Aelina and I were still trying to control our breathing. Eryx's body lay still on the ground, but his presence hadn't fully dissipated. The shadow essence still lingered in the air, like a curse that had left its mark even after being lifted. This battle gave me a new perspective—this world wasn't about simple "good vs evil." With every victory, a new war was unlocked.
Aelina (softly, staring at Eryx's body):
> "Z-00… you're changing. Something else is awakening inside you."
Me (looking at my own hands, faint black and white energy flickering):
> "I can feel it... both powers inside me aren't clashing, they're merging. Like… an ancient contract has just been activated."
---
[System Alert: Hidden Class Evolution Path Unlocked]
> Current Class: Undefined
New Path Found: Hybrid Flameborne – Child of Light & Ash
Requirement: Complete the Blood Pact of Eryx's Soul
Reward: Class Evolution, Unique Skill – "Ashborne Rebirth"
Penalty: Soul Recoil – Temporary Memory Fracture
---
Me (muttering to myself):
> "Blood Pact? So this wasn't just a victory, it was an invitation… Eryx has chosen me to carry his remnants?"
Aelina (stepping closer):
> "You have to decide, Z. If you accept the pact, you'll step even further away from your humanity. But if you refuse, this power will never return."
I knelt down near Eryx's shattered shadow core. Heat and cold both radiated from it. It glowed strangely—neither fire, nor darkness… something in between.
Me (placing hand on the core):
> "Eryx… you were the enemy, but you left me a legacy. I won't let it go to waste."
---
[System Warning: Initiating Blood Pact – Soul Integration: 5%... 30%... 67%...]
[Alert: Memory Distortion Incoming – Anchor to Emotional Core Required]
[Choose Emotional Core: (1) Rage (2) Love (3) Vengeance (4) Hope]
I hesitated for a moment, then Aelina's face flashed before my eyes—her loyalty, her pain, her trust.
Me (calmly):
> "Option 2. Love."
---
[Blood Pact Complete. New Class Obtained: Hybrid Flameborne]
[Skill Gained: Ashborne Rebirth – Upon fatal damage, revive once with amplified power for 120 seconds. Cooldown: 3 days.]
The air around me changed. Intense heat began radiating from my body, but within that heat, there was calmness. Like I was a volcano that had already erupted—calm on the surface, but still active deep within.
Aelina stepped back and looked at me. In her eyes, I saw a mix of fear and awe.
Aelina (whispering):
> "You're not normal anymore, Z… you've become something else."
---
Location Shift: Outskirts of Arken Village – 3 Days Later
We were in a temporary shelter. Since Eryx's death, the shadow presence had weakened in the region. The villagers of Arken feared us, but they opened a hidden base for us because they knew—we were their protectors.
I was still trying to understand my new powers. The training sessions were getting more intense. Now I wasn't using just fire or shadow—but both, fused in a controlled way. The rage of flame and the stealth of shadow—a deadly combination.
One night, Aelina handed me a scroll—old as hell. Burnt edges, ancient rune language, and some very old drawings.
Aelina (serious tone):
> "I found this scroll in Eryx's chamber. Looks like it's connected to your new power."
I opened the scroll and a map was revealed—a sealed temple. On it, one name was written:
> "Temple of the Forgotten Flame."
Me (narrowing my eyes):
> "This could be the place where the Flameborne lineage began… Maybe I'll learn more about my bloodline there."
Aelina (placing a hand on my shoulder):
> "Then let's go. We'll go together. You're not alone, Z. I'll always be by your side."
---
Location: Journey Towards the Temple – Two Days Later
The temple was on a mountain ridge, surrounded by cursed forests and mist-filled cliffs. We had set up a base camp below, and were climbing the mountain in the morning mist.
But as we got closer to the temple, we began to feel another presence—beyond human. A red aura was leaking from the ground, like blood had seeped into the soil.
---
[System Alert: Blood Guardian Detected – Lv. 100]
> Warning: Enemy is a remnant protector of the Flameborne trial.
Condition to Enter Temple: Defeat the Blood Guardian. No exceptions.
---
Me (cracking knuckles, fire and shadow swirling around me):
> "So, one more demon before the final trial… perfect. Let's see if my new powers are worth anything."
Aelina (drawing her sword):
> "Let's show this temple they misjudged us."
The Blood Guardian's shape gradually began to form—a massive armored beast with
burning red eyes and two giant flaming axes. The ground trembled under its presence. This wasn't going to be an ordinary fight.
---
To Be Continued…