Volume 02, Chapter 78

Temple du Calice de Convergence [3]

Arthur, Célestin, and I continue walking through the dimly lit hallway, the faint echo of our footsteps bouncing off the ancient stone walls. The silence between us is heavy but not oppressive, allowing me to reflect on everything that has happened—especially on Arthur.

I steal a glance at him. His expression remains calm, his steps measured, but the stiffness in his shoulders betrays his true emotions. The fact that he overheard everything—about me, about the truth of Dominic—weighs heavily on my mind.

To think he was there in the tent, listening to everything. We should have been more careful. Célestin’s carefree nature made it easy to forget how much was at stake, and now Arthur knows.

I must admit, I am surprised at how well he seems to be taking it.

He is not lashing out or demanding answers—not anymore, at least. But I am not naive enough to think it is not affecting him. His earlier tone was calm and steady, but I could feel the hurt beneath the surface. He does not need to say it outright; it is written in how he avoids looking directly at me and how his hands flex at his sides as if trying to grasp something intangible.

But I cannot take all the blame for this. None of this was my choice. Without warning or preparation, I did not ask to be brought here or thrust into someone else’s life. If Arthur is upset, he should direct that anger toward Dominic—the real Dominic.

Dominic abandoned everything. His life in Sylvestria, responsibilities, the people who cared about him… all left behind. And for what? A fresh start in another world, away from the pain and suffering that had broken him.

I cannot entirely blame him for it. After witnessing glimpses of his regressions through the memories Gaia showed me, I understand why he reached his limit.

It was not just physical exhaustion. It was emotional. Mental. Watching your loved ones die over and over again, unable to save them no matter how hard you try… that kind of pain would break anyone.

I sigh softly, my gaze falling back to the path ahead.

We continue walking until we reach an enormous chamber, its scale breathtaking even within the ancient temple. The walls stretch impossibly high, adorned with faded murals and glowing glyphs that pulse faintly, casting eerie shadows that dance across the stone floor. Surprisingly, we do not encounter any more traps, all thanks to Célestin’s guidance.

“So, where are we now, Célestin?” Arthur asks, his voice echoing slightly in the vast space.

Célestin glances around casually, his expression unbothered. “Just another chamber. There are about ninety of them in this temple.”

“Ninety?” I repeat, my voice laced with disbelief. Just how massive is this place? The sheer size of the temple is mind-boggling.

“Yeah, ninety,” Célestin says with a smirk. “But do not worry, this one is close to the Chalice.”

Hearing this, I cannot help but feel a flicker of relief.

“We are close, huh? Finally, some good news!” I exclaim, grinning.

Arthur nods, though his posture remains cautious. “Let’s not get too comfortable just yet.”

We continue walking, our steps echoing softly against the ancient stone floor. The chamber feels eerily quiet, broken only by the faint hum of the glowing glyphs. My earlier sense of unease begins to creep back, prickling at the edges of my awareness.

-Rumble!

The ground beneath us trembles, the vibrations growing stronger with each passing second.

“Crap!” I shout, struggling to steady myself as the tremor intensifies.

-Slam!

I whip around, my stomach sinking, watching the entrance slam shut with a bang, sealing us inside. Dust and small debris rain down from the ceiling, and the air grows heavier and colder.

“Damn it…” I mutter, feeling my pulse quicken.

The rumbling grows more violent, and the glowing glyphs on the walls flicker erratically. It is as if the room itself is awakening.

“What’s happening?!” Arthur shouts, his voice edged with alarm.

Célestin shrugs nonchalantly. “Ah, it seems this is one of those chambers with monsters in them.”

“One of them?!” Arthur snaps, glaring at him. “And you brought us here?!”

Célestin shrugs again, his smirk still firmly in place. “When we got separated earlier, I had to pick a path. This one seemed better than falling into a pit of acid. You are welcome, by the way.”

Arthur opens his mouth, likely to unleash a barrage of well-deserved criticism, but the ground’s shaking suddenly stops. An eerie silence falls over the chamber, so thick it is almost suffocating. My ears strain, catching every slight creak and groan of the ancient structure.

And then, cutting through the stillness—

“Grrr!”

A low, guttural sound echoes through the chamber, sending chills down my spine. The hairs on my neck stand on end as the sound repeats, growing louder. It is not just one growl—it is multiple. My fingers instinctively tighten around the straps of my bag.

From the shadows of the chamber, glowing red eyes begin to emerge. First one pair, then two, then five… until a dozen pairs of eyes glare at us from all directions. They move closer, revealing themselves under the dim glow of the glyphs.

Massive creatures step into the light—wolf-like in shape but grotesque in appearance. Their fur is jet-black and shimmers like liquid shadows, and their claws look like they could tear through steel. Their fangs gleam, and a faint mist rises from their bodies, giving them a menacing aura.

“Shadow Wolves,” Célestin mutters, his smirk fading into a more focused expression. “Fast, smart, and an absolute pain to deal with. Fantastic.”

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“Great,” Arthur mutters, summoning a faint magic glow around his hands. “Any advice?”

“Yeah,” Célestin says, drawing his black katana with practiced ease. “Do not die.”

I tighten my grip on my guns, steadying my breath as I prepare for the imminent chaos.

New Quest! Objective: Defeat 2 Shadow Wolves without using Chrono Pendant!

Reward: 30 Stat Points.

Without using the Chrono Pendant? That is… going to be a challenge.

“Rahh!”

A feral roar erupts from the shadows to my right. My instincts take over, and I swing my guns in that direction without hesitation.

[Gravity's Gambit]

Bang! Bang!

The recoil of my shots propels me backward, sending me skidding across the stone floor. My movement allows me to evade the lunging attack of one of the wolves.

I roll to steady myself and turn quickly, aiming at the snarling creature.

-Bang! Bang!

My bullets scream through the air, but the wolf leaps upward, clinging to the ceiling with its claws. Its glowing red eyes lock onto me.

“What the hell…?” I mutter, quickly realigning my aim.

-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

I fire rapidly, but the wolf darts across the ceiling in erratic, unpredictable patterns, dodging every shot. Its movements are fluid and unnervingly fast.

“Rah!”

A blur of black fur rushes at me from my left. My instincts flare, and I dive to the side as another wolf lunges for me, its claws swiping at the air where I had just been standing.

I barely have time to catch my breath when—

“Rah!”

Another snarl erupts above me.

My body moves before my mind catches up, rolling just as a massive shadow crashes down from above. The first wolf leaped from the ceiling, landing where I had been crouched mere seconds ago. Its claws scrape against the stone floor, leaving deep, jagged marks.

Both wolves now stand before me, growling low and menacingly. My heart pounds as I raise my guns, keeping my aim steady despite the tremble in my arms.

The first wolf lunges, its claws slashing downward in a deadly arc. I manage to step back just in time, the claws grazing the edge of my shirt. Before I can react, the second wolf charges from the side.

[Gravity’s Gambit]

—Bang! Bang!

I fire my guns to the side, propelling myself away and narrowly escaping the second attack.

As soon as I land, I aim at them again.

—Bang! Bang! Bang!

I fire a quick volley, and one of the bullets grazes the second wolf’s flank, drawing a sharp yelp. The other wolf snarls in response, clearly enraged.

I grit my teeth. These creatures are not just fast; they are coordinated. They are hunting me like a pack, circling and attacking in perfect sync.

“Need some help, Domy?”

Célestin’s voice rings out, casual and teasing as always. I glance to the side and see him with his black katana drawn, a cocky grin plastered across his face as he effortlessly parries a third wolf’s attack.

"Kind of busy here!" I shout back, firing another round at the wolves before me.

Arthur, meanwhile, fends off another pair of wolves, his hands glowing as he strikes. The chamber flashes with each impact, casting sharp shadows against the stone walls. His movements are precise and calculated, but I can already see the sweat forming on his brow.

"Try aiming better, Domy!" Célestin calls out, dodging another wolf’s charge with an almost lazy grace. "They’re wolves, not ghosts!"

"Why do you not come over here and say that!?" I retort.

Célestin laughs, spinning his katana in a showy flourish before driving it into the side of his opponent. "No, I think you have got it handled."

I ready myself for the next attack. The wolves in front of me circle cautiously, their glowing eyes burning with relentless hunger.

"Alright," I mutter under my breath, my grip tightening. "Let us see how you like this."

[Vanguard Volley]

I fire a rapid burst of bullets, the chambers of my guns spinning as the mana-infused rounds tear through the air. The wolves react instantly, leaping to dodge, but one bullet finds its mark, slamming into the shoulder of the first wolf.

It lets out a pained howl, staggering slightly before regaining its footing. The second wolf snarls and lunges at me in retaliation.

"Not today!" I shout, using [Gravity's Gambit] once more to launch myself into the air, narrowly missing the wolf’s claws miss me.

I land in a crouch, my guns snapping into position.

— Bang! Bang!

The shots crack through the air, swift and precise. This time, both bullets hit their mark. The first wolf staggers, a pained snarl ripping from its throat before it collapses. Dark mist coils from its body, unraveling into nothingness as its final growl fades into the void.

"One down!" I shout, a surge of adrenaline flooding my veins.

"About time," Arthur calls out, his voice strained as he delivers a powerful punch to one of the wolves he fights. The light from his gauntlet sends the creature flying backward, slamming into the chamber wall with a loud thud.

Célestin, meanwhile, has already taken down two wolves and casually wipes his katana on his sleeve. "Come on, Domy, pick up the pace. We do not have all day!"

"Shut up and focus!" I snap, spinning around to face the second wolf as it prepares for another attack.

The remaining wolf snarls, its glowing red eyes locked onto me with menacing hunger. It begins to circle, its movements calculated, waiting for an opening.

Arthur, still locked in combat with two other wolves, manages to steal a glance in my direction. "Doms, watch its tail. They tend to feint before lunging!"

"Got it!" I shout back, focusing intently on the creature’s every move.

The wolf's tail twitches once—just as Arthur warned. I immediately roll to the side, narrowly dodging as it lunges forward, its claws scraping the stone floor where I had just been standing. The sharp sound of claws against the ancient stone sends shivers down my spine.

"Alright, you bastard," I mutter under my breath, aiming my gun at it.

[Vanguard Volley]

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

The chamber echoes with the sound of rapid gunfire as mana-infused bullets erupt from my gun. The wolf darts to the side, dodging the first two shots, but the third grazes its hind leg, causing it to stumble slightly.

"Got you!" I grin, lining up another shot.

But before I can pull the trigger, the wolf leaps onto the wall, its claws digging into the stone as it clambers upward with terrifying speed. It is trying to regain the high ground—just like the last one.

"Not this time," I growl, aiming quickly and firing a single round.

-Bang!

The bullet strikes the ceiling directly above the wolf, causing a chunk of stone to fall. The wolf yelps as it loses footing and tumbles to the ground with a loud thud. It scrambles, shaking off the impact, but I only need the opening.

-Bang! Bang!

Two more shots ring out, and the wolf collapses, dissolving into a cloud of black mist like its fallen companion.

"Two down!" I call out, breathing heavily as I reload my guns.

Quest Completed! You have killed 2 Shadow Wolves without using Chrono Pendant!

You Received 30 Stat Points!

"Finally," Célestin quips, his voice carrying a mix of teasing and approval. He has already dispatched his third wolf and stands over its fading mist, his sword resting casually on his shoulder. "You are lucky you are cute, Domy, or I would start charging you for the lessons."

"Do you ever shut up?" I snap, though there is not much bite in my tone.

Still battling his final wolf, Arthur shouts a sharp yell as he delivers a powerful punch to the beast’s side, sending it crashing into the wall.

Dazed, it slumps to the ground, and he quickly follows up with another punch from his glowing fist, ending the fight in a flash of radiant light.

"Done," Arthur says, stepping back and wiping sweat from his brow. His breathing is heavy, but he stands tall, his presence as commanding as ever.

The chamber falls silent again, save for the fading echoes of our battle. I lower my guns, letting out a long, shaky breath.

"Well, that was fun," Célestin says, sheathing his sword with a satisfied grin. "Though I must admit, you two are not half bad when you are not bickering."

I glare at him but say nothing, too tired to engage in another round of banter. Arthur, however, merely rolls his eyes.

"Let us just focus on finding the Chalice," Arthur says, his tone firm. "The sooner we are out of this temple, the better."

I nod, holstering my guns and glancing toward the chamber's far end. A large, ornate door looms in the distance, its surface etched with glowing runes that pulse faintly with energy.

"That must be the way forward," I say, gesturing toward the door.

"Well then," Célestin says, clapping his hands together. "What are we waiting for? Let us see what other surprises this temple has for us."