The ancient hall, with its vast, ominous architecture, seemed to press down on them as the group gathered closer together. The dim light from the flickering torches cast long, eerie shadows across the cold stone floor, making the space feel both expansive and claustrophobic at the same time. The silence was heavy, broken only by the faint sound of their breathing and the occasional creak of old wood or the distant drip of water.
Talitha, standing at the center of the group, took a deep breath and began to speak. "Alright, I'll go first. You all know bits and pieces of my abilities, but I think it's time to lay it all out."
She glanced around, making eye contact with each member of the cohort. Her pale green eyes, sharp and intense, held their attention as she continued. "I walk the Path of Arcana. I have two Talents: Mind Reading and Sense Sharing. These allow me to delve into the minds of others, read their thoughts, emotions, and memories, and even share my senses, or theirs, with others. I can see through someone else's eyes, hear what they hear, and even share these experiences with the rest of you if needed."
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "I've reached the rank of 'Mystic,' which is the second level on the Path of Arcana. I have access to some utility skills and a few items that can help in various situations. For instance, I can purify dirty water, which might come in handy here. I also carry daggers, which I've learned to use effectively in close combat. My offensive skills are just physical. Additionally, I have items that offer protection against elemental attacks or enhance my abilities in specific situations."
Talitha hesitated for a moment before saying nothing, 'And I have an Echo, but… I'll keep that to myself for now.'
The others nodded.
Bruno, who had been silently observing, took a step forward, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the group. "I suppose it's my turn," he said in his deep, steady voice. "Like Talitha, I also walk the Path of Arcana. I've reached the rank of 'Mystic' as well, but my Talents are more focused on combat."
He unsheathed his greatsword, holding it up for them to see. The blade was massive, with an edge that gleamed in the dim light. "My first Talent allows me to enhance this sword, making it almost impossible to dodge. When I swing it, the blade seems to home in on my target, striking with precision and power."
He then planted the sword into the ground and crossed his arms over his chest. "My second Talent is defensive. I can become nearly invulnerable for a short period, but in return, I can't move. It's like becoming an immovable object, absorbing blows that would otherwise kill me—or any of you."
Bruno thought 'There's more to it, though… I can deflect some of the damage I take, but that's something I prefer to keep to myself.'
Bruno continued, "I carry two greatswords. The one I'm holding is my primary weapon, designed for sheer physical damage. My second sword has less physical power, but it's imbued with elemental effects, giving me an edge in certain situations. I've also learned a few skills to enhance my body and stamina, as well as my sword's sharpness. For defense, I can create a small barrier, resist mind attacks, and protect against poison. Unfortunately, I don't have many utility items—I gave most of them to the newbies back at Marindov."
He glanced at Jamila, giving her a subtle nod to indicate that it was her turn to speak.
Jamila, who had been listening intently, stepped forward. She was smaller than the others, with a softer demeanor, but her presence was no less significant. "I walk the Path of Divinity," she began, her voice gentle but clear. "My Talent is healing. I can revert the time on a person's body to a point before they were injured. It's not just healing—it's as if the wound never happened."
She held up her staff, which was intricately carved with symbols of protection and light. "I use this staff to channel my abilities. I'm more of a support role in our group, but that doesn't mean I'm powerless. I have skills that can buff your elemental powers, making your fire burn hotter or your ice freeze harder. I can also enhance your physical body, Bruno, which would work well with your talents."
Jamila continued, "I can debuff enemies too—slowing them down, making them easier to hit or escape from. I carry multiple defensive items: one can create a barrier around me or a chosen target, another can store some of my healing power in advance so that I can give it to someone who needs it in the heat of battle. I can even teleport between two places I've marked within the last 24 hours. It's not much, but it can be a lifesaver."
She looked over at Bakir, giving him a small smile as she indicated it was his turn.
Bakir stepped forward, his dark eyes thoughtful as he began to speak. "I'm on the Path of Spirits," he said, his voice steady. "I'm currently at the first rank, and I have one Talent: summoning lower spirits. I can summon up to two at a time, and each spirit brings a different elemental power with it."
He unsheathed his katana, the blade reflecting the light of the torches. "This is my main weapon. I have an item that allows me to imbue my weapon with the element of one of the spirits I summon, but doing so weakens the spirit. I don't have many utility items because my spirits can handle most tasks for me."
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Bakir's expression grew more serious as he continued. "I have a skill that doubles the elemental power of my weapon, making it incredibly potent in combat, but that's the only skill I have right now. My items are more focused on defense—I wear a necklace and a charm that give me high resistance to elemental attacks."
He then turned to Flo, who had been listening quietly. "Your turn, Flo."
Flo, always the calm and collected one, nodded and stepped forward. "I'm also on the Path of Arcana, but I'm still at the first rank. My Talent is the manipulation of fire and ice—I can control and create both elements."
He held out his hands, and a chakram appeared in each—one wreathed in flame, the other covered in a thin layer of frost. "These are my main weapons. Each chakram is imbued with one of my elemental powers. I only have one skill that's a bit different from the rest—it allows me to control objects telepathically, up to two at a time."
Flo continued, "I have some items that enhance my elemental powers, though not as much as Bakir's. I also have an item that sharpens my chakrams' edges and a charm that gives me resistance to both fire and ice. It's not much, but it's what I have."
He then turned to Chris, giving him a nod. "Your turn, Chris."
Chris, who had been standing with his arms crossed, stepped forward, his pale blue eyes sharp. "I'm on the Path of Arcana too, first rank. My Talent is lightning manipulation—I can create and control lightning."
He held up his staff, which crackled with electric energy. "This is my main weapon. I have a charm that helps me gather energy in my staff faster, another that helps me focus better, and a third that gives me resistance to mind attacks. I also have an item that can split my lightning attacks—so instead of firing one powerful bolt, I can shoot two weaker ones at once."
Chris smirked slightly. "Oh, and I have an item that lets me float. It's handy for getting a better vantage point in battle or avoiding attacks from below."
Finally, Chris looked over at Gazo. "Your turn, Gazo."
Gazo, who had been listening to everyone with a thoughtful expression, nodded and stepped forward. "It's good that we have so many on the Path of Arcana with elemental powers," he said. "But I'm on the Path of the Wyrm."
He flexed his muscular arms, the gauntlets on his hands gleaming in the torchlight. "I can enhance my body to superhuman levels, even beyond what's normal for people who've awakened. My main weapons are these gauntlets, and I specialize in frontline combat."
Gazo continued, "Most of my skills are defensive, which makes me a solid frontliner. I have one offensive skill that accelerates my movements for a short duration, making me faster and more agile in combat. As for items, I only have a few utility items—nothing too special. I can summon a little wind to clean off dust and such, and I have an item that detects movement within a 30-meter radius, but that's pretty useless now that Blank is with us."
He then turned to Blank, who had been silently listening to everyone's explanations. "Now it's your turn, Blank. You're the one we're most interested in. You're still a mystery to us."
Blank looked around at the group, his grey eyes calm and unreadable. "I can sense the energy of others," he began, his voice steady. "Because of that, I can sense their movement, their form, and their presence. I don't use any weapons—just my energy and my fists."
He paused, raising his hand to demonstrate as he had before. A small orb of energy appeared, hovering above his palm. "I can use this energy to enhance my body, making me stronger and more resilient. Or I can project it, like I showed you earlier."
The others watched in silence, a mix of awe and curiosity in their eyes. Even Talitha gasped slightly at the display of raw power.
Blank continued, "I don't have any items or skills to rely on. Just my energy. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I won't hold you back."
Talitha, still processing everything she had heard, couldn't help but ask, "How can you be so sure of that?"
Blank's expression remained neutral as he answered. "I can suppress my sensing abilities, but that takes a toll on me—almost as much as using them. If I don't suppress it, I sense everything. It's impossible for me to miss anything. And that includes while I'm asleep. I don't need to keep watch I'm always aware. I'll notice anything before any of you would."
Talitha frowned, her gaze lingering on the numerous scars that crisscrossed Blank's body. Some were deep and jagged, others looked like burns, and there were a few that seemed fatal. "What about your history, Blank? Those scars… some of them look like they would have killed you. How did you survive them?"
Blank's eyes darkened slightly, but his voice remained even. "That's my path. You don't need to know the details. But don't worry—they didn't happen because I was killing or fighting people. Everyone here probably has more fighting experience than I do."
The group fell silent, absorbing his words. Finally, Blank looked up at them, a faint hint of a smile on his lips. "By the way, why do you all call me Blank?"
Talitha smiled softly. "We didn't know your name, and when I tried to read your mind… it was blank. So, I started calling you Blank."
Blank nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "I like it. Call me Blank from now on."
As the group began to relax slightly, Blank's expression suddenly changed, becoming more focused. "Right now," he said, "there's only one living being around us, other than us, that I'm sensing." pointing to the warrior.
Chris, his heart pounding in his chest, looked at Blank with wide eyes. "What do you mean? Isn't that warrior dead?"
Blank shook his head. "No. I can still feel his energy. He's alive."
The realization sent a shiver down the group's spines. The warrior Blank had fought was still alive, and they were still trapped inside the Fallen Domain with him.
"We need to get out of here," Blank said, his voice firm. "There's nothing inside this building for us, not even food. We should leave."
Bruno, who had been deep in thought, nodded in agreement. "Let's search for food and supplies, then we'll rest for another day. Blank, you need time to recover before we move on."
The group nodded, each member feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on them. They had shared their abilities, their strengths, and their weaknesses, and now they were more prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead. But the reality of their situation was still daunting.
As they prepared to leave the building and search for supplies, the knowledge that the warrior was still alive hung over them like a dark cloud. They had only just begun to understand the dangers of the Fallen Domain, and now they faced the possibility of another battle, one that could be even more deadly than the first.