Chapter 81: The Forbidden Path The air was silent and heavy as the party stood at the lip of the canyon, peering down into the abyss below. The thin bridge over the chasm was a dangerous mix of rotten wood and fraying rope, swaying softly with every blast of wind. Kaela let out a low whistle, her hand resting on her bow. “This is the only way across? I was expecting for something less... suicidal.” Rurik grumbled, testing the first plank with his boot. The wood creaked ominously. “Not exactly reassuring, but better than flying blind into the void. Unless you’ve got wings, Kaela?” She shot him a look. “I’ll stick to solid ground, thanks.” Draco’s voice rumbled in Raiden’s head. “The bridge will hold, but the void’s influence seeps into the air here. Its corruption bends reality. Stay focused, Raiden.” Raiden adjusted his blade on his back, the bright shard throbbing softly in his bag. “We cross one at a time. Kaela, take point. I’ll follow. Rurik, you cover the rear

Chapter 83: The Twin Blades of Equinox The huge doors of the Obsidian Vault groaned open, exposing a cavernous room bathed in a murky, flickering light. The air was chilly, yet it carried an oppressive weight, each breath felt like a struggle against an unseen power. Raiden went inside, his golden eyes surveying the large cavern. The walls were smooth and black as polished obsidian, inscribed with ancient glyphs that glowed softly. A narrow path ran ahead, leading to an elevated platform near the center of the space. Upon it laid two weapons, their aura noticeable even from a distance. “The Twin Blades of Equinox,” Draco murmured gently in Raiden’s head. “Balance incarnate. Together, they hold the potential to combine light and shadow—or destroy them both.” Kaela followed warily, her bow drawn. “I don’t like this,” she said, her voice low. “It feels... alive. Like the Vault itself is watching us.” Rurik hefted his axe, his gaze watchful. “Alive or not, those blades look

Chapter 85: A Corrupted Guardian The Vault trembled as Raiden, Kaela, and Rurik stepped out of the now-dim chamber. The bright runes along the walls flashed ominously, producing uneven shadows. The faint hum of ancient magic still lingered, but it carried a new, frightening intensity. “This place isn’t just trying to keep us out anymore,” Kaela mumbled, her bow pulled and ready. “It’s waking up. And I don’t think it’s happy.” Rurik grumbled, his axe resting on his shoulder. “Yeah, well, waking up cranky seems to be a theme for everything in this cursed Vault. Let’s just hope we don’t find anything else to smash.” Draco’s golden eyes glittered as he landed heavily alongside them, the ground quivering beneath his weight. “You will find no rest here. The way forward is one of tribulation and agony. The Vault defends its secrets with ferocity.” Raiden tightened his grip on the Twin Blades of Equinox, their energy throbbing faintly in his hands. “Let’s keep moving. If there

Chapter 87: The Ember Prophet Returns The Vault’s suffocating atmosphere seemed to tighten around them as Raiden led the way deeper into the convoluted tunnels. The gentle hum of old energy rang in the walls, but it was layered by something far more sinister—a throbbing malevolence that seemed to follow their every step. Kaela went a few yards behind, her bow ready and an arrow nocked, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows. “This place feels worse than before. Like something’s watching us.” Rurik held his axe, his look severe. “If it’s watching, it can come closer. I’d want to have a word with it.” Draco’s voice rumbled softly in Raiden’s head. “The Vault reacts to the void’s presence. The Prophet is near. Be ready.” Raiden strengthened his grasp on the Twin Blades of Equinox. Their energies pulsed softly, the balance of light and darkness within them steadying his nerves. “He’s not just near—he’s waiting. This is a trap.” Kaela scowled, her gaze shifting to Raiden. “I

Chapter 89: Spreading Corruption The air grew heavier as Raiden and his companions traveled from the wreckage of the destroyed Vault. The once-crisp heavens above were now striped with ribbons of dark energy, faint but building in intensity. The void’s reach was spreading, a palpable reminder of the Prophet’s stolen shard and its devastating potential. Kaela interrupted the tense pause, her voice shrill. “The skies didn’t look like this yesterday. Tell me it’s not the shard already causing this.” Draco’s golden eyes narrowed as he flew low above the group, his voice reverberating in their minds. “The shard’s power is not contained. With the Prophet controlling it, its influence extends unrestrained, upsetting the balance further.” Rurik hefted his axe, scowling as he searched their surroundings. “So what now? We seek him down and hope he hasn’t already converted it into some world-ending weapon?” Raiden’s jaw tightened as he strode at the front of the group, the Twin Blad