---
Kael gasped, lungs seizing like he'd drowned in smoke.
His eyes snapped open. Gone was the void and glowing glyphs—replaced by the sharp sting of blood, damp earth, and the cold wind of reality.
He lay half-buried in rubble, surrounded by broken pillars and scorched stone. His body throbbed with pain—ribs bruised, left arm cut, vision swimming.
But something was still there. Pulsing at his side.
The sword.
Wraithfang.
Bound to him. Glowing faintly with a cold blue hue that shimmered even through the dust. He could feel it calling—not in words, but instinct.
> [Weapon System: Online]
[Vital Signs: Stabilized — 42% Recovery In Progress]
Kael exhaled slowly. "So it wasn't a dream..."
He tried to sit up. The ache screamed at him. But before he could steady his breath—
A low snarl echoed from the shadowed corridor ahead.
Then another.
Shapes moved in the fog—three creatures, crawling low, bones twisted beneath black-veined skin. Their claws clacked on stone, and their amber eyes glowed with unnatural hunger.
Scornwolves.
Kael's blood turned to ice. He recognized them from whispered stories… but now they were real.
> [New Threat Detected.]
[Unlocking Passive Skill: "Analysis I"]
Grants basic threat assessment of entities.
[Scanning Target…]
Name: Scornwolf
Type: Corrupted Beast
Threat Class: D+
Once canines, now twisted by residual war magic. Aggressive, pack-bound, and drawn to mana traces.
Known Traits:
– Fast reaction speed
– Paralyzing gaze (short range)
– Weak point: glowing core beneath upper chest
Tactical Tip: Never fight more than two alone.
Kael's heartbeat thundered.
"That's… helpful. Terrifying, but helpful."
The largest wolf growled, crouching.
Kael's hand snapped to Wraithfang's hilt.
> [Weapon Sync Detected]
[Wraithfang Reacting to Host's Adrenal Spike]
The blade flared, blue light crackling like frost across its edge.
The first Scornwolf lunged.
Kael sidestepped—barely—and swung low.
CLANG.
The blade met bone. But the second swing? That one struck deep—right into the glowing core.
The beast collapsed in a lifeless heap.
> [Echo Protocol: Initiated]
[First Memory Unlocked – "Phantom Lunge"]
Kael froze, panting. That movement—it hadn't been his.
It felt... borrowed.
> [You accessed Wraithfang's First Echo.]
[Echo: A stored memory of combat experience from a previous wielder.]
You didn't just swing. You remembered.
[Memory Retention Sync: 9%]
The other two Scornwolves were circling now.
Kael raised his blade again.
He was no warrior.
But his weapon was.
And with every heartbeat, it was teaching him how to survive.
---