章 22: Echoes of Victory
The shattered remains of the obelisk lay scattered across the cavern floor, dark fragments glowing faintly with residual magic. Liam stared at the rubble, his grip on Solblade tightening. The rush of victory was tempered by a gnawing unease—the Whisper's influence felt diminished, but not extinguished.
Elena approached, her boots crunching over the debris. "We stopped them," she said, her voice steady but quiet. "Whatever they were trying to do, it's done."
"For now," Liam replied, his eyes scanning the cavern. "But this was just one piece of their plan. There's more out there."
She didn't argue, though her expression hardened. "Then we'll keep fighting."
The rest of the team gathered near the cavern entrance, their exhaustion visible but their resolve unshaken. One of the soldiers, a young scout named Corin, approached Liam, saluting sharply.
"My lord, we've searched the area," Corin reported. "No other cultists, but we found this." He held out a small, blackened shard of the obelisk. It pulsed faintly in his hand, radiating a dark energy that made Liam's stomach churn.
Liam took the shard, examining it with Eye of Revelation. The magic within was unstable, its power fractured but still dangerous. "This might be useful," he said, slipping it into his inventory. "But keep your distance. It's still connected to whatever they were summoning."
Elena glanced at the shard, her fiery eyes narrowing. "We should destroy it."
"Not yet," Liam said. "If we can study it, we might learn more about their plans."
Reluctantly, Elena nodded. "Fine. But the moment it starts acting up, we get rid of it."
With the shard secured, the team began the arduous journey back to Fort Veldran. The trek through the mountain pass was slow, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the crunch of boots on stone and the distant howl of wind.
As they descended into the foothills, Liam's thoughts turned inward. The battle in the cavern had pushed him to his limits, but it also revealed the scope of the Whisper's power. If they had access to magic strong enough to require obelisks like the one they destroyed, what else were they capable of?
"Elena," he said, breaking the silence. "Do you think we're ready for this? I mean, truly ready?"
She didn't respond immediately, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "No one's ever ready for something like this," she said finally. "But that doesn't mean we stop trying. We've made it this far, haven't we?"
Liam nodded, her words settling over him like a steadying weight. "You're right. We'll figure it out."
When they reached the fort, Captain Marden was waiting at the gates, his expression a mixture of relief and concern. "You're back," he said, his voice gruff but warm. "And in one piece, by the looks of it."
"Barely," Liam said, dismounting. He handed Marden the shard. "This came from the obelisk. It's still active, but fractured. We think it might be connected to their larger plan."
Marden took the shard carefully, his eyes narrowing as he studied it. "I'll have the scholars look at it. If there's anything useful to be learned, we'll find it."
Liam nodded, his exhaustion catching up with him. "And the cultists?"
"Nothing new since you left," Marden said. "But we've reinforced the patrols. If they try to regroup, we'll be ready."
"Good," Liam said, his voice heavy. "Let me know if anything changes."
Marden placed a hand on Liam's shoulder. "You did good, lad. Take some time to rest. You've earned it."
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Liam cleaned his gear, replenished his supplies, and checked in with the soldiers who had accompanied him. They were tired but in good spirits, their confidence bolstered by the victory.
That night, Liam sat alone in his quarters, the glow of the Gacha System illuminating the dark room. He pulled up his status screen, the familiar interface comforting in its simplicity.
Name: Liam Evandale
Rank: F (Progression: 35%)
Tokens Available: 3
Talents:
Blade Sovereign (Mythical): Grants mastery over sword techniques, Omnipotent Sword Technique.Battle Instincts (Legendary): Heightens combat senses, enhancing reaction time and tactical awareness.Arcane Veil (Legendary): Absorbs ambient mana, enhancing resistance to magical attacks.
Skills:
Eye of Revelation (Legendary): Advanced appraisal and analysis of targets.Shadow Step (Epic): Allows short-range teleportation for evasive or offensive maneuvers.Phantom Guard (Epic): Summons a spectral shield to absorb damage.Ethereal Bind (Epic): Creates spectral chains to immobilize enemies.
Inventory:
Solblade (Unique Growth-Type Sword): Absorbs swords to enhance power and abilities.Aegis Cloak (Mythical): A defensive artifact that absorbs and deflects damage.Umbra Fang (Epic): A shadow-infused dagger ideal for close-quarters combat.Obelisk Shard: A fractured piece of dark magic connected to the Whisper's rituals.
Liam selected the Token Pool, spinning the wheel to see what the system had in store for him. The first token landed on a golden section, and a notification flashed before his eyes.
[Congratulations! You've obtained the skill: Radiant Pulse (Legendary)]
[Skill: Radiant Pulse]
Rarity: Legendary
Description: Releases a burst of purifying light, dispelling dark magic and weakening corrupted entities within its range.
The skill settled into his mind, its description filling him with a sense of relief. It was exactly what he needed to counter the Whisper's growing influence.
The next two tokens yielded smaller rewards: a rare consumable item to restore mana and a skill enhancement for Phantom Guard, increasing its durability.
Satisfied, Liam closed the system and leaned back in his chair. The battle in the mountain had been a victory, but it was only a small piece of the larger war. For now, though, he would take the time to rest and prepare.
As he drifted off to sleep, a single thought lingered in his mind: the Whisper would not rest. And neither would he.
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