A Step Into the Unknown
After claiming the Cursed Blade, Eren felt his power growing, but so did the burden it brought. Lyssandra's cryptic words lingered in his mind: "With each fragment, a part of you will be tested."
The book of fragments opened on its own, as if driven by its own will. A new luminous page appeared, revealing another cursed location: The Crypt of Veros, hidden beneath the roots of the colossal Tree of Fated Shadows.
[New Main Quest Unlocked: Retrieve the Lost Orb.]
This time, Eren would not be alone. Lyssandra stood by his side, her gaze intense and enigmatic.
"The Lost Orb is more than a fragment, Eren. It is the key to unlocking your shadows' true potential. But this artifact is not just guarded by monsters—it's haunted by a fragment of your past."
The Path to the Crypt
The journey to the Tree of Fated Shadows was fraught with peril. The forest, though familiar, seemed to change as Eren progressed. Creatures he had never encountered before emerged: Spectral Lycans, Scarlet Mist Serpents, and Shadow Guardians, warriors made of living shadows.
Eren and Lyssandra fought side by side, their powers complementing each other. Lyssandra conjured walls of shifting darkness to trap their enemies, while Eren delivered precise, deadly blows.
Their camaraderie grew with each battle, though Eren's initial mistrust of Lyssandra had not entirely faded.
The Crypt of Veros
Beneath the Tree of Fated Shadows, a massive opening led deep underground. The walls of the crypt were adorned with ancient carvings, telling tales of fallen heroes, broken pacts, and a shadow older than time.
[Update: Crypt Detected. Danger: High.]
Inside, a supernatural cold enveloped them. The oppressive silence was interrupted only by the distant drip of water, and the air buzzed with inaudible whispers.
At the crypt's center stood an obsidian altar, where the Lost Orb floated, surrounded by a pulsating field of black light.
The Manifestation of the Past
As Eren approached, the field shattered, revealing a figure he couldn't ignore. A young man with recognizable, yet twisted, features: Kael, Eren's former comrade, and the one who betrayed him in the Cursed Forest.
Kael, or what he had become, let out a bitter laugh.
"Eren… still chasing power? You'll never change. But this time, you won't leave here alive."
Eren's fists clenched as a cold rage rose within him. "Kael. Traitor. Is this an illusion, or have you truly sold your soul?"
Kael raised a crystalline sword, pointing it at Eren. "The Orb belongs to the shadows, just as you do. If you want it, prove you're worthy."
The Duel of Lost Souls
The battle was more intense than any Eren had faced. Kael did not fight alone; specters from their shared past appeared, taking the forms of fallen comrades.
Eren unleashed his new abilities:
Soul Fracture, to divide and shatter the specters.
Total Shadow Fusion, to evade Kael's attacks and counter with crushing precision.
Lyssandra, standing back, chanted incantations that weakened the specters, allowing Eren to focus on Kael.
The duel reached its climax when Kael revealed his true form: a half-human, half-demonic entity corrupted by dark pacts.
With a roar, Eren poured all his energy into a final attack, using the Cursed Blade to cleave Kael in two.
The Lost Orb
With victory in hand, Eren approached the Orb. When his hands touched its surface, a surge of dark energy enveloped him.
The System announced:
[Fragment Acquired: The Lost Orb.][New Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Summoning.]
But this time, there was pain. The Orb seemed to strip away a part of his humanity, replacing it with pure power. Lyssandra stepped closer, a hint of sorrow in her eyes.
"Each fragment brings you closer to the power you seek… but at what cost, Eren? How far will you go?"
Breathing heavily but resolute, Eren replied, "As far as it takes. I won't stop now."
To Be Continued…