Inside secret room of Imperial Jade Palace......
"Why did you hold him? Now, what should we do with this child?" Edward Charles asked, looking at the lifeless child in Harald's grasp.
[System Level: 8/12]
[Power level: 85,000/100,000]
[Beast type: Infurnace]
[Name: Edward Charles]
[Age: 48]
[Clan: Shadowmoon Clan]
[Race: Kaelith]
[Blood-type: Verdant]
[Blood Color: Green]
[HP: 95/100]
[EP: 40/50]
[AP: 60 units]
[Mana: 100/100]
[Beast Energy: 100/100]
[Beast Race Type: Zephyrbeasts]
[Beast Ability:]
-Fire Manipulation
-Heat Resistance
[Skills: 64/70]
[Action Speed: 1-2 seconds per action]
[Skill Cooldowns: 6-15 seconds]
[Movement Speed: 10-15 units per second]
[Base Strength: 14]
[Damage Output: 21+ damage per hit]
[Carrying Capacity: 201+ units]
[State Points: 195/200]
Harald carefully wrapped the deceased child in a white cloth and placed it in a basket.
"The king requested a burial. Why did you place him in a basket instead of a coffin?" Edward repeated his question.
Harald finished his task and stood up, gazed at Edward. "Although he was the emperor's son, I did not wish to bury him in the soil of our village and invite trouble. His birth was a curse, just like the suffering we endured then."
He paused for a moment, observed the questioning and surprised expressions on everyone's faces. After a moment, he added, "Now, if you'll excuse me, there were still tasks I had to fulfill."
"Alright, alright, lend me a hand," Edward said, holding the basket.
The group exchanged glances and quickly assisted him in lifting the basket. They desired to rid their village of this child. Edward led the group through the dense forest, their footsteps silenced by the fallen leaves.
The weight of the deceased child in the basket seemed to increase with each step, a constant reminder of the burden they carried. They couldn’t risk the curse spreading any further. With a heavy heart, he signaled for the group to halt, sensing the fear among them.
At midnight, two figures emerged in disguise in the depths of the forest. Their faces were concealed by masks as they held something in their hands and bore swords on their backs. Above, the sky was adorned with a full moon, casting a soft glow over the surroundings. The moon's radiant golden light filtered through the branches, forming intricate patterns on the forest floor.
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The air was filled with a gentle breeze, carrying the delicate scent of wildflowers and earth. The breeze rustled the leaves, creating a soothing melody that danced through the forest. It whispered secrets to the trees, as if shared ancient tales of the wilderness.
As the moonlight illuminated the forest, it unveiled a world of shadows and silhouettes. The trees stood tall and majestic, their branches reached towards the sky. Their leaves shimmered with a golden hue, as if touched by the ethereal magic of the moon.
In this moonlit scene, Isaac Whitaker vigorously waved his hands. He tirelessly dug the ground around the most sacred tree, searching for something. The sacred tree, known for its eerie aura and haunting whispers, stood tall and gnarled, its branches extended like skeletal fingers. Its twisted roots seemed to delve deep into the earth, guarded by the mystery that lay beneath.
[System Level: 7/12]
[Power Level: 850,000/100,000]
[Beast Type: Unknown]
[Name: Isaac Whitaker]
[Age: 48]
[Clan: Outcast]
[Race: Kaelith]
[Blood Type: Verdant]
[Blood Color: Green]
[HP: 90/100]
[EP: 30/50]
[AP: 50 units]
[Mana: 80/100]
[Beast Energy: Unknown]
[Beast Ability: Unknown]
[Beast Race Type: Unknown]
[Skills: 58/70]
[Action Speed: 1-3 seconds per action]
[Skill Cooldowns: 8-20 seconds]
[Movement Speed: 8-12 units per second]
[Base Strength: 12]
[Damage Output: 18+ damage per hit]
[Carrying Capacity: 180+ units]
[State Points: 150/200]
[Background: Mysterious member]
[Tragic Fate: Yearned for immortality]
[Abilities and Skills:]
-Shadow Cloak: Temporary invisibility (Cooldown: 12 seconds)
-Abyssal Grasp: Dark tendrils to ensnare enemies (Cooldown: 15 seconds)
-Veil of Whispers: Increased evasion through enemy insight (Cooldown: 10 seconds)
[Notes: Whispers of power linger, quest for immortality continues.]
Many had attempted to uncover its secrets in the past, but none succeeded. Isaac, however, possessed an unwavering determination that fueled his every action. After working for a long time, he found himself short of breath.
As the dirt flew in all directions, his heart raced with anticipation. Legend had it that buried beneath the sacred tree lay a hidden treasure, a relic of immense power. Determined to uncover its secrets, Isaac spent countless nights studying ancient texts and deciphering cryptic clues that led him to this very spot.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the clearing, causing the sacred tree to creak and groan. Isaac froze, his heart pounded in his chest. He glanced around, half-expecting to see ghostly figures emerging from the shadows. But all he saw was the moon, shone brightly above, as if urged him to continue.
Summoning his courage, Isaac resumed his excavation. The soil became looser, and his shovel struck something solid. With bated breath, he carefully brushed away the dirt, revealing a weathered wooden chest. Its intricate carvings hinted at the ancient power it held within.
He listened as someone approached, their footsteps rustling the leaves and echoing through the silent forest. Acting swiftly, he concealed the wooden chest in his sleeves and positioned himself behind the tree, scanning his surroundings. After a thorough search, he spotted Edward from the Ironhart Clan and Gregory Alan, a junior from the Stormwatch Clan, both holding a basket in their hands.
"Four clans of light?" he whispered quietly. "What were they guarding?" he pondered to himself.
"We will place him here," Edward declared with determination in his voice. "This was the furthest we could go."
Gregory looked sympathetically at the dead child. "Are you sure, Edward? Can't we give him a proper burial?"
Edward shook his head. "No, we cannot bring any more suffering upon our clan and village. The child's curse ended here."
With a collective sigh, the group gently set the basket down on the ground. Edward knelt beside it, his hands trembled as he unwrapped the white cloth. They looked at the lifeless face of the child, innocent and peaceful in death.
Gregory whispered a prayer, his voice barely audible. "May you find peace, little one. May your soul be released from every burden and curse." With heavy hearts and determined spirits, they turned away from the child and made their way back to the village, prepared to face whatever challenges awaited them.
After some time, Isaac observed them leaving the basket on the ground and returning to the village. He stepped out from behind the tree and retrieved the wooden box from his sleeve. As Isaac pried open the chest, a blinding light burst forth, illuminated the entire clearing. He shielded his eyes, momentarily blinded by the brilliance. When his vision cleared, he found himself staring at an ancient book, radiating a unique energy.
Overwhelmed by the discovery, Isaac's mind raced with possibilities. He knew that this book held immense power, capable of changing the course of the future. "The Nightmare Archivist." He read the name, and his eyes widened with greed. Without wasting a moment, he hastily threw the wooden box onto the dusty ground and eagerly opened it.
His hands trembled with excitement as he reached inside, expected to find a treasure beyond his wildest dreams. However, to his dismay, the book was blank, its pages yellowed with age. He flipped through the pages, hoping to find some hidden message or clue, but not a single word was written on it.
It was as if the book had been intentionally left blank, mocked his insatiable desire for wealth and power. Confusion and frustration filled his mind. "How could this be?" He had heard tales of the box's legendary contents—stories of untold immortals and ancient wisdom penned by Kaelith, hunters of the Phoenix and Dragon. Yet, all he held in his hands was an empty book, devoid of any meaning or purpose.
As he stood in surprise, looking at the blank book, he suddenly heard the sound of a child crying. He raised his head, looked around, and saw the same basket that the Ironhart Clan had left there a while ago.