Connor's and Jacob's bodies faltered. Their entire souls were crushed under the unstable shape of Proto-Voltrask, with every nerve shrieking in defiance. They were unable to stop, though. Not right now. Not when there was a chance for triumph.
With a roar, the Fallen Guardian swung with terrible speed, molten silver streaming from its broken claws. However, Jacob and Connor moved together this time. With its molten lightning sizzling, Proto-Voltrask charged forward, confronting the assault.
The impact sent shockwaves tearing through the battlefield. Cracks splintered across the scorched earth, geysers of energy erupting like volcanic fissures as the two titans clashed. The revenant shrieked, its form twisting, shifting—desperately trying to force another evolution.
But it was too late.
The damage it had taken, the mana it had lost… It was reaching its limit.
Now.
Jacob and Connor didn't need to speak. They knew what had to be done.
Merge Aspect Activated: {Proto-Voltrask + Emerald Requiem}
New Skill Unlocked: {Verdant Stormbreak}
A surge of power howled through them. Proto-Voltrask's molten veins pulsed with emerald light, its unstable form stabilizing for a single, crucial moment. Jacob felt the Soul Bond tighten—one final push before everything collapsed.
With a deafening roar, they struck.
The chimera lunged, its claws radiating with emerald and molten gold, slamming into the Revenant's core with an earth-shattering force. The impact detonated outward—nature and destruction entwined—emerald tendrils wrapping around the Revenant like living chains.
Life Drain Pulse—Final Activation.
The Revenant convulsed, its black-blue energy flickering, fracturing like shattered glass. It struggled, tried to break free—but the fight was over. The vines constricted, siphoning the last of its corrupted energy into the swirling storm of power.
A final, choked roar.
Then silence.
The revenant collapsed. Its molten claws froze mid-swing, silver mercury dulling into lifeless metal. The battlefield trembled, exhaling as if relieved.
Jacob and Connor barely had time to register the victory before the weight of the battle slammed into them. The backlash struck like a thousand blades sinking into their bones. Their vision blurred, limbs growing numb. Proto-Voltrask flickered—its unstable form unraveling.
Warning: Vital Strain Reaching Critical Levels. Immediate Disengagement Required.
But they had nothing left.
Their bodies crumpled, knees hitting the scorched ground. Darkness crept at the edges of Jacob's vision as exhaustion swallowed them whole. Somewhere—far away—he heard voices.
Connor is shouting.
Rowan's footsteps rushed toward them.
Distant. Hollow.
Then—
Darkness.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Soul Bond Status: Critical
Proto-Voltrask Stability: 4%
Verdant Stormbreak Skill: Success
User Status: UNCONSCIOUS
…Recalibrating…
…Soul Fragment Detected.
…Synchronization in Progress.
…
…Entity Detected: Unidentified.
…New Pathway Unlocking.
Ding! You have leveled up.
Ding! You have leveled up.
Ding! You have leveled up.
Ding! You have leveled up.
Ding! You have leveled up.
Ding! You have leveled up.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
New Field of Discipline: Soul Effigy Mancer (Unique)
Soul Fragment Assimilation: 12%
Jacob, barely clinging to consciousness, forced his trembling hand to check the description.
Hollow craft: Through the instability of your soul skill, you have inadvertently forged a unique being. The lingering fragments of your energy, scattered across the battlefield, have converged—forming an echo of the creature you fought. This entity, a Hollow, is a manifestation of the creature, shaped by remnants of your very soul skill.
Ding! You have created a new summonable entity.
Designation Required: Please assign a name to your summoning craft.
Placeholder Name: Doll.
Jacob wanted to question everything.
But he was too tired.
Connor was already unconscious, slumped against him, their fused body pulling them both down into the dirt.
Then—
LOOT ACQUIRED The air shimmers. The last echoes of the Revenant's roar fade into silence.
You have obtained:
[Oathfire Regalia]
Armor Type: Rare | Soulbound
Effects:
Will of the Vowkeeper
Immune to Stun, Charm, and Mind Control effects. Your conviction cannot be swayed.
Ragebrand Echo(1/day)
Upon reaching 0 HP, immediately revive at 1 HP. Gain +50% Attack Speed and +50% Movement Speed for 20 seconds."When one falls, the fire within burns hotter."
Guardian's Edict
Emits a passive aura granting +10% Damage Reduction to all allies within 30 ft."Even broken, they protect."
Stormheart Aegis
Taking damage triggers a retaliatory shockwave of wind and lightning, knocking back nearby enemies and dealing moderate AoE damage."The storm answers their pain."
New Ability Gained: Ascendant Voltrask Form {unique}
Form Type: Stable Chimera Fusion
Effects:
• Permanent Lightning-Flame Hybrid Physiology: Molten energy and lightning now flow within Jacob's veins, amplifying his physical and elemental attributes.
• Voltrask Wings (Evolved): Grants flight and the ability to unleash Molten Tempest shockwaves when taking off or landing.
• Lance of Oblivion (Summonable Weapon): A weapon forged from his stabilized core energy, functioning as both a melee and ranged weapon.
• Final Gambit (Reworked as "Last Ember"): If Jacob's health falls below 10%, Last Ember activates, generating a protective lightning-flame barrier and enhancing all stats by 200% for 30 seconds (once per battle).
New Passive Perk: Revenant Slayer
Description: Having stood against and defeated a Revenant-class entity, Jacob's aura now exudes dominance overshadow-based foes.
Effects:
• +30% damage to all shadow-type enemies.
• Immunity to fear and curse effects from dark-based enemies.
• Allies within close range gain +10% resistance to shadow damage.
Jacob heard it all.
But his body wouldn't move.
His vision blurred further, the system notifications fading into the black void of exhaustion.
The last thing he saw was Rowan's face, standing over them, as his world faded into darkness.
Meanwhile…
Elsewhere, the leaders of this new world clashed.
Lyle activated his skill.
Skill Activation: Identity
Geneva Graye—Level 26
Her forehead bore three glowing fire marks, her presence undeniable. Behind her, a large group of followers stood at the ready. Among them, two more redheads—one a tall, broad-shouldered man, the other a boy no older than twelve with piercing emerald eyes.
Lyle's stomach twisted.
They were outnumbered.
Outmatched.
He drew his bow. Markus readied his sword.
Lyle's priority was Aria. If nothing else, she had to escape.
Finn gripped his daggers, waiting for Lyle's signal.
Ramsey, as always, was shifting restlessly, throwing half-hearted punches into the air.
The silence stretched.
Then—
Skill Activation: Pyrokinetic Bind.
The air crackled.
Scorching heat coiled around Lyle's arms and legs like molten chains, each breath a struggle against the smothering air. His bow was wrenched violently from his hands, sent spinning into the void.
Suspended helplessly in midair, Lyle managed a crooked smirk—defiant, even as gravity threatened to reclaim him. His gaze wasn't on the world around him, but somewhere distant… somewhere only he could see.
Before his eyes hung a translucent blue system screen that no one else could see. Strange writing lines moved like fog, shimmering over it. A silent prompt flickered at the bottom:
[Quest: Archon of Man – Initiation Complete]
Description:
The world you once knew is gone. Change is inevitable. With every great shift, there must be those who step forward to lead. You have been chosen as an Archon—a founder of the new Earth civilization. You meet the requirements to guide humanity into its next era.
Part One — The Gathering
Objective: Recruit individuals to be part of this new beginning.
Progress: 7 / [N/A]
Note: Only those with potential may answer your call. Choose wisely. The future depends on it.
Part Two — The Trial
Objective: Defeat the rival Archon of Man to secure the survival of your group.
Message:
You, human, are now fully initiated into the Universe. With this initiation comes sacrifice. To find the strongest and most worthy leaders, you must now surpass—and if necessary—eliminate one another.
Warning: This stage is lethal. You are no longer a candidate—you are a player in a cosmic trial. Only one Archon can lead the final civilization.
"Share hidden quest: 'Archon of man"
[Yes] / [No]
Lyle didn't hesitate. He selected Yes.
In that instant, nothing obvious happened—no burst of light, no dramatic sound. But far below, Jacob, Connor, and Rowan would each feel a sharp flicker in their minds. A new notification. A new weight.
Lyle grinned wider, his voice barely a whisper as he stared into the invisible screen. "There. Now you know."
Then he let himself fall—eyes still fixed on a truth no one else had seen.
Markus writhed, teeth clenched, his muscles straining against an invisible force that held him like iron shackles. But the pressure was unrelenting. Nearby, Finn spat a curse and dug his heels in, trying to push forward, but his efforts were useless against the unseen grip that bound them all.
It was a trap.
With a single sharp motion, she struck the ground.
A glowing X erupted where her fingers touched—burning bright and pulsing with restrained fury. The mark hissed, searing itself into the earth with supernatural intensity.
Geneva exhaled, slow and steady, her breath fanning the fire she had conjured. The glowing runes at her feet pulsed brighter, alive with power, as if responding to her very heartbeat.
"You're in the wrong place."
Her tone was almost…pitying.
But behind that? Satisfaction.
The tall, red-haired man beside her rolled his shoulders. "What do we do with them?"
Geneva smiled.
She leaned close, whispering something in his ear.
Whatever she said, it made the man glance at the boy—the one no older than thirteen.
Relief flickered in his eyes.
As if he'd just received good news.
The air in the Forest of Trials is thick—heavy with moist ground, decaying leaves, and the type of dampness that stays on your skin like a second coat. The jungle hums with life. Insects skitter unseen, their tiny legs rustling against leaves, while something larger moves just beyond sight. Far-off howls resound across the forest, too twisted to distinguish man from beast.
The woodland alters when the sun sets lower. The light dims, shadows stretch, and the air feels different—like the jungle itself is holding its breath.
—
The Temple of Roots — The Thundering Choir
The Temple of Roots, where the Verdant Howlers (Level 55) stand guard forever, is tucked away in the oppressive green. They lurk half-hidden in mist, giant creatures with emerald fur and vines entwined through their backs, their golden eyes shining between the trunks. Their booming cries shake both leaves and bones as they travel through the jungle like tempests. They gaze in uncomfortable quiet as long as the holy puddles are unaltered. However, one mistake might cause a rage that shakes the earth itself. Hit a Howler, and watch out—the others come rushing down, roaring louder than imagined, and the living are trapped by thorn-choked walls that emerge from the corpses.
⸻
The Canopy of the Sun God — Eyes in the Green
Above the Temple lies the Canopy of the Sun God, where silence reigns and the Jade Sentinels (Level 52) prowl. Moss-crowned jaguars, frozen as statues, watch from the veiled heights. Their emerald eyes glitter in the shadows, and when four or more encircle a traveler, Gaze Lock falls like a net: sight blurs, limbs slow, and the world itself seems to hold its breath. In that frozen terror, they whisper directly into the mind—"Stay… or run." Neither choice offers mercy. Hidden among them lies a Cursed Offering, baited to snare the greedy with a breath of poisonous mist.
⸻
The Spiral Bazaar — The Bone Merchant
Past the canopy, the Spiral Bazaar rots in endless decay, ruled now by the Bone Merchant. There, the Marrow Baron (Level 56) shuffles between ruined stalls, draped in ceremonial bones, heavy sacks clinking at his sides. His low, humming dirge weaves through the market's empty alleys. Steal from him, and the Baron transforms—his slow gait replaced by wild, frenzied charges, bone-shard weapons flashing through the dark. With each sacred beast that falls nearby, he grows more monstrous, feeding on the death around him. Yet within his cursed grasp lies the Ancestor's Satchel, a prize marked by a cruel hex: a withering of life itself, until the curse is lifted at a forgotten shrine.
⸻
The Mist-Soaked Grove — The Silver Caravan
And farther still, shrouded in silver fog, the Mist-Soaked Grove slumbers, home to a secret known only in hushed warnings: The Silver Caravan. Here, the Hollow Stag (Level 58) roams unseen, a spectral giant whose broken lantern swings from shattered antlers. It drifts between the trees, silent, almost unreal—until a stray light or careless step draws its attention. Then the Dream Hunt begins. Reality fractures, dragging the intruder across endless ghost-plains under a cold, broken sky, the Hollow Stag ever at their heels. Survival unlocks the ancient Silver Pathways, a forgotten fast-travel network… but at a price. From that moment forward, every journey risks awakening vengeful spirits still hunting across the Silver Trail.
Somewhere far away, a screen flickers. On it, a projection of the jungle appears—a tiny, snowball-shaped island floating among many others, each a world of its own. Numbers update in the corner: 500,000 / 1,000,000.
A group of silent figures watches. Waiting.