New Quest Update:
[The Watchers of the Lost Age]
• You have taken something that was meant to remain hidden.
• Now, someone is coming for it.
• Objective: Survive.*
• Difficulty: High.*
• Reward: ???
The Weight of the Dagger
Harry's grip on Mordred's dagger tightened as the whisper echoed through the chamber.
"You should not have found that."
The air grew heavy, magic pressing down on him like a storm before lightning struck.
The shadows in the Potter Vault shifted unnaturally, warping and twisting along the walls.
Harry whirled around, every instinct screaming at him to prepare for an attack.
His Gamer System flashed red.
DANGER DETECTED!
• An unknown entity has entered your space.
• Threat Level: High.
• Hostile intent: Confirmed.
A figure stepped forward from the darkness, cloaked in flowing robes of deep blue and black, their face obscured beneath a silver mask.
Their presence was wrong—like they didn't entirely exist in this plane of reality.
Harry could feel the weight of their magic, old and oppressive.
"Give me the dagger," the masked figure said. Their voice was neither male nor female, but something in between—distorted, layered with an unnatural echo.
Harry took a step back, his instincts screaming that this was no ordinary wizard.
"And if I don't?" he asked, his voice calm despite the tension in the air.
The figure tilted their head. "Then you will not leave this vault alive."
His Gamer System reacted.
New Combat Encounter: Watcher of the Lost Age
• First recorded appearance: Unknown.
• Purpose: Preservation of the Balance.
• Affiliation: Lords of Magic (Speculated).
• Threat Level: High.
• Status: Hostile.
Harry's mind raced.
This was his first real battle since unlocking his Archmage's Heir Class.
And his opponent?
Not a creature.
Not a mindless enemy.
But a sentient being, one that had a purpose.
He needed a plan—fast.
The Battle Begins
The Watcher moved first.
One moment they were standing still—the next, they blurred forward, faster than anything Harry had ever seen.
Harry reacted on instinct, throwing up his hand—
[Arcane Barrier] Activated!
• MP Cost: 50 per second.
A transparent blue shield flared to life around him.
The Watcher's attack slammed into the barrier, sending cracks through the magical force field.
Harry gritted his teeth.
They hit hard.
Before the barrier could fully shatter, he jumped back, using his magic to push himself away from the direct impact zone.
The Watcher raised a hand, and the shadows around them twisted, forming long, spear-like tendrils that shot toward him.
Harry countered.
New Spell Unlocked: [Arcane Missile] (Lv. 1)
• Effect: Fires condensed mana projectiles at a target.
• Cost: 25 MP per missile.
Harry thrust his palm forward, releasing three glowing bolts of energy.
The first missed.
The second was dodged.
But the third?
It hit.
The Watcher staggered, their robe smoking where the missile struck.
For the first time, Harry saw something beyond the mask—a flicker of surprise.
"You wield the old magic," they murmured. "How?"
Harry clenched his fists. "Because you failed to erase it."
The Watcher's eyes narrowed.
"This changes things," they said.
And then—
They vanished.
The oppressive magic in the vault disappeared as quickly as it had come.
Harry lowered his hands, his breathing heavy.
They didn't fight to kill me.
They were testing me.
Aftermath and New Power
His Gamer System chimed.
Combat Complete!
• First Encounter with a Watcher: Survived.
• Hidden Enemy Acknowledges Your Existence.
• New Ability Awakens Due to Combat Exposure.
Harry frowned as a new notification appeared.
New Skill Unlocked: [Shadow Sight] (Lv. 1)
• You can now sense disturbances in magical energy and track those who attempt to vanish into shadow.
• This skill is linked to Mordred's bloodline.
Harry's breath hitched.
This skill… it's tied to Mordred?
He looked down at the dagger still clutched in his hand.
Somehow, by touching it, he had connected to something—someone—that wasn't entirely gone.
And the Lords of Magic?
They knew.
New Quest Update: [The Path of the Lost Archmage]
• You have drawn the attention of those who wish to keep history buried.
• The next step is uncovering what Mordred knew about magic's origin.
• Next Objective: Seek out an ancient site tied to Mordred's past.
Harry exhaled, his mind racing.
This wasn't just a search for knowledge anymore.
This was a war over the truth.
And he had just taken his first step into it.