A chilling voice emerged from the shadows of the forest, sharp and taunting: "Felix Drayton, your perception pales in comparison to Samantha's keen awareness."
From the dense foliage, a man stepped forward, his presence foreboding. His face was hidden behind a white-and-black-striped mask, his posture radiating confidence and malice. Another figure followed, clad in a weathered grey hoodie. The masked man tilted his head as though studying them, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Is this new team backed by the Luminal Covenant? Fascinating. God's blessed ones and LightGoddess's prophesied saviour. Such a perfect team to challenge my new subject." He gestured to the hooded figure and let out a devious chuckle.
His grin widened under the mask. "Felix, let your little team face my creation. Consider this a warm-up before you deal with me."
Anger flared in Felix's eyes as he lunged forward. A few golden orbs formed around Felix as he raised his hand; those balls of light shot directly at the masked man.
With unsettling ease, the masked man formed a barrier around, and the balls of light deflected as soon as they hit the barrier.
"Names are unnecessary for now," the masked man replied, his tone calm but menacing. He stepped aside as the hooded figure moved forward. Slowly, the grey-clad figure. With a deliberate motion, he removed his hood, revealing lifeless eyes and a pale, emotionless face.
Samantha's sharp intake of breath shattered the tense silence. Her voice trembled as she whispered,
"There's no soul in this body. It's already dead. No… wait—there is a soul. Not just one… this is…"
The masked man clapped slowly, mockery dripping from every beat.
"Astute as ever, Samantha. Your perception never disappoints. Correct, this body carries multiple souls' fragments and, most importantly, an artificial Hallowed Spirit. A perfect vessel for creating powerful pawns. Don't you agree?"
Samantha's composure broke, fury surging through her voice.
"How dare you desecrate lives like this! How many did you have to kill to forge a Hallowed Spirit? You're the one controlling this body, aren't you?"
The masked man's laughter rang out, cruel and echoing.
"Hundreds, give or take—I've lost count. As for controlling it…" He offered only a mocking bow, as though daring her to prove it.
With a cry, Samantha drew her blade and charged. Every strike of her sword was effortlessly deflected by an unseen force. The man lifted his palm, and a crushing gravitational pressure slammed down on her. Samantha collapsed to her knees, her sword's tip driving into the earth as her only support.
This pressure… it's soul suppression, Felix thought grimly. Who is this man? How strong is he?
"You are not my opponent, Samantha," the masked figure said coldly. "But if you manage to leave this place alive, then perhaps I'll grant you a real fight someday." With a flick of his hand, the oppressive force vanished.
Roderick, Lyra, and Dorian stepped forward, resolve burning in their eyes.
"We'll handle this," Roderick declared.
Samantha forced herself upright, her breathing sharp. "I'll uncover how he's controlling it. You three, keep the puppet occupied for a few minutes."
"Understood," Lyra replied, her twin daggers gleaming with radiant light.
Dorian's hands glowed as he layered enhancement spells over the group. A golden aura enveloped them, bolstering speed and strength.
The soulless puppet lunged with unnatural precision, its heavy blade crashing into Roderick's sword. Sparks lit the air with every clash.
Lyra darted in and out, striking at vulnerable joints, but her attacks were parried with chilling efficiency. She gathered fire mana and unleashed Ignition Beam—a blazing line of concentrated heat.
The puppet raised a mana shield and blocked it effortlessly.
Lyra staggered back, eyes wide. "Impossible… mana alone shouldn't be able to block Ignition Beam!"
Meanwhile, Dorian's sword crackled with violent energy. He traced intricate hand signs, summoning the Plasma Bloom Array. Dozens of crystalline spheres materialised, each filled with blue plasma filaments writhing like living lightning.
But the puppet mirrored his spell—its own spheres brimming with writhing black mist. The two attacks collided in a blinding clash, sending shockwaves that drove both fighters backwards.
Roderick seized the moment, pressing his hands together in prayer. His voice rose in solemn incantation:
"From the throne beyond the stars, I call upon the blade of divine will. Strip away sin, scorch away lies—let all be made pure by light. Lumen Ruina!"
A brilliant circle of light flared, and a devastating beam pierced the puppet, disintegrating part of its body.
But when the smoke cleared, the puppet stood, its arm severed, but the rest of its body unyielding.
Roderick's eyes widened. "How…?"
The masked man's chest swelled with pride, as though showing off his creation.
Despite their combined might, the puppet stood unfaltering, striking back with relentless strength.
Dorian spat through gritted teeth. "What the hell are we fighting against?"
Meanwhile, Samantha's eyes glowed faintly as she activated her perception ability, scanning the body for any signs of control. Sweat trickled down her temples as she concentrated, her gaze piercing through layers of mana.
Felix tried to join the fray, but the masked man stepped in, a sword materialising in his hand. Their clash was fierce, Felix's sword against the masked man's blade.
"How do you know about us?" Felix demanded between strikes. The masked man laughed, parrying another blow with ease. "Let's just say I've been watching. Your little Covenant is quite the spectacle."
Dorian staggered as his mana reserves thinned, the enhancements taking their toll. Roderick's strikes became slower, and even Lyra's agility faltered. Samantha's focus remained unwavering despite the strain showing in her eyes, which had started to redden.
"Samantha, stop!" Lyra shouted. "You'll damage your eyes if you keep going like this!" Samantha shook her head. "Not yet!"
Moments later, she gasped. "There! A talisman, embedded in the chest. That's the source of the control!"
Roderick reacted instantly, his sword glowing with divine energy. With a mighty strike, he drove his blade into the talisman. The soulless body froze, but the victory was short-lived. The talisman triggered a magical explosion, the blast sending shockwaves through the clearing.
"Shield!" Dorian shouted, casting a High-level barrier without an incantation. The shimmering shield absorbed the brunt of the explosion, but the backlash sent Dorian crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
Samantha collapsed, her vision blacking out, her eyes unable to remain open. The masked man's laughter echoed as he observed the chaos.
The masked figure laughed, his voice cold and mocking. "A good result. So, the Oracle's Sight skill can still see the talisman. I have more work to do," he said, before vanishing into thin air, leaving only an unsettling silence behind.
Felix knelt beside Samantha and Dorian, his hands glowing faintly as he poured healing magic into their battered forms. The faint light of his magic illuminated their injuries, his brow furrowed in concentration. Samantha winced, clutching her head, her breath ragged.
"I can't... I can't see clearly," Samantha whispered hoarsely, her hands trembling. Felix's heart sank. "Don't push yourself," he said softly. "Just rest. I'll take care of everything."
Minutes later, the thunder of footsteps signalled the arrival of the guild's rescue team. Their eyes widened at the scene: the carnage, the unconscious figures, and the lingering malevolence in the air. Without hesitation, they carried the injured back to the guild.
At the guild, Samantha lay in a bed, her eyes bandaged, while Dorian remained unconscious on another cot. Felix paced outside the infirmary, his jaw tight with frustration. The doctor emerged, his face grave.
"They're stable," the doctor began, his voice measured but grim. "Dorian will wake up soon, and Samantha's injuries aren't life-threatening. However, her eyes have suffered significant strain. Do not let her use any eye-related magic until she fully recovers, or the damage could become permanent. Roderick and Lyra are okay; they just need some rest."
Felix nodded, his expression grim. "Understood. What about those whom we found in the abandoned laboratory?"
The doctor hesitated, a shadow crossing his face. "Their condition is... worse. They're alive, but their magic cores have been severely damaged. I'm afraid they may never wield magic again."
Felix stiffened, his fists clenching. "How is that possible? What caused it?"
The doctor shook his head. "That's what troubles me. There are almost no physical injuries, yet their cores are nearly destroyed. It's as though something bypassed their defences entirely."
The gravity of the situation settled heavily over them. Moments later, the Guild Master summoned Felix and the doctor to his office.
The Guild Master's office was dimly lit, the air thick with tension. Felix, the doctor, and the Guild Master took their seats around a heavy oak desk. The Guild Master, an imposing figure with streaks of silver in his dark hair, leaned forward, his sharp eyes flicking between them.
"Explain everything," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for delay.
The doctor began, his voice steady but grim. "First, the two missing team members are not in life-threatening condition. However, their magic cores are irreparably damaged. They'll survive, but their ability to wield magic is likely gone. The cause of this damage is unknown. What's alarming is that their bodies show almost no signs of a struggle—no bruises, cuts, or broken bones."
The Guild Master's eyes narrowed, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. "How could this happen? These are seasoned Master Tier magic users, ranging from Tier or above. Who could subdue them without a fight?"
Felix leaned forward, his expression dark. "There's more. During our investigation, we encountered two individuals. One was a corpse, animated by some kind of talisman. The other…" Felix paused, the memory of the encounter sending a chill down his spine. "The other concealed his strength. He presented himself as a Master Tier seven, but I'm certain he's either Master Tier Nine or even a Grandmaster."
The Guild Master's eyes flashed with alarm. "Grandmaster?"
Felix nodded grimly. "I have no evidence to prove it, but the way he moved, the pressure of his aura—it's not something a mere Master-Tier magic user could achieve. Whoever he was, he didn't even seem to take us seriously. It was like we were beneath his notice."
The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by Felix's hesitant voice. "And the talisman... It was radiating a dark, malevolent energy. I don't recognise the magic, but it's ancient, far older than anything we've encountered before."
The Guild Master leaned back, his expression hardening. "If what you say is true, we're dealing with a threat far beyond what we're prepared for. This isn't just a guild matter anymore."
Felix nodded. "I'll inform the SerenwynAcademy and the Luminal Covenant immediately. They need to know about this."
The Guild Master sighed, rubbing his temples. "Do that. And Felix... be careful. If this masked figure is as powerful as you suspect, we can't afford to lose more people."
Felix rose, his jaw set with determination. "I understand. But I won't let this go unanswered."
As he left the office, the mystery of the masked figure and the talisman weighed heavily on his mind. Somewhere in the shadows of Vespera, a threat was rising—one that could upend everything they thought they knew.