The massive Darkspawn's claws tore through the air, inches from Kael's chest. Time seemed to slow as the Rebirth Core in his chest pulsed violently, a surge of dark energy flooding his veins.
His body moved on instinct, twisting and contorting in ways that defied logic. The claws grazed his armor, leaving deep gouges, but he was already gone, his form blurring into the shadows.
[Rebirth Core Activated: Void Strider Unlocked]
Kael landed a few feet away, his breath coming in sharp gasps. The Darkspawn roared, its glowing red eyes locking onto him with a predatory gleam.
Around him, the battlefield was chaos. Lira's whip cracked through the air, striking down Darkspawns with precision, but even she was being overwhelmed by their sheer numbers.
"Kael!" Lira shouted, her voice strained. "We need to fall back!"
Before Kael could respond, a system alert chimed in his mind.
[System Alert: Hidden Quest Detected]
Quest: Close the Rift
Objective: Seal the Abyss Rift and defeat the Darkspawn Warlord.
Rewards: 4x Memory Fragments, 1x Heartstone, 1x Treasure Chest.
Kael's eyes widened. A hidden quest? And the rewards… they were too good to pass up. But the mission was suicide. The rift was spewing out Darkspawns faster than they could kill them, and now a Warlord was emerging. He hesitated, his mind racing.
"Kian," he thought, reaching out to the entity within him. "This is impossible. There's no way we can close that rift."
Kian's voice echoed in his mind, calm but urgent. "You're underestimating yourself, Kael. Your Rebirth Core has evolved. You have the power to turn the tide, but you need to unlock it."
"Unlock it? How?"
"Focus your energy into the Rebirth Core. Channel everything you have into it. The rest will fall into place."
Kael clenched his fists, his mind racing. He didn't have time to second-guess himself. The Darkspawns were closing in, and Lira was fighting for her life. He had to act.
Taking a deep breath, Kael closed his eyes and focused inward. He could feel the Rebirth Core pulsing in his chest, a dark, swirling mass of energy. He poured his will into it, his determination fueling the connection.
The Avryon heirloom around Kael's neck pulsed with a sudden, ethereal glow. Threads of light wove through the air, intertwining with the raw energy of his Rebirth Core, the two forces resonating in perfect sync. A surge of power flooded his veins, sharp and invigorating, like a second wind roaring to life within him.
Kael staggered for half a breath, caught between awe and instinct. This—this was new. The heirloom had never reacted like this before. Yet now, it pulsed in time with his core, feeding him energy, as if responding to something unseen.
His fingers brushed against the cool metal, pulse quickening.
"What the hell is going on? This…" he muttered under his breath.
Whatever was happening, it wasn't random. And he had a feeling this was only the beginning.
[Rebirth Core Activated: Multiplier Skill Unlocked]
Effect: Temporarily increases skill power and status by 3x for 10 minutes. Cooldown: 5 hours.
The moment the skill unlocked, Kael felt a surge of power unlike anything he had ever experienced. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and the world around him seemed to slow. He could feel the energy coursing through him, amplifying his strength, speed, and reflexes.
[System Alert: Multiplier Skill Active]
Duration: 10 minutes.
Kael's eyes snapped open, and he moved. His sword flashed through the air, cutting through Darkspawns with ease. Each strike was faster, stronger, and more precise than before. The creatures fell in droves, their twisted forms dissolving into shadow.
Lira stared at him, her whip momentarily still. "Kael… what the hell just happened?"
Kael didn't answer. He didn't have time. The rift was still open, and the Darkspawn Warlord was emerging. The massive creature stepped through the rift, its hulking form towering over the battlefield. Its red eyes burned with intelligence, and its spiked club glinted in the dim light.
[System Alert: Darkspawn Warlord Detected]
Name: Ulta the Rage Warlord
Level: 30
Rank: Warlord
Skills: Rage, Spike Club
Kian materialized beside Kael, his ethereal form shimmering faintly. His voice was low and urgent.
"That's a Darkspawn Warlord, Kael. One of the most dangerous entities in Erendath. They're intelligent, ruthless, and nearly unstoppable. This one—Ulta the Rage Warlord—is a Level 30 monster. Its rage fuels its strength, and its spiked club can crush even the strongest armor. Be careful."
Kael's heart pounded as he took in the Warlord's imposing figure. This wasn't just another Darkspawn—this was a force of nature. And it was heading straight for Lira.
"Lira, move!" Kael shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Lira turned just as the Warlord swung its spiked club. She barely managed to dodge, the weapon slamming into the ground with enough force to send shockwaves through the battlefield. The impact knocked her off her feet, and she scrambled to regain her footing.
Kael didn't hesitate. He activated Shadowstep, his body blurring as he closed the distance between himself and the Warlord. His sword struck the creature's armored leg, the blade cutting deep. The Warlord roared in pain, its massive form staggering.
But it wasn't enough. The Warlord's rage only seemed to grow, its movements becoming more erratic and violent. Kael knew he couldn't keep this up forever. The Multiplier skill had a time limit, and the Warlord was far from defeated.
"Kael!" Lira's voice cut through the chaos. She was on her feet again, her whip lashing out to entangle the Warlord's arm. "We need to leave this place this instant. But we need to work together."
Kael nodded, his mind racing. He couldn't do this alone. But with Lira by his side, maybe—just maybe—they stood a chance.
"We need to close the rift," he said, voice tight with urgency. "If we shut it down, the Darkspawns will stop pouring through."
Kian, floating beside him in an ethereal shimmer, wore an unusually pensive expression. His spectral form flickered slightly before he spoke. "Kael, this rift wasn't a natural occurrence. It was forced open." His translucent eyes narrowed. "I can feel the presence of an Abyssal Relic nearby—its energy is disrupting the balance. If we destroy it, the rift should collapse on its own."
Kael's pulse quickened. That changed everything. He turned to Lira, his expression hardening. "The rift was deliberately opened by someone. This isn't just a random emergence of Darkspawns. There's a source—an artifact fueling it. But first, we need to clear out these things before we can reach it." He gestured toward the direction where Kian had sensed the relic's presence.
Lira's eyes widened, shock flickering across her face. "You're saying someone did this on purpose?" Her grip tightened around her weapon. "Who the hell would be reckless enough to unleash a damn rift?"
"There's no time to figure out why," Kael said, his voice sharp as he parried a lunging Darkspawn, slicing through its corrupted flesh in a clean arc. "We need to act now!"
A bone-chilling roar shattered the air.
Kael barely had time to glance up before the Warlord—a hulking monstrosity of obsidian flesh and abyssal energy—charged straight toward them, its bloodshot eyes locked onto him with murderous intent. It barreled through lesser Darkspawns in its way, ignoring them entirely.
It wanted him.
And it wasn't stopping.
The Warlord roared again, its club swinging in a wide arc. Kael and Lira moved in unison, their attacks coordinated and precise. Kael's sword struck the creature's weak points, while Lira's whip kept it off balance. The battlefield was a blur of motion, the siblings fighting with everything they had.
But the Warlord wasn't going down easily. Its rage only seemed to grow, its attacks becoming more ferocious with each passing second. Kael could feel his strength waning, the Multiplier skill's effects starting to fade.
And then, just as he thought they might be overwhelmed, the rift pulsed again. The Warlord turned its attention to the rift, its red eyes narrowing as if sensing something.
Kael didn't wait. He charged forward, his sword aimed at the Warlord's chest. But before he could strike, the creature swung its club, the force of the blow sending him flying.
He hit the ground hard, his vision blurring. The last thing he saw before darkness took him was Lira's terrified face as the Warlord turned its attention to her.