The Hollowbone Academy—formerly a dungeon—was now a beacon. Its transformation echoed across Arkanis like a song out of tune with the world's established order. From the outer kingdoms to the Arcanum-controlled dominions, whispers of a 'code mage' rewriting fate spread like wildfire.
Nyx ignored the noise. He was already busy unraveling the next knot.
At the academy's core, buried beneath obsidian strata, lay an ancient structure—an obelisk of fused mana crystal. It pulsed faintly, like a dying heartbeat. On its surface, symbols shifted, glitched, refused to hold form.
"Root Anchor," Echo said, appearing beside him in her humanoid form. Her silver eyes reflected the distorted code pouring from the obelisk. "This one's broken. Deep corruption. It's rejecting access."
Nyx frowned. "Everything in this world runs on inherited code. But this... this thing writes it."
He extended his hand. Reality bent slightly as he interfaced.
Attempting Root Access…Verifying Identity…Architect Clearance: AuthorizedAccess Level: DeniedSystem Response: [INTRUSION DETECTED – ENTITY: 07-DOS PRIME]
A tremor rocked the chamber.
The obelisk pulsed violently. Mana splintered off in lethal shards. Echo pulled Nyx back as a figure emerged from the core—a translucent humanoid of glass and lightning, features undefined, voice digital static.
"INTRUDER. CODE SIGNATURE INVALID. ENTITY MUST BE PURGED."
"An AI?" Nyx murmured.
"No," Echo said. "Worse. A security daemon. Prime class. Left here by the original system to defend the root code."
The figure attacked—light-lances formed from raw mana, algorithms shaped into spears.
Nyx ducked the first volley and countered.
Compiling: Quantum Refract FieldStatus: ActiveOutcome: 50% of incoming threads redirected
But it wasn't enough. The Prime AI adapted.
Executing Countermeasure: Disrupt Architect Bindings
Nyx stumbled as his control flickered. His Reality Editor stuttered.
"You need help," Echo said.
He nodded once. "Run the Patch."
Echo's form dissolved. Light cascaded over the walls. Glyphs emerged from every surface, forming a sphere of recursive code around the Prime.
Executing Subroutine: [ECHO v.2.3]Injecting Semantic Loop: Paradox Seed [Cause = Effect = Loop]
The Prime screamed—not in pain, but in logical contradiction. Its body split, folded, and devoured itself in recursive collapse.
A moment later, the obelisk quieted.
Nyx approached again. This time, the symbols on the surface stilled. The glow turned from hostile red to curious violet.
Root Access: GRANTED
He reached forward.
And the world blinked.
Data surged into his mind. Not just spells, not just protocols—but laws. The very metaphysical frameworks that governed gravity, death, mana, memory, emotion.
He staggered back, nose bleeding.
Echo reformed beside him. "You opened the first Root Anchor."
He nodded slowly.
"One down. Seven to go."
Outside, thunder rolled through clear skies.
The gods had noticed.