The Hollow Sanctum loomed amid the floating shards of Skyend, a cavernous ruin suspended by flickering Aetheric tethers. Elarion approached under cover of night, his pocket dimension via the Key serving as a staging ground—stocked with forged weapons and wards drawn from infinite mana. He moved with alertness, every step carefully taken and every movement timed.
Lirael awaited at the entrance, accompanied by two elven wardens, their bows humming with primal enchantments. "You came," she noted approvingly. "The Sanctum's guardians awaken to intruders. Tread with care."
They descended into labyrinthine halls, walls etched with murals: the Covenant communing with Starborn, only for Netherkin shadows to sabotage the Veins. Echoes whispered accusations—betrayal, hubris.
Deeper in, spectral guardians materialized—ethereal warriors of the Elderglow, their forms rippling with residual power. "Intruders! The Sanctum seals its secrets!"
Elarion unleashed a barrage, infinite mana fueling spells that shattered the apparitions. The system logged:
[Combat Log: Guardians Neutralized - 5. Skill Upgrade: Aetheric Barrage (Rank 2) - Increased Penetration.]
Lirael nodded. "Your power rivals the ancients."
At the core chamber, a massive glyph pulsed—a record of the Cataclysm. Touching it, visions flooded Elarion: Starborn fleeing through planar rifts, Netherkin laughing as Veins ruptured. But amid the chaos, a thread of code-like energy wove through—a system precursor, implanted by an unknown entity.
"The Leash," Lirael murmured. "It chose you for a purpose."
Before they could decipher more, alarms blared—Netherkin cultists breaching from below, led by the lord Elarion had faced at the Well. "The Bound One! Your infinity will serve the Void!"
Battle ensued, elves weaving nature spells while Elarion countered void tendrils with celestial blasts. In the melee, he glimpsed the system's glitch again:
[Anomaly: Query Response - "The wielder awakens. Prepare integration."]
Escaping with fragments of the glyph, Elarion realized: the system wasn't just a tool—it was alive, it was evolving. But to which extent?