I stand before a structure of old stone and locked doors. The keys I've gathered tug at my thoughts. Emberfang, Marsh, and Ironfang—three tokens earned from harsh battles in distant regions—rest in my pouch, each humming with quiet power. The settlement behind me feels distant now. This shrine's entrance stands silent, waiting. I grasp the keys and approach the door. A prompt shimmers before my eyes:
Use Emberfang, Marsh, and Ironfang Keys to unlock the Sealed Shrine? Yes/No
I select "Yes."
A deep grinding sound echoes through the stillness. Dust rains down as mechanisms hidden behind worn stones shift and rotate. The heavy doors swing inward, revealing a corridor lit by dim runes etched into old walls. I step forward, the Undead Soldier following close behind. Inside, stale dryness clings to my throat. Everything feels abandoned, yet charged with dormant force.
I venture down the corridor, boots scraping against rough stone. Another prompt appears:
Shrine Floor 1: Trial of Flame. Defeat the Guardian to ascend. Engage? Yes/No
I whisper, "Yes." The corridor widens into a room defined by charred marks and broken pillars. A figure looms from the shadows—a Guardian of Flame, its shape flickering like old embers trapped in battered armor. Turn order: Guardian first, me second, Soldier third.
The Guardian hurls a scorching projectile. It slams against my chestplate, cutting my HP from 200 to 180. I tighten my grip on the Fine Longsword and strike back, blade cutting through glowing sparks. The Soldier swings from the flank, carving away chunks of brittle plating. The Guardian emits a crackling roar, igniting the floor beneath us. I feel heat sap my strength—HP: 160 now. I attack again, forcing it to backpedal. The Soldier exploits the opening and lands a heavy blow. The Guardian's sparks dim and it collapses into ash.
Victory!
+250 EXP
Loot: Flame Shard (Quest Item)
A flame icon appears on a hidden door. It flickers once, then the door slides aside, revealing a stairway. I climb, Soldier at my side. My breathing slows. This is a trial of multiple floors, each with a Guardian, each granting a shard or token. I must endure.
Floor 2: A corridor etched with watery runes. A prompt:
Trial of Water. Defeat the Guardian. Engage? Yes/No
I nod. A Guardian of Water emerges—liquid shape bound in shifting armor. It attacks first, spraying me with droplets that slice like tiny blades. HP: 140/200. I slash back, dealing moderate damage. The Soldier thrusts forward, each blow cracking the armor's surface. The Guardian retaliates, summoning a twisting current. I stagger, HP: 120. I fight through, striking again. My blade scatters its liquid form. The Soldier's follow-up hit finishes the job.
Victory!
+250 EXP
Loot: Water Shard (Quest Item)
Another door slides open, another staircase. Floor 3: The walls glisten with strange patterns. A prompt:
Trial of Earth. Defeat the Guardian. Engage? Yes/No
I say "Yes." This Guardian stands firm, plated in rough stone, wielding a heavy club. It strikes first, smashing my shoulder. HP: 170/210 now (a level-up must have occurred from the last victory, raising my max HP). I retaliate, sparks flying as my blade scrapes stone. The Soldier helps, hacking into cracks that appear as we strike. The Guardian bellows, pounding the floor with its club, causing tremors. I stumble, HP: 150. I grit my teeth and attack again, forcing fractures through its body. The Soldier splits off a large chunk, and the Guardian topples with a low groan.
Victory!
+300 EXP
Loot: Earth Shard (Quest Item)
Another staircase. My HP recovers slightly from leveling to 13, restoring me to strength. Three shards now—Flame, Water, Earth. This pattern suggests one more trial awaits. I ascend again.
Floor 4: Sparks dance along the walls. A prompt:
Trial of Storm. Defeat the Guardian. Engage? Yes/No
I confirm "Yes." The Storm Guardian crackles with energy, a flickering shape of crackling arcs trapped in armor. It hurls a bolt that jolts me. HP: 190/220 now (another level-up's benefit), dropping to 170. I lash out, feeling my sword's edge bite into something that resists like taut wire. The Soldier's blade hums, cutting another gap. The Guardian howls in piercing tones, releasing a burst of charged force. HP: 140. I struggle forward, landing another strike. The Soldier follows, splitting its armored shell. The Guardian's energy disperses.
Victory!
+300 EXP
Loot: Storm Shard (Quest Item)
A final door opens. I climb a set of steps leading to what must be the shrine's heart. I find a large hall, its floor inscribed with runes that correspond to Flame, Water, Earth, and Storm. I place each shard into a recessed slot at the center. They glow, blending their light into something new. A hidden panel slides open, revealing a final set of massive doors.
Final Trial: The Warden of the Shrine. Engage? Yes/No
This is it. The relic I seek likely lies beyond this foe. I drink one of my better healing vials to top myself at 220/220, and I have two left. I nod. "Yes."
The doors open to a wide platform with no walls, only darkness beyond the edges. The Warden appears—a tall figure shrouded in tattered garb, wielding a staff set with dull metal rings. It moves gracefully, each step silent on the stone floor. Its face: a featureless mask carved from worn material. This one radiates power that hums in my bones.
Turn order: Warden first, me second, Soldier third.
The Warden raises its staff. A wave of force slams me. HP: 180/220. I strike back, blade meeting resistance like tempered steel. Sparks flash. The Soldier attacks from the side, carving off scraps of cloth and rusted rings. The Warden counters by summoning two lesser spirits, each humanoid and armored. They attack immediately—one strikes me (HP: 160), the other hits the Soldier (70/90).
I dispatch the nearest spirit with a heavy slash, then nod mentally at the Soldier. It crushes the second spirit. The Warden points its staff at me, releasing a beam of raw energy. HP: 120. I drink another healing vial, HP back to 180. I slash again, managing to crack the Warden's mask slightly. The Soldier drives its blade into the Warden's side, forcing it to stagger.
The Warden roars in a voice that vibrates through my skull, summoning a swirling force. I brace as it hurls me backward. HP: 150 now. The Soldier stands firm, swinging relentlessly. The Warden tries to conjure more spirits, but I intercept with a swift strike to its staff hand. The staff spins away, clattering on the floor. The Warden hisses, lunging with bare hands. Its strikes come fast, but weaker now. I trade blows, losing some HP (120), but each exchange chips away at its strength. The Soldier lands a perfect hit, cracking the mask clean in half.
The Warden staggers, kneeling. I seize the moment and thrust my blade into its center mass. It crumples, dissolving into a fine dust that swirls away.
Victory!
+500 EXP
Loot: Summoner's Relic (Key Item)
I feel a surge of power. A prompt:
Summoner's Relic Acquired: You can now maintain 2 Summons simultaneously.
My heart pounds. Two summons at once. I can field both the Undead Soldier and the Undead Archer together. Maybe even more if I find stronger relics. With two units, my tactics expand. I can pin foes between them, strike from multiple angles, and survive tougher fights.
A stone pedestal rises where the Warden fell. On it lies a scroll. I pick it up, unfurling it in my mind's eye:
New Skill Unlocked: Summon Undead Spearwoman (R-Tier). Requires 2 Summon Slots.
An R-Tier summon, stronger than my UC-Tier ones. I can choose which summons to field. The possibilities push my blood to race. The shrine's walls shiver, the runes flicker, and a hidden door leads back to the entrance. I follow it, stepping into the corridor where I first began. The sealed doors are open now, no longer barring passage.
I return to the settlement via the overmap. Adventurers glance at me, some with surprise, others with wary respect. They must sense the shift. I shrug it off. Now I have a relic that changes everything. If I found this one, others must exist. I can gather more summons, forge a truly fearsome force, and break through any barrier this world sets before me.
For the moment, I rest. I've earned it. Tomorrow, or whenever I'm ready, I'll step beyond these borders again. Two summons at my call and a new R-Tier option waiting. The path ahead widens, danger and reward mingling in equal measure. I have the power now to shape my battles in ways I never imagined, and nothing will stand in my way for long.