Chapter 23: The Whisper’s Resurgence
The morning came with an eerie stillness that set Liam on edge. The usual hum of activity in Fort Veldran seemed quieter, as if the air itself had thickened with tension. Liam stood on the battlements, looking out over the horizon, his hand resting on the hilt of Solblade.
Elena joined him, her steps light despite the weight of their recent mission. "You're up early," she said, leaning against the stone wall beside him. "Couldn't sleep?"
"Barely," Liam admitted. "Something doesn't feel right."
Elena followed his gaze, her fiery eyes scanning the distant forest. "You think they're regrouping?"
"They have to be," Liam said. "We've disrupted too much for them to stay quiet for long."
Before Elena could respond, a scout appeared, his face pale and his breathing ragged. "My lord, my lady," he panted. "There's... there's something you need to see."
Liam and Elena exchanged a glance before following the scout to the war room. Captain Marden was already there, standing over a map with a grim expression. Several officers were gathered around him, their faces reflecting the same unease.
"What's going on?" Liam asked, stepping forward.
Marden gestured to the map, his finger tracing a line toward the eastern border. "We received reports of strange activity near Eastwatch. Villagers have been disappearing, and the patrols we sent to investigate haven't returned."
"Another ritual site?" Elena guessed, her tone sharp.
"Most likely," Marden said. "But this one's different. The survivors we've spoken to described seeing... something. A shadow moving through the trees, larger than anything they've encountered before."
Liam felt a chill run down his spine. "A corrupted guardian?"
"Possibly," Marden said. "But if it's anything like what you faced in the mountains, we're going to need more than a small team to deal with it."
"I'll go," Liam said immediately. "Elena and I can scout the area, figure out what we're dealing with. If it's too much for us to handle, we'll call for reinforcements."
Marden hesitated, then nodded. "Be careful. Whatever's out there, it's not going to be like the others."
The journey to Eastwatch was uneventful, but the tension grew with each passing hour. The forest grew denser as they approached the village, the trees twisted and gnarled as if warped by the magic infecting the land. Liam activated Eye of Revelation, scanning for traces of dark energy.
"It's stronger here," he said, his voice low. "They've been active recently."
Elena nodded, her fiery gaze fixed on the path ahead. "Let's find out what they've been doing."
The village was a ghost town, its streets empty and its buildings in disarray. Doors hung ajar, windows shattered, and the faint stench of decay lingered in the air. Liam dismounted, his hand resting on Solblade as he moved cautiously through the main square.
"Spread out," he ordered. "Look for survivors or clues."
Elena moved toward the village well, her sword drawn and ready. The rest of the team fanned out, their movements careful and deliberate. Liam activated Eye of Revelation again, focusing on the faint traces of magic that clung to the ground like a shadow.
"There's a trail," he said, pointing toward the forest. "It's faint, but it's leading away from the village."
Before they could follow it, a low growl echoed through the square. Liam tensed, his eyes scanning the shadows. The growl grew louder, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down his spine.
"Get ready!" Elena shouted, her flames flaring to life.
The first creature emerged from the shadows, its form hunched and twisted. Black veins pulsed across its body, and its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Liam. More creatures followed, their movements jerky and unnatural as they surrounded the team.
"Corrupted!" one of the soldiers shouted, raising his weapon.
"Hold the line!" Liam ordered, stepping forward with Solblade at the ready.
The creatures attacked in a frenzy, their claws slashing through the air with unnatural speed. Liam activated Shadow Step, dodging an attack and reappearing behind one of the monsters. Solblade struck true, cutting through the creature's core and dissolving it into mist.
Ding.
[Progression +1%. Tokens Earned: 1.]
Elena was a blur of fire and steel, her flames carving through the corrupted with precision. "These things just keep coming!" she shouted, her voice strained.
"They're stalling us," Liam realized, his mind racing. "Whatever's in the forest—they're protecting it."
The battle raged on, the team holding their ground despite the relentless assault. Liam activated Ethereal Bind, spectral chains wrapping around several of the creatures and immobilizing them. Elena's flames surged forward, incinerating the bound enemies in a single strike.
Finally, the corrupted began to retreat, their forms dissolving into the shadows. The square fell silent, the air thick with the stench of ash and blood.
"We need to move," Liam said, his voice firm. "Whatever they're guarding, it's close."
The trail led them deep into the forest, the magic growing stronger with every step. The air grew colder, and the faint hum of dark energy resonated through the trees. As they approached a clearing, Liam felt the familiar pull of the Gacha System activating.
[Tokens Available: 4.]
"Perfect timing," Liam muttered, opening the system. He spun the Skill Pool wheel, watching as it landed on a golden section.
[Congratulations! You've obtained the skill: Arcane Ward (Legendary)]
[Skill: Arcane Ward]
Rarity: Legendary
Description: Summons a protective barrier that absorbs magic-based attacks and converts a portion of the energy into mana regeneration.
The skill settled into his mind, its presence reassuring. "This should help," he said, closing the system as the clearing came into view.
At its center stood another obelisk, taller and more imposing than the one in the mountain. Dark runes pulsed along its surface, their energy feeding into a massive, hulking figure that stood before it. The creature was unlike anything Liam had seen—twice the size of the corrupted guardians, its body armored with blackened scales that shimmered with dark energy.
"Is that... a warden?" Elena whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"It's something worse," Liam replied. "Stay close. This thing won't go down easily."
The creature let out a deafening roar, its glowing eyes locking onto Liam. It charged with terrifying speed, the ground shaking beneath its massive frame. Liam activated Phantom Guard, the spectral shield absorbing the impact of the creature's first strike. The force sent him skidding backward, his boots digging into the dirt.
"Elena, hit the obelisk!" Liam shouted.
She nodded, her flames roaring to life as she launched a concentrated blast at the obelisk. The runes flared in response, but the creature turned, placing itself between Elena and its source of power.
"We have to take it down first!" she shouted, frustration lacing her voice.
Liam activated Ethereal Bind, spectral chains wrapping around the creature's limbs. It thrashed against the bindings, its strength threatening to snap them apart. Elena took the opening, her flames surging toward its exposed flank.
The battle was brutal, each attack from the creature forcing Liam and Elena to fight with everything they had. But with the combined strength of their team, they began to wear it down. Finally, with a coordinated strike, Liam drove Solblade into the creature's core, the blade glowing with energy as it shattered.
The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing, its body dissolving into black mist. The obelisk trembled, its runes flickering as the magic sustaining it began to fade.
"Now!" Liam shouted.
Elena's flames surged toward the obelisk, engulfing it in a fiery explosion. The structure collapsed, the dark energy dissipating into the air.
As the clearing fell silent, Liam felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. But beneath the fatigue was a sense of accomplishment—they had stopped the Whisper's forces again. For now.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
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-- Power
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