The mist that had veiled the clearing was gone, leaving the stone obelisk stark against the faint light of the shard. The runes etched into its surface glimmered faintly, their pattern shifting as if responding to the trio's presence.
Lily traced the lines with her fingers, her brow furrowed in concentration. "It's definitely a riddle," she murmured. "'The path forward lies in the light you carry. Reveal it, and the shadows will part.'"
Ryan glanced at the shard in his hand. "Guess this thing is more than just a fancy flashlight," he said, raising it toward the obelisk. The shard's glow intensified, casting long shadows that danced across the clearing. But the runes remained inert.
"There must be more to it," Mia said, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. "Try focusing the light."
Ryan adjusted his grip, angling the shard so its beam fell directly onto the obelisk. The runes flickered, their light growing brighter, but the obelisk didn't change.
"Maybe we all need to contribute," Lily suggested. She stepped forward, raising the Purified Pendant. Its soft glow mingled with the shard's light, and the runes began to shift, their patterns aligning into a coherent design.
Mia notched an arrow tipped with radiant energy. "Let's see if this helps." She fired the arrow at the obelisk, the impact causing the entire structure to hum with power. The runes flared brilliantly before dimming into a steady, golden glow. A deep rumble echoed through the clearing as the ground beneath the obelisk parted, revealing a spiral staircase descending into darkness.
[Objective Updated: Enter the Forgotten Crypt]
"Of course," Ryan muttered. "It's always a crypt."
"Better than another forest," Mia said with a shrug, already stepping toward the staircase. "Let's go."
The air grew colder as they descended, the faint glow of the shard their only source of light. The walls were lined with faded carvings depicting battles between shadowy figures and warriors wielding radiant weapons. Ryan paused to study one, his fingers tracing the outline of a figure holding a weapon that looked strikingly similar to his halberd.
"Looks like we're not the first to deal with these shadows," he said.
Lily nodded, her voice hushed. "These carvings are ancient. Whoever fought these battles must have been powerful."
The staircase ended in a wide chamber, its floor covered in a mosaic depicting a radiant sun surrounded by swirling shadows. At the far end stood a massive stone door, its surface etched with runes that pulsed faintly in the shard's glow.
A notification appeared:
[New Objective: Solve the Crypt's Trial]
"Another puzzle?" Mia asked, her tone tinged with annoyance.
Ryan approached the door, examining the runes. "Looks like it. These symbols match the ones on the obelisk."
Lily stepped beside him, her pendant glowing faintly. "It's a sequence. We need to activate them in the correct order."
The shard pulsed in Ryan's hand, its light focusing on a specific set of runes. "Looks like this thing's giving us a hint," he said, pressing the first rune. It lit up, emitting a soft hum.
The group worked together, each taking turns to press the runes as the shard guided them. With each correct activation, the door's glow intensified. But when Mia pressed an incorrect rune, a burst of shadowy energy erupted from the door, forcing them to scatter.
"Looks like mistakes come with a penalty," Ryan said, gripping his halberd. "Let's be more careful."
After several tense moments, they pressed the final rune. The door groaned as it slid open, revealing a smaller chamber bathed in golden light. At its center stood a pedestal holding a glowing orb, its surface swirling with radiant energy.
[Objective Updated: Claim the Orb of Light]
Ryan stepped forward cautiously, his halberd at the ready. As his hand closed around the orb, a notification appeared:
[Trial Activated: Protect the Orb]
The room darkened abruptly, and the golden light of the orb was replaced by an oppressive shadow. Figures began to emerge from the darkness, their forms shifting and twisting.
[Enemies Spawned: Shadow Revenants – HP: 400/400 each]
"Of course," Ryan muttered, raising his halberd. "Nothing's ever simple."
Mia loosed an arrow at the nearest revenant, the radiant energy striking true and forcing it to stagger.
[Damage Dealt: 150 HP](Revenant HP: 250/400)
Ryan activated [Lightforged Strike (Enhanced)], his halberd glowing brilliantly as it cleaved through two revenants in a single swing.
[Damage Dealt: 300 HP to each enemy]
(Revenants Defeated: 2)
Lily cast [Sanctuary], creating a zone of healing light around the group. "Stay in the circle!" she called, her hands glowing as the magic sustained the group's strength.
The revenants retaliated, their shadowy blades slicing through the air. Ryan blocked one strike with his halberd but stumbled as another struck his side.
[Damage Taken: 40 HP]
(Player HP: 60/100)
"I've got you!" Lily said, channeling a healing spell. The golden light wrapped around Ryan, restoring his vitality.
[Healing Received: +30 HP]
(Player HP: 90/100)
The battle raged on, the group working in tandem to hold off the revenants. Mia's arrows pierced through their shadowy forms, while Ryan's halberd cut through them with precise, radiant strikes. As the last revenant fell, the oppressive darkness lifted, and the golden light of the orb returned.
A notification appeared:
[Trial Complete: Orb of Light Secured]
[Rewards: +4 Skill Points, Radiant Core Unlocked]
The Radiant Core's details appeared in Ryan's inventory:
[Radiant Core Stats and Abilities]
Passive Effect: Radiant Pulse – Periodically emits a burst of light that weakens shadow-based enemies within a 5-meter radius.
Active Skill: Lumina Burst – Unleashes a wave of radiant energy that deals significant damage to all enemies in a 10-meter radius, with a 60-second cooldown.
Core Synergy: Increases the potency of all radiant-based skills by 15%.
Ryan opened his skill menu, allocating the points thoughtfully:
[Skill Upgrade: Radiant Barrier (Enhanced)] – Increases damage absorption and duration.
[New Skill Unlocked: Celestial Flare] – Summons a pillar of radiant energy that deals heavy damage to all enemies in its area.
As the skills locked into place, Ryan felt the shard resonate with the orb. "Another step closer," he said, gripping the orb tightly.
Mia slung her bow over her shoulder, her expression calm but alert. "What's next?"
Lily pointed toward a newly revealed passage beyond the pedestal. "Whatever it is, it's waiting for us down there."
Ryan nodded, leading the way as the shard pulsed steadily in his hand.