Chapter 10: A Descent into Shadows
The faint glow of the Blade of Temporal Passage lit Adam's face as he sat at the workbench, pouring over the charred parchment fragment they had recovered from the estate. Symbols shimmered faintly across its surface, their meanings eluding him despite his best efforts. Ethan sat across the room, his expression one of growing frustration.
"So, let me get this straight," Ethan began. "You've got a magic system that can make you artifacts, a shiny new knife that lets you walk into the past, and now this thing"—he gestured at the parchment—"that's supposed to tell us what's going on. But you have no idea how to use it?"
Adam sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's not that simple, Ethan. The system isn't exactly handing me a manual. This fragment is a clue, but it's incomplete. It's like trying to read a book with half the pages missing."
Ethan leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Then maybe it's time we stop playing defense and start asking questions. That robed guy you saw—he's the key, right? If he's still out there, we need to figure out where."
Adam's gaze drifted back to the glowing interface. A new mission prompt had appeared moments ago, its message as cryptic as the rest.
[Mission: Follow the trail of corruption to its source.]
[Hint: Seek the next fragment in the Catacombs of Ashmoor.]
Adam's fingers tightened around the dagger. "The system already has a lead. We need to go to Ashmoor."
The Catacombs of Ashmoor
The entrance to the catacombs was tucked away beneath the crumbling remains of an ancient fortress. A cold wind howled through the narrow passage, carrying with it the faint scent of damp earth and decay. Adam and Ethan stood at the threshold, their breath visible in the chill air.
"This feels like the setup to every horror movie ever," Ethan muttered, clutching his medallion like a lifeline.
Adam smirked, though his grip on the Blade of Temporal Passage was firm. "Then you'd better hope we're the protagonists."
The pair descended into the darkness, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Adam's system interface flickered faintly, guiding them deeper into the maze-like tunnels.
"Why does the system always know where to send us?" Ethan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Good question," Adam replied, scanning the shadows. "Maybe it's part of whatever created it. Some kind of built-in purpose."
Ethan snorted. "Yeah, well, I hope that purpose doesn't involve getting us killed."
Shadows Unleashed
The deeper they ventured, the stronger the air seemed to pulse with energy. Runes etched into the walls glowed faintly, their patterns shifting as if alive. Finally, they entered a massive chamber where an altar stood at its center, surrounded by broken shards of what looked like ancient artifacts.
"This must be it," Adam said, approaching the altar cautiously.
Before he could investigate further, the air grew heavy, and a low growl echoed through the chamber. From the shadows emerged a creature unlike any they had faced before. Its body was wreathed in black flames, its form shifting between solid and ethereal.
Ethan stumbled back, his medallion glowing faintly. "What the hell is that thing?"
Adam's system interface flared to life.
[Corrupted Guardian Detected.]
Type: Warden of Ash. Abilities: Immune to physical attacks. Vulnerable to temporal disruptions.
"Temporal disruptions?" Adam muttered. His gaze shifted to the Blade of Temporal Passage in his hand. "Of course."
The creature lunged, its flaming claws swiping at Adam. He phased through the attack with a shout of, "Umbra transit!" and reappeared behind the creature, slashing with the blade. The weapon pulsed with energy, and the creature let out an unearthly wail as part of its form flickered and dissolved.
"It's working!" Adam yelled.
"Good for you!" Ethan shouted from behind a pillar. "What about me?"
Adam spared a glance at Ethan, who was dodging stray flames while clutching the medallion. "Keep it distracted! I need to get to that altar!"
Ethan gave him a wild-eyed glare. "Distract it? With what, my sparkling personality?"
The creature turned its attention back to Adam, who dove toward the altar. He placed the blade against its surface and shouted the activation phrase, "Revelare veritatem!"
The altar flared with light, and the creature froze, its form rippling as the room filled with images from the past. A group of robed figures stood around the altar, chanting as they infused it with energy. Among them was the same man Adam had seen before, his staff glowing as he spoke in a commanding voice.
"This power must be preserved," the man said. "The artifacts are our legacy—and our salvation."
The vision ended abruptly as the creature let out one final wail, collapsing into ash. The chamber fell silent, the only sound Adam's ragged breathing.
The Second Fragment
On the altar now rested a second fragment of parchment, glowing faintly. Adam picked it up carefully, his system interface immediately recognizing it.
[Fragment of Knowledge Acquired.]
[Hidden Lore Progress: 2/4.]
Ethan emerged from his hiding place, still clutching the medallion. "Please tell me that thing isn't coming back."
"It's gone," Adam said, slipping the fragment into his pocket. "But we're not done yet. These fragments are pointing us to something bigger. Whoever these people were, they knew what they were doing—and it wasn't just about making artifacts."
Ethan frowned. "What do you mean?"
Adam looked back at the altar, his expression grim. "I think they were trying to protect something. Or... someone."
The system chimed, breaking the tense silence.
[New Mission Unlocked: Assemble the Fragments to Reveal the Truth.]
[Reward: Artifact Upgrade Ability Unlocked.]
Ethan groaned. "Of course there's another mission. Why am I not surprised?"
Adam managed a small smile. "Because by now, you know there's always another layer."
As they turned to leave the chamber, Adam couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The air felt heavier, charged with an unseen presence.
Whatever truth the fragments held, it wasn't going to be revealed easily.
End of Chapter 10.