Chapter 8:
The sanctum was silent.
The last motes of Adamuz's fading form shimmered like stardust in the air before vanishing into the stillness. Leo remained rooted in place, his fingers slightly trembling—not from fear, but from the sheer weight of what had just occurred. Tarra stood beside him, no longer just a golem, but an Automaton awakened by a legacy older than the forest itself.
> [System Notification: Legacy Transfer Complete. Subsystem Unlocked: Golem Architect Subsystem – Partial Access Granted. Upgrade conditions incomplete.]
Leo exhaled slowly. The resonance still lingered in the stone. He stared at the pedestal where Adamuz had once stood—now an empty dais covered in age-worn carvings. Something tugged at him, faint and instinctive. His Survival Instinct skill pulsed lightly.
"Wait... something's off," he murmured, crouching down.
He traced his fingers along the runes at the pedestal's base, noting a slight draft between the seams. A faint shimmer of mana lined a groove almost invisible to the eye. He pressed inward.
Click.
A compartment slid open with the grind of ancient stone.
Inside, nestled in velvet-like moss, were two gently folded Narraleaf Fronds—their texture glowing faintly with a pale green shimmer. Alongside them was a sealed vial of Gleamthread Resin and a silver-bound scroll labeled with the sigil of the Golem Makers.
> [You have acquired: Narraleaf Frond (x2) – Legendary Material]
[You have acquired: Gleamthread Resin – Rare Binding Agent]
He swallowed hard. "These were hidden… right beneath him."
Tarra watched in silence, as if understanding the significance.
---
They left the sanctum behind.
For a brief while, sunlight pierced through the foliage, warming Leo's face. The quiet seemed almost holy. But peace was fleeting.
A growl rolled through the underbrush.
Tarra's posture shifted immediately. "Hostile presence detected."
From the mist emerged three Feral Wargs, each larger than a wolf, with corrupted fur matted in black sludge.
> [Feral Warg – Level 20] x3
Leo raised the Aetherpulse Rifle, channeling mana into its glowing chamber.
"Tarra, engage."
The battle was swift and brutal. Tarra danced between the monsters with inhuman grace, her quartz-infused strikes shattering bone and spirit alike. Leo's precision shots blasted through the third beast.
When the dust settled, all three Wargs dissolved into black mist.
> [LEVEL UP! Leo has reached Level 7]
[Status Updated: 15 unallocated status points, 1 skill point earned.]
Leo panted, lowering his rifle. "They're getting stronger..."
Tarra approached and scanned the area. "No further threats detected."
Leo nodded. "Let's take a moment."
---
They rested by a fallen tree. Leo knelt down and opened his inventory.
He stared at the Narraleaf Fronds and Gleamthread Resin, then activated his crafting menu.
> [Artifact Making – Level 1 Activated]
He laid the materials out, then whispered, "This forest is changing. I need protection… and so does she."
With careful hands, he wove the Narraleaf fibers into a flexible cloak. The resin shimmered as it bonded the layers seamlessly. For Tarra, he adjusted the shape—fitting her armored frame with a variant that wouldn't impede movement.
> [Crafting Complete: Narraleaf Cloak – Grants +25% Fog Corruption Resistance, Minor DEF bonus]
[Crafting Complete: Narraleaf Cloak – Golem Variant – Grants +25% Fog Corruption Resistance, +10 Nature Affinity (Tarra Only)]
Leo handed Tarra her cloak. She equipped it wordlessly, a faint glimmer pulsing through the fabric.
He donned his own. It was surprisingly light, and the moment it touched his skin, the encroaching fatigue from the fog eased slightly.
---
> [Main Quest Updated – Legacy of the Golem Makers]
Objective: Seek the Hidden Labyrinth beneath the Nara Tree
The Labyrinth beneath the Narra Tree holds the Core Resonance Node. Only the true Inheritor may access its core. Unauthorized entry will trigger system defenses.
Leo felt a strange pull deep in his chest—as if the world itself had acknowledged the change within him. The trees swayed as if murmuring approval, and the faint hum of ancient systems whispered beneath the soil.
Tarra turned to him, her cloak rustling softly. "The path forward awaits."
Leo nodded. "Aethelgard just got a lot more dangerous… but so did we."
> [New Item Added: Narraleaf Cloak]
Grade: Rare+
Type: Light Artifact Armor
Effect: +25% Fog Corruption Resistance, Minor DEF bonus
> [New Item Added: Narraleaf Cloak – Golem Variant]
Grade: Rare+
Type: Artifact Armor (Bound to Tarra)
Effect: +25% Fog Corruption Resistance, +10 Nature Affinity
> [Crafting Materials Used: Narraleaf Frond (Legendary), Gleamthread Resin (Rare)]