The journey back to the temporary camp was tense and hurried since they were unsure how many, or if any, of their poisoned allies were still alive.
The third pair, who had returned empty-handed and were likely frustrated by their lack of success, offered to use their own contracts as mounts for everyone and pushed them to the limit, even at the expense of their contracts not being at peak fighting condition for a while.
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Kain could tell they were desperate to prove their usefulness so didn't refuse. After all, his contracts could rest while they made their way back to the others as quickly as possible.
The beasts galloped across the desert terrain with impressive speed, kicking up a trail of dust. Kain felt the tension in the air, the desperation of their comrades fueling their determination to reach the camp as quickly as possible. Even the typically cold Serena was gripping the reins a little too tightly in tension and worry.
Kain's mind raced as they walked. They had the antidote—or at least, they thought they did, they still needed to try it to be sure. But the encounter with the guards and the apothecary had left him uneasy.
Something about the way the guard had reacted to the mention of the elderly woman's grandson, Malzahir, had set off alarm bells in his mind. The political tensions within the tribe were clearly volatile, and Kain couldn't shake the feeling that they had stumbled into something far more complicated than they had anticipated.
When they finally reached the camp, the relief on their comrades' faces was palpable. Idrias stepped forward, his expression tense but hopeful. "Did you get it?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.
Kain and Zareth both reached into their space rings, pulling out the vials they had obtained. Kain's vial contained a thick, green liquid, while Zareth's held a shimmering, golden substance. The two antidotes were completely different in appearance, and the group immediately noticed the discrepancy.
"Why are they different?" Idrias asked, his brow furrowing as he studied the vials. "Which one is the real antidote?"
Kain and Zareth exchanged a glance, their expressions equally uncertain. "We both got these from different apothecaries," Zareth explained. "I assumed mine was the correct one, but…" He trailed off, his gaze flicking to Kain's vial.
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Kain shook his head. "I thought the same about mine. The apothecary I went to seemed legitimate, but…" He hesitated, his mind racing. "We need to test them. Quickly."
Idrias nodded, his expression grim. "We don't have time to waste. Let's start with the worst-off."
They moved to the side of the camp where an injured 6-star Starchaser lay, his breathing shallow and his skin pale. The venom had taken a severe toll on him, and it was clear he didn't have much time left. Idrias knelt beside him, holding up the two vials. "We're going to try one of these," he said, his voice steady but urgent. "But we aren't sure which one is the correct antidote, it can very well be poison."
The weakened man tried to laugh to ease the tension but ended up coughing up blood in the process. Once the violent fit of coughing calmed down he weakly joked, "As you can see, I can't exactly get much worse…"
His attempt at humor did little to lighten the mood. A few of his comrades forced chuckles, but the grim reality of the situation remained.
Idrias' mood wasn't lightened in the slightest, but bowed his head solemnly to the other man as a gesture of thanks for being the 'guinea pig.'
"The guy I bought it from said to give 1 drop for low-level scorpion venom, 3 for mid-level, and 5 for high-level scorpion stings," Zareth said. Kain also nodded to indicate that he received the same instructions. Although they weren't sure of which antidote was correct, it looks like the instructions give had gained some credibility though.
He uncorked Zareth's vial first, the golden liquid shimmering in the sunlight. Carefully, he administered 3 drops to the man's lips, watching intently for any sign of improvement. The group held their breath, the tension in the air almost palpable.
But nothing happened.
The man's condition didn't improve. If anything, his breathing seemed to grow even more labored. Idrias' expression darkened, and he turned to Kain. "Your turn."
Kain stepped forward, his hands trembling slightly as he uncorked his vial. The green liquid inside was thick and viscous, its vile scent sharp and resembling a poison more than medicine. He also administered 3 drops to the man's lips, his heart pounding as he waited for a reaction.
For a moment, there was nothing. Then, slowly, the man's breathing began to steady. His color returned, and his eyes fluttered open, though they were still clouded with pain. The group let out a collective sigh of relief, their hope renewed.
"It worked," Idrias said, his voice filled with relief. "Kain's antidote is the real one."
But their relief was short-lived. The next injured member of the team, a Pathfinder who had also been stung by a mid-grade scorpion, was given 3 drops of Kain's green antidote. This time, however, there was no improvement. The man's condition remained unchanged, his breathing shallow and his skin pale.
A deep frown creased Kain's brow. Something was off.
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The group exchanged uneasy glances, their confusion mounting. "Why isn't it working?" Serena asked, her voice tense. "It worked on the first one."
Kain's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. "Maybe… maybe the venom affects people differently," he suggested, though he didn't sound convinced. "Or maybe the antidote needs time to take effect."
Idrias shook his head, his expression grim. "We don't have time to wait. Let's try Zareth's antidote."
Reluctantly, they administered drops of the golden liquid to the second injured man. To their surprise, his condition began to improve almost immediately. His breathing steadied, and his color returned, just as it had with the first man.
The group fell silent, their confusion deepening. "What's going on?" Zareth asked, his voice filled with frustration. "Why did mine work on him but not the first one? And why did Kain's work on the first but not the second?"
Kain's mind raced as he tried to piece together the puzzle. Then, it hit him. "They're both antidotes," he said, his voice low but certain. "But they're only half of the cure. The apothecaries we went to—they each gave us one part of the remedy. We need both to fully counteract the venom."
The realization sent a chill down his spine. The apothecary he had encountered—the one who had seemed so kind and helpful—had deliberately withheld the full antidote. And the guard's reaction to the mention of Malzahir… it all made sense now. The political tensions within the tribe had spilled over into their dealings, and they had been caught in the crossfire.
"They played us," Kain said, his voice filled with a mix of anger and disbelief. "They knew we needed the full antidote, but they only gave us half. Perhaps for you they sensed that you weren't a local and treated the lives of non-tribesmen coldly, if not hostilely. On our end, the deception may have been more politically motivated…" Kain quickly explained the method he'd used to obtain the antidote and the mysterious 'Malzahir' that seemed to be a polarizing figure within the tribe.
Zareth's fists clenched at Kain's words, his face darkening with fury. "Those bastards," he growled, his voice low and seething. "They deliberately screwed us over—played with our lives like some sick game. If you hadn't also gotten the other vial…Damn it!"
Kain couldn't help but shudder at the thought of the two-faced apothecary. The man had seemed so kind, so helpful, and even defended the old woman from the guard hostile to her grandson, but beneath the surface, he had been plotting against them—and against Malzahir. This was an important lesson for them all, the desert was a harsh and unforgiving place, and its people were no less dangerous.
The group fell silent, the weight of Kain's words sinking in. They had been duped, and now their comrades' lives hung in the balance.
Idrias' expression hardened at the deception but quickly returned to calm, "both healers wished to trick you and only sold one half of the necessary remedy, but thankfully it just so happened that the other person got the other half necessary one. In a sense we are all extremely lucky, their plans would have easily succeeded had this perfect coincidence not occurred."
The group nodded, still disgruntled by the deception, but after realizing they had the true antidote in full now, they were a little amused at the unsuccessful sabotage.
They quickly combined the two antidotes, creating a new mixture that shimmered with a faint, golden-green hue. Carefully, they administered it to the remaining injured members of the team, their hearts pounding as they waited for a reaction.
One by one, the injured began to improve. Their breathing steadied, their color returned, and their eyes fluttered open. The antidote was working.
But for now, they had won a small victory. The antidote had worked, and their comrades were safe.
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The injured members of the team made significant progress overnight, their strength returning as the antidote worked its magic.
By midday, they were back on their feet, though still weak and in need of rest. Idrias decided to give them the full day to recuperate. Although they were pressed for time on this mission, he knew that pushing them too soon could jeopardize the mission.
As the sun began to set, Idrias called the group together. "We move out at first light," he said, his voice firm. "The relic is still our priority, and we can't afford to waste any more time. Be ready."
Since most of those injured had their physical problem healed days ago and were mostlye suffering from the venom remaining in their system, once it was removed and thanks to the increased physical ability of beast-tamers, they managed to reach top condition surprisingly quickly.
The next day, they set out at dawn, their steps quicker than at the beginning of their journey to make up for the lost time.
But the desert had other plans.
By midday, the sky began to darken, the once-brilliant blue replaced by a swirling mass of gray and brown. The wind picked up, its gusts growing stronger with each passing minute. Kain's heart sank as he realized what was coming.
"Sandstorm!" Zareth shouted, his voice barely audible over the howling wind. "Take cover!"
The group scrambled to find shelter, pulling out large tents and covers from their space rings, or pressing their bodies behind large rocks nearby, their movements frantic as the sandstorm descended upon them.
The wind roared like a living thing, its gusts whipping sand and debris through the air. Kain pulled his scarf over his face, his eyes squinting against the painful onslaught of what felt like tiny nails hitting his skin.
The world around him became a blur of swirling sand and howling wind, the visibility reduced to almost nothing.
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Kain and Serena huddled together behind a rocky outcrop, their bodies pressed tightly against each other as the sandstorm raged around them, while using a tarp Serena had pulled out to increase their coverage.
The storm seemed to last forever and Kain found himself noticing things he wouldn't normally due to their unusually close proximity. For example, Kain found himself noticing the way Serena's white hair curled slightly at the nape of her neck; the fact that her hair and eyes had an almost otherworldly quality in the dim lighting; and that despite the long trip, with less than ideal sanitation conditions, she somehow still smelled…sweet.
Kain felt a sense of tension, his awareness of Serena's presence growing as minutes became hours of waiting, though he attributed it to being overly conscious of their rivalry rather than anything more.
By the time it finally subsided, the group was exhausted and Kain quickly scrambled to leave the close quarters.
Despite everyone having some kind of cover, their bodies were coated in a fine layer of sand.
Thankfully, although they all felt disgusting covered in a layer of sand, they were all relatively unharmed and continued on their journey, deciding against wasting more time on their journey.
However, as the night began to fall, a sense of uneasiness began to build among the Starchasers that Kain and the other Pathfinders just couldn't relate to.
Due to the sandstorm the landscape had changed, the once-familiar terrain now subtly different, moreover, the sandstorm may be related to some larger geomagnetic anomaly, because their compasses were also slightly off course without them realizing.
As a result, they had no way of knowing how far they had strayed from their intended path and the Starchasers only realized something was wrong when night fell.
The Starchasers immediately went to work, their movements quick and efficient as they studied the sky and the surrounding terrain. Kain watched as Serena pulled out a small, intricately designed compass and began to adjust it, her eyes focused on the horizon.
"How can you guys tell that we're off course and that something is wrong with the regular compasses?" Kain asked, his slightly awkward demeanor around her after their close proximity under the tarp now returning to normal after enough time had passed.
Serena glanced at him, her expression calm but absentminded as she focused on their current predicament. "All Starchasers have a mental map of the night sky," she explained. "We memorize the positions of the stars, and we use them to navigate. If even one guiding star is out of place, we can typically tell that our path is off even if all of our equipment is malfunctioning."
Kain nodded, impressed by the Starchasers' expertise. "So, you only sensed something was wrong at night?"
"Exactly," Serena said, her tone confident. "Once the night deepens and more of the stars are fully visible, we'll be able to correct our course."
That night, as the stars began to appear in the sky, the Starchasers gathered to assess their position. Kain watched as they studied the constellations, their movements precise and deliberate. After a few moments, Zareth turned to Idrias, her expression serious.
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"We're off course," he said, his voice low. "But not by much. We should be able to correct our path by travelling southeast for a period of time."
Idrias nodded, his expression grim. "Then that's what we'll do. Sorry everyone, but rest time is over."
Eager to make up for lost time, they all continued travelling through the night, but nobody complained and their march didn't stop even when the sun rose again.
Eventually, as they crested a large dune, Kain's eyes caught sight of something in the distance. At first, he thought it was a rock or a piece of debris, but as they drew closer, he realized it was a person—a man, lying motionless on the sand.
"Over there!" Kain shouted, pointing toward the figure.
The group hurried over, their movements quick but cautious. As they approached, Kain's heart sank. The man was in terrible condition.
His clothes were torn and caked with sand, his skin dry and cracked from exposure to the sun. His face was gaunt, his cheeks hollow, and his lips were chapped and bleeding. His breathing was shallow, and his body was covered in bruises and cuts, some of which looked infected. He looked more dead than alive.
"Is he…?" Serena began, her voice trailing off.
Kain knelt beside the man, his fingers pressing against his neck to check for a pulse. It was faint, but it was there. "He's alive," Kain said, his voice filled with relief. "But barely."
Idrias stepped forward, his expression grim. "We need to heal him. If he's a local, he might have valuable information. And even if he doesn't, making a positive connection in the desert could be useful."
The group nodded, their agreement unanimous. They quickly set to work, their movements efficient as they tended to the man's wounds. The healers among them summoned their contracts, green and white energy wrapping around the man's body as they worked to stabilize him.
Kain watched as the man's breathing began to steady, his color slowly returning. If the man had information, potentially even about the relic they were headed to, that would be for the best. But extracting that information may not be easy.
"Doesn't matter. If he's unwilling to talk," Kain muttered in a low voice to himself, "we have options."
And indeed they did. Kain and one other member of their group both had a mental attribute contract.
The other's spiritual contract had weaker capabilities than Bea and were closer to hypnotism but they were boosted by a gift he apparently had also related to hypnotism. Unfortunately, the man would need to be awake and able to talk, so healing him was necessary.
However, although Bea doesn't have this requirement, Kain still decided that healing the man was for the best. A con of Bea is that her invasion is not as gentle a method of obtaining information as hypnotism and if the target resists, it can be a strain on them, and since this person is so weak they may die while resisting Bea's invasion.
And if he doesn't resist? That would be for the best and is often the case for those weaker than Bea, but unlikely in this case since Kain could sense that this man was at least 6-star beast-tamer, likely even 7-star since it is difficult to judge in his unconscious and weakened condition. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire
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The man's breathing steadied, his chest rising and falling in a slow, rhythmic pattern as the healers continued their work.
The green and white energy from their contracts wrapped around his body, knitting together torn flesh and purging infection from his wounds. His cracked lips regained some color, and the sunken in hollows in his cheeks seemed less pronounced, although he still looked as though he hadn't eaten in days it was a massive improvement.
Yet, despite the physical healing, his mind remained closed off, his consciousness buried deep beneath layers of exhaustion and trauma.
As the healers finished their work, the man's eyelids fluttered, and a low groan escaped his lips. His eyes opened slowly, squinting against the harsh sunlight. For a moment, he seemed disoriented, his gaze darting around the group of strangers surrounding him. Then, his expression hardened, and he tried to sit up, his movements sluggish but determined to leave.
"Easy," Idrias said, his voice calm but firm. "You're safe. We found you in the desert. You were in bad shape."
The man's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking from Idrias to the others. He said nothing, his lips pressed into a thin line, and it was hard to tell whether it was only due to wariness or if he didn't know the common language of the Empire.
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Idrias had Zareth and a few of the other Starchasers attempt to communicate in the local tongue. Unlike Pathfinders that were typically skilled in multiple old and dead languages that would be more often seen in relics, Starchasers are usually more adept at navigating modern dialects and languages due to the far off places their travels may take them.
Unfortunately, Zareth and the other Starchasers' attempts were useless. Kain could see the wariness in his eyes, the way his body tensed as if preparing for a fight. This man was no fool—he knew better than to trust strangers in the desert. Especially not after he'd ended up in his current pitiful state after being betrayed by his own tribesmen…
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"*We're travelers. We're heading south. Do you remember what happened to you?*" Serena added in the local language, her tone unusually soft.
'I guess they decided to try the beauty trap route,' Kain thought somewhat cynically after seeing how adamant their colleagues were that Serena take over the task of communication after they all proved unsuccessful.
The man's eyes locked onto Serena for a long while, and for a moment, Kain thought he might respond. But then he shook his head, his expression unreadable. He remained silent, his gaze shifting to the horizon as if searching for something—or someone.
Kain exchanged a glance with the other member of their group who had a mental attribute contract. The man, a 6-star Pathfinder named Eli, nodded subtly. It was time to try the less gentle approach—forcefully extracting answers.
Eli stepped forward with his contract. His contract resembled a metal intricate bell that seemed to have the face of an old man carved into its side, but this face was capable of moving and changing its expression.
As Eli and his contract stepped forward, he kept his movements calm and non-threatening. "We don't mean you any harm," he said, his voice took on an almost otherworldly quality that seemed to echo with several voices overlaying his while his contract began to emit rhythmic tolls of its bell. "But we need to know if there's anything out there that could threaten us. Can you tell us what happened to you?"
Elias's contract was designed to gently nudge the mind into a suggestible state. It was less invasive than Bea's control, but it required the target to be at least somewhat willing—or at least not actively resisting—but Elias' gift helped greatly with that restriction. As Elias's aura from his gift enveloped the man, Kain could see the tension in the man's body increase. His eyes widened, and he tried to pull away, but the healers held him steady.
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"Relax," Elias said, his voice low and hypnotic. "You're safe. We just want to help you. Tell us what happened."
For a moment, it seemed to work. The man's body relaxed slightly, and his gaze softened. But then, just as Elias began to probe deeper, the man's eyes snapped back into focus, and he let out a low growl. His resistance was fierce, his mind slamming shut like a steel trap. Elias stumbled back, his aura flickering and fading as the man's willpower overwhelmed the combined efforts of his contract's skill and his gift.
"Damn it," Elias muttered, rubbing his temples. "His willpower is too strong."
Kain's eyes narrowed. He had expected this. The man's aura had already hinted at his strength, and now it was clear that he was no ordinary beast-tamer. If Elias's gentle approach had failed, it was time for Bea.
Kain stepped forward, his expression calm but determined. "Let me try," he said, his voice steady. He glanced at Idrias, who gave a curt nod. The group backed away, giving Kain space to work while gazing at him curiously. Kain and Serena were the lowest ranked in their group. And even among all order members they were probably the lowest in level since most recruits were at least 5-star beast-tamers. But both Kain and Serena were still 4-star beast-tamers, although they were both likely on the verge of advancing.
However, despite the importance of this mission and their low rank they had both been personally selected by the higher-ups in the Order for this mission. Therefore, everyone was curious about the abilities of these two.
They had already proven their capabilities by managing to secure one half of the antidote needed, but nobody was around them at that time to see how they did it. Now some of their questions about their strength may be answered.
The man's eyes locked onto Kain, and for the first time, Kain saw a flicker of apprehension in his gaze. He knew that what followed the previous hypnosis attempt could only be worse on him.
Kain summoned Bea, the familiar presence of his contract settling into his mind like a second consciousness.
Kain hesitated for a moment, his gaze meeting the man's. There was a quiet dignity in the man's eyes, a resilience that Kain couldn't help but respect. But they didn't have time for respect—they needed information.
"I'm sorry," Kain said softly, though he wasn't sure if the man could understand him. "But we need to see what you know."
With that, Kain unleashed Bea's power while also using his spiritual skill to provide her with a much needed boost. Her presence surged forward, a tidal wave of mental energy crashing into the man's mind. The man's body stiffened, his eyes widening as he felt the invasion. He let out a guttural cry, his hands clawing at the sand as he tried to resist.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!Kain could feel the man's willpower through his connection with Bea. It was like towering wall of steely defiance that Bea's power slammed into.
The man's mind was a fortress, built to withstand even the most powerful mental attacks. Fortunately, the seemingly sturdy wall had some cracks. Whether it was due to his less than ideal physical condition, or a recent mental trauma he suffered, Kain could tell that his mental strength was temporarily vulnerable.
And in response to that weakness Bea was relentless, her power grinding against the man's defenses like seemingly harmless drops of water eroding through stone.
The man's body convulsed, his muscles straining as he fought against Bea's control. Sweat poured down his face, and his breathing became ragged. Kain could feel the strain on the man's mind, the way his consciousness wavered under the pressure. But still, he resisted.
"Kain," Serena's voice cut through the tension, her tone urgent. "He's too weak. If you keep pushing, he might—"
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Kain knew what she was going to say. If he kept pushing, the man might die. His body was already weakened, and the strain of resisting Bea's invasion could push him over the edge. But Kain also knew that they couldn't afford to let this opportunity slip away. Something deep inside of him, perhaps some kind of instinct that had become more sensitive with his increased mastery over the Threads of Destiny spiritual skill, made him certain that this man may play a crucial role in either group's, or just Kain's, future endeavors.
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With a grimace, Kain increased the pressure, pouring more of his own energy into Bea's attack, insisting on using the spiritual skill to boost and replenish her spiritual power for a second time in just a couple of minutes, despite the immense strain that this act would have on both himself and Bea.
In response, the man's cries grew louder, his body thrashing against the sand. And then, just as Kain thought the man's defenses might finally break, something unexpected happened.
The man's eyes snapped open, and for a brief moment, Kain saw something familiar in them as well as a familiar face that flashed before his eyes. And then, with a final, desperate surge of energy, the man's mind lashed out.
Kain felt the backlash like a physical blow, his body staggering as Bea's connection was violently severed. The man collapsed onto the sand, his body limp and unconscious. Kain fell to his knees, his head pounding as he tried to catch his breath.
"Kain!" Serena was at his side in an instant, her hands gripping his shoulders. "Are you okay?"
Kain nodded, though his vision was still blurry. "I'm fine," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "But he… he's stronger than I thought. Much stronger."
Idrias stepped forward, his expression grim. "We can't risk pushing him further. If he dies, we lose any chance of getting information."
Kain nodded, his mind racing and thinking back to the brief image Bea had barely managed to retrieve from his mind…an image of an elderly frail woman.
"I did gain something though…" Kain mumbled weakly while holding his pounding head.
The rest of the group quieted down and looked at him in surprise that he'd managed to gain anything.
"I think…I think he is Malzahir," Kain guessed, while explaining the single vivid image he'd managed to retrieve from the man's mind that consisted solely of the familiar elderly woman that had helped them retrieve the antidote, holding out some kind of warm homemade meal to the dishevelled man while smiling with affection.
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The group fell into quiet contemplation at Kain's revelation before the 7-star Starchaser, who had been stung by a high-grade scorpion, stood solemnly.
"I suppose in a sense I owe him, or at least his grandmother, a life saving grave. Had it not been for her, whether she was fully willing or not, I would have died."
At his words, a few of the others who were stung also nodded their heads in agreement. Although there were a couple that were rather indifferent to the role the old lady played in their recovery, for the most part the eyes with which members of their group looked at the man, were much gentler.
And when Malzahir finally woke up, now even more wary of the group of strangers that tried to invade his mind, he also sensed the change in attitude toward himself.
Strangely, these people who'd just tortured him for information like he was some kind of prisoner of war, were now gazing at him with a gentle expression—was this some kind of new trick to get information from him? Well, it won't work!
He sat up slowly, his movements cautious, his eyes darting around the group as if assessing his next move.
"You're Malzahir, aren't you?" Kain asked, his voice calm but firm. The man's eyes narrowed, but he neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he remained silent, his jaw clenched tightly.
"*We don't mean you any harm, *" Zareth added in the local tongue, his tone softer that when he'd questioned him previously. "*But we need to know what's out there, particularly how you got injured. The desert is dangerous, and we can't afford to walk into a trap. *"
Malzahir's expression faltered slightly, and for a moment, Kain thought he saw a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. But then the man's expression hardened again, and he shook his head. "*I don't owe you anything, *" he eventually said, his voice low and rough as though his vocal chords had been rubbed raw by sandpaper. "*You invaded my mind. You have no right to ask me for anything.*"
Kain sighed, his frustration mounting. He had hoped that the man would be more cooperative now that they had saved his life, but it seemed that trust was not easily earned in the desert. "*We're not your enemies, *" Kain said, his voice steady. "*But if you don't help us, we might all end up dead. Is that what you want? *"
Malzahir's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Kain thought he might lash out. But then, to everyone's surprise, the man let out a low, bitter laugh. "*You have no idea what's coming*" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think keeping me here and questioning me will make your journey safer? I am the danger."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, their unease growing. Kain's instincts screamed at him that Malzahir was holding something back—something crucial. But before he could press further, Malzahir stood up, his movements slow but deliberate. "*If you want to survive, *" he said, his tone grim, "*you'll leave this place. Now. And also stay far away from me if you know what's good for you.*"
With that, he turned and began to walk away, his figure disappearing into the vast expanse of the desert. The group watched him go, their minds racing with questions and doubts.
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The group stood in silence as they watched Malzahir disappear into the vast expanse of the desert, his figure growing smaller and smaller until it was swallowed up by the sand flying about, obscuring their vision.
The tension in the air was thick, each member of the group grappling with the weight of his cryptic warning. Kain's mind raced, the Threads of Destiny were telling him that he and Malzahir had a potential connection beyond even the acquaintance of his grandmother, and his instincts were screaming that he should ask for more information, and maybe even try to recruit Malzahir to their group. But they had come too far to be delayed by Kain's somewhat selfish desire to identify what made the Threads of Destiny suggest strongly that there was a huge opportunity for Kain in Malzahir.
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"We need to keep moving," Idrias said, his voice breaking the silence. His tone was firm, but Kain could see the unease in his eyes. "The relic is our priority. Whatever danger Malzahir was talking about, we may have to deal with it later."
The group nodded, their expressions grim but determined. They had no choice but to press forward. The relic was their mission, and failure was not an option. With a collective sigh, they adjusted their gear and continued their journey, the oppressive heat of the desert bearing down on them once more.
The landscape stretched endlessly before them, the golden sands shifting under their feet as they trudged onward. The sun blazed overhead, its relentless rays sapping their energy with every step. Kain could feel the fatigue setting in, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. The relic was close—he could feel it.
As they crested a particularly large dune, Kain's sharp eyes caught sight of something in the distance. A plume of dust rose into the air, moving rapidly across the desert floor. He squinted, trying to make out the source of the disturbance. It wasn't long before the figures came into view—a platoon of nearly fifty people, all clad in uniformed gear. They moved with purpose, their strides quick and deliberate, as if they were in pursuit of something—or someone.
Kain's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Idrias, who had also noticed the approaching group. Everyone immediately went on alert, their hands hovering near their weapons as they assessed the situation.
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"Stay calm," Idrias said, his voice low but commanding. "We don't know who they are or what they want. Keep moving, but be ready for anything."
The group nodded, their movements cautious as they continued forward. The platoon was closing in fast, their uniforms a stark contrast against the golden sands. Kain could see the insignias on their armor now—a symbol he vaguely recognized as belonging to the Obari tribe that they'd visited not long ago.
As the two groups drew closer, Kain could feel the tension mounting. The leader of the platoon, a tall man with a commanding presence and a relatively fresh scar beginning to form across his left cheek, glanced in their direction. His eyes narrowed as he sized up Kain's group, his gaze lingering for a moment before he turned his attention back to the path ahead. It was clear that they were in a hurry, their focus unwavering as they rushed past Kain's group without so much as a word.
Kain let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. The encounter had been brief, but it left him with a lingering sense of unease.
He couldn't help feeling that the group was in pursuit of Malzahir.
He glanced at Serena, who met his gaze with a look of equal concern, likely coming to the same guess.
As the platoon disappeared into the distance, the group continued their journey, their pace quickening as they pressed onward. The encounter had shaken them, but it had also served as a reminder of the stakes. They couldn't afford to waste any more time.
Hours passed, the sun dipping lower in the sky as they finally reached their destination. Zareth, who had been leading the way, came to a sudden stop, his eyes scanning the horizon. "This is it," he said, his voice filled with a mix of relief and anticipation. "The relic should be here."
Kain looked around, his brow furrowing in confusion. The area looked no different from the rest of the desert—just endless stretches of sand and rock. But as he focused his senses, he could feel it—a faint, almost imperceptible hum of energy emanating from the ground beneath his feet.
"Are you sure?" a female member of the Pathfinders asked, her voice skeptical. "There's nothing here."
Zareth nodded, his expression confident. "The relic is underground. We'll need to find the entrance."
The group spread out, their movements careful as they searched for any sign of an entrance. Kain's eyes scanned the ground, his senses attuned to the subtle shifts in energy. And then, just as he was about to give up, he saw it—a faint difference in the sand at a single location almost invisible to the naked eye.
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He hurried over in excitement, wanting to confirm if he'd found the entrance, and almost immediately something felt wrong. Too soft. The ground beneath him wasn't firm—it shifted unnaturally, sucking downward as though it were alive. His stomach lurched as he realized, too late, that he was sinking.
A jolt of panic shot through him as his feet disappeared beneath the surface in an instant. He tried to lift a leg, but the movement only made it worse—his body sinking deeper, the sand coiling around his calves like an unseen predator dragging him under. He fought against it, but it was like struggling against thick mud, every frantic motion making the pull stronger.
"Quicksand!" Kain shouted, his voice sharp with alarm.
The others whipped their heads around just in time to see him drop another few inches. His thighs were submerged now, the pressure around his legs increasing. He reached out, fingers grasping at empty air, but there was nothing solid to hold onto. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. The more he moved, the faster he sank. He was caught in a death trap.
Strangely, Kain found the current situation more terrifying than the large-scale battles he'd participated in. There was no enemy to fight, no blade to parry, no power to resist. Just an overwhelming, suffocating force dragging him down with terrifying inevitability. He clawed at the surface, trying to spread his weight, but there was no traction.
"Kain!" Serena's voice rang out, sharp and urgent. She was already moving, her usual composure cracking at the sight of him vanishing inch by inch. "Stop struggling! You're making it worse!"
The others were closing in, forming a circle around him, but no one dared get too close. One wrong step and they'd be caught too. Idrias grabbed a long rope from his pack, his hands steady despite the tension in his jaw.
"Hold on," Idrias called, tossing one end of the rope toward Kain. "Don't move too much. Wrap it around your chest!"
Kain reached for it, fingers slick with sweat, barely managing to loop it around himself. His arms were trembling from the strain, the fear, the sinking weight threatening to steal what little energy he had left. He could hear the distant rush of blood in his ears, the sand creeping higher, his body becoming heavier, harder to move. His chest was almost fully submerged now.
Once the rope was anchored around his body, they used all of their combined strength, and even had help from their contracts to try and pull him out—but it was useless.
One teammate even used his contract which was capable of controlling sand to try and get Kain out, but strangely it seemed as though the immediate area was outside of its control.
A cold realization struck him—this wasn't just ordinary quicksand. There was something else at play, something unnatural.
Soon he could feel a growing energy beneath him, the faint hum of something ancient buried deep below.
Kain had pretty much given up all hope of getting rescued at this point, all he could hope for was that what awaited him wouldn't be too dangerous.
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Kain woke with a start, his body jolting as if pulled from a nightmare. His lungs burned as he gasped for air, trying to get the horrifying sensation of them filling up with gritty sand making him unable to breathe.
The first thing he noticed was the cold—a biting, relentless cold that seeped into his bones and made his teeth chatter. His breath came out in visible puffs, crystallizing in the air before dissipating into the white void around him.
He was lying on a hard, icy surface, his body half-buried in snow. The world around him was a stark, blinding white, the kind of white that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. The sky above was a pale, featureless gray, and the ground beneath him was a frozen wasteland, dotted with jagged ice structures that jutted out like broken teeth. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional howl of the wind as it whipped through the icy landscape.
Kain groaned as he pushed himself up, his muscles stiff and uncooperative. His mind was foggy, his thoughts sluggish as he tried to piece together what had happened. The last thing he remembered was the quicksand—the way it had swallowed him whole, dragging him down into the earth with terrifying inevitability. He had expected to die, to be crushed or suffocated by the sand. But instead, he had woken up here, in this frozen wasteland.
"Where… am I?" Kain muttered, his voice hoarse and barely audible over the wind. He shivered violently, his body trembling as the cold seeped deeper into his skin. He needed to get moving, to find shelter or warmth before the cold killed him.
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Thankfully, he still had his space ring and the System Laboratory, both of which were stocked with supplies and clothing fit for a variety of conditions.
With a thought, he summoned a thick, insulated coat from his inventory, along with gloves, a scarf, and a pair of sturdy boots. He dressed quickly, his fingers fumbling with the buttons as the cold threatened to numb them. Once he was properly clothed, he felt a little more human, though the cold was still a constant, oppressive presence.
Kain took a moment to assess his surroundings. The environment was unlike anything he had ever seen before. And considering that he'd always lived in more warm climates, it was a huge shock to his system.
The icy formations were massive, some of them towering over him like frozen monoliths. The ground was uneven, covered in a thick layer of snow that crunched under his feet with every step. In the distance, he could see what looked like the ruins of a structure, its jagged outline barely visible through the swirling snow.
"A ruin?" Kain murmured, finding it hard to believe that any civilization had once lived here, but the sight of a potential shelter was a bright spot in this otherwise bleak situation.
He began to make his way toward it, his steps cautious as he navigated the treacherous terrain. The wind howled around him, carrying with it the faint scent of something metallic and sharp. It was an unsettling smell, one that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
As he drew closer to the ruins, Kain began to notice strange details. The ice structures weren't natural or just ice—they were too uniform, too precise. Some of them resembled pillars or arches, their surfaces etched with intricate patterns that Kain saw as he grew closer to them, and glowed faintly in the dim light.
The ruins themselves were massive, their walls made of a strange, black stone that seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it. The architecture was unlike anything Kain had ever seen, a blend of ancient and futuristic design that spoke of a civilization far more advanced than what one would expect from an extinct civilization.
Kain stepped through a gap in the ruins, his breath catching as he took in the sight before him. The interior was vast, a cavernous space filled with frozen over statues of unidentifiable people or things—time had worn away most of their features.
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The walls were lined with strange, mechanical devices, their surfaces covered in runes and symbols that pulsed with a faint, purple light. The air was thick with energy, a hum that resonated deep within Kain's chest.
"This should be the inside of the relic," Kain whispered, his voice filled with relief and then confusion. "But what am I supposed to look for?"
But as he ventured deeper into the ruins, the sense of excitement began to give way to unease.
In response he summoned all of his contracts. With the exception of Aegis, they all seemed to be affected by the cold—the worst of which were the Vespids who practically had their speed cut in half and looked noticeably sluggish. However, Kain was much more reassured with their presence and continued exploring.
The air grew colder, the hum of energy more intense. The purple light from the runes seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, growing brighter with every step he took. And then, he heard it—a low, guttural growl that echoed through the ruins, sending a shiver down his spine.
Kain froze, his hand instinctively reaching for the spear at his side. His eyes scanned the shadows, searching for the source of the sound. The growl came again, closer this time, and Kain's heart began to race. He could feel it—something was watching him. Stalking him.
And then, it emerged from the shadows.
The creature was unlike anything Kain had ever seen. It was massive, its body a grotesque amalgamation of flesh and machinery. Its skin was a sickly gray, mottled with patches of glowing purple veins that pulsed with an eerie light. Its limbs were long and spindly, ending in razor-sharp claws that scraped against the icy floor as it moved. Its head was a nightmare, a twisted combination of animal and machine, with glowing purple eyes that burned with a malevolent intelligence.
Kain's breath caught in his throat as the creature turned its gaze on him. Its eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, he felt as though his very soul was being laid bare. The creature let out a deafening roar, its mouth opening to reveal rows of jagged, metallic teeth. And then it lunged.
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The creature's roar echoed through the icy ruins, a sound that seemed to vibrate through Kain's very bones. Its glowing purple eyes locked onto him, and Kain could feel the malevolence—and hatred?— radiating from it.
Its movements were incredibly fast, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying precision.
Kain barely had time to react. He dove to the side, the creature's claws narrowly missing him as they tore through the ice where he had been standing. He rolled to his feet, his spear in hand, his heart pounding in his chest. The creature turned to face him, its glowing purple eyes narrowing as it prepared to strike again.
"What the hell are you?" Kain muttered, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to stay calm. The creature didn't respond, of course. It simply roared again, the sound reverberating through the ruins as it charged at him once more.
His contracts were already in motion, each of them attacking the creature from different angles, but it was clear that their efforts were barely scratching the surface.
'Bea, how's the progress on its mind?!' Kain asked mentally. He could feel Bea's strain through their connection, her spiritual power rapidly draining as she attempted to invade the creature's consciousness. But as soon as she made contact, Kain felt a sharp, searing pain in his head through his connection with her. Bea recoiled, her presence retreating back out of its mind.
Kain cursed under his breath. If Bea couldn't control it, they'd have to find another way.
Unfortunately, it was hard to think of another strategy while it was breathing down his neck.
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The creature's claws slashed through the air once it approached him again, and Kain barely managed to block the attack with his spear. The force of the blow sent him skidding backward, his boots scraping against the icy floor. He could feel the strain in his arms, the sheer power behind the creature's strikes. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.
He glanced at Aegis, who was already moving to intercept the creature. The stone golem's massive form slammed into the creature with the force of a landslide, but the impact barely slowed it down. The creature lashed out with its claws, slicing through Aegis's stone body as if it were paper. Chunks of rock flew through the air, and Aegis staggered back, his form already beginning to crumble.
"Aegis, fall back!" Kain ordered, his voice sharp. The stone golem obeyed, retreating to a safer distance as Kain the Vespid guards swarmed the creature, their stingers striking at its glowing purple veins. But the creature barely seemed to notice, its claws swiping through the air and cutting down the Vespids with terrifying ease.
Kain's heart sank as he watched his contracts fall one by one. The creature was too fast, too strong. It was like nothing he had ever faced before. And it was still coming for him, strangely fixated on him only.
The creature lunged again, its claws slashing through the air with blinding speed. Kain barely managed to dodge, the claws grazing his side and tearing through his coat. He felt a sharp pain as the cold air bit into the wound, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. He rolled to his feet, his spear flashing as he aimed for the creature's glowing purple eyes. The blade struck true, but it didn't seem to be a lethal injury. It roared in anger, its claws slashing through the air once more.
Kain dodged again, but this time he wasn't fast enough. The creature's claws caught him in the chest, sending him flying through the air. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him. Pain shot through his entire body as he struggled to breathe, his vision swimming.
The creature loomed over him, its glowing purple eyes burning with a malevolent light. It raised its claws, ready to deliver the final blow. Kain's mind raced, desperation fueling his thoughts. He couldn't die here—not like this.
Suddenly, a red dragon appeared in a burst of flames, its massive form filling the icy ruins with heat and light.
Vauleth roared, its fiery breath engulfing the creature in a torrent of flames. The creature staggered back, its glowing purple veins flickering as the flames licked at its unnatural body.
Kain seized the opportunity, pushing himself to his feet despite the pain. He could feel the warmth of Vauleth's flames, a stark contrast to the biting cold of the ruins.
The creature roared in anger, its claws slashing through the air as it tried to fend off the dragon's attacks. But Vauleth was relentless, its fiery breath and powerful claws keeping the creature at bay just barely, although deep cuts were beginning to appear on his scales.
Kain's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan. The creature was powerful, but it wasn't invincible. Its glowing purple veins seemed to be providing energy to its partially mechanical body and the energy source they lead to could be a weak point.
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"Vauleth, keep it busy!" Kain shouted, his voice filled with urgency. The dragon roared in irritation in response but didn't refuse, its fiery breath forcing the creature back. Kain took a deep breath, his grip tightening on his spear.
Communicating with the Vespid guards, the only ones who may prove effective in his plan since Bea and Aegis were essentially out of commission, Kain relayed what he wanted to them.
While asking Vauleth to keep it preoccupied, the guards all aimed at the thick, dark violet veins of the creature.
Most of the attacks were dodged, but 2 out of dozens managed to lodge successfully. The additional energy draining properties of the stingers, further disrupted energy flow, making sure Kain's plan went even better than he'd expected.
At the same time, Kain noticed a purple spot in its lower right abdomen that was growing brighter and brighter as the creature's veins seemed to be straining to deliver the same amount of energy to its various limbs as before.
'That's it!' Kain thought while hoisting his spear. All of Kain's contracts aimed successfully at that spot, and while the area seemed to be specially reinforced, chips in its armour began to appear.
Roaring in anger, it bypassed Vauleth and lunged at Kain again, forcing the others' attacks to halt since it was now too close to him.
But this time, Kain was ready. He sidestepped the attack, his spear flashing as he aimed for the glowing spot. The blade struck true, piercing through the creature's already damaged armoured flesh. The creature roared in pain, its glowing veins flickering as Kain twisted the spear, driving it deeper.
The creature lashed out, its claws slashing through the air and catching Kain in the side. Pain shot through his body as he was sent flying, his spear still embedded in the creature's body. He hit the ground hard, his vision swimming as he struggled to stay conscious.
The creature roared again, its glowing veins flickering as it tried to pull the spear from its body. But before it could, Vauleth was on it, the dragon's fiery breath engulfing the creature in flames. The creature staggered back, its glowing veins flickering as the flames consumed it.
Kain watched as the creature roared in pain, its body writhing as the flames consumed it and its lack of energy made it unable to successfully fend off the flames. The glowing purple veins flickered and dimmed, the creature's unnatural strength fading as the flames took their toll. And then, with a final, deafening roar, the creature collapsed, its body now a charred mess.
Kain let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, his body trembling with exhaustion.
As the adrenaline began to fade, Kain felt the full weight of his injuries. He collapsed to his knees, his vision swimming as he struggled to stay conscious. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was Vauleth's massive form standing over him, its fiery golden eyes filled with concern—Kain thought that it was nice that their relationship had improved enough for Vauleth to express something other than disdain for him…
And then, everything went black.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!Kain woke to the sound of crackling flames and the faint hum of energy. His body ached, an almost bone deep pain screaming in protest as he tried to move. The cold was still there, biting at his skin, but the warmth of Vauleth's flames nearby provided some relief.
He groaned, his vision blurry as he pushed himself up onto his elbows, his head pounding with every movement.
A quick inspection of his body revealed that Queen likely healed all of his physical injuries, but there was definitely still some sequelae from the battle. But given the stronger body of beast-tamers, he should be able to fully recover within a day.
'Having a healing contract was definitely a wise decision…' Kain thought while looking at Queen whose wings were still shivering from the cold despite the flames and had all of the remaining guards, a few having died in the battle, huddled against her.
Recalling that the Vespids seemed to be much more sensitive to the cold than his other contracts he recalled them into his star space after thanking them for their hard work.
"You're awake. Figured you'd be fine," a deep, rumbling voice said—Vauleth. Kain wasn't sure if it was due to the increased growth tamers provided to their contracts, but whereas Vauleth's voice when they had first met was more juvenile, it seemed as though he'd sped through the rest of his puberty in a few months. Both his size, voice, and appearance were more mature and the shadow of the Red Dragon King Vulcan and other adult red dragons can be more clearly seen.
Kain turned his head to see Vauleth's massive form looming over him, the dragon's golden eyes glowing in the dim light of the ruins.
Kain managed a weak smile, his voice hoarse as he replied, "Thanks for the concern, Vauleth. I didn't know you cared."
The dragon snorted, a puff of smoke escaping its nostrils. "Don't get used to it. I just didn't want to lose my tamer to some overgrown experiment."
Kain chuckled, though the motion sent a sharp pain through his still pounding head.
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"Where are the others?" Kain asked, his voice still weak but growing stronger.
"Aegis is… well, he's in pieces. He's been gradually reabsorbing the stones he can, but it's difficult when you were unconscious and couldn't feed him any high-quality ore. Bea is fine, though she's still shaken from trying to invade that thing's mind."
Kain nodded, his expression grim. The battle had taken a toll on all of them. He looked over at the charred remains of the creature, its body now a smoldering heap of flesh and machinery.
Kain stood slowly, his body still aching but his condition wasn't so bad that he could delay his mission at hand.
He first went to the abomination, wanting to see if anything of value or information could be obtained from its body. Unfortunately, its core seemed to have self-destructed upon its death, and Kain couldn't gain much else from its body, but Kain still put away the body into the System's Laboratory, wanting to use the equipment he had there to more closely examine it in his free time.
Examination finished, Kain took a deep breath, the cold air sharp in his lungs, and turned his attention to the ruins around them.
The chamber they were in was vast but rundown and clearly showed the damage caused by time, its intact walls still possessed some vague intricate carvings and, impressively, a few of the runes were even glowing despite all the time that had passed.
But Kain couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this place—more secrets hidden beneath the surface.
"We need to keep moving," Kain said, his voice steady despite the lingering pain. "There's more to this relic than just that creature. We need to find out what happened here."
Vauleth snorted, a puff of smoke escaping his nostrils. "And how do you plan to do that? These ruins are crumbling. There's nothing here but ice and broken stone."
Kain shook his head, his eyes scanning the chamber. "Not all of it. Look." He pointed to a section of the wall where the carvings were more intact. The runes glowed faintly, their patterns shifting and rearranging themselves as if they were alive. "There's something beneath us. I can feel it."
Sense learning the spiritual skill Threads of Destiny, Kain began to rely on his instincts more and more. And those instincts were telling him to head down.
Vauleth's eyes narrowed, his gaze following Kain's finger. "You're not suggesting we dig, are you? Because I'm not a mole."
Kain smirked, despite the tension. "No, but I think there's a way down. These ruins are ancient, and they were built by a civilization far more advanced than anything we've seen. If they wanted to hide something, they wouldn't make it easy to find."
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Kain moved closer to the wall, his fingers tracing the intricate carvings. The runes pulsed faintly under his touch, the glowing purple light flickering as if responding to his presence. He pressed his hand against the stone, feeling the faint hum of energy beneath his palm.
"Benji mentioned opening a hidden chamber one time. What was the method he used again…" Kain mumbled while feeling around and using his remaining spiritual power to feed and test the flow of energy in these sigils.
Kain felt along the wall and used various strategies for over an hour and then, with a sudden click, a section of the wall shifted, revealing a hidden passageway.
"Found it," Kain said, his voice filled with a mix of relief and excitement. He glanced back at Vauleth, who was staring at the newly revealed passage with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
Since Vauleth and Bea seemed to be in the best condition, Kain also recalled the still recovering Aegis, making sure to provide him with an abundance of ores to heal faster.
The passageway was narrow for Vauleth and any careless shifting of his weight would cause sections of the walls to collapse.
At one point, the dusty aged air caused Vauleth to sneeze and Kain almost thought he was going to be buried alive. Thankfully, 'only' a small part of the tunnel collapsed and it was easily cleared by Kain and Vauleth.
"Ahem…perhaps you should take a rest too." Kain said before recalling Vauleth before he could respond and leaving him only with Bea for protection. To compensate, he chose to release 4 Vespid guards to travel in front and behind him for protection. Although they were clearly weakened by the environment, they could serve as warnings for any traps. Not to mention Bea had long laid out threads throughout the environment to sense, and infect, any living things that may approach them.
After Vauleth left, the air grew even colder as Kain descended. Kain's breath came out in visible puffs, the cold biting at his skin despite the thick coat he wore.
As they ventured deeper, the passageway opened up into a vast, underground chamber. The room was massive, its walls covered in more of the intricate carvings and glowing runes. But unlike the ruins above, this chamber was almost perfectly preserved. The air was thick with the hum of energy, and the walls seemed to pulse with a faint, purple light.
Kain's eyes widened as he took in the sight before him. The chamber was filled with strange, mechanical devices, their surfaces covered in glowing sigils and symbols. In the center of the room was a massive, circular platform, its surface etched with intricate patterns that glowed with the same purple light. Kain could feel the power radiating from it, a raw, untamed energy that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.
"This… this is incredible," Kain whispered, his voice filled with awe. He moved closer to the platform, his eyes scanning the carvings on the walls. The images were vivid, their details preserved despite the passage of time. They depicted scenes of the ancient civilization—their people, their technology, their experiments.
One set of images caught Kain's eye. It first it showed a massive purple orb that hundreds of people worked together and used various machinery to cut a single sliver off of. Then a group of figures were standing around a massive glowing crystal, likely the sliver cut off previously, their hands raised as if channeling its power. The crystal was surrounded by strange, mechanical devices, their surfaces covered in glowing sigils.
Kain examined the set of images over and over again, but then Kain's breath caught in his throat as he realized what he was looking at.
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