The ancient stone temple loomed ahead, half-buried in the earth, its towering walls inscribed with glowing runes that pulsed like a heartbeat. The air around it hummed with a palpable energy, as if the building itself was alive, waiting.

Seikan’s green eyes were locked on the entrance, his mind already calculating what lay within. Kalsei, by his side, gazed at the structure with wide, golden eyes, his smile slipping only for a moment as the weight of their situation pressed down.

"So, what's the plan?" Kalsei asked, tilting his head slightly, his usual light tone underpinned by unease. "Just stroll in and hope for the best?"

Seikan didn’t break his gaze from the entrance. "We go in, gather what we can, and get out before the system throws anything too powerful at us."

Kalsei's laugh was soft but genuine. "Ah, yes. The Seikan master plan. No improvisation, no fun."

Seikan turned slightly, his expression deadpan. "If you call nearly getting mauled by a wolf 'fun', I’ll leave the planning to you next time."

"That wolf just needed a hug," Kalsei grinned. "But fine, we’ll do it your way. I’ll just dodge and run in circles until something inevitably tries to eat us. Classic."

Without another word, Seikan stepped forward, entering the temple with Kalsei close behind. As they crossed the threshold, the air immediately shifted, growing colder and heavier. The walls inside were massive, lined with more glowing runes, and tall pillars stretched upward, disappearing into a darkness that swallowed the ceiling.

The atmosphere felt suffocating, and Kalsei’s earlier quips faded as the weight of the temple pressed in on them. He rubbed his arms, trying to dispel the creeping chill. "I gotta say, Seikan, this place has a real ‘haunted dungeon’ vibe. You sure we’re not about to be turned into ghost snacks?"

Seikan ignored him, his eyes scanning the runes on the walls. "Focus. There’s magic everywhere. These runes... they’re active. The system’s pulling power from them."

Kalsei raised an eyebrow, his golden eyes flickering with faint amusement. "I don’t know about you, but I didn’t exactly take Rune Interpretation 101 back on Earth. You sure you can crack them?"

Seikan’s lips pressed into a thin line. "I’ll figure it out."

Suddenly, the runes around them flared brighter, casting long, distorted shadows across the room. The ground rumbled beneath their feet, and a low, menacing growl echoed through the hall. From the far end of the temple, something began to move—its massive form barely visible in the darkness. As it stepped into the light, both of them froze.

A creature, twice the size of the Bloodfang Wolf, prowled toward them. Its sleek, muscular body was covered in dark, jagged markings that pulsed with the same light as the runes on the walls. Its eyes glowed a brilliant red, and black liquid dripped from its maw, hissing as it hit the stone floor.

A window opened in front of them.

Enemy Encounter: Abyssal Warden Level: 5 Health: 800 Abilities: Abyssal Charge (Lvl 3): A high-speed dash that deals double damage.

Void Burst (Lvl 2): Releases a wave of dark energy, causing damage over time.

Rune Empowerment (Passive): Gains strength from nearby runes.

"Level five?" Kalsei said, reading the window with a growing sense of dread. "I’m not saying we should run... but... maybe we should... jog?"

Seikan's eyes narrowed. "No. Running won’t help. We’ll have to disable the runes powering it, or we’re dead."

Kalsei threw his hands up. "Oh, awesome. No pressure. I'll just be over here dancing around the angry death monster while you... rune things up. Cool?"

Without waiting for an answer, Kalsei shot forward, using his high agility to move swiftly around the Warden, distracting it. The creature’s glowing red eyes locked onto him, and it lunged with terrifying speed, activating Abyssal Charge. Kalsei twisted his body at the last second, narrowly avoiding the swipe of its massive claws.

"Too slow!" Kalsei called out with a grin, ducking under another strike. His feet barely touched the ground as he darted left and right, leading the Warden in a chaotic dance. "Seikan, don’t take all day! I’m running out of jokes here!"

Seikan’s fingers were already tracing symbols in the air, his mind racing to understand the flow of the runes. "Just keep it busy," he muttered through gritted teeth.

The runes weren’t responding the way he expected. They shifted and twisted, as if actively resisting his attempts to counter them. Sweat dripped from his brow as he redrew the symbols, trying different combinations. One of the nearby pillars flickered, but not enough to weaken the Warden significantly.

Kalsei, meanwhile, was moving faster than he had during their fight with the Bloodfang Wolf. His agility allowed him to stay just ahead of the Warden’s claws, dodging and weaving with ease. "Man, I’m glad I’m not Seikan. All this pressure to figure out magic stuff while I just get to run around. It’s like gym class all over again."

The Warden growled, frustrated by Kalsei’s speed. It slammed its massive claws into the ground, sending a shockwave through the temple. Kalsei felt the ground rumble beneath him and had to leap into the air, flipping mid-jump to avoid the impact. He landed gracefully on the other side of the room, his smile never fading. "Seikan! Anytime now would be great!"

Seikan’s fingers finally found the right pattern, and with a final stroke, the runes on the first pillar dimmed, cutting off a portion of the Warden’s power. The creature howled in pain, its movements slowing slightly as the magic in the room weakened.

Kalsei seized the opportunity, darting in close to the Warden and activating Reality Blink. The space around the creature distorted, its movements becoming sluggish and disjointed as it tried to recover from the sudden drop in power.

"Nice one, Seikan!" Kalsei called out, narrowly dodging another swipe. "One down, one to go!"

Seikan didn’t respond, already moving to the next pillar. His fingers traced the air with more confidence now, the magic responding more readily. But the Warden wasn’t finished yet. With a furious roar, it unleashed Void Burst, sending a wave of dark energy cascading across the room.

Another window flashed across their vision.

Status Effect: Void Corruption (DoT) Health reduced by 5 points per second.

Both Seikan and Kalsei were knocked back by the force of the attack, the black energy clinging to their skin like poison. Kalsei winced as his health bar began to drop slowly, the burning sensation spreading through his chest. "Not... loving this new feature," Kalsei muttered through gritted teeth.

Seikan forced himself to stand, his vision blurring slightly as the DoT continued to eat away at his health. He finished tracing the runes on the second pillar, disrupting the power flow and dimming the light even further. The Warden howled in agony, its massive form flickering as it lost more of its strength.

Kalsei grinned, despite the pain coursing through his body. "Let’s end this thing!"

Summoning the last of his strength, Kalsei activated Reality Shatter. His golden eyes flared brightly as a rift tore open in the space around the Warden. The creature thrashed wildly, but the rift expanded, consuming more of its form with each passing second.

The Warden let out a final, deafening roar before its body disintegrated into black smoke, the rift snapping shut as it vanished.

The familiar window appeared again.

Abyssal Warden defeated. You have gained 500 Experience Points.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Both Seikan and Kalsei panted heavily, their health bars still ticking down from the lingering Void Corruption. Kalsei looked over at Seikan, his usual grin weaker than before. "I don’t know about you, but this whole ‘slow death’ thing isn’t working for me."

Seikan, barely able to stand, forced himself to focus. His eyes landed on a small platform raising slowly from the floor behind Kalsei. "I believe that platform may heal or at least rejuvinate us," he suggested, pointing it out to Kalsei.

Kalsei’s eyes lit up. "You’re saying there’s an off switch for this poison? Lead the way!"

They stumbled toward the platform, every step feeling heavier as their health continued to drain. Kalsei reached it first, stepping onto it. A large rune in the centre of the platform started to hum as it pulsed with green glowing energy that cascaded up his form, enveloping him in a green mist. It felt like a warm summer day, and Kalsie hugged himself in the glow, giggling softly, as Seikan joined him. "I feel so warm and tingly," he grinned, looking to Seikan as the warm glow started to envelope him. "It serves its purpose," Seikan retorted, rolling his eyes slightly at Kalsei.

Status Effect Removed: Void Corruption.

Kalsei let out a relieved sigh as the burning sensation disappeared, and his health bar stopped dropping. "That’s more like it. I think I owe you a snack for that save, Seikan. How about we find something that isn’t trying to kill us for once?"

Seikan gave a tired nod, still catching his breath. "We’ll look for something after we figure out what this temple is hiding. There has to be more than just that creature."

Kalsei stretched his arms, shaking off the last remnants of tension. "Yeah, yeah. But next time, how about we pick a fight that doesn’t leave us with a death countdown?" He grinned, his usual energy already returning. "Also, not to brag, but I was pretty awesome back there. Did you see that flip? It was like something out of a movie."

Seikan rolled his eyes but couldn’t deny that Kalsei’s agility had been crucial to their survival. "If you spent half the energy you use on showing off into actually thinking ahead, maybe you wouldn’t be dodging death every five seconds."

"Hey, it’s all about style points, Seikan," Kalsei said with a wink. "Besides, I’ve got this agility thing covered. I’m like... reality’s own ninja."

They both walked deeper into the temple, the glow of the runes now dim and flickering. The defeat of the Abyssal Warden had weakened the structure’s power, but Seikan could feel that something still lingered. The air was still thick with magic, ancient and dangerous.

The hallway they entered was long and narrow, lined with intricate carvings that depicted strange figures locked in battle with beasts and spirits. Each figure was inscribed with runes, their meanings lost to time. Seikan paused occasionally, his eyes tracing the symbols, trying to decipher their secrets.

"Something’s off," Seikan muttered. "These runes... they’re not just decorative. They tell a story. Whoever built this place was channeling power through these symbols."

Kalsei glanced at the walls, then shrugged. "Well, whatever it is, it doesn’t look like the ‘friendly temple tour’ kind of place. You think there’s more of those Warden things in here?"

Seikan didn’t answer immediately, but the thought had crossed his mind. "Possibly. But we’ve weakened the temple’s defences from killing one of its guards. If there are more, we have some knowledge on how to fight them. Which in theory will make them seem weaker."

Kalsei rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Weaker or not, we’re not exactly at full strength either. Let’s just hope they aren’t in a hurry to say hello."

As they continued, the hallway opened up into a large chamber. At the center stood an ancient stone altar, covered in dust and cobwebs, but still radiating a faint magical aura. Around the altar were several broken pillars, each one crumbling and covered in more runes. On the far wall, a large door loomed, sealed shut with a massive, glowing lock made of the same runic symbols they’d seen throughout the temple.

"Well, that looks important," Kalsei said, nodding toward the door. "I’m guessing whatever’s behind there is either treasure or something we really, really don’t want to wake up."

Seikan stepped closer to the altar, his eyes narrowing as he examined the runes inscribed on its surface. "This altar is connected to the door. If we want to unlock it, we’ll need to activate whatever magic is left here."

Kalsei groaned. "Let me guess, more rune stuff?"

"Exactly," Seikan replied, already beginning to trace the symbols in the air.

Kalsei leaned against one of the broken pillars, his golden eyes scanning the room as Seikan worked. "You ever think about what’s next, Seikan?" Kalsei asked, his tone lighter than before. "I mean, after all this temple-running, monster-slaying stuff. What do we do if we survive?"

Seikan didn’t look up from the altar, his focus on the runes. "We get stronger. We find out what this system wants, and we figure out how to use it to our advantage."

Kalsei smiled, though it was more subdued than usual. "Always thinking about power. You know, maybe there’s more to this world than just leveling up and fighting monsters. Maybe we can actually live here. Find a place where we don’t have to keep running."

Seikan paused for a moment, his fingers hovering over the final rune. He glanced up at Kalsei, his expression unreadable. "This world isn’t a place for peace, Kalsei. We’ve been here less than a day, and it’s already trying to kill us."

"Yeah, but maybe we’re just looking in the wrong places," Kalsei said, his voice thoughtful. "Not everything here has to be a fight."

Before Seikan could respond, the runes on the altar flared to life, glowing brightly as the magic surged through the room. The large door on the far wall shuddered, the glowing lock breaking apart with a sharp crack. The door creaked open slowly, revealing a dark passageway beyond.

Seikan straightened, the surge of magic fading as quickly as it had come. "There’s your answer. Whatever’s behind that door... that’s the key to this temple."

Kalsei grinned, pushing himself off the pillar. "Well, looks like we’re about to find out."

They stepped through the doorway together, the air growing colder and heavier as they descended into the dark passage. The walls were lined with more runes, but these were different—older, more primal. The symbols were jagged and uneven, as if carved in haste by someone in desperate need of power.

The passage opened up into a vast underground chamber, and at its center was a large stone pedestal. On top of the pedestal rested two glowing items—one a shimmering blade that seemed to ripple with energy, the other a dark, intricate rune etched into a stone tablet.

Quest Updated: Discover the secrets of the Ruins of Eldras Objective Complete: Enter the Inner Sanctum Rewards: Shattering Blade (Unique Item) - Kalsei

Rune of Binding (Unique Item) - Seikan

500 experience points earned.

Kalsei’s eyes lit up as he approached the pedestal, his gaze locked onto the blade. "Now that is what I’m talking about," he said, reaching out to take the weapon. As his fingers closed around the hilt, a rush of energy surged through him, and the blade pulsed with power.

Item obtained: Shattering Blade Type: Weapon Effect: Allows the wielder to tear through magical barriers and structures with increased damage. The blade’s strikes send shockwaves that destabilize nearby enemies, weakening their defenses. Bonus: +15 Agility, +5 Strength. New Skill Unlocked: Rift Strike (Lvl 1): Delivers a powerful slash that creates a rift in space, sending out a shockwave that damages all enemies in its path. Can also disrupt magical effects within the area of the rift

Seikan reached for the rune tablet, his fingers brushing against the cool surface. As he lifted it, the runes inscribed on the stone began to glow, and he felt a deep connection form between him and the magic within.

Item obtained: Rune of Binding Type: Rune Effect: Grants the ability to create intricate multi-layered bindings that adapt to the target’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing for stronger and more versatile traps. Can be used defensively to create barriers or redirect attacks. Bonus: +10 Intelligence, +5 Wisdom New Skill Unlocked: Adaptive Shackles (Lvl 1): Creates a binding that adapts to the target's resistance, weakening their defenses or immobilizing them for longer. Can also be used to tether enemies together, causing damage when they move apart.

They both stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their new items settling over them. Kalsei swung the Shattering Blade experimentally, grinning as the weapon hummed in his hand. "I could get used to this."

Seikan, meanwhile, studied the Rune of Binding carefully. "These items... they’re ancient. Far more powerful than anything we’ve encountered so far."

"Guess that means we’re leveling up in style," Kalsei said with a wink.

Seikan didn’t respond immediately, his mind already racing with thoughts of how to use the rune’s power. "Let’s get out of here," he said finally. "We’ve gotten what we came for."

Kalsei nodded, his usual grin back in place. "Lead the way, boss."

Together, they made their way back up through the temple, the weight of their newfound power heavy on their shoulders. As they emerged from the temple and stepped back into the light of the outside world, Kalsei stretched his arms above his head, the tension from the day finally easing.

"You know," Kalsei said, glancing at Seikan with a grin. "For a day that started with us dying, this turned out pretty well."

Seikan allowed himself a small smile. "It’s just the beginning."