Mia stood beside Kael in the shadows of Vaelor City, the royal palace looming ahead like a monument to her doom. Its marble walls gleamed under the light of Eryndor's two moons, its spires adorned with banners bearing the royal crest—a golden sun with seven rays, symbolizing the gods who ruled this world. The system's warning replayed in her mind: The priest can detect reincarnators. Survival probability: 15%. She glanced at Kael, his expression hard as he surveyed the palace gates.
"You're sure about this?" Mia asked, her voice low. "If that priest can sense me, we're walking into a trap."
Kael's storm-gray eyes met hers, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of concern. "We don't have a choice," he said, his voice steady. "The final Voidheart shard is in the palace vault. Without it, the gods will win. But I won't let them touch you, Mia. I promise."
His words sent a shiver down her spine—not from fear, but from the intensity in his gaze. Since her confession in the dungeon, something had shifted between them. They were allies now, bound by their shared defiance of the gods' script. But Mia couldn't shake the feeling that Kael was hiding something, even from her.
The system interface glowed in her vision:
*Shadow Points: 1060*
*Skills: Shadow Veil (Level 1), Enhanced Agility (Level 1), Poison Blade (Level 1), Shadow Step (Level 1), Shadow Bind (Level 1)*
*Available Upgrades: Shadow Veil (Level 2) – Extends duration to 15 seconds (1200 Points).*
She was close to upgrading Shadow Veil, but for now, her skills would have to suffice. The mission timer for killing Lord Varen was still ticking down at 23:25:47, a constant reminder of her other looming deadline. She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand.
Kael led her to a hidden entrance on the palace's eastern wall, a grate covered by ivy. He pried it open with a dagger, revealing a narrow tunnel that smelled of damp earth and decay. "Servants' passage," he whispered. "It'll get us close to the vault. Stay quiet, and follow my lead."
Mia nodded, activating Shadow Veil as they slipped inside. The skill's 10-second duration let her blend into the darkness, her movements silent as she followed Kael. Her Enhanced Agility made her steps lighter, and she used Shadow Step to teleport past a particularly narrow section of the tunnel, keeping pace with Kael's swift strides. The tunnel opened into a storage room filled with crates, just off the palace's lower corridors.
The halls were eerily quiet, the marble floors reflecting the faint glow of mana-infused chandeliers. Guards patrolled in pairs, their armor clinking softly, but Kael and Mia moved like ghosts, using shadows and alcoves to avoid detection. Kael's knowledge of the palace was uncanny—he'd clearly been here before, likely on missions for the gods he now despised.
They reached the vault door, a massive slab of steel inscribed with glowing runes. Kael pulled out the two Voidheart shards he already possessed, their violet light pulsing in sync with the runes. "The shards are the key," he whispered, pressing them against the door. The runes flared, then dimmed, and the door groaned open, revealing a chamber lined with treasures—gold, jewels, and artifacts humming with magic.
At the center, on a pedestal, sat the final Voidheart shard. It was larger than the others, its surface swirling with violet, red, and now gold energy, as if the gods' influence had tainted it. Mia stepped forward, but Kael grabbed her arm, his grip tight. "Wait," he hissed. "Something's wrong."
Before she could respond, a voice echoed through the chamber, cold and resonant. "Intruders," it said, and the air shimmered as a figure appeared before the pedestal. He was tall, clad in white robes with a golden sun embroidered on the chest. His eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and a staff in his hand pulsed with divine energy. The priest.
The system chimed:
*Warning: High Priest Ardan, servant of the Seven Gods. Threat Level: Extreme.*
Ardan's gaze locked onto Mia, and his eyes widened. "An anomaly," he said, his voice dripping with disgust. "A soul not of this world. The gods warned me of your kind." He raised his staff, and a wave of golden light surged toward her, burning with holy energy.
Mia dove to the side, using Shadow Step to teleport behind a pillar. The light scorched the floor where she'd stood, leaving a smoking crater. Kael moved in a blur, his dagger flashing as he lunged at Ardan, but the priest deflected the strike with a barrier of light, sending Kael skidding back.
"You dare defy the gods, Shadow King?" Ardan said, his voice booming. "And with a filthy reincarnator at your side? You'll both be purged."
Mia's heart raced. She couldn't let Ardan focus on her—her skills weren't enough to fight a divine servant head-on. She activated Shadow Bind, and shadowy tendrils erupted from the ground, wrapping around Ardan's legs. The priest froze for 5 seconds, his staff dimming, and Kael seized the chance, slashing at his side. The blade cut through Ardan's robes, drawing blood, but the priest broke free, his staff flaring with light.
"You cannot win," Ardan said, slamming his staff into the ground. A shockwave of golden energy erupted, knocking Kael back and shattering Mia's pillar. She rolled to avoid the debris, her Enhanced Agility keeping her on her feet, but Ardan's gaze locked onto her again. "Your soul does not belong here," he said, raising his staff. "Return to the void!"
A beam of light shot toward her, and Mia used Shadow Step to teleport away, reappearing near the pedestal. She grabbed the Voidheart shard, its energy searing her hand, and the system chimed:
*Objective Complete: Retrieve the Final Voidheart Shard. Reward: 250 Shadow Points.*
*Total Shadow Points: 1310.*
*Skill Upgraded: Shadow Veil (Level 2) – Duration extended to 15 seconds.*
The shard's power surged through her, and for a moment, she felt a presence—dark, ancient, and furious. The shadow wielder's soul, trapped within. But there was no time to process it. Ardan's beam grazed her shoulder, and she cried out, dropping to her knees. The pain was blinding, like fire in her veins.
Kael roared, his own shadows erupting around him. He charged Ardan, his dagger a blur, but the priest countered with another barrier, their clash shaking the chamber. Mia forced herself to her feet, clutching the shard. She had to help Kael—they wouldn't survive otherwise.
She activated Poison Blade, her dagger glowing with green energy, and used Shadow Veil to close the distance, her 15-second duration giving her more time to maneuver. She struck from behind, her blade sinking into Ardan's back. The poison spread, and the priest staggered, his light flickering. But he turned, his glowing eyes filled with rage, and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her off the ground.
"Abomination," he hissed, his grip tightening. "The gods will erase you."
Mia gasped for air, her vision darkening, but Kael's dagger flashed, severing Ardan's arm. The priest screamed, dropping Mia, and Kael pulled her back, his shadows shielding them both. "We need to go," he said, his voice urgent. "Now!"
They fled the vault, Ardan's enraged cries echoing behind them. Guards were converging on the chamber, their shouts filling the halls, but Kael and Mia moved like specters, using shadows and Shadow Step to evade pursuit. They escaped through the servants' passage, collapsing in an alley outside the palace.
Mia clutched the Voidheart shard, her shoulder burning where the divine light had struck her. Kael knelt beside her, his expression grim. "You're hurt," he said, his voice tight. He reached for her, but the system chimed, its message chilling:
*Warning: Divine Curse Detected. Effects: Soul Decay. Time until termination: 7 days.*
Mia's blood ran cold. A curse—Ardan's light had marked her, and now she had a week to live. She looked at Kael, her voice trembling. "I'm cursed," she whispered. "I'm going to die."
Kael's jaw clenched, and he pulled her close, his shadows wrapping around them like a shield. "Not if I can help it," he growled. "We'll find a way to break it. I swear."
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*To be continued…*
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