Chapter 581: Bad Aura Coming From It
They called themselves the "Sable Covenant," a name that once carried pride and strength but now held the faintest trace of hope and desperation. They are the humanity's last line of defense in this world.
Each member of the Covenant wore their black molten armor. That was a tribute to their survival and the knowledge they had gleaned from battles against an alien race that had devastated their world.
These armor suits pulsed with the stolen energy of their enemies, engineered from the invaders who had nearly conquered them. Still, with each passing day, their resilience wore thinner and the odds of survival seemed dimmer.
After the meeting, one of the Covenant members, the a woman named Elena, returned to her dwelling. Just like many others, her home was carved deep underground, nestled in the belly of a cave she had painstakingly transformed into a refuge.
The jagged walls were draped with old tattered cloth, and the bed where she now sat was made from patched blankets and pillows she had gathered over the years. It was quiet and dim, yet it felt safe in a world where safety was a rare luxury.
Elena sat down heavily on her bed, her shoulders slumping as she allowed the weight of their situation to settle over her. Her eyes held a sad and helpless expression as she looked around her modest quarters, feeling the unspoken burden of her people's fate.
They had once lived free, practicing Magic that resonated with the natural forces of their world. In those times, their abilities had flourished, each of them wielding power that was strong enough to shape their land, heal wounds, or defend against any mortal foe.
But everything had changed a hundred years ago when the alien invaders came. They were beings with avanced technology and they carried weapons that tore through their defenses and armor that negated even the most powerful spells.
It had been a massacre at first, with no shield or Magic strong enough to hold them back. Yet, somehow, their people had managed to turn the tide, if only for a moment.
They fought with every last breath and in those battles, they scavenged pieces of alien armor, reverse-engineering it to give them a fighting chance.
Even so, the victories were small and fleeting. For every bit of progress they made the invaders responded with new and more terrifying ways to crush their resistance. Their people were dwindling, their resources running low, and worst of all, their Magic that once their most powerful weapon was losing its potency against the alien's ever-advancing technology.
It was then that rumors began to circulate. Whispers of an ancient prophecy that foretold the arrival of a being known as the Dragonborn, a being with power that would transcend even the limits of Magic and technology.
This Dragonborn would be a warrior of unrivaled might, his presence could shift the fate of worlds. The Sable Covenant had seized upon this legend as a final hope, a last-ditch chance to save their crumbling realm.
Elena sighed, her mind heavy with the knowledge of their bleak reality. She and her companions had one mission now: find the Dragonborn and seek his help, however slim that hope might be.
They were risking everything to make this journey across dimensions, a leap of faith that could be their last. And despite her fears, she held onto a thin strand of hope. That the prophecy would be true and that the Dragonborn would answer their plea before it was too late.
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Erend and Eccar stood side by side, gazing at the rubble of the second defeated rock golem. The shattered remains lay scattered across the ground, the only evidence of the fierce battle that had taken place moments before.
Eccar looked over to Erend, his brow creasing. "How are we progressing?"
In response, Erend summoned his System window and a translucent screen appeared before him, illuminating the air with its soft glow. His gaze drifted over his stats, taking in the satisfying sight of his experience bar that now hovering at an impressive 90% toward the next level.
With a satisfied smirk, he closed the window. "I'm almost there," he said. "I bet you're close to leveling up too, even though I can't see your progress like mine."
Eccar chuckled, glancing back at the pile of stone rubble. "Then we should keep going until we reach it."
Erend nodded with a glint of determination in his eyes.
"We need to get as strong as we can while we're here. It might be tedious, but it's worth it." He looked over at Eccar. "Are you okay with sticking around and just keep killing monsters?"
Eccar grunted, though a spark of resolve flashed across his gaze.
"It's annoying, sure. But after facing the Great Calamity… we both know we're still not strong enough. We need every advantage we can get."
As if summoned by their resolve, the ground trembled. A familiar rumble sounded, and from the shifting sands, the massive form of the rock giant began to materialize once more. Without hesitation, Erend and Eccar braced themselves, ready to unleash their power against the creature once again.
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In the quiet of his chamber, Saeldir's senses pricked as another signal pulsed. It was a faint but unmistakable trace of a vortex forming near the palace again.
This was the second time it had happened and this time, Saeldir was ready. Without a moment's delay he left his chamber and surged into the sky, his body cutting through the cool evening air as he honed in on the vortex's location.
Hovering in the air, Saeldir's gaze fixed on the small, shimmering ripple that flickering like a wavering flame against the dimming light. He slowed, drawing a steadying breath as he cast a protective Magic barrier around himself, shielding against any threat that might emerge from the unstable portal.
The vortex swirled in jagged motions, erratic and disquieting. Dark energy radiated from its center, tainting the air with an aura so foul that even Saeldir felt his chest tighten.
A frown creased his brow. Whatever lay beyond this vortex he could feel the sinister weight of it pressing through the thin veil that separated their realms.
Without further inspection, he spun back toward the castle, moving at full speed. His mind churned, troubled. It was clear to him now, this wasn't a mere anomaly. This vortex was a sign that something dangerous was drawing near. Another enemy is coming.
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