The tavern's air crackled with tension as Elias Varn faced the cloaked man, whose form flickered like a candle flame caught in a storm. The runes etched into the Eternal Tavern's walls pulsed brighter, casting an eerie glow across the room. Patrons froze, their eyes darting between Elias and the stranger. The mercenaries gripped their weapons, the elf's spell rune hummed with latent energy, and the hooded man in the corner leaned forward, his fiery eyes glinting with interest. The winged woman and the goblin, mid-argument, fell silent, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
Elias's smile didn't waver, but his emerald eyes burned with a quiet intensity. "You know," he said, his voice carrying effortlessly over the hushed room, "most people who come here just want a drink and a story. But you? You're looking for a fight. And trust me, friend, you're not ready for what I bring to the table."
The man's gray eyes narrowed, and his form stabilized, revealing a lean figure wrapped in a cloak that seemed woven from shadows. "Bold words for a dying man," he said, his voice a low hiss that sent a chill through the air. "The Eternal Tavern is a nexus of power. It belongs to those strong enough to claim it. And you, Elias Varn, are running out of time."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Elias's curse was no secret—at least, not entirely. Whispers of the tavern keeper who could fell gods but was doomed to die young had spread across the realms. But hearing it spoken so openly, with such malice, made the air feel heavier.
Ping!
The Vitality System's chime rang in Elias's mind, and a translucent screen materialized before his eyes, its golden letters pulsing urgently.
System Update: Threat Level Escalated. Target: Shadow Wraith (Lesser). Mana-Void Signature Confirmed. Abilities: Phase Shifting, Essence Drain, Illusion Weaving. Warning: Prolonged engagement will accelerate Vitality Point loss. Recommended Action: Swift Neutralization. Reward Updated: +15 Vitality Points, [Mystic Brew Recipe], [Fragment of the Void]. Time Limit: 30 minutes.
Elias's grin widened. A Shadow Wraith? That explained the void-like aura. These creatures were rare, parasitic entities that fed on magical energy and thrived on sowing chaos. But a lesser one? This was barely a warm-up. Still, the system's warning about Vitality Point loss made his chest tighten. Every use of his power burned through his life force, and a prolonged fight could cost him days—maybe weeks—of his already limited time.
"Let's make this quick," Elias said, cracking his knuckles. "I've got a tavern to run."
The wraith moved first, its body dissolving into a blur of shadows that shot toward Elias like a dart. The crowd gasped, some ducking under tables, others drawing weapons. Elias didn't flinch. He raised a hand, and the air around him shimmered as if bending under an invisible weight. The wraith slammed into an unseen barrier, its shadowy form rippling like water against glass.
"Nice try," Elias said, his tone mocking. He snapped his fingers, and a pulse of raw energy erupted from his hand, a wave of starlight that tore through the wraith's form. The creature let out a guttural screech, its body reforming a few feet away, visibly weakened but still standing.
The tavern erupted into chaos. The mercenaries roared, drawing swords and axes, eager to join the fight. The elf stood, her tome floating before her as she chanted, a glowing sigil forming in the air. The winged woman spread her corvid wings, grabbing the goblin and pulling him behind a table for cover. The hooded man remained seated, watching with an unreadable expression.
Elias leaped over the counter, landing in the center of the room with a grace that belied his power. "Everyone, stay calm!" he called, his voice cutting through the noise. "This is my fight. Break anything, and you're paying for it!"
The wraith hissed, its form splitting into three identical shadows that circled Elias. "You can't protect this place forever," one said, its voice echoing from all three. "The nexus will fall, and your life with it."
Elias tilted his head, his smile turning predatory. "You talk too much."
He clapped his hands, and the air vibrated with a low hum. The runes on the tavern walls flared, and a shockwave of light exploded outward, dispersing two of the wraith's illusions. The real one lunged, its claws extending into jagged tendrils aimed at Elias's chest. He sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing the wraith's arm and twisting it with a force that made the wooden floorboards groan. The creature screamed, its arm dissolving into smoke, but it retaliated with a blast of dark energy that sent Elias skidding back.
Ping!
Vitality System: Warning! Vitality Points reduced by 5 due to energy expenditure. Current Vitality: 320/500.
Elias grimaced. Five points gone already, and the fight had barely started. He could end this now—unleash his full power and reduce the wraith to ash—but that would cost him dearly. Instead, he opted for precision. He extended his hand, and the scars on his arm glowed brighter, channeling his energy into a thin, whip-like thread of light. He lashed out, the thread slicing through the wraith's form like a blade through paper. The creature howled, its body flickering as it struggled to maintain cohesion.
The elf, unable to resist, unleashed her spell. A bolt of azure lightning arced from her sigil, striking the wraith and pinning it against the wall. "Stay out of this, Lirien!" Elias shouted, but he couldn't help but appreciate the assist. The elf smirked, her silver hair glinting in the rune-light.
The wraith recovered, its form coalescing into a larger, more monstrous shape—claws like scythes, eyes like voids. It roared, and a wave of dark energy swept through the tavern, knocking over tables and shattering a few mugs. Elias's eyes narrowed. "That's coming out of your hide," he muttered.
He moved faster than the eye could follow, his body a blur of motion. He grabbed the wraith by its throat, his grip radiating starlight that burned the creature's shadowy flesh. "Who sent you?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "No wraith just stumbles into my tavern."
The wraith laughed, a sound like breaking glass. "You think you're in control, Varn? You're a pawn in a game you don't understand. The gods themselves want this nexus."
Elias tightened his grip, his scars flaring. "Wrong answer."
He channeled a surge of power, his arm glowing so brightly it illuminated the entire tavern. The wraith screamed as its form disintegrated, reduced to wisps of smoke that dissolved into the air. The runes on the walls dimmed, and the tavern fell silent, save for the clink of a fallen mug rolling across the floor.
Ping!
Vitality System: Mission Complete! Shadow Wraith Neutralized.
Rewards: +15 Vitality Points, [Mystic Brew Recipe], [Fragment of the Void].
Current Vitality: 335/500.
Bonus Objective Unlocked: Discover the wraith's origin within 24 hours for +20 Vitality Points.
Elias exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. The fight had cost him, but the reward was worth it—for now. He turned to the crowd, his smile returning as if nothing had happened. "Show's over, folks! Drinks are on the house for the next hour!"
The patrons cheered, the tension breaking like a dam. The mercenaries slapped their tables, demanding ale. The elf, Lirien, closed her tome and gave Elias a nod of respect. The winged woman and the goblin resumed their argument, though their voices were less heated. The hooded man in the corner raised his tankard in a silent toast, his fiery eyes unreadable.
Elias returned to the counter, his mind racing. The wraith's words lingered—the gods themselves want this nexus. The Eternal Tavern wasn't just a place; it was a linchpin, a point where realms converged. He'd known that when he took it over, but he hadn't expected trouble so soon. And the system's bonus objective? That meant this wasn't over.
He poured himself a glass of amber liquid from a bottle marked with a glowing rune, the liquor shimmering faintly. As he sipped, he felt the familiar ache in his chest, the curse reminding him of its presence. The system had bought him time, but it wasn't a cure. Not yet.
"Elias!" called the winged woman, approaching the counter. Her name was Kaelith, a courier for the Sky Guild, her black wings folded neatly behind her. "That was... impressive. But you look like you just ran a marathon."
He chuckled, brushing off the concern. "Just keeping the place lively. You sticking around, or do you and your goblin friend have more to argue about?"
She smirked. "Taz owes me for that potion, but I'll let it slide. For now." Her expression softened. "You okay? That wraith mentioned your... condition."
Elias waved a hand dismissively. "I'm fine, Kaelith. Takes more than a shadow to ruin my night."
She didn't look convinced but didn't press further. As she returned to her table, Elias's gaze drifted to the [Fragment of the Void] now listed in his system inventory. It was a small, shimmering shard, pulsing with dark energy. Dangerous, but potentially useful. The [Mystic Brew Recipe] was less ominous—a formula for a drink that could restore mana and vitality, perfect for his patrons and himself.
He leaned back against the counter, his mind turning to the bonus objective. The wraith's origin. Someone had sent it, and the mention of gods wasn't a throwaway line. The Eternal Tavern had stood for centuries, passing from one keeper to another, each burdened with its power and its curse. Elias was the latest, but he wasn't content to be a footnote in its history. He'd find out who was targeting his tavern—and why.
As the night wore on, the tavern returned to its usual rhythm. Laughter filled the air, stories were swapped, and the runes glowed softly, a reminder of the tavern's magic. Elias served drinks, traded barbs with the mercenaries, and listened to the elf's theories about arcane ley lines. But beneath his easy smile, his mind was sharp, piecing together the puzzle.
The gods, the wraith, the system—they were all connected. And Elias Varn, cursed or not, wasn't about to let anyone take his tavern. Not while he still had breath in his lungs and power in his veins.