The headmaster's archive loomed before them, a towering door reinforced with intricate carvings and ancient symbols. It radiated an aura of foreboding, as if daring anyone to cross its threshold.
Leah hesitated, glancing nervously at Dante. "You're serious about this? If we get caught—"
"I know the risks," Dante interrupted. "But whatever's in there might explain what's happening to me. If the system led us here, there's a reason."
The mark on his hand pulsed faintly, responding to the strange energy emanating from the door.
"Observe the seal," the Bloodline Chronicle system instructed.
Dante activated his newly unlocked ability, Bloodline Vision, and the world shifted. The carvings on the door glowed with faint crimson lines, revealing an intricate web of runes binding it shut.
"This seal responds to bloodline energy. Focus your power and break it."
Leah crossed her arms, clearly skeptical. "So, what's the plan? Knock politely and hope it opens?"
Dante smirked. "Something like that."
He placed his marked hand against the door, and the runes flared to life. A surge of power coursed through him, connecting his energy to the seal. The system chimed in his mind:
"Caution: Overloading the seal may trigger a defensive mechanism. Balance your energy output."
Dante gritted his teeth, channeling the mark's power into the runes. At first, nothing happened. But slowly, the crimson lines began to flicker and unravel.
Suddenly, the air grew cold, and a low rumble echoed through the hallway. Leah stepped back, her eyes wide. "Dante, something's happening!"
Before he could respond, the seal retaliated. A wave of dark energy lashed out, knocking him to the ground.
"Defensive measures detected," the system warned. "Adapt or fail."
Dante scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. He steadied his breath and tried again, this time focusing on the flow of energy rather than forcing it. The mark responded, its glow becoming steadier.
The runes dimmed, and with a final pulse of energy, the seal shattered. The door creaked open, revealing a dark staircase descending into the depths of the academy.
Leah looked at him, both impressed and terrified. "You actually did it."
Dante wiped the sweat from his brow. "No turning back now."
They descended into the archive, the air growing heavier with each step. Rows of ancient scrolls and dusty tomes filled the cavernous space, illuminated by a faint, otherworldly glow.
Leah ran her fingers along the shelves, marveling at the sheer volume of knowledge. "This place is insane. Some of these texts look older than the academy itself."
Dante's mark began to pulse again, drawing him toward a specific section of the room. There, on a pedestal, lay a single, weathered book bound in black leather. Its title was etched in a language he couldn't read, but the mark on his hand flared brightly at its presence.
"That must be it," Leah whispered.
Dante reached for the book, but the moment his fingers touched its surface, a surge of energy shot through him.
"Warning: Foreign entity detected," the system announced. "Prepare for combat."
The room darkened, and a shadowy figure emerged from the far corner. Its form was amorphous, shifting like smoke, but its glowing red eyes locked onto Dante with malevolent intent.
Leah gasped, stepping back. "What the hell is that?"
Dante's mark burned, and the system's voice rang in his ears:
"Hostile guardian identified. Engaging combat mode."
A new screen appeared:
[Combat Tutorial: Utilizing Bloodline Abilities]
Objective: Defeat the Archive Guardian.Reward: Unlock [Bloodline Weapon].The guardian lunged, its shadowy tendrils whipping toward Dante. He barely dodged in time, his instincts kicking in.
"Dante, do something!" Leah shouted.
The mark on his hand flared, and crimson energy surged through his veins. Without thinking, he extended his hand, and the energy coalesced into a weapon—a jagged blade of pure bloodline power.
The system's voice guided him:
"Strike with precision. The guardian's core is its weakness."
Dante dodged another attack, closing the distance between himself and the creature. With a burst of speed, he slashed at its core, the blade cutting through the shadows like a hot knife through butter.
The guardian let out a shriek, its form destabilizing. Dante pressed the advantage, landing a final, decisive blow.
The creature disintegrated, leaving behind a faint trace of energy that the system absorbed.
"Combat complete. Reward unlocked: [Bloodline Weapon – Crimson Blade]."
Dante staggered, the weapon dissipating as the adrenaline left his body. Leah rushed to his side, helping him stay upright.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," he panted, staring at the now-dormant pedestal. "Let's see what's so important about this book."
Dante opened the tome, its pages filled with strange symbols and diagrams. As he read, the system began to translate the text:
"This is the Chronicle of the Blackthorn Bloodline. The key to unlocking your true potential lies within."
Leah leaned over his shoulder, her curiosity piqued. "What does it say?"
Dante's eyes narrowed as he deciphered the first page. "It's a guide... to controlling the mark. But it also warns about something—something called the 'Bloodline Trial.'"
Leah frowned. "That doesn't sound good."
"It's not," Dante said, closing the book. "But if I want to survive, I don't have a choice."
The shadows in the room seemed to shift as if the archive itself was alive. Dante and Leah exchanged uneasy glances. Whatever secrets the chronicle held, they knew they were stepping into a much larger, more dangerous game.
And this was only the beginning.