The notification blinked on Kain's screen, its contents stark against the backdrop of his unease. He quickly scanned the text, Serena leaning in slightly to read over his shoulder.
A subtle sweet smell filled his mind briefly, distracting him from the text, but familiar words snapped him back into focus.
Location: Brightstar City, Southern Region.
Objective: A relic related to the Warring States Period has been found. Information about the Abyss and/or Abyssal creatures may be obtained.
Type of Relic: Unknown
Participants Required: Minimum of 5 Pathfinder members, including at least one 7-star beast-tamer or above.
Reward: 20,000 credits, additional hazard bonuses depending on the situation.
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Kain's heart that was in his throat immediately dropped back down. Seeing the familiar city name, he'd initially thought there was an outbreak of the corrupted or some other life-or-death emergency in his hometown. Thankfully, it was just a new relic.
He immediately confirmed his participation and then used his newly obtained credits to exchange for some supplies that were recommended by the more senior Pathfinders and would come in hand during an emergency.
Although, he wished to buy some rare evolutionary materials, spiritual skills, weapons or even 'special experience opportunities' (whatever that was) that could greatly bolster his strength, aside from a weapon, the others can't be converted instantly into strength. Considering that he had an urgent mission hanging over his head, he decided to exchange for other items that would increase his chances of survival.
Additionally, since Kain wasn't required to attend a meeting for the mission or enter the relic right away, he had some family matters to take care of.
Given the chaos from the Abyssal creatures that was just bubbling beneath the surface and could erupt at any time, he wouldn't feel comfortable leaving his family in Brightstar City right now while he went in the relic. After all, he'd heard cases of individuals being trapped in a relic for years. He wouldn't want to risk that happening to him in these chaotic times.
He tasked Collin with buying more of the land adjacent to the one he already was raising the Clear Spring Wolves on and to build a new home for his relocating relatives (although they hadn't agreed to the move yet). Sёarch* The NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Of course, Collin grumbled and complained the whole time about already being busy managing the new industries Kain now possessed—the spiritual beer, elemental Silkworm silk, the FMT pills. Kain's fame had even led to him receiving endorsement requests and requests to attend important events. And all of these tasks and requests were being managed by Collin alone.
'I guess I should really hire a personal assistant…' Kain made a mental note.
After finalizing the land purchase and construction plans with Collin, Kain turned his attention back to his family.
His family in Brightstar City was relatively small, and the director had always been stubborn about staying put. But with the increasing reports of Abyssal activity, Kain knew he couldn't afford to let the director and the children stay there unprotected.
Thankfully, after Kain explained the situation, although still extremely resistant, the director finally agreed to move to Dark Moon City.
By the time Kain met up with his team at the meeting point designated for the participants of Brightstar City mission, he felt more prepared—both mentally and physically. Especially, now that he didn't have to worry about the safety of his loved ones. Collin had texted him that morning to confirm the safe arrival and settlement of his relatives in Dark Moon City.
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Kain, as the rookie, had taken the initiative to arrive early and was the first at the location. It was at least another half an hour before the other team members began trickling in.
Kain was pleasantly surprised to see that Benji, his guide during the Pathfinder orientation, would be participating. It was nice to have at least one familiar face. The other 2 participants to arrive were both similar-looking women with red hair, likely sisters, named Claudia and Clara.
After waiting at the designated meeting point for close to one hour, the last member of their five-person team arrived—a tall, stern-looking woman from the Pathfinder branch named Nadia.
She was a 7-star beast-tamer and their de facto leader for this mission. Her contract beast, a massive indigo-grade spiritual creature that resembles a griffin, stood silently at her side, exuding a menacing aura.
Nadia wasted no time. "You've all read the mission briefing," she said briskly. "Our objective is to explore the relic, assess its connection to the Abyss, and retrieve any information or items of value. This is a priority mission, so no unnecessary risks. Stick together, follow my orders, and we'll get through this."
The team nodded in unison, and Nadia signalled for the teleportation array to activate. The air around them hummed with energy as the light from the array grew brighter, enveloping them in a blinding glow.
When the light faded, the team found themselves standing on the outskirts of Brightstar City. The familiar streets stretched out before Kain, but something felt… off. The air was thick with tension, and the usual hustle and bustle of the city seemed subdued.
However, the last Kain had heard from his family, who had only evacuated yesterday, the news of the Abyss still hadn't spread to here. So what was with the strange atmosphere?
"Did something major happen in the city lately?" Kain asked, as a native he was sensitive to the changes in the city. Although his family had moved, he still knew and cared for many of the locals, and so was concerned about the status of the city.
"Probably the relic," Nadia said. "It may be a Historical echo. They have a way of affecting the area around them and the people in the surroundings unconsciously."
Kain's gaze lingered on the city for a moment before he followed the group.
As they approached the heart of the city, the streets grew quieter. Shops that were usually bustling with activity were closed, their shutters drawn tight. Only a few people moved about, their expressions wary and their steps hurried.
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As the team approached the temple, the oppressive energy grew stronger, wrapping around them like an invisible weight. Kain's instincts prickled, he felt as though he was being watched by dozens of invisible eyes, however no matter how much he searched there was no one.
"You can stop searching," Benji said, likely fed up with Kain tossing his head around to locate the source of the uncomfortable gazes. "Most relics that are historical echoes will give off the uncanny feeling of being surrounded by invisible people—likely due to the many souls caught in limbo, destined to repeat the events of that relic repeatedly. However, Habitat relics can also give off a similar feeling, but it's usually in the case of a large amount of intelligent creatures being kept captive inside."
Not that Kain knew the source of the unsettling feeling, he was able to better focus on the task at hand.
The temple loomed before them, its entrance framed by a pair of weathered stone columns etched with intricate carvings.
'Crazy…I lived in this city my whole life, but don't think I've seen this building even once…did it just appear? Or for some reason was it unconsciously ignored by everyone for decades, centuries even.'
Nadia motioned for the group to halt just outside.
The temple clearly worshipped an entity whose identity had been long lost and the key features of the worshipped creature had long faded with time. However, Kain could tell that this temple was extremely old and may even predate the empire.
If his guess is correct and it truly is that old, then Kain was no longer surprised by it being the site of a relic.
"Check your gear one last time," Nadia instructed. Her dark-winged griffin stood alert beside her, its sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for threats. Clearly, it wasn't only the humans that found the heavy aura to be unsettling. "And place your badges on your chests. Should we get separated they will allow us to easily identify one another."
"Stay behind me," Nadia said bluntly. "And don't touch anything unless I say it's safe."
With that, she stepped forward, leading the team into the temple.
Inside, the air was thick and musty, carrying the faint scent of earth and decay. The light from a fire attribute hawk-like spiritual creature summoned by Nadia was leading the way and ensuring they could all see. It's flaming body cast flickering shadows across the walls, illuminating more of the intricate carvings that lined the corridor.
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"These markings…" Benji murmured, running a hand along one of the walls. "They're consistent with relics from the Warring States Period, but they're… warped. Look at the patterns—they're spiraling inward, almost as if—"
"As if they're drawing something in," Nadia finished. She glanced back at Benji. "Good eye. That's consistent with relics related to the Abyss. These strange designs actually contribute to the formation of an array that's probably been running this whole time for centuries. They help to conceal the location, making it unconsciously ignored by everyone. Which is why this old building was never torn down."
'That also explains why this building was practically invisible to me until I was forced to look at it due to a mission'
Nadia continued, "They also serve as a guide for the corrupted. If there is ever an outbreak of the corrupted in this city now, the corrupted will unconsciously move toward this building rather than continue to attack civilians. Therefore, this array is a double-edged sword. It may protect more civilians in the event of an outbreak, but it will also draw in any corrupted within miles toward the city. Thankfully, it doesn't seem as though many entrances have broken down yet, and there are no corrupted in the city." Read new adventures at empire
Kain's stomach churned slightly at the mention of the Abyss. He couldn't shake the memory of the corrupted creatures he'd faced during the attack at the dragon's territory. If this relic was connected to the Abyss, there was no telling what they might encounter.
The group pressed on, the corridor gradually widening into a larger chamber. At the center of the room stood a raised dais, upon which rested an ornate, rectangular mirror twice as large as the average person. Its surface was dark, almost liquid-like, and faint ripples spread across it as if it were alive.
"That must be the entrance," Nadia said, her voice low. She gestured for the group to spread out and secure the area. "No one touches the mirror until I say so."
As the team fanned out, Kain felt a strange pull toward the mirror, like an invisible thread tugging at his mind. He shook his head, trying to shake off the sensation.
Out of everyone there, Vauleth was probably the most familiar with Abyssal energy, so Kain summoned him and Bea, who could inconspicuously remain on Kain's body.
Similarly, those that didn't already have contracts summoned began to do so as well. It was common practice to go into a relic ready to engage in a battle immediately.
Nadia, her eyes fixed on the mirror, inquired. "Benji, can you sense anything?"
Benji possessed a Spirit Mouse, a spiritual creature with practically no combat abilities, but is capable of seeing things that normally can't be detected. Reportedly it even has the ability to see through time and observe past events that occurred in an area. It was an invaluable resource for Pathfinders.
After Kain's inquiry, and direction from Benji, the mouse stared into the mirror while its eyes turned an eerie pale blue.
A moment later, its eyes snapped back to their normal black, and Benji conveyed what it had seen to Kain and the others. "It can be confirmed that it is a historical echo. However, some of the creatures on the other side feel…twisted. There are likely corrupted—many of them." Sёarᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Before anyone could react, the mirror's surface began to ripple more violently. A low, guttural sound emanated from it, sending chills down Kain's spine.
"Positions!" Nadia barked, her griffin stepping forward with a fierce screech. "We've got company!"
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The mirror's surface bulged inward, and with that inward pulling, Kain and the others were also all sucked in no matter how badly they struggled.
———————–
Kain had never been special. At least, that's what he thought growing up. He was the eldest of three siblings in a small, struggling family in the fragmented city-state of Ishvaran, a place constantly teetering on the edge of survival.
Life in Ishvaran wasn't easy. Between the ever-shifting borders of rival states, raids from spiritual creatures, and the unrelenting pressure of external conflicts, survival often felt like an achievement in itself.
Thankfully, compared to other city-states rife with internal conflict, Ishvaran was relatively harmonious internally.
His father was a blacksmith, his mother a weaver, and Kain spent most of his childhood helping with whatever needed doing—hauling water, delivering messages, acting as an assistant to both or watching his younger siblings while his parents spent the bulk of their time working. It was a hard life but a simple one.
Until the day everything changed.
When Kain turned 19, a massive Storm Drake attacked Ishvaran. The city's defences barely held, and though the beast was eventually driven off, the devastation it left behind was immense. Kain's family home was among the casualties, and in the chaos, his younger brother went missing. For days, Kain searched tirelessly, scouring the wreckage and calling out until his throat was raw.
On the seventh day, he found his brother trapped beneath a collapsed section of the city wall. Unfortunately, the wall was too heavy for ordinary people to lift on their own, but awakened individuals were also too scarce to request help from. He'd never even met a beast-tamer in his life, who would he know to even contact?!
The child was barely clinging to life, and Kain, along with some good Samaritans trying to help, was too weak to lift the debris. Overwhelmed by desperation, Kain shouted to the heavens, his voice hoarse with anguish.
That's when it happened.
A surge of power coursed through his body, alien but undeniable. He had a vague memory of entering a dark space filled with nothing except for a large egg that appeared right in front of him. Unconsciously, he touched the egg…and awakened an affinity.
The spiritual power fluctuations from his independent awakening could not be hidden, and a high-level official soon came to the area. After easily assisting and treating Kain's brother, Kain was carted away by who, Kain later found out, was the Vice City Lord.
In the years that followed, Kain's life changed dramatically. Beast-tamers were rare and highly valued, especially in struggling city-states like Ishvaran.
He was quickly taken in as a personal disciple of the Vice City-Lord, a prestigious 7-star beast-tamer whose job was to train any new talents that arose.
Under the Vice City-Lord's guidance, Kain honed his abilities, forming contracts with four spiritual creatures: an invisible creature capable of controlling a target's mind, a vespid queen, a sturdy Earth golem capable of creating defensive barriers and a rare Red Coloured Dragon.
But life as a beast-tamer was far from easy. Ishvaran's precarious position meant Kain was often called upon to defend the city or negotiate with rival states. His youth and humble beginnings made him an easy target for those who viewed him as unworthy of his position.
He worked harder, trained longer, and fought more fiercely than anyone else, determined to prove himself—not just to his superiors, but to himself. He refused to let Ishvaran fall, no matter the cost!
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Kain stirred from his sleep, his mind clouded with fragments of unfamiliar dreams and confusing scenery.
The scenes in the dream were of a seemingly unfamiliar world, but it also gave him a strong sense of déjà vu.
He blinked against the soft light streaming through the tall windows of his quarters, their frames adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures.
The room around him was far from modest—polished wood floors, silk drapes, and walls lined with shelves holding rare scrolls and artifacts. His bed alone was large enough for several people, its frame made of dark lacquered wood inlaid with silver filigree.
Despite having lived in this room for a year, he couldn't get used to the drastic change in his living arrangements and status after becoming one of the rare beast-tamers.
The faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, a mark of the Vice City-Lord's estate. As one of Ishvaran's rare beast-tamers and the personal disciple of the Vice City-Lord, Kain was afforded privileges that few in the city could imagine. Yet, something about the opulence of his surroundings felt… unfamiliar. Even more so than usual.
He sat up slowly, his movements careful as though testing his body for injuries.
'But I haven't left the city in weeks. Where would I get injured?' Kain himself was puzzled by his own behaviour. But he still didn't stop his puzzling actions.
As he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his gaze fell to his attire. Gone were his usual traditional Ishvaran garments. Instead, he was wearing a set of light armor. The armor glinted faintly in the sunlight, its surface etched with swirling patterns that pulsed faintly with spiritual energy.
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Kain frowned, running his fingers over the intricate designs. The armor was far superior to anything he owned, both in craftsmanship and spiritual resonance. "Where did this come from?" he muttered under his breath. He didn't remember putting it on, but it fit perfectly, as though tailored for him.
He decided against taking it off and instead moved to just put his traditional robes over the armour.
As he adjusted the garments over the armor, something cold brushed against his hand. He pulled back the fabric to reveal a strange badge pinned to the inner armour. It bore the symbol of Auralis' Eye—a constellation he recognized from countless nights spent gazing at the stars.
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'This wasn't here before,' Kain thought, his brows furrowing. The badge emitted a faint warmth, and an inexplicable sense of familiarity tugged at the edges of his mind. He turned it over in his hand, deciding on whether to keep it or discard it.
Something deep within urged him to hold onto it. Deciding to trust his instincts, Kain repinned the badge to his inner armor before standing and stretching and leaving his room.
The Vice City-Lord's estate was a sprawling compound of polished stone and towering pagodas, nestled within Ishvaran's inner district.
It served as both a residence and a center for training Ishvaran's few beast-tamers.
Kain's room was among the most luxurious, due to his status as one of the city's few awakened. Not to mention, the frequency of people awakening has been so low, that Kain was currently the City-Lord's only active student. All of the other students had 'graduated' and took over important posts and positions within the city.
The compound did have other young beast-tamers, but the vast majority of them did not have an affinity strong enough to warrant personal instruction from the Vice City Lord.
Unlike Kain who had like up all 5 stars of the Spiritual Podium—a device used by many of the city-states to measure the potential of a newly awakened's affinity.
As Kain stepped out onto a balcony at the front of the mansion and open to all residents, the city stretched out before him. Ishvaran was bustling even at dawn, with merchants setting up their stalls and soldiers patrolling the walls.
Below, a group of junior tamers were sparring in the training courtyard, their movements precise but lacking the fluidity of seasoned warriors. Spiritual creatures of various forms darted around them as they play sparred.
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"Kain!" a voice called from below. He looked down to see one of the senior tamers waving at him. "The Vice City-Lord is expecting you in the strategy hall."
Kain nodded, turning to make his way down the stone steps that led to the estate's main grounds. His boots clicked softly against the polished stone, and as he walked, he passed the estate's gardens—filled with rare spiritual plants that shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
The strategy hall was a grand chamber adorned with maps and relics from Ishvaran's history. The Vice City-Lord, Nadia, stood at its center, her presence commanding as always. Her dark eyes were sharp, her crimson cloak trailing behind her as she gestured toward a map pinned to the far wall.
"Kain," she said without turning, her voice firm. "You're late."
"Apologies, Vice City-Lord," Kain said, bowing respectfully.
"Come," she said, motioning for him to join her. "We have a lot to discuss."
Kain approached, his gaze falling on the map. It showed Ishvaran's borders, with markers indicating recent sightings of spiritual creatures and areas of concern.
"The situation is escalating," Nadia said grimly. "Scouts have reported increased activity in the eastern forests—rogue spiritual creatures and signs of Abyssal corruption. If the reports are accurate, we may have less time than we thought to strengthen our defenses."
Kain's stomach churned at the mention of the Abyss. He had heard whispers of its influence spreading across the region, but the thought of it reaching Ishvaran was unsettling.
"I've arranged for additional patrols along the eastern border," Nadia continued. "And I'll need you to lead one of them. Take your contracts and assess the situation. If you encounter any Abyssal creatures, do not engage unless absolutely necessary. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Vice City-Lord," Kain said firmly.
—————-
By the time Kain returned to the estate from his shift on the patrol, the sun had already completely set.
This isn't your world, Kain.
He shook his head, and forgot about the irrational thought that suddenly sprang up in his mind.
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Days passed, and Kain settled into a routine that felt strangely familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time.
As one of the city-state's prized beast-tamers, Kain's duties alternated between patrolling the outskirts to keep rogue spiritual creatures at bay and assisting the Vice City-Lord in planning defences against rival states and potential Abyssal threats.
As time went on, the feelings of unfamiliarity and the uncomfortable feeling of forgetting something began to fade. He couldn't help but feel like this had always been his life.
But sometimes certain events or people will bring up those unsettling feelings again…
One morning, Kain descended from the estate's main building, his gaze sweeping the training grounds below. A familiar figure caught his eye—a man with a wiry frame and sharp hazel eyes directing a group of junior tamers.
"Benji," Kain called, descending the steps.
The man turned, his features lighting up in recognition. "Kain! Done patrolling already?"
Kain approached, taking in the sight of Benji's Spirit Mouse perched on his shoulder. The tiny creature twitched its nose, its beady eyes scanning Kain with an unnerving intensity.
Benji had quickly risen in the ranks since awakening his affinity, becoming a trusted scout and analyst for the Vice City-Lord. His Spirit Mouse's unique ability to sense threats, locate treasures, and more made him an invaluable resource.
"Finished yesterday's patrol late, but I have another one in the western sector this afternoon," Kain replied. "What about you?"
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"Preparing the juniors for their first hunt," Benji said with a smirk, gesturing to the sparring pairs before him. "They've got potential, but they're still green."
One of the junior tamers stumbled mid-swing and was hit hard to the ground by the large tiger-like spiritual creature it was sparring with.
"If only these newbies could be as worry-free as mentoring you," Benji said with melancholy, while heading over to the newly injured young beast-tamer.
However, Kain couldn't help but dwell on Benji's statement. Kain was brought to this compound and was placed directly under the instruction of the Vice City Lord, he couldn't actually recall a time when he had actually even been mentored or received any advice form Benji.
However, despite the lack of any such memory involving Benji, Kain instinctively felt like his statement wasn't false.
'Weird…' The annoying feeling that his memories and surroundings weren't matching came up again.
——————————-
Later that day, Kain led his patrol along the western edge of Ishvaran's borders. The terrain was rocky and uneven, with sparse vegetation hanging on stubbornly within the harsh environment.
He was accompanied by two of his contracts, the Vespid Queen (and her guards) and the Earth Golem, flanked him, their presence a comforting reminder of his strength.
On one such day, Kain's patrol brought him to the southern sector, where he encountered two of Ishvaran's risig stars: Clara and Claudia.
The two women were sparring in the central training grounds when Kain arrived. Their movements were sharp and fluid, a striking contrast to the more hesitant techniques of the junior tamers nearby. A crowd had gathered, watching in awe as the pair engaged in a fierce battle.
Clara's contract, a fox-like spiritual creature with crystalline fur emitting light, moved in perfect harmony with her commands, darting in and out of Claudia's shadow panther's range.
Meanwhile, Clara and Claudia were engaged in a fierce battle with one another.
After all, during these chaotic times, a beast-tamer without their own combat power was a dead beast-tamer.
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Currently they were evenly matched, and even their fighting styles were similar. From the current tally of their wins and losses they also had an equal number of wins.
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Kain leaned against a nearby pillar, watching with admiration. Despite only joining the patrol recently and supposedly having little practical experience, they exuded the confidence and skill of seasoned warriors. Clara and Claudia quickly became rising stars within the patrol and were both up for a higher-up position.
The fight ended when Clara's fox leapt over Claudia's panther in a dazzling display of agility, landing on Claudia's shoulder and pinning her to the ground with a triumphant growl. The onlookers erupted into cheers and applause.
Clara extended a hand to Claudia, who accepted it with a wry smile. "You've gotten faster," Claudia said, brushing herself off.
"And you've gotten stronger," Clara replied, her tone warm but teasing. "If that last strike had landed, I'd be in the healer's ward right now."
Kain approached as the crowd began to disperse. "Impressive as always," he said, nodding to both women. "You joined the patrols only recently but you two make the rest of us look like amateurs."
Clara turned to him with a smirk. "I don't know about amateurs… I hear you've been holding your own on the eastern patrols, Kain."
Claudia crossed her arms, her panther curling at her feet. "Although, you've still got a lot to learn if you want to keep up with us."
Technically, Kain's position and practical experience should be slightly higher than the other two, but none of the three seemed to see any problem or inconsistency with them taking on a slightly superior and instructional tone with Kain. The two sisters then began to recount various pieces of practical advice to Kain, like usual.
However, their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a messenger, a young boy out of breath and clutching a scroll. "Tamers Kain, Claudia, and Clara!" he called, his voice urgent. "The Vice City-Lord requests your presence at the strategy hall. According to her, the need for the presence of the three of you is extremely urgent."
The three tamers exchanged a glance before heading to the hall together.
When they arrived, the Vice City-Lord was already waiting. Surprisingly, Benji was also present. The gazes of the both of them swept over the 3 new arrivals.
Interestingly, despite having just seen Benji that morning Kain couldn't help but feel something odd in the way he and Nadia were staring at the 3 of them. Something had clearly changed in how he treated Kain in just these couple of hours.
"See I told you they don't remember anything."
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!Kain, Clara, and Claudia halted mid-step at Benji's words.
Don't remember anything? What the heck are they talking about?
Kain's brows furrowed as he exchanged a glance with the two women beside him. Neither of them seemed outwardly alarmed by the statement, but there was a momentary flicker of something in their expressions—confusion? Or perhaps… recognition?
Clara tilted her head, her stance shifting slightly. "I'm not sure what you mean, Vice City-Lord," she said cautiously. Her usual confidence was still there, but there was an edge of uncertainty in her voice. "We wouldn't have reported here if we weren't in full control of our faculties."
Kain crossed his arms, nodding. "If there's a problem, just tell us directly."
Benji clicked his tongue, rubbing his temple as if this was giving him a headache. "The problem is," he said slowly, "you don't know that something's wrong. If I asked you right now how long you've been in Ishvaran, what would you say?"
"Ten years," Claudia answered instantly.
Clara nodded. "Same here. We arrived together after fleeing the wilderness and joined the patrols together."
Kain frowned. "I was born here, my affinity was discovered a year ago and I have been training under the Vice City-Lord since."
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Benji let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "No. That's completely false. None of you have been here more than a few days."
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A tense silence fell over the room.
Kain opened his mouth, ready to refute the ridiculous claim, but… something stopped him. A tight, twisting feeling in his chest.
This isn't your world, Kain.
The words slithered through his mind unbidden, and he inhaled sharply. A flickering memory—faint, like a shadow slipping through his fingers—flashed across his consciousness. A temple. A mirror. A pull—
No.
He had always been here. Hadn't he?
Clara's fingers twitched at her side, and Claudia's normally cool expression flickered with an emotion Kain couldn't quite place.
Nadia's voice cut through the silence. "If I told you that a week ago, none of you existed within Ishvaran's records, how would you respond?"
Kain's breath caught.
Clara and Claudia stiffened.
"Impossible," Clara said, shaking her head. "I have memories—clear ones. Training in the patrols, fighting rogue beasts, even my first hunt—"
"Fabricated," Benji interrupted. "They were given to you. By this relic. We are currently within a historical echo."
Historical echo? Why does that sound so familiar?
A slow, creeping unease crawled up Kain's spine. He pressed his lips into a thin line, forcing himself to think rationally.
"…If what you're saying is true," Kain said carefully, "then why do we remember so much?"
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"Because that's how a historical echo relic works," Benji said grimly. "It forces you into a role. Usually the necessary knowledge and identity are given to you while you retain your sense of self. Allowing you to act in a manner not to out of the ordinary. Similar to actors being given a script—they're still usually aware that they are acting. It's only in rare cases that someone gets 'too into their role' and begins to believe they truly are the character they play."
However, Nadia picked up where Benji left off. "This relic, possibly due to its connection to the Abyss, appears to have a strong assimilating power on the mind. Therefore, we all entered fully consumed by the 'roles' we were given. And unless something triggered the break, we would never realize it's not real."
She continued, "Likely because my cultivation level was stronger than the rest of you, I was able to snap out of it the fastest. Especially since in my free time I had been studying the Pathfinder's badge, trying to remember its purpose. Benji breaking free at almost the same time as me was a surprise though…"
Benji smiled humbly, "Ahem—it's no big deal. Its completely the credit of Aura." He said while gesturing to the Spirit Mouse on his shoulder, whose beady black eyes glowed faintly. The small creature twitched its whiskers as if there was an interesting or embarrassing story behind how they recovered their memories but, unfortunately, Benji did not elaborate further.
The more that Nadia and Benji spoke, the more Kain believed their words. However, he still couldn't remember much about the life they say he supposedly led outside of the relic. It was like trying to grab hold of mist—whenever he thought he had something, it would slip away.
And unfortunately, since neither Nadia nor Benji were personally close with him, they couldn't give any names for family members or friends that may serve as a trigger for him.
Claudia and Clara were also in the same boat. They were a team of 5 put together temporarily and hadn't thought to exchange such information. After all, a situation like this where they all lost their original identities at once was unprecedented.
The three of them left the strategy hall in silence, given the sole task of remembering their lives outside of this city—this relic.
Kain's mind was spinning as he walked back to his quarters. The familiar smiling faces, the family members and friends that he felt he'd known for years…none of them were real? Or at least they were all long dead…
At the thought, Kain couldn't resist a sudden burst of sadness consuming his heart.
But still, although he didn't want to come to terms with the saddening thought, he didn't have the idea of sticking his head in the sand and continuing to live in this false reality.
Although he couldn't remember anything of his real life, he was certain that there must also be friends and family waiting for him outside of this relic—real, living people.
And then, his gaze landed on the badge pinned beneath his robes.
Auralis' Eye.
His fingers twitched toward it before he stopped himself. He had almost thrown it away the first time he saw it. Something had told him not to.
Now based off of the information he'd received from Nadia, he was certain that this badge would be his best shot at breaking whatever 'spell' this relic had on him.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!Time blurred.
Kain had remained completely isolated in his room and was relieved of all duties by the order of the 'Vice City Lord' Nadia. This was so that he could focus on recovering his lost memories.
At first, Kain wasn't even sure how long it had been since the revelation in the strategy hall. The weight of Benji and Nadia's words had settled into his bones, gnawing at his thoughts even when he tried to push them away. But the moment he began actively questioning his memories—digging into every interaction, every familiar face—the cracks in his mind widened.
His supposed first childhood friend Klaus who lived next to his family? He could remember his name, face, voice, the scent of their home, but… he couldn't remember any specific interaction they had with one another.
Games they played? Secrets they shared?
Nothing.
The first time he held a weapon? He recalled the feel of the hilt in his hands, the rush of battle, but not where it happened or why he was fighting.
Slowly, the fractures in his mind deepened, and piece by piece, the memories that had once been sealed away came flooding back.
The Order. The Abyss. His contracts. The real world.
The realization hit him with the force of a collapsing mountain. He wasn't Kain, a disciple of the Vice City-Lord in Ishvaran. He was Kain of the Celestial Empire. A Pathfinder.
His life here had all been a lie.
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And yet… it had felt so real.
Kain summoned all 4 of his contracts, when Kain's memories resurfaced, so did there's.
Queen and Aegis seemed to not care too much. The most important things to them (Kain, their allies) entered the relic with them and weren't forgotten. Therefore, forgetting their memories of the real world wasn't a particularly disturbing experience for them.
Vauleth on the other hand was absolutely horrified. He'd forgotten Galadriel! Completely forgotten her. Not to mention, due to the lack of past memories these past few days his relationship with Kain had softened. He'd willingly allowed that guy to use him as a mount frequently! Moreover, once when Kain wished to take a nap while on patrol, he'd allowed Kain to use himself as a bed.
This was a great loss to his dignity!
Vauleth wished he could scrub these embarrassing memories from his mind!
He looked at Kain with a dark look, contemplating knocking his head hard enough to damage all of his memories.
However, looking at the massive Golem, Vespid Guards, and knowing that Bea was also lurking around invisibly, he knew that his chances of hurting Kain would be slim.
Unlike the indifference of Queen and Aegis, and the horror of Vauleth, Bea was actually quite intrigued by her experience in this relic.
As a mental attribute spiritual creature who was also undetectable to the vast majority of creatures, she'd never actually been victim to any kind of mental manipulation before.
However, now, despite being a green-grade spiritual creature she had not been able to resist this mental erosion at all. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire
Perhaps this relic could serve as an opportunity to take her mental-attribute skills one step further.
————————–
By the time Kain made his way back to the Vice City-Lord's estate—or what his mind still stubbornly labeled as such—he found Nadia, Benji, Clara, and Claudia already waiting in a private chamber.
From the brief expressions that flickered across Clara and Claudia's faces, Kain could tell that they had remembered before him.
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And that realization stung.
He wasn't arrogant enough to think he was the strongest among them. In fact, in terms of cultivation level he was by far the weakest among them. But his mental defenses should have been superior due to Bea's influence.
He had a mental-attribute contract, damn it! He should have been the first one to break free.
His frustration must have been obvious because Benji clapped a hand on his shoulder, offering a knowing smirk. "Don't look so disappointed. You actually did well, considering the circumstances."
Kain frowned. "How do you figure?"
Benji leaned back, crossing his arms. "Look at it this way—You're only a 4-star beast-tamer, while Clara, Claudia, and I are all 6-stars, and Nadia is a high-level 7-star beast-tamer. That kind of mental disparity matters when it comes to resisting external influences."
"Not to mention," Nadia added, "Clara and Claudia had been exposed to the Pathfinder's Badge for far longer than you. I had already been studying mine for days before I woke up, and Benji's Spirit Mouse has a unique sensitivity to foreign energies. Considering all that, the fact that you broke free only slightly slower than the two of them is actually impressive."
Kain nodded, but still wasn't completely sold.
Claudia, who had been silent until now, gave him a sideways glance. "What really matters is that we're all on the same page now."
Clara nodded. "And now that we remember, it's time we figure out our next steps."
Nadia exchanged a look with Benji before straightening. "We've been investigating since the moment we regained our awareness. There's a lot to go over, so listen carefully."
The room fell into silence as they all focused.
Nadia unrolled a parchment she had been keeping at her side, one that was filled with notes, observations, and hastily drawn symbols. She tapped a finger against the ink-stained page.
"The first thing we needed to determine was why this relic was so much more immersive than any historical echo we've encountered before."
Kain folded his arms. "And? What did you find?"
Benji was the one to answer. "We were right in assuming it had something to do with the Abyss. But what we didn't realize at first was that this relic wasn't just contaminated with some remnant energy from the Abyss—this relic actually serves as an active entrance to the Abyss and while the people of this world are just memory fragments, the Abyssal creatures are very much real. And they are looking for a way out, just like us."
"Moreover," Nadia added, tone suddenly dropping, "they appear to be much closer to accomplishing this goal than we are."
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Kain followed behind a small group of large grotesque creature as black as ink except for their armour.
Their body was covered with glowing bone armor, the right hand was similar to a dragon claw, but without scales, and the left arm was a huge bone blade.
There was a huge single horn on their head, no nose, exposed fangs in their mouth, and a golden single eye.
Behind each one, was a tail that was tens of feet long, also covered in bone armor, and the end was like a sharp spear tip!
'Damn its ugly…I've never seen an Abyssal creature wear armour before though.' Not to mention this one seems a lot more intelligent than the corrupted spiritual creatures and people Kain had seen in the Dragon's territory.
The corrupted creatures in the dragons' territory had been relentless, but ultimately, they had acted on pure instinct—devouring, spreading, corrupting. But these creatures? They moved like an organized unit. They weren't just wandering aimlessly or attacking whatever they saw.
For the past few days, Kain and the others had been following traces of the abyssal creatures in order to get clues about how to leave this relic.
Moreover, Abyssal creatures hadn't appeared in the world in centuries, therefore not much was known about them.
Kain and the others also wanted to take this opportunity to learn about them as possible.
Do they have a larger goal? What are their weaknesses? What exactly is the Abyss?
Although they likely wouldn't be able to get all of their questions answered, any bit of information they obtained may end up playing a crucial role in the war against them when they returned back home.
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Currently, based on the pressure they emanated, the group that Kain was responsible for following would be the equivalent of a blue-grade spiritual creatures, or 6-star beast-tamers.
Therefore, Kain was being extra careful to not be caught and kept his distance from them as much as possible.
Instead, he'd been monitoring their movements and keeping track of them using birds and other easily ignorable creatures controlled by Bea, and having her feedback what she saw through the splits into his mind.
Meanwhile, Kain stayed far behind, outside of the creatures' sensory ranges.
A spiritual creature resembling a cheetah slowly crept up behind Kain, getting ready to pounce on him.
However, before it could even reveal itself, its 'prey' quickly turned around and stuck a spear into its head.
'How could a red-grade spiritual creature seriously expect to defeat me?' Kain thought with a roll of his eyes.
*Ding. Received 1 GP.*
After Kain had reached 4-stars, the amount of points received for killing spiritual creatures had drastically decreased.
He received only 1 GP for red-grade spiritual creatures (he used to receive 5 GP), 10 GP for orange grade (30 GP previously), and 30 GP for yellow grade (100 GP previously). Kain once again realized that once the level difference between him and the spiritual creature was too great, he would get a lesser amount of points, while the reward he'd receive for defeating creatures stronger than him was substantial.
For example, each blue-grade spiritual creature that Kain had managed to defeat would grant him 500 GP.
Considering that the upgrade points had been increasing while the items in the store got more expensive as their level increased, the discovery of the decrease in points rewarded had completely pissed him off.
Every time he saw he only got 1 GP per red-grade spiritual creature when he used to receive 5, made him feel like smashing something, and so he'd turned off the system notifications to avoid going crazy with rage.
Instead, if he needed to check if a powerful spiritual creature was dead, he'd have to open the System menu and look at the recent notifications, which was a bit more of a hassle.
Unfortunately, since Kain had lost his memories while in this relic, he hadn't remembered even having a system and so hadn't checked it.
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Kain couldn't help but think if he hadn't silenced the notifications, then he may have been able to come to his senses sooner.
At the very least he'd begin investigating why a strange Ding and some points would be given every time he'd kill something.
The System was intimately tied with Kain and his biggest secret, it would have done a far better job at making him remember than the Pathfinder badge.
Therefore, despite how annoying he found the notifications, he decided to activate them before entering any relics in the future—maybe even all of the time.
While continuing the kill various weak creatures that tried to attack him, Kain followed the hulking group of Abyssal creatures from a distance while the birds, mice, and insects infected by Bea got much closer.
Kain had the various animals follow the creatures for hours before he saw them walk behind a massive boulder.
However, after almost a minute their figures didn't reappear on the other side.
'The boulder wasn't that big…not to mention they're huge! They should have walked past it by now…'
Kain had Bea direct one of the birds to fly around the massive boulder, but the huge figures of their targets were not found. They had completely disappeared.
Bea directed one of the squirrels she controlled to go much closer to the boulder, but nothing outside of the ordinary could be identified. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire
That was until a massive foot that resembled the clawed feet of a giant bird came out from the wall of the boulder and stepped on the investigating squirrel, squishing it into a puddle of flesh and blood.
After killing the squirrel the foot retracted back inside of the boulder.
Kain was now certain that there was more than met the eye with this boulder, but no matter what creature he sent to investigate, they'd be quickly discovered and destroyed before they could even touch the boulder.
Kain clearly didn't currently have the ability to investigate.
At least not on his own.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!After discovering the specialness of that boulder, Kain had used controlled spiritual creatures to issue a secret signal to Nadia and the others to meet. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire
Now he was moving swiftly through the ruins, heading toward the designated meeting point at the dilapidated watchtower.
He kept his movements small, suppressing his presence as much as possible. Even though he hadn't been spotted by the Abyssal creatures, there was no telling if they had hidden scouts lurking about.
The watchtower was nothing more than a crumbling structure of aged stone that once belonged to a long annihilated city-state that stood on the grounds Ishvaran is currently located.
The colourful, once-proud banners of the fortress were long reduced to faded and tattered remnants. Despite its sorry state, it provided them with a secure vantage point over the surrounding area, making it the ideal place to regroup.
As Kain arrived, the others were already waiting for him. Nadia leaned against the watchtower's crumbling wall, arms crossed, her dark eyes flicking toward him as he approached.
Benji was crouched nearby, idly petting Aura, the Spirit Mouse, who had proven to be invaluable in their reconnaissance efforts so far. Clara and Claudia stood off to the side, deep in a hushed discussion.
The moment Kain stepped into the circle, all eyes turned toward him. After all, he was the one that had requested this meeting.
Kain took a moment to compose his thoughts before explaining what he had found. How had followed a group of what appeared to be smarter Abyssal creatures not far from these ruins. How they had walked behind a massive boulder, but they never came out the other side. They had disappeared. He also explained his complete helplessness in being able to enter the boulder, likely ordinary means of investigation would be fruitless.
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Benji's brows furrowed. "A hidden entrance?"
Nadia's expression darkened. "The boulder isn't just hiding the entrance. It's being guarded."
Clara exhaled sharply. "That means whatever's inside is important. Hopefully, it's not the location of the relic's core. The last thing we need is them finding it and being able to enter the real world using it."
Like all relics, historical relics typically have a core, and once it is found then it can fall completely under the control of the one holding the core. Meaning that any entrants to the relic can be forcefully expelled or prevented from leaving. In the case of historical echoes, the 'time setting' of the relic can be rewound or fast forwarded to different time points in the overall 'plot' of the relic.
All of the relics the Order currently had control of were obtained due to having absolute control over the relic's core.
Benji rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If it's being guarded, brute force isn't going to work. Although Nadia is a high-level beast-tamer, there's no guarantee something stronger won't be in there. We need a way to get in without setting off whatever detection system they have."
Nadia turned to Benji. "Your Spirit Mouse—how close do you think it can get?"
Benji didn't hesitate. "Closer than anything else we've got. Aura's ability to go unnoticed is second to none." He lifted his hand, and the small mouse twitched its nose as if understanding its assignment.
"Then let's move," Nadia said, pushing off the wall. "The longer we wait, the more time they have to accomplish whatever it is they are doing inside."
The group did as they said and moved swiftly away from the ruins, keeping to the shadows.
By the time they reached the boulder, the sun had begun to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the landscape.
Kain crouched low behind a collapsed pillar, scanning the area. The massive rock stood exactly where he had last seen it, unmoving and unassuming. If he hadn't actually seen the Abyssal creatures vanish into it, he would have assumed it was just another ruin among many.
Benji knelt beside him, cupping Aura in his hands. "It's up to you now."
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Suddenly Aura began to wheeze, cough and choke as though she were struggling to remove something blocking her throat. The sight was concerning, but seeing that nobody, including her own beast-tamer, stepped forward to help, Kain refrained from 'helping' impusively.
Eventually, a massive fur ball was coughed up by Aura.
The ball of fur twitched.
At first, it was only a faint shudder, but then it began convulsing violently, jerking and writhing as if something inside was trying to claw its way out. The tangled mass of golden fur pulsed unnaturally, inflating and deflating like a grotesque lung.
Then, with a wet pop, small limbs burst from its sides—thin and bony at first but rapidly thickening as the fur melted away to reveal skin-like tissue stretching over them.
A tiny head, eerily identical to Aura's but unsettlingly blank, pushed its way out from the top of the mass. Its beady black eyes blinked once, twice—then the entire thing spasmed as if testing its new form.
With a final, sickening squelch, the grotesque transformation was completed. The newly formed creature, now identical to the original Spirit Mouse, shivered before scurrying up Benji's arm and settling on his shoulder.
Kain swallowed back his discomfort. "That was… disgusting."
Benji only shrugged. "You get used to it once you see it a lot of times."
Noticing Kain's surprised eyes that he'd have to see that scene frequently, Benji explained. "You didn't think I'd send my contract inside somewhere so dangerous right? She has many skills to escape detection, but it's still too risky. What if a high-level creature is in there? Instead, Aura is capable of creating a single split from herself that has her full abilities. In fact, if her true body ever dies, her consciousness will be transferred to the split, and it will become the true body instead. Unfortunately, though, each time the split dies it causes some backlash that may take months to recover from."
Benji murmured something under his breath, and the duplicate Aura twitched before leaping down onto the rocky ground. She blended seamlessly into the environment, her fur shifting in colour to match the surrounding terrain.
Moreover, even though Kain could physically see the mouse. For some reason, his mind seemed to refuse to acknowledge that it was right in front of him. Had he not been making the extra effort to watch her, or Bea didn't have a split on her to transfer images back to the rest of them, he would likely have unconsciously ignored her.
Then, without hesitation, she scurried toward the boulder, vanishing into the distorted space where Kain had seen the Abyssal creatures disappear.
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Benji closed his eyes as Aura's duplicate scurried into the invisible entrance within the boulder, his breath slowing as he focused on their shared perception.
Thankfully, Bea's influence ensured that the information wasn't limited to just Benji. Nearly invisible threads extended from Bea's tiny form, connecting subtly to each of them—thin strands of mental energy that transferred the images and sensations obtained from Aura directly into their minds.
Suddenly they weren't in the clearing, it felt as though they had been transferred to Aura's body, looking at the world through her perspective.
Kain felt the shift in temperature, the unnatural density of the air once Aura entered the boulder. It wasn't cold in a normal way. It was a soul deep chilling sensation— heavy, suffocating, like something unseen was pressing down on them. The unpleasant temperature had more to do with the atmosphere in the boulder and less to do with the actual temperature.
Aura moved cautiously through the entrance, her small frame scurrying between the jagged formations of stone and pulsing blackened roots that wove along the walls like veins.
Then, she saw it.
This was likely the "guard" that had killed everything else that had tried to approach.
The creature stood motionless at the cavern's entrance, not far from where Aura had just entered.
It was grotesque, even by Abyssal standards. Its hulking frame was hunched, its body a mass of shifting, pulsating black muscle covered in jagged bone plating. It had too many limbs—six arms, each ending in a different kind of blade or claw—and its head was completely featureless except for a gaping, vertical slit where a mouth should be.
Aura paused, her tiny nose twitching, scanning for any sign of awareness from the monstrous being. If it detects her, she'd immediately give up her cover and try to enter the cavern and obtain as much information as possible before dying.
And yet—nothing.
It didn't react.
Not to her presence. Not to her movements.
Thankfully, it appears as though the combination of skills she usually employed was enough to keep her undetected.
She ran right past its feet, so close that she could feel the heat radiating from its abyssal flesh, but it remained utterly still.
Past it was a long tunnel that after travelling a short distance split into three.
However, the confusion on the correct path only stopped Aura briefly, through her shared vision with her, they saw the group that Kain had previously been following. However, they weren't solid. They more closely resembled holograms. Kain realized that Aura must be using her ability to see past events in order to determine which path to take.
The 'holograms' took the path to the right—so Aura did as well.
"This space is huge," Benji murmured, voice tense as Aura travelled down the selected hallway for what felt like several minutes. The space inside of the boulder clearly exceeded the massive boulder's size by hundreds of times. "it is much bigger than it should be based on the size of the boulder. And the walls are…alive?" He paused, and through the mental link, Kain saw what he meant.
As Aura travelled, the originally black stone walls took on more of a fleshy-grey-toned hue.
The walls pulsed. Slowly, sickeningly. Like veins.
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Kain exhaled sharply. The sensation crawling through Kain's skin told him that although they couldn't be sure the walls were alive, there was definitely something off about them.
And then, the images changed once again. Aura had finally reached the end of the tunnel.
The space opened up into a massive tunnel. And it was so large that loud screams, likely generated by a large amount of wind, practically blocked out all other noises.
Is there another opening? To outside? Otherwise, why would there be such loud, high-pitched screech noises, as if from wind?
A deeper section of the cavern. The Abyssal creatures—the same ones Kain had been tracking—were no longer walking. They were working.
Building something.
"A Gate," Benji said, voice hollow.
The word settled over them like a weight.
Kain's stomach twisted as he took in the grotesque sight through Aura's connection.
The structure was massive, far larger than any of the creatures surrounding it. Its frame was bone, twisted and warped into a jagged arch. But what lay within the half-formed structure was worse.
The center of the Gate wasn't solid. It wasn't stone or metal. It was flesh.
The flesh was alive.
Kain watched as it moved—twitching, shifting, like it was trying to form something but couldn't quite take shape.
At the same time, Kain and the others saw the source of the screams—it wasn't from the wind.
Claudia inhaled sharply and her voice reverberated through the mental connection they all held with one another. "That's not—That can't be—"
"They're using people," Benji cut in, his voice thick with barely contained rage. "The bodies are being absorbed. Their flesh melts into the structure, their bones fuse with the frame. They're alive when it happens."
How were they even able to get people? All of the civilians here are products of the memory relic, aren't they? They shouldn't be able to accomplish whatever their goal is.
Unless, similar to Kain and the others, some other citizens of Brightstar City were sucked into this relic against their will…
Kain's hands curled into fists at the thought that people he knew and grew up with—teachers, shopkeepers, neighbours—could be those integrated into this gate.
He could see it now—figures, twisted beyond recognition, writhing within the Gate's growing form. Their mouths opened in silent screams, their limbs fused together in unnatural angles as they were pulled into the structure itself.
Some still had vaguely recognizable faces.
The flesh that made up the center of the Gate rippled again, and for the first time, Kain's gaze locked onto a single, twisted face embedded within it.
Or rather—half a face.
The other half was fused seamlessly into the grotesque structure, as though it had been sculpted from the same material. The skin was stretched unnaturally, merging into the pulsing, bone-like frame of the Gate, yet the visible portion retained its human features—enough to be recognizable.
A single, bloodshot eye stared outward, blinking sluggishly, as though struggling to remain conscious. The pupil twitched, unfocused, rolling in its socket before locking onto Aura's tiny form.
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Surprisingly, despite the guards seemingly not being able to detect Aura, those fused into the gate seemed able to see her.
The mouth—half-formed and fused into the living mass—parted slightly, as if trying to form words, but only a weak, garbled noise escaped.
A choking whimper.
Kain felt his stomach twist violently.
He knew this person.
Mister Yan.
The elderly man who had once owned a tea shop on the outskirts of Brightstar City. Kain had passed by his store countless times growing up.
The scent of roasted tea leaves and aged parchment was seared into his childhood memories. He could remember the old man's wrinkled hands carefully pouring a cup of jasmine tea, the warm smile he had offered to customers, the way he would always slip extra cookies into the bags of Kain and his siblings who wandered into his shop but weren't able to afford much of anything.
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Kain's breathing hitched.
Master Yan was here.
He had been sucked into the relic just like they had. Who knows how many others…
Kain clenched his fists so hard that his nails bit into his palms and drew blood.
He had to fight every instinct screaming at him to charge in there and do something. But what could he even do? Master Yan wasn't just trapped. He was part of the Gate now. There was no way to tear him free without—
He swallowed back bile.
Without killing him.
But could he even be truly considered alive?
A fresh wave of horror surged through Kain.
"If they're still conscious—" Clara began, voice shaking.
"They are," Benji confirmed, his tone grim. "At least… for a while."
A nauseating silence filled the link.
Nadia broke the silence, "We can't get hung up on these individuals. Yes, what happened to them is terrible. But we are helpless to save them. The best thing we could do, would be to make sure that the Abyssal creatures don't succeed. To make sure that these people don't need to watch as their bodies are used to form a gate to the real world and launch an attack on their friends and families."
After making a sound that seemed like they were choking down their vomit, Kain and the others did as Nadia directed and focused on the task at hand.
Using the connection to Aura, they examined the gate with a more calm and critical eye. Now looking for any information that may help them and not focusing so much on the 'materials' the gate was composed of.
Benji's voice broke the silence once again, "Aura said that she can somewhat detect the purpose and function of the gate. I think they are trying to use the connection between the flesh and blood creatures in our world to construct a gate that would lead to the 'origin' of those fused into the gate."
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