After managing to infiltrate the transmission and deliver the message, the group returned to the village.
"It wasn't much, but it should be enough to start dividing opinions," Orzoth commented.
"Tomorrow I'll go back there. I want to see if I hear anything about what happened today." — Kaelon was determined to bring down the leaders of Valnark.
As they discussed new ways to influence public opinion, a young Drakhor approached, interrupting the conversation.
"Guys, come here! You need to see this!" — said the young one, visibly excited.
Without understanding what was happening, the group followed him through a narrow tunnel that led to an open space.
There, in the center of the training field, five figures stood. Surrounded by a circle of scorched earth, pulsating crystals, and black flowers that moved with the wind — even though there was none. Their bodies emanated an aura as ancient as the legends, yet entirely new to Orzoth's eyes.
The first to notice them was Vaerin, the oldest of the five. His arms were covered in glowing veins, pulsing with an ethereal red light.
"Orzoth…" — he said, his voice echoing as if spoken by many mouths.
Next to him, Elyan, with completely black eyes and skin marked by lines that moved like liquid shadows, turned with a faint smile.
"Looks like they found us."
Kirael, with spiky golden hair like electric wires and sky-blue eyes filled with lightning, couldn't hold back.
"Told you this was going to get attention."
Nysha, with pale skin and violet eyes, bore a translucent projection of an ancient dragon on her back — like a watching spirit. She only nodded silently, her feet slightly hovering above the ground.
Finally, Thorn knelt, with black flowers sprouting from the ground around him. Each flower seemed to breathe, pulsing with vital energy. His greenish eyes shone like a poisonous aurora.
Orzoth stopped.
"What… have you done?"
Vaerin stepped forward, and his voice was firmer now.
"Nothing that wasn't already within us. We just… awakened."
Elyan raised his hand, and the shadow around his body shaped into a circle of floating eyes.
"Forgotten memories. Sealed powers. The ruins of the past… are returning."
Orzoth narrowed his eyes.
"This is ancestral magic… No. Something beyond. These are forgotten arts. Magics even the elders didn't dare to touch."
Nysha lowered her feet to the ground, and behind her, the draconic spirit floated away until it vanished.
"They chose us, Orzoth. The forest… the runes… the blood led us to this."
Thorn lifted a flower in the palm of his hand. It slowly bloomed, revealing a whitish glow of pure vital energy.
"We didn't seek power. It came to us… when we were ready."
Kaelon whistled, impressed.
"This is insane… Even by Drayk standards."
Varian, serious, looked at Orzoth.
"Are they… ready for war?"
Orzoth took a deep breath. For the first time, he seemed hesitant.
"They're not just soldiers. They're heirs of a forgotten legacy. The five… are not ordinary. They are a milestone."
He turned to the young ones, his voice heavy with solemnity.
"From today on, the world needs a name for you. From today, you will be the 'Lost Wings,' elite group of the Drakhors."
The name echoed through the valley, as if the world itself accepted it. Thorn's flowers bloomed in unison. A soft thunder rumbled across the clear sky. Elyan's shadows bowed in silence. And the ethereal flame on Vaerin's chest burned brighter.
Elyan, the Call of the VoidA type of forbidden magic that summons entities from the primordial Void.Can open temporary portals, manipulate conscious shadows, or corrupt enemy spells. Requires extreme mental stability.
Vaerin, the Ethereal BloodMagic based on manipulating one's own blood infused with arcane ether.The user sacrifices vitality to massively increase magical power, create crystallized blood weapons, or summon entities tied to draconic lineage.
Kirael, the Whisper of the SkiesA forgotten magic that connects the user to atmospheric currents and ancient celestial storms.Allows manipulation of blue plasma lightning, creation of cutting wind spears, and brief manifestations of draconic storms.When pushed to the limit, the sky responds with thunder that carries words in Zar'keth.
Nysha, the Memory KeeperSpiritual magic capable of channeling the memories of ancestral dragons through ethereal echoes.Temporarily summons projections of past warriors or mages to fight alongside the caster.Also allows instant learning of ancient techniques seen in echoes — but only for a limited time.
Thorn, the Garden of DeathA rare magic based on manipulating life energy and natural decay.The user sows "spectral flowers" on the battlefield that feed on nearby enemies' energy.These flowers can explode in areas of life-drain or heal allies by absorbing hostile energy.
The Great Sage then instructed the Lost Wings to practice their newly awakened abilities. If possible, they should conduct mock battles among themselves to perfect their magic. After all, they would be crucial for the village's defense, in case an attack happened before Drayk's return.
A few days passed. Kaelon and Varian remained infiltrated in Valnark, each following their mission. The young elf discovered a group of rebels who, after hearing the message left by the group, decided to investigate the truth about the dragons for themselves.
Upon finding inconsistencies in the official stories, they rebelled against the imposed rule.
Kaelon was the first to make contact with them. He began secretly training them, helping to strengthen their skills. When Varian was introduced to the rebels, she shared stealth techniques for carrying out discreet missions.
The plan of the two was simple: use the rebels to spark small internal conflicts. After a few days of training, the group carried out their first mission.
During the night, eight members — led by Zinoe, a well-known adventurer in the region — were assigned to attack a supply station used by mercenaries recruited by Darius.
Thanks to the stealth techniques taught by Varian, the mission was a success. Elated by the victory, the rebels launched three more attacks that same night, targeting other stations across the city.
That night became known as the beginning of the civil war in Valnark.
...
Within the runes, Drayk continued his search for more power.
After defeating the king of the 20th floor, he returned to the village to seek new quests. There, he found five villagers with quests available.
"Alright… seems like I get five quests every twenty floors." — he muttered, analyzing the options.
[New Quest Received!]
Name: Silent Hearts
Description: Defeat the three Ancient Spirits that roam the upcoming floors. They are corrupted and in constant pain. Release their souls.
Rewards:
• +30 Dexterity
• Passive Skill: Touch of the Void – Your attacks have a small chance to corrupt the target.
[New Quest Received!]
Name: The Unequal Doors
Description: Choose one of the three magical doors on the 25th floor. Each leads to a unique challenge. You may choose only one.
Rewards (one of three):
• Passive Skill: Mark of the Unstable – Chance to apply "magic rupture" when hit, interrupting enemy spells.
• +50 Intelligence
• Title: The One Who Chooses Without Fear
[New Quest Received!]
Name: The Invisible Beast
Description: Defeat the invisible creature that dwells on the 30th floor. It can't be heard, nor seen... only felt.
Reward:
• Passive Skill: Hunter's Instinct – Increases critical hit chance against enemies when hidden or camouflaged.
[New Quest Received!]
Name: Stone of the Ancient Sky
Description: Retrieve the Star Fragment that floats in the center of the 35th floor. Gravitational traps protect the area.
Reward:
• Special Item: Star Fragment – Greatly enhances the power of an item of your choice.
[New Quest Received!]
Name: The Nameless Guardian
Description: Face the lone warrior of the 40th floor. Only your human form will be allowed. No magic. No transformations.
Rewards:
• Passive Skill: Steel Root – Greatly reduces damage received while fighting in human form.
• +25 Strength
After reading all the rewards he could earn, Drayk's excitement grew. However, the time he had spent in that place had already taught him an important lesson: rest was part of growth.
He had not yet fully recovered from the battle against his copy. He had been unconscious, exhausted to the soul.
Before ending the day, he decided to walk a bit more through the village, searching for new information. That was when he passed by the blacksmith — the same one who had offered him one of his first quests.
Above the old craftsman's head, a light… purple.
"Purple...? That's a new one."
As he approached, the blacksmith quickly called him:
"Ah, hello, young warrior. Took a while, but I think I finally forged a sword worthy of you!" — he said with a proud smile.
Drayk raised an eyebrow, confused. He didn't even remember that promise.
[Notice: This is the reward from a previously completed quest.]
Soon, he remembered: one of the first quests said the blacksmith would prepare a special weapon for him.
"So… it's ready?"
"It is." — he replied, removing the black cloth that covered the weapon. The blade's glow was so intense it slightly blinded the nearby villagers. — "Its name is Solaris Ignis."
Drayk took the sword. It was unlike anything he had ever wielded in that place. On the blade, an inscription in Zar'keth:
"Vek'sorath dral'kesh or'malur… Thar'nai vek'zul sol'drakar."(From the heat of chaos, justice is born. May the dragons' light consume the darkness.)
[Item Obtained: Solaris Ignis – The Blade of the Devastating Sun]
[Notice: Vital Link established with user: Drayk]
"Vital link?" — he asked.
"The sword adapts to your growth. The stronger you become, the more powerful it will be." — the blacksmith explained.
[Notice: Your stats have increased.]
+100 Strength
+50 Intelligence
+75 Dexterity
+30% resistance to darkness or curses
{Str: 840 | Int: 745 | Dex: 915}
Drayk smiled sideways, his eyes glowing gold.
"This sword… is perfect."
In the back of the forge, the furnace extinguished on its own. As if the blacksmith's life's work had been completed. In silence, he knelt before Drayk.
Without saying a word.
That night, Drayk could barely sleep. He was excited, eager to test his new sword.
The next day, he went straight to the 21st floor. Spectral creatures dominated the area, but they were wiped out within minutes. Drayk shot through the corridors like a golden lightning bolt, cutting down everything with Solaris Ignis.
In the king's chamber, he found a massive ancient spirit — corrupted. And the moment he saw it, Drayk recognized it: one of the targets from the Silent Hearts quest.
The fight was one-sided.
Drayk defeated it with just a few strikes, feeling his power grow once more. His mind was focused.
Accelerate.
Finish the labyrinth.
Reach the top.
Drayk advanced without hesitation.
From the 22nd to the 24th floor, each level seemed to try — and fail — to stop his fury. The creatures there — wandering spirits, shattered golems, and abominations born of raw corrupted energy — fell like leaves before the solar blade of Solaris Ignis.
The sword shone brighter with every strike, as if the very light of the dragons answered the call of their heir.
The next floors had no traditional bosses. Instead, Drayk faced small strategic challenges: magical traps, constantly shifting corridors, mental illusions… but nothing his new skill, Sovereign's Eye, couldn't see through.
[Active Skill: Sovereign's Eye – Weakness analysis and illusion nullification activated.]
"Seriously? That was it?" — he grumbled, crossing a hall of mirrors trying to confuse his senses.
One firm step. One clean cut.The entire floor collapsed.
Floor 24: Completed.
In the short gap between floors, Drayk sat on one of the floating rest platforms suspended between dimensions. A golden aura surrounded his body, the result of the passive bonuses he had accumulated on his journey.
He took a deep breath. Closed his eyes.
Nexum's voice echoed in his mind, calm and distant:
"You're moving fast… but remember, not everything is solved by strength. Some choices define more than battles."
He opened his eyes slowly, staring at the floating symbol of the next floor: the 25th.
A black stone platform materialized ahead. At its center, three doors stood — each pulsing with a different color: blue, red, and purple.
Drayk approached the doors, examining each one carefully. The red one radiated raw power. The blue seemed surrounded by intense mental energy. The purple... was pure chaos.
"Heh. Chaos, then?"
He chuckled to himself. Without hesitation, he touched the purple door.
The structure dissolved into glowing particles, revealing a spiral staircase made of fractured light, as if space itself were unstable. Drayk descended slowly, and with each step, the world around him changed.
At first, the environment was a battlefield frozen in time. Then, an ancient sanctuary consumed by darkness. Finally, a narrow corridor where everything seemed… alive. The walls pulsed. The floor whispered in forgotten tongues.
In the final room, a floating altar hovered at the center, guarded by dozens of magical spikes that appeared and vanished in chaotic intervals.
Drayk closed his eyes. Felt the pattern. Let his body move by instinct.
With three steps and a leap, he crossed the living trap without taking a single scratch. Upon touching the altar, an explosion of energy engulfed him.
[Quest Completed: The Unequal Doors]
You chose the Path of the Unstable.
• Title acquired: The One Who Chooses Without Fear (Permanent bonus: immune to illusions, fear, and mental manipulation.)
Drayk felt his mind clear. New ideas bubbled in his brain, as if hundreds of books had been absorbed all at once.
He laughed.
"If this is the power of someone who chooses without fear… I'm starting to like this title."
All around him, space slowly fragmented, rebuilding itself as if the labyrinth itself acknowledged his choice.
In front of him, the symbol of the 26th floor was already pulsing, calling him toward the next challenges.
But Drayk knew that from this point on, things were about to get serious.