three points. His grip on the lance felt surer almost immediately, as though his muscles remembered a strength they hadn't possessed moments before. The remaining two points went into Agility, sharpening his reflexes and balance.
[Updated Attributes]
Strength: 9
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 9
Vitality: 7
Willpower: 7
"That'll have to do," he muttered, feeling the newfound energy surge through him.
The distant sound of shattering echoed through the chamber ahead, followed by a pained cry. Sang-hoon's heart leapt.
"Elena!"
Forcing his legs to move, Sang-hoon charged forward, Kaelith trailing close behind.
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The writhing shadows solidified into a towering monstrosity, its form vaguely humanoid but grotesquely distorted. Its eyes—clusters of glowing crimson orbs—focused on Elena, and its mouth twisted into an unnatural grin filled with jagged teeth.
"Another puppet, I see," Elena spat, twirling her spear as she steadied her breathing. Her vision blurred briefly, but she shook her head, forcing her focus back.
The creature lunged, its massive claws raking through the air. Elena barely dodged, the tips grazing her armor and sending a screeching noise reverberating through the chamber.
"Art of the Luminous Spear: Inscription Two—Piercing Sunbeam!"
A beam of golden energy erupted from her spear, striking the creature's torso. It staggered, letting out a guttural growl, but recovered almost instantly, its claws slamming into the ground and sending cracks spiderwebbing toward her.
Elena leapt back, her muscles screaming in protest. Her mana reserves were nearly depleted, and her body was pushed beyond its limits.
"Where are you, Elyska?"
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Bursting into the Vault chamber, Sang-hoon's eyes immediately locked onto the towering monstrosity bearing down on Elena. Blood dripped from her side, and her spear's once-blazing light had dimmed to a faint glow.
"Elena!" he shouted, rushing to her side.
She glanced at him, her expression both relieved and incredulous. Her azure hair clung to her damp skin, framing her delicate features.
Even in the chaos, her poise was unshaken, her emerald eyes gleaming with resolve. As her lips curved into a small, weary smile, she looked nothing short of radiant—a warrior who thrived in the heat of battle.
"About time, rookie," she said, her voice carrying both relief and a touch of humor.
Kaelith hissed, positioning himself defensively in front of the duo.
"What in the gods' name is that thing?" Sang-hoon asked, his voice barely steady.
"The Reaver's second harbinger," Elena said, her voice tight with pain. "And it's not going down easily."
Sang-hoon's grip tightened on his lance. His mind raced, recalling the fragmented memories of Count Arvendale. "Core weakness?"
"Light, as usual" Elena answered. "But my mana's almost gone."
Sang-hoon nodded, his thoughts aligning with the new skill he had acquired. "Then let me handle the light."
Without waiting for her response, he charged forward, Kaelith following close behind.
The harbinger turned its many eyes toward him, letting out a guttural roar as it swiped with its massive claws. Sang-hoon ducked under the attack, his lance glowing faintly as he activated Shadowbane for the first time.
"Shadowbane—First Sequence!"
A thin blade of light, tinged with shadow, extended from his lance. He thrust it toward the harbinger's chest, but the creature twisted, deflecting the attack with its claws.
"Not enough force," Sang-hoon muttered, retreating as the harbinger counterattacked.
Kaelith leapt onto the creature's back, biting down and releasing a burst of fire. The flames distracted the harbinger momentarily, giving Sang-hoon an opening.
The boy who transmigrated just over a month and a half ago, who couldn't even defend himself against Arden, was now fighting hand to hand, firmly but carelessly, but still maintaining his composure in the face of a powerful enemy.
Just like his tamer, Kaelith had gathered courage since his last encounter with Arden VanHan and now found himself in the midst of a battle against dark creatures.
"Elena, now!" Sang-hoon shouted.
Elena steadied herself, her spear trembling in her hands. "Inscription Three—Celestial Impale!"
The spear split into three radiant projectiles, striking the harbinger's limbs and pinning it momentarily.
Sang-hoon seized the opportunity, channeling every ounce of strength into his lance.
"Shadowbane—Second Sequence: Luminous Rend!"
The lance's blade erupted in a blinding arc of light, slicing through the harbinger's chest.
The creature let out a deafening roar, its body writhing as cracks of light spread across its form.
Finally, with one last bellow, the harbinger collapsed, its form disintegrating into motes of shadow.
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Sang-hoon collapsed to his knees, his lance clattering to the ground. His body screamed in protest, every muscle burning with extreme exhaustion.
The system beeped incessantly:
[Mana: 0]
[Mana reserve: 0]
[Exhaustion: 99]
[...]
And so on.
Sang-hoon was on edge, and so was Elena.
Elena stumbled toward him, clutching her side. "Not bad, rookie," she said, her voice weak but tinged with pride.
Kaelith landed beside Sang-hoon, chirping softly.
A chime echoed in Sang-hoon's mind once again:
[Mission Update: The Vault's Gambit]
Objective 2 Complete: Subdue the second harbinger.
Time Remaining: 01:37:22.
Sang-hoon's heart sank. The Vault's heart was still in jeopardy, and Serath Kain was nowhere to be seen.
As the duo steadied themselves, a deep, resonating laugh filled the chamber.
"You've delayed me, but the Reaver's will cannot be denied," Serath's voice echoed from the shadows.
Sang-hoon and Elena turned, their gazes locking onto the silhouette of Serath Kain standing atop the chamber's central dais. The shattered fragments of the crystalline sphere hovered around him, pulsating with dark energy.
"Prepare yourselves," Serath said, his shadow blade flaring to life. "The true trial begins now."