The journey to Skypiea began long before the smoke from Emberfall Ridge had fully dissipated. Distant fissures still hissed with residual fire, but Karl and Robin pressed on, their footsteps falling softly over ancient stone paths carved countless centuries ago—paths worn smooth by forgotten feet, long before either of them was born. The air thinned as they ascended, cooler here at the higher altitude, though a subtle warmth clung to Karl's skin, a lingering ember from the relic deep within his inventory.
Below, the sea stretched out like an endless sheet of polished glass, reflecting the rising sun in a shimmering dance of gold and blue. Towering above them, the Skypiea loomed like a titan forged from ancient stone and jet-black obsidian, thrusting upward as if stabbing through the very clouds. At its summit, strange clouds gathered—unnatural formations swirling silently, as if the very sky held its breath in apprehension.
They were not alone.
At the jagged base of Skypiea, the climb grew perilous. Robin slipped quietly between twisted brush and fractured stone, her gaze sharp, noting every disturbance. Karl followed, senses heightened, every muscle coiled with tension.
"There are tracks," Robin whispered, voice barely audible. "Three days old. Maybe four. Shuzo's mercenaries passed this way."
Karl's hand hovered instinctively near his hip, fingertips grazing the relic's outline in his inventory. The Heart of Emberfall throbbed with a slow, insistent warmth, pulsing in time with his heartbeat. It was still adapting to him—its full power locked just beyond reach.
Suddenly, his system blinked to life.
System Notification: Mission Unlocked—The Root Beneath Skypiea"
Objective: Discover the hidden core beneath Skypiea.
Defeat any Broken Circle presence.
Reward: 1 Rare Ticket + ???
Side Objective: Uncover the Vault Node.
Bonus Reward: 1 Legendary Ticket
Difficulty: High
Accept Mission?
[Yes] [No]
Without hesitation, Karl accepted. There was no turning back.
The further they ventured, the more the landscape twisted into something almost alien. Moss spiralled into impossible shapes, trees bent with unnatural curvature, their bark scarred with cryptic glyphs carved in forgotten tongues. Every step seemed to draw them closer to the heart of something ancient and powerful. The paths spiralled inward and downward, as though the land itself was breathing around them.
The obsidian gate at the base of Skypiea was monolithic—seamless, black as void. Karl pressed his palm against the cold surface, and from his hand burst a flame, not the familiar green but deep crimson, the fire born from the relic's simmering core.
The gate groaned and cracked, ancient seals breaking apart. Beyond lay a spiral tunnel, descending into darkness. No torches lit the way; only the faint glow of carved symbols, illuminating like distant stars as they passed.
"This isn't just a vault," Robin murmured. "It's the foundation."
Karl nodded, a chill running down his spine despite the heat in his palm. "I can feel it."
They descended deeper than any before them into the cavernous core chamber.
The sheer scale stole their breath. The chamber spread vast and endless, lit by a towering crystal tree growing from the earth itself. Its roots—glowing veins of pulsing crystal—pierced the vaulted ceiling and snaked along the walls, humming with untamed energy. At the center, a pedestal of black stone held an intricate device—half-sphere-shaped, etched with blazing flame and soaring wing motifs.
Karl stepped closer, and the chamber responded as if alive. A sudden surge of energy radiated outward, ancient glyphs flaring to life along the walls. The relic in Karl's inventory throbbed violently, as if recognizing its kin.
Vault Fragment Recognized. Sync Initiated.
Trait Fusion Process Unlocked.
Initiating Trial…
The pedestal cracked open, splitting apart as from its depths rose a towering humanoid construct. Cloaked in obsidian armour, veins of red flame coursed through its form, flickering like molten lava. It stood twice Karl's height, radiating an intimidating, unyielding presence.
Trial Guardian—Skypiea Echo Sentinel
Class: Legendary
Victory Reward:
– 1 Legendary Ticket
– Trait Unlock
Warning: Death Possible
Karl ignited the fire around his arms, muscles taut, as Robin spread out to secure the perimeter.
The sentinel roared—an infernal bellow without sound—and charged.
Karl met it head-on, launching Green Fire Dragon's Claw. His flaming strike met the sentinel's blade, sparks flying as they collided. He ducked low, delivering a punishing Iron Fist to the construct's obsidian plating. The blow landed, but barely fazed the guardian.
In retaliation, a shockwave blasted Karl backwards, crashing him against a wall.
Robin's swift blades rained down on the sentinel's joints, sending sparks into the air. The guardian spun, raising a shield of blazing obsidian, but Karl surged forward with a Wing Attack—an arc of scorching fire that tore through its defences.
The construct faltered, its glowing core flickering wildly.
Karl saw his chance.
"Brilliant Flame Spiral!"
He poured every ounce of fury, resolve, and the Heart of Emberfall's heat into a spiralling inferno. Flames engulfed the sentinel, bursting from every crack and seam until the construct exploded silently in a green-and-red blaze, dissolving into embers.
Trial Complete.
Reward Earned:
– 1 Legendary Ticket
– Trait: Vault Resonance
Trait Description: Enhances interaction with ancient technology and relics; amplifies elemental affinity based on location resonance.
Legendary Ticket Count: 4
Vault Node Synced. Skypiea Root Online.
Karl sank to one knee, chest heaving, as Robin approached cautiously. She glanced toward the now-quiet pedestal.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded slowly, eyes fixed on the crystal roots. "This… this thing is alive. And it's watching."
Robin's lips curved into a determined smirk. "Then it just met its match."
Elsewhere, aboard the Ashen Maw, Shuzo stood before a vast glowing map marked with intricate glyphs—three Vault Nodes illuminated: Emberfall, Skypiea, and a third, still dormant, far west.
A woman with faintly glowing eyes stepped forward. "He's activated it."
Shuzo's lips curled in a cold smile. "Good. Exactly where I need him to be."