They finally reached the archives, a vast room lined with ancient scrolls and leather-bound volumes. Rows upon rows of shelves stretched out before them, and the air was thick with the scent of aged paper and dust. Darius quickly took charge, pulling out a series of books on relics and magical artifacts, while Steph located a few guides on defensive spells, hoping to find something to protect the keystone from unwanted attention.
Seikan found a section on ancient runes and began flipping through the pages, his expression intense as he absorbed the information. Kalsei, meanwhile, wandered through the shelves, occasionally picking up a book only to put it back down with a look of mild horror at the complex diagrams within.
As they worked, they occasionally shared their findings, piecing together bits of lore and history about keystones. It soon became clear that the Arcane Keystone was part of a set of relics, each with unique properties. Some keystones had the power to alter space, others could manipulate time, and a rare few—like theirs—could affect reality itself.
System Alert: Knowledge Unlocked – The Arcane Keystones Information Discovered: The Arcane Keystones are a set of ancient artifacts, each tied to a fundamental aspect of magic. When wielded by someone with sufficient knowledge and skill, they can reshape realms. Each keystone possesses unique abilities and is sought after by various factions for its power.
Steph looked up from one of the texts, her brow furrowing. "It says here that each keystone can amplify its wielder’s innate powers. So if Seikan were to use it… it might make his dark magic and runic skills stronger."
Seikan’s eyes gleamed, but he quickly hid his excitement. "Interesting. But it’s also a risk. If it amplifies power, it could draw even more attention than we’re prepared to handle."
Darius leaned back, his gaze thoughtful. "So, we have a choice. We can either keep the keystone hidden and avoid using it until we understand more, or we can start experimenting with its powers—carefully."
Kalsei grinned. "I vote for experimenting. What’s life without a little risk?"
Steph rolled her eyes. "Just remember, we’re not invincible, Kalsei. If the factions come looking, we need to be prepared to protect ourselves—and the keystone."
Seikan nodded. "Then let’s keep our focus. We’ll take this step by step. First, let’s master whatever powers we can without drawing too much attention."
Over the next week, they continued their training, honing their skills and experimenting with the keystone in small, controlled ways. Under Seikan’s guidance, they discovered that the keystone could briefly distort reality, allowing them to obscure their location or even phase through solid objects for short distances. Each of them took turns practicing with it, careful to stay within the guild grounds and avoid attracting unwanted attention.
One evening, as they trained in a secluded corner of the guild’s training yard, Kalsei held the keystone, feeling a strange pull as he activated it. For a brief moment, he saw the world shift—a flash of colors and shadows as if reality itself was bending around him. When he released the keystone, the world snapped back to normal, leaving him slightly dazed.
"Whoa," he muttered, shaking his head. "That’s… intense."
Steph looked concerned. "Careful. This kind of power could be dangerous if we’re not careful."
Seikan, however, looked intrigued. "The keystone is like an extension of ourselves, amplifying what we’re capable of. If we use it wisely, it could give us an edge in battle."
Darius gave him a wary glance. "Just remember, Seikan, power like this can be a double-edged sword."
Seikan nodded, though there was a hint of determination in his eyes. "I understand. But if this keystone can help us survive, then it’s worth mastering."
Kalsei clapped his hands, breaking the tension. "Alright, enough serious talk. Who’s up for a little practice? Let’s see who can pull off the craziest keystone trick without passing out."
They took turns, testing the limits of the keystone’s abilities. Steph managed to create a brief mirage, duplicating herself for a few seconds before the strain became too much. Darius experimented with using the keystone to harden his defenses, creating a shield that shimmered faintly before dissolving.
As they practiced, the system alerted them to their progress.
System Alert: Keystone Mastery Level Increased!
New Abilities Discovered:
Reality Mirage: Creates a temporary duplicate of the wielder to confuse enemies. Duration and accuracy increase with experience.
Phase Shift: Allows the wielder to briefly phase through solid objects. Limited range and duration.
Dimensional Shield: Provides temporary invulnerability against magical attacks, but drains the keystone’s energy quickly.
The group’s excitement grew as they realized the keystone’s potential. But just as they were about to continue, a figure approached from the shadows of the guild hall. It was a young guild member, dressed in the silver and green of the Seekers of Ascendancy. She looked at them with a confident smirk, clearly aware of their training.
"So, you’re the ones with the Arcane Keystone," she said, crossing her arms. "Word travels fast. The Seekers would be very interested in someone with your… potential."
Kalsei sighed, giving Seikan a knowing look. "And here we go. The first of the faction recruiters."
The woman ignored his sarcasm, her gaze fixed on Seikan. "Our faction believes in the pursuit of power, in embracing what makes us strong. With the keystone, you could become more than just adventurers. You could lead."
Seikan studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "I appreciate the offer. But we’re not interested in aligning ourselves with any faction. Not yet."
The Seeker’s recruit tilted her head, unfazed by Seikan’s dismissal. “I understand your hesitation. But keep in mind, neutrality is… difficult when you’re carrying an artifact of this magnitude. The Seekers could offer you support, resources, protection. Power should not be left in the hands of those who refuse to use it.”
Kalsei stepped forward, his arms crossed with a smirk. “Listen, I get it. Big powers, big choices, all very tempting. But we like handling things our own way, thanks.”
The recruit’s gaze hardened, her eyes narrowing. “Just remember, others won’t take your refusal as lightly as I am. The League of Shadows, for example, won’t simply ask—they’ll take.”
Steph crossed her arms, her voice cool but firm. “Is that supposed to scare us? Because we’ve already faced your agents, and frankly, it wasn’t much of a challenge.”
The recruit’s smirk returned, a little sharper. “Suit yourselves. Just know that this isn’t over. The Seekers will be watching—and when you’re ready to embrace real power, we’ll be waiting.” With that, she turned and walked away, her figure vanishing back into the shadows of the guild hall.
As soon as she was gone, Darius let out a slow breath, glancing at the others. “Well, that’s one faction making their interest known. It won’t be long before the others reach out, too.”
Seikan slipped the keystone back into his pouch, his expression unreadable. “For now, we keep moving forward. We won’t align with anyone until we’re ready to face the consequences of choosing.”
Kalsei chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “If we ever choose at all. Maybe I’ll just start my own faction—'Kalsei’s League of Endless Fun.' Only requirement? A love of adventure and sarcasm.”
Steph laughed, shaking her head. “We’d last about two days before the other factions kicked us out.”
They all laughed, the tension lifting slightly as they made their way back to their quarters. But later that night, as they settled into their rooms, each of them lay awake, feeling the weight of the path they were carving. Neutrality wouldn’t be easy—not with an artifact like the keystone drawing the guild’s eyes.
The following morning, they received a message from the guild’s mission coordinator, informing them of a new contract. It was a standard mission—investigate disturbances in the Emberwood, where rumours of rogue elemental creatures had been circulating. Yet as they read the details, they realized the mission offered a perfect opportunity: a chance to test their new abilities in a real battle, away from the guild’s watchful eyes.
The mission briefing encouraged them to tread carefully, as several Silver Rank adventurers had already encountered unusual resistance in the Emberwood. These weren’t ordinary creatures—they were influenced by elemental magic, likely tied to a deeper disturbance in the area.
After gathering their supplies and finalizing their preparations, the group set off toward the Emberwood. The journey itself was quiet, with Kalsei keeping spirits high with his usual antics—balancing supplies on his head, joking about the “glorious danger” that awaited, and attempting to spark debates about who was the most stylish adventurer (a title he firmly believed he held).
As they reached the forest’s edge, the air grew thick with an almost tangible energy, an electric hum that seemed to reverberate through the ground and up into their bones.
Darius spoke up, his voice low. “Stay alert. Whatever’s causing this disturbance, it’s more than just rogue creatures. We should proceed with caution.”
They moved deeper into the forest, the shadows growing denser as the trees closed in around them. Every so often, a faint, eerie glow would illuminate the mist, pulsing with unnatural energy. After a while, they caught sight of a creature lurking among the trees—a towering, translucent being, shimmering with a strange, flickering light.
System Alert: Elemental Wraith Detected! Class: Spirit Guardian Level: 26 Health: 6000 Mana: 450 Abilities: Wraithform, Elemental Burst, Energy Drain
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Weakness: Physical Strikes, Disruption Magic
Steph gripped her staff, her gaze intense as she studied the wraith. “It’s drawing energy from the forest itself. We need to sever that link before it becomes unstoppable.”
Kalsei rolled his shoulders, a confident smirk on his lips. “Alright then. Who’s ready for some good old-fashioned ghost-busting?”
Seikan’s eyes narrowed, focusing his magic. “We’ve got one chance to catch it off-guard. Let’s make this count.”
Without waiting, Seikan began casting Adaptive Shackles, dark tendrils slithering out from his hands like vipers, wrapping around the wraith. The creature let out an unearthly screech, its translucent form flickering as it fought against the binding magic.
Darius seized the opportunity, launching himself forward with Wind Slicer, his sword glowing with a fierce blue aura. “This is for the mess you made of our afternoon!” His blade cut through the wraith’s misty form, the wind energy slicing deep and disrupting the creature’s dark essence.
The wraith howled in fury, its form rippling and surging with renewed energy. “You dare challenge me? Pathetic mortals!” Its voice was a chilling echo that seemed to vibrate through the very trees.
Steph stepped forward, her staff glowing with void energy as she prepared her next move. “Pathetic? I’ve patched up tougher bruises than you,” she taunted, raising her staff. Void Reflection activated, absorbing the surge of energy the wraith threw at them and redirecting it back. The blast hit the wraith dead center, causing its form to shudder and momentarily lose its shape.
“Nice one, Steph!” Kalsei called, darting forward. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he phased through the creature’s sweeping claws using Dimensional Shift. He grinned as he dodged, his voice laced with mock sympathy. “Aw, what’s the matter, ghostie? Can’t hit what you can’t see?”
“Enough games!” The wraith screeched, releasing an Elemental Burst that sent waves of raw energy cascading outward, shaking the forest floor and sending leaves and debris spiraling through the air.
Steph’s eyes widened, her grip tightening on her staff. “Get back!” she shouted, raising Void Reflection again, the dark energy of her shield absorbing part of the blast and channeling it back at the wraith. The reflected energy exploded against the creature, causing its form to waver as though it were about to dissipate entirely.
Kalsei, seeing an opening, shifted through the space between them with a quick flash of Dimensional Shift, reappearing in front of the wraith. “This is what you get for ruining our day off.” With a sly grin, he activated Spatial Fracture, his blade slicing through the wraith’s core. The rift in reality tore into the creature’s essence, its ethereal body convulsing as it struggled to hold itself together.
“You think... you can destroy me?” The wraith’s voice was a distorted snarl, its form knitting back together as it drew on more energy from the forest, vines and roots lifting from the ground to surround it.
“Oh, I’m not just thinking it,” Kalsei taunted, “I’m making sure of it.”
The wraith, furious, unleashed a flurry of spectral tendrils that whipped through the air, aiming to ensnare the group. Darius sliced through one of the tendrils with Wind Slicer, the blade creating a gust of wind that blew back the creature’s attack momentarily.
Steph fired off Void Cascade, sending tendrils of void energy wrapping around the wraith’s limbs. “Seikan, now!”
Seikan nodded, his voice filled with icy resolve. “This ends here.” He activated Arcane Devourer, the dark magic pulsing through his hands as he reached forward. The tendrils he cast latched onto the wraith’s core, siphoning off the last vestiges of its power.
The wraith shrieked, its form flickering and fading. “No! This cannot be… defeated by mere mortals…”
With one final, echoing wail, the creature dissolved into a mist that dissipated into the forest, leaving behind an unnatural silence. The group looked around, catching their breath.
Kalsei exhaled, flashing a grin at the others. “Well, that was easy enough.”
Steph scoffed, leaning on her staff. “Easy? You call that easy?”
Kalsei shrugged, still grinning. “Alright, maybe not easy. But you have to admit, we make a good team.”
Seikan straightened, dusting off his cloak with a calm, self-satisfied nod. “Next time, maybe the forest will think twice about trying to throw its wraiths at us.”
As the last traces of the wraith’s energy faded from the forest, the group shared a weary but triumphant look. It had been a hard-fought battle, but they had once again proved the strength of their bond and the power of their skills.
System Alert: Elemental Wraith Defeated! Experience Gained: 8,000 XP
Loot Acquired: Wraith Essence, Elemental Shards
The group took a moment to catch their breath, gathering their spoils before moving deeper into the forest. As they continued, they encountered more disturbances—echoes of elemental magic rippling through the air, hints of an unnatural force drawing the energy from the forest itself.
Eventually, they reached a clearing where a faint glow emanated from the ground. In the center of the clearing lay a small, rune-covered stone, pulsing with the same energy they’d sensed throughout the forest.
Seikan’s eyes narrowed as he examined the stone. “This isn’t just an artifact. It’s a focus point—something used to channel or amplify magic. It’s linked to the elemental disturbances we’ve been facing.”
Steph looked around, her eyes scanning the shadows. “Then we should remove it. Destroy it, if necessary. Whatever this stone is amplifying, it’s clearly wreaking havoc on the area.”
Kalsei smirked, drawing his blade. “So… who wants to smash some runes?”
But just as he took a step forward, the ground trembled, and another figure materialized before them—a larger, more powerful wraith, its form glowing with an intense, pulsing light.
System Alert: Primordial Wraith Detected! Class: High Elemental Spirit Level: 30
Health: 10,000 Mana: 5,600
Abilities: Primordial Surge, Elemental Absorption, Energy Overload
Weakness: Disruption Magic, Void Energy
Darius tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes unwavering. “Alright, team, this is it. Take down this wraith, and the forest will be back to normal. Stay sharp.”
The wraith floated before them, an embodiment of ancient malice, its ghostly form swirling with dark energy. Its eyes glowed a malevolent crimson, and it radiated a power that seemed to warp the air around it. Shadows pulsed and writhed in time with its movements, like it was drawing strength from the darkness itself.
Seikan didn’t hesitate. He began tracing intricate runes in the air, focusing on each precise line as he cast Runic Absorption. The runes shimmered and glowed, spiraling around his form and enhancing his mana reserves. The additional energy flowed through him, and he smirked, feeling a surge of confidence. “Time to end this, creature.”
The wraith let out a guttural, echoing snarl in response, and with a flick of its clawed hand, unleashed a devastating Primordial Surge. A tidal wave of raw, unrestrained energy erupted from the wraith, ripping across the clearing with enough force to rattle the trees and send leaves spiraling into the air like a storm.
“Brace yourselves!” Steph shouted, raising her staff high as she quickly channeled Abyssal Shield. A dome of dark energy materialized around them, absorbing the brunt of the surge. But the sheer impact was intense, and the force pushed them back, their feet skidding across the forest floor. Steph gritted her teeth, her hands trembling from the strain of maintaining the shield against the onslaught.
As the blast subsided, Kalsei wasted no time, activating Ethereal Echo. His form shimmered and split, creating shadowy duplicates that darted around the wraith, each one moving unpredictably, dodging and weaving to confuse it.
The wraith hissed in frustration, slashing at the illusions with dark tendrils that passed harmlessly through them. Kalsei grinned, using the distraction to slip in close. “Think you’re scary? I’ve met scarier shadows in my dreams.” With a swift, graceful swing, he delivered a powerful Temporal Slash, his blade slicing through the wraith’s ghostly form and disrupting its energy core. The wraith shrieked, its form flickering as though struggling to maintain cohesion.
Seikan seized the moment, his eyes alight with a dangerous glint. “Let’s see how much more you can take.” He raised his hands, channeling his mana into Eldritch Devastation, a spell so intense that tendrils of dark energy pulsed from his fingertips. The energy surged forward, coiling around the wraith and sinking into its form like venom.
The wraith howled, its form convulsing as Seikan drained its life force. “Feeling a little less immortal now?” he taunted, pushing more energy into the spell. Wisps of darkness spiraled off the wraith, fading as they were absorbed by Seikan’s attack.
Darius, watching for any sign of counter-attack, saw a ripple of energy building around the wraith, its claws twitching as if preparing to release another surge. Acting quickly, he activated Guardian’s Vigil, a protective aura radiating from him and surrounding the team. “Hold steady! I’ve got you covered!” he shouted, his voice steady and reassuring.
The wraith released a pulse of dark energy, but it shattered harmlessly against Darius’s protective aura, the shield dispersing the force. The creature reeled, its defenses visibly weakening, dark wisps of energy flaking off as it struggled to hold its form together.
Steph gripped her staff, her eyes narrowing with fierce determination. “I’m not letting this thing hurt anyone else.” Channeling her void magic, she cast Void Reflection, focusing all her energy into a powerful counterattack. Her staff glowed with dark energy, and with a final push, she released a surge of magic that ricocheted off her shield, slamming directly into the wraith.
The creature staggered, a jagged crack appearing across its spectral form. It let out a low, tortured wail, its crimson eyes flickering as the force of the attack shook it to its core. Steph’s spell had cut deep, shattering the creature’s defenses as it struggled to recover.
Kalsei didn’t waste a second, his golden eyes glinting as he prepared to end the fight. “You’re finished.” He activated Reality Blink, teleporting in a blur of light behind the wraith, his blade poised for a final strike.
With one fluid motion, he delivered a powerful blow directly to the wraith’s core, his sword slicing through its ethereal heart. The wraith let out an unearthly scream, its voice echoing through the forest as its form shattered, fragments of dark energy dissolving into mist.
System Alert: Primordial Wraith Defeated! Experience Gained: 12,000 XP
Loot Acquired: Primordial Essence, Elemental Core, Rune Stone
The forest grew still, the unnatural energy fading as the wraith’s remnants dissolved into the mist. The group took a moment to catch their breath, feeling the weight of victory settle over them.
Steph walked over to the rune stone, lifting it carefully. “This must have been the source of the disturbance. We should take it back to the guild and see if they can analyze it.”
Kalsei flashed his signature grin. “Another job well done, and with style, if I do say so myself.”
Darius chuckled. “Always the showman, aren’t you?”
Kalsei chuckled, sheathing his blade with a flourish. “You know me, Darius. If you’re not doing it with a bit of flair, what’s the point?”
Steph shook her head, smiling as she tucked the rune stone into her pouch. “Let’s just hope the guild doesn’t turn this into another faction circus.”
Seikan glanced at her, a faint smirk on his face. “After today? They’d better brace themselves, because if we’re getting pulled into this mess, we’re not playing by anyone else’s rules.”
Kalsei raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Oh, I like the sound of that. Silver Ranks with no master—kind of gives us a legendary ring, doesn’t it?”
Darius gave a wry smile. “Just remember, the more legendary the ring, the more trouble it brings.”
Kalsei shrugged, the gleam of mischief still in his eye. “Then let’s make sure the trouble knows who’s boss.”