The morning sun crept over the horizon, casting a pale glow across the Westeros estate as Kayle Westeros stood at the edge of the courtyard, staring toward the hills. The mineral vein Old Tom had spoken of lay buried there, a promise of power hidden beneath decades of neglect. Kayle's side still ached from Garen's dagger, and the Bloodline Curse gnawed at his strength, but the Enhanced Mechanical Arm strapped to his forearm thrummed with quiet energy, its reinforced plates gleaming faintly. He'd upgraded it last night, felt its power shatter steel and wood, and now he was ready to test it against something bigger—the earth itself.
Lilia bounced beside him, her auburn hair tied back with a rag, her small hands clutching a rusted lantern. "Brother, are we really going into the mines?" Her voice was bright with excitement, though a flicker of nervousness danced in her green eyes. "What if it's dangerous?"
"It probably is," Kayle said, his tone dry but softened by a smirk. "That's why we're doing it. Whatever's down there, it's ours—not the Laytons'. We need to know what we're dealing with." He adjusted the mechanical arm, its gears clicking as he flexed his fingers. "Besides, I've got this. We'll be fine."
Ryan jogged up, a coil of rope slung over his shoulder and a grin splitting his face. "Young Master, I'm ready! Been wantin' to crack open those hills since Old Tom told me about 'em. Bet there's treasure down there—gold, maybe, or somethin' shiny!" The orphan's enthusiasm was unshakable, his wiry frame buzzing with energy.
Kayle chuckled. "If there's gold, you're carrying it back. Let's move." He led the trio toward the hills, the manor's crumbling silhouette shrinking behind them. The path was overgrown, tangled with weeds and broken by jagged rocks, but Kayle pushed forward, his cursed legs protesting with every step. The mechanical arm steadied him, a crutch and a weapon in one, and he clung to its strength as they reached the mine's entrance—a gaping maw sealed by a slab of cracked stone, its edges weathered by time.
"Here it is," Kayle said, running his hand over the slab. Faint carvings marked its surface—Westeros runes, faded but recognizable, a relic of his family's lost glory. The system chimed in his head: "Task issued: Enter the Mineral Vein. Objective: Locate energy source. Reward: Initial Energy Absorption Skill." His pulse quickened. This was it—the first real clue to the vein's power.
"Stand back," he told Lilia and Ryan, gripping the slab with the mechanical arm. The gears whirred, energy lines flaring blue as he pulled. The stone groaned, resisting for a heartbeat, then shifted with a grinding screech. Dust billowed out, and with a final heave, the slab toppled aside, revealing a dark tunnel sloping into the earth. The air inside was dank, heavy with the scent of moss and metal, and a faint hum pulsed from its depths—like a heartbeat buried in the rock.
Lilia raised the lantern, its weak flame flickering against the shadows. "It's creepy," she whispered, stepping closer to Kayle. "But kind of exciting too."
Ryan laughed, peering into the gloom. "Creepy's good! Means no one's been here to steal the good stuff!" He started forward, but Kayle grabbed his shoulder.
"Slow down," he said, his voice firm. "We don't know what's in there. I go first." He took the lantern from Lilia, holding it aloft as he stepped into the tunnel. The walls were rough-hewn, studded with veins of dull ore, and the floor slanted downward, slick with moisture. Lilia and Ryan followed close behind, their footsteps echoing in the narrow space.
The deeper they went, the stronger the hum grew, a vibration Kayle felt in his bones. The mechanical arm twitched, as if responding to it, and the system's panel flickered: "Energy signature detected. Proceed with caution." Kayle tightened his grip on the lantern, his senses sharp despite the curse's drag. The tunnel widened into a small chamber, its walls glinting with flecks of crystal—tiny, glowing shards embedded in the rock, casting a faint blue light.
"There!" Lilia pointed, her voice rising. "Brother, look—it's glowing! Is that the energy crystal?"
Kayle stepped closer, kneeling to inspect a larger shard jutting from the wall. It was no bigger than his fist, its surface pulsing with a soft, ethereal glow. He reached out with the mechanical arm, brushing its metal fingers against the crystal. A jolt shot up his arm, sharp and electric, and the system chimed: "Element Energy Crystal located. Compatible with host systems. Absorption recommended." Kayle's breath caught. This was it—the power Old Tom had hinted at, the key to turning the tide.
Before he could act, a low growl rumbled through the chamber. The ground trembled, and from the shadows ahead, a shape emerged—a hulking figure of stone and crystal, its body a patchwork of jagged rock with glowing shards for eyes. An element beast, small but menacing, its claws scraping the floor as it lumbered toward them.
"Brother!" Lilia yelped, stumbling back. Ryan grabbed a loose rock, holding it like a club. "Young Master, what the hell is that thing?"
"Trouble," Kayle muttered, shoving the lantern into Lilia's hands. "Stay behind me." The system's voice cut in: "Warning: Hostile entity detected. Engage or retreat." Retreat wasn't an option—not when he was this close. He raised the mechanical arm, its energy lines flaring as the beast charged, its claws slashing at his chest.
Kayle dodged—just barely, his cursed legs buckling—but the mechanical arm snapped up, blocking the blow. Sparks flew as claw met metal, the impact jarring his shoulder, but the arm held firm, its reinforced plates unyielding. "Not today," he growled, swinging back. His fist crashed into the beast's chest, shattering a chunk of stone and sending it staggering. The crystal eyes flared brighter, and it roared, lunging again.
"Ryan, now!" Kayle shouted. The boy hurled his rock, striking the beast's head with a crack, distracting it for a split second. Kayle seized the opening, driving the mechanical arm into the creature's core—a glowing crystal embedded in its torso. The punch landed with a thunderous crunch, the crystal splintering under the blow. The beast shuddered, cracks spreading through its body, then collapsed into a pile of rubble, its glow fading to nothing.
Silence fell, broken only by Kayle's ragged breathing. Lilia rushed forward, clutching his arm. "You did it! You're so strong, Brother!" Ryan whooped, kicking the debris. "That was awesome, Young Master! Smashed it to bits!"
Kayle straightened, wiping sweat from his brow. The system chimed: "Hostile entity neutralized. Task completed: Enter the Mineral Vein. Reward dispensed: Initial Energy Absorption Skill." A warm surge flooded his body, sharper than before, and he felt the curse's grip loosen—just a fraction, but enough to stand taller. He turned to the crystal shard on the wall, pressing the mechanical arm against it. The energy flowed into him, a tingling rush that made the arm's glow pulse brighter.
"Absorb it," he murmured, and the system obeyed: "Energy absorbed. Host vitality increased by 5%. Mechanical Arm efficiency enhanced by 10%." Kayle flexed his hand, marveling at the smoothness, the strength. He tossed the lantern aside and stood unaided, his legs steady for the first time in years.
"Brother?" Lilia's voice was small, awed. "You're… standing."
Kayle grinned, a fierce edge to it. "Yeah. And this is just the start." He kicked the beast's rubble, his voice rising. "This mine's ours. The Laytons want it? Let them try. I'll bury them down here."
The chamber's glow seemed to pulse in agreement, and Kayle knew—he wasn't just a dying noble anymore. He was something more.