Kael moved through the forest like a whisper.
Each step was silent, his shadow trailing behind like a living thread. The shrine's protective boundary faded behind him, but its presence still pulsed faintly in the back of his mind — like a heartbeat tied to something larger than himself.
The system had changed everything.His body. His senses. His very soul.
[Shadow Domain Influence: 30m Radius]➤ Passive: You move undetected unless observed directly.➤ Sub-Passive: Shadowmeld (Lv. 1) — Blend into low-light environments.
[Quest Updated: Divine War – Phase I]➤ Objective: Identify Allied Ruins or Divine Fragments➤ Optional: Avoid detection by hostile pantheon forces
Kael crept between twisted trees, black bark peeling like charred skin, their roots pulsing with pale, undead energy. This part of the Veilshade Forest was dense with corrupted mana — likely a result of the Divine Cage overhead.
He stopped at a cliff's edge.
Below him, a caravan moved along a shattered road — six figures clad in silver-and-blue armor, guiding a large caged wagon drawn by scaled beasts. One figure at the front wore a glowing halo-brand above his head, hovering unnaturally like a crown of flame.
[Enemy Identified: Divine Templar — Hollow Flame Pantheon]➤ Rank: Class C (Awakened Vessel)➤ Blessing Type: Purge / Sunfire
[Objective: Transporting "Blasphemer" to Execution Site]
[Optional Trigger: Intercept]
Kael's jaw tightened.
The Hollow Flame Pantheon.
They were the first name the system had whispered to him after his shrine awakened — one of the current dominant gods in this realm. Tyrannical, sanctified, and cruel.
Their doctrine was simple: Burn the unworthy. Obey the light. Kill the old gods.
Kael watched as the cage was jostled.
Inside, a figure slumped. A girl, no older than sixteen, bearing chains of glowing scripture etched into her skin. Her eyes were closed, but her lips moved — whispering a prayer not meant for the gods above.
He recognized it.
It was a verse from the same hymn Elira had sung.
[Soul Trait Detected: Fragment of Forgotten Faith]➤ Potential: High➤ Status: Dying
Kael exhaled.
"Faith burns in the hearts of those who suffer," he muttered.
He wasn't a hero anymore. He had no duty to save strangers.
But she prayed in his name.
And that… made her his.
The attack was swift.
Kael launched from the treetops, shadow trailing behind him like wings.
[Skill: Shadow Step — Lv. 2 Activated]➤ Cooldown: 3 Seconds➤ Effect: Blink behind the target using domain threads
He appeared behind the rear templar and drove his dagger of dusk through the man's throat. The templar choked, light spilling from his mouth like fireflies before collapsing in silence.
The others turned.
"Blasphe—!"
[Skill: Cloak of Dusk — Unlocked]➤ Effect: Conceal up to 2 allies in divine darkness➤ Bonus: Nullifies hostile targeting for 6 seconds
Shadows erupted from Kael's form like living smoke, engulfing the entire battlefield in a veil of blindness. Screams echoed as blades swung through empty air.
Kael moved through them like a phantom.
[Skill: Devour Essence — Lv. 2]➤ Target: Templar (Wounded)➤ Result: Absorbed 6 Divine Sparks➤ Bonus Gained: +1 Stat Point (Agility)
One by one, the templars fell — but not before the one with the halo raised his hands and called upon his god.
"In the name of Sol Veydras, Lord of the Hollow Flame, I burn thee—"
[Enemy Skill Detected: Sunbrand Judgment — Class B]
A spear of searing flame descended from the sky.
Kael threw a shadow wall upward, but the impact shattered it. The ground exploded beneath him, and pain seared across his left arm.
He hit the dirt hard, rolling to avoid a second strike.
[Wound Inflicted: Divine Burn]➤ Status: System Corruption Risk 3%➤ Regeneration Inhibited
Kael snarled, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.
The templar approached, aura blazing. "You are no god. Just another parasite clinging to forgotten myths."
Kael rose slowly, eyes glowing with deeper violet.
"Then let myth consume you."
[Skill Unlocked: Sovereign Mark — Shadow God Trait]➤ Effect: Imprints the enemy with divine fear➤ Bonus: Reduces defense by 30%, disables skill triggers for 4 seconds
The templar staggered.
Kael lunged.
One strike.
Two.
A third — straight through the heart.
The templar's halo shattered, light bleeding into the soil.
[Templar Commander Defeated]➤ Divine Spark Absorbed: 13➤ Skill Core Fragment Obtained: "Sunbrand Judgment" (Corrupted)
Kael stepped back, panting, body pulsing with backlash from divine conflict.
The cage creaked.
The girl inside stared at him with wide, tear-lined eyes. Her skin was covered in scripture-brands, but they were dimming.
"You're real," she whispered.
Kael nodded. "What's your name?"
"A–Amaris."
[Follower Slot Available — Accept?]➤ Role Potential: Divine Scribe / Memory Keeper➤ Faith Compatibility: 81%➤ Binding Cost: 15 Essence
[You have 17 Essence remaining.]
Kael extended his hand.
"Then rise, Amaris. You are mine now."
The brands broke. She screamed — not in pain, but in liberation. Light exploded outward and was consumed instantly by Kael's system, which drank in the shattered chains like a feast.
[Follower: Amaris — Bound]➤ Class: Scribe of Shadows (Dormant)➤ Loyalty: 54%➤ Trait: Eidetic Divinity — Can record and restore divine fragments
He helped her from the cage. Her legs trembled, but she walked.
Faith burned in her now.
And it fed him.
By night's end — though again, the sky never changed — Kael stood atop the ruined road beside Elira, who had tracked him with the shrine's link.
She eyed the burning remains of the templar caravan and the freed girl beside him. "You're building something," she said.
"I'm reclaiming something," Kael corrected. "They hunted gods once."
He stared at the ash.
"Now it's our turn."
[Cult of the Eclipse — Updated]➤ Follower Count: 2/3➤ Domain Expansion: +5km➤ Next Cult Tier: 80/100 Faith
[Divine Core Synchronization: 11%]➤ Next Skill at 15%: "Call of the Eclipse"