Capítulo 20: The Whisper’s Warning
The team arrived at Fort Veldran just before dawn, the first rays of sunlight casting a pale glow over the battlements. Liam dismounted quickly, his thoughts racing as he handed the bundle of scrolls and maps to Captain Marden, who stood waiting near the gates.
"This was everything we found in the cultist camp," Liam said, his voice sharp with urgency. "There was an altar, another summoning point. And one of their commanders—they're ramping up their efforts."
Marden took the documents, his expression grim. "Good work, but if what you're saying is true, they're escalating faster than we can counter. I'll have our scholars analyze these immediately."
Liam nodded, turning to the rest of the team. "Get some rest. We'll need everyone at their best for whatever comes next."
The soldiers dispersed, but Elena lingered beside him, her fiery gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "You think the Whisper's going to retaliate?" she asked, her tone low but resolute.
"I'd bet on it," Liam replied. "We've disrupted too much for them to ignore us."
Elena smirked faintly. "Good. Let them come."
Liam chuckled despite the tension in his chest. "You really enjoy this, don't you?"
"It's not about enjoyment," Elena said, her smirk fading into something more serious. "It's about making sure they don't get to destroy anyone else's home."
Her words hit harder than Liam expected. He nodded, his resolve hardening. "And we'll stop them."
Inside the fort's war room, Marden had already assembled a group of scholars to pore over the cultists' documents. The room was tense, the quiet murmurs of discussion punctuated by the rustling of parchment. Liam and Elena watched as one of the scholars, a wiry man with glasses perched on the edge of his nose, examined a map closely.
"This symbol," the man said, pointing to a rune etched in red ink, "it's not just a summoning spell. It's a marker. These sites are connected."
"Connected how?" Liam asked, stepping closer.
The scholar adjusted his glasses. "The rituals you've been disrupting—they're part of a larger network. Each site channels energy to a central point, strengthening whatever lies there."
Marden's brow furrowed. "So, they've been using these villages as batteries?"
"Precisely," the scholar confirmed. "And if the central point is activated—"
"It'll make everything we've fought so far look like child's play," Liam finished, his voice grim.
Elena crossed her arms, her expression dark. "So where's the central point?"
The scholar hesitated, flipping through one of the scrolls. "That's the problem. The markers are vague, deliberately so. But based on the energy flow... it's likely somewhere in the northern mountains."
Liam exchanged a glance with Elena. "Then that's where we go next."
"You won't be going alone," Marden said firmly. "If this central point is as important as you say, we'll need to send reinforcements."
Liam shook his head. "With all due respect, sir, a large force will only draw their attention. We've had the most success working in small teams. Let us handle this."
Marden hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Very well. But if you're not back in five days, we're sending a battalion after you."
"Understood," Liam said.
Preparations were swift. Liam checked and rechecked his equipment, ensuring Solblade and the rest of his gear were in perfect condition. He activated the Gacha System, pulling up his status screen to assess his current standing.
Name: Liam Evandale
Rank: F (Progression: 31%)
Tokens Available: 1
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.
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.
Satisfied with his readiness, Liam used his single token on the Skill Pool, the familiar wheel spinning rapidly. It landed on a bright purple section.
[Congratulations! You've obtained the skill: Ethereal Bind (Epic)]
[Skill: Ethereal Bind]
Rarity: Epic
Description: Creates spectral chains to immobilize enemies. Particularly effective against magical or incorporeal entities.
The skill settled into his mind, its possibilities immediately apparent. Liam knew it would be invaluable in facing the Whisper's forces.
The next morning, Liam, Elena, and their team departed. The northern mountains loomed in the distance, their jagged peaks shrouded in mist. The journey was grueling, the terrain growing more treacherous with each passing hour.
As they climbed higher, the air grew colder, and the sense of unease deepened. The faint hum of magic that Liam had felt before was stronger now, a constant undercurrent that seemed to pull at his very being.
When they reached a narrow pass, Elena held up a hand, signaling for the group to stop. "Do you hear that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam strained his ears. At first, he heard nothing, but then it came—a low, guttural sound, like a distant growl. It echoed through the pass, growing louder with each passing second.
"Get ready," Liam said, drawing Solblade.
The growl turned into a roar as a massive creature emerged from the mist. Its body was twisted and unnatural, its limbs too long and its eyes glowing with a sickly yellow light. Black veins pulsed across its flesh, radiating dark energy.
"Corrupted guardian," Elena said, her grip tightening on her sword.
The creature lunged, its speed belying its massive size. Liam dodged to the side, activating Shadow Step to reappear behind it. Solblade struck true, cutting into the creature's flesh, but it barely flinched.
"It's regenerating!" one of the soldiers shouted.
Liam gritted his teeth. "Aim for the core! It's the only way to take it down!"
Elena unleashed a wave of fire, her flames driving the creature back. Liam activated Ethereal Bind, spectral chains materializing around the guardian and holding it in place. The creature thrashed against the bindings, its roar shaking the very ground.
"Now!" Liam shouted.
Elena's fire surged toward the creature's chest, the flames finding their mark. The guardian let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing, its body dissolving into black mist.
The team stood in silence, catching their breath. Liam deactivated the chains, his eyes scanning the horizon. They were close now—he could feel it.
"Let's keep moving," he said. "The Whisper won't wait for us."
The mountains stretched out before them, dark and foreboding. But Liam's resolve was unwavering. The Whisper's shadow loomed large, but he was ready to face it—no matter the cost.
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