The royal palace, a sprawling testament to Oakhaven's might and prosperity,
felt less like a sanctuary
Liam observed King Alaric and Princess Lyra with a wary eye.
The King's gratitude was genuine, his demeanor benevolent,
a stark contrast to the cold directive from the System that still burned in Liam's mind: Eliminate King Alaric.
He stayed in the palace,
On the third day of his stay, as Liam stood in the grand hall,
the System screen blazed with an urgent, terrifying update:
> Updated!
> * Objective : Eliminate King Alaric.
> * Time Limit: 10 Days.
> * Failure Condition: Elimination of Princess Lyra.
>
Liam's blood ran cold.
The System was pushing him, raising the stakes. It wasn't just about killing the King;
it was about Lyra's life.
He clenched his fists, the Dark Force thrumming angrily beneath his skin. This wasn't a game; it was a ruthless manipulation, and he was the pawn.
The days that followed were a torment.
He watched Lyra, a vibrant, intelligent young woman,
often seen in the Royal Archives, engrossed in ancient texts, or discussing strategies with her father.
The more he observed her, the more the System's decree felt like an abhorrent perversion. He began to search for loopholes,
for ways to defy the order without condemning Lyra.
He visited the royal library, secretly searching for anything that might hint at the System's true nature or King Alaric's hidden flaws.
He found nothing but a wise, just ruler and a curious, compassionate daughter.
The tenth day arrived,
a suffocating shroud of dread. Liam felt the oppressive weight of the deadline, the System's countdown was about to end .
He remained close to Lyra, his senses extended, searching for any sign,
It came with shocking swiftness. As Lyra was walking through the palace gardens, admiring a rare blooming flower,
the air rippled. A grotesque, malformed creature, wreathed in dark flames, materialized from thin air.
Its eyes glowed with malevolent hunger.
This was no ordinary beast; it was a demon, its power radiating with in him.
" Who dares to defy my lord's order"
the demon hissed,
Before Liam could react,
the demon lunged. Its flaming claws raked across Lyra.
She screamed, a sound of pure agony,
as the demon's unnatural fire consumed her,
The demon Vanished
Her body began to blacken, the sweet scent of burning flesh filling the air.
Liam felt a primal scream tear from his own throat.
Rage, surged through him,
He had all this power—the Dark Force, unmatched strength—yet he couldn't stop this.
Liam fled to Lyra grabbed her
A desperate, silent plea formed in his mind, echoing
father where are you
In that moment of profound despair,
as Lyra's life ebbed away in agonizing flames, something within Liam snapped.
His internal screen, flashed wildly.
warmth, erupted from the core of his being. It was his father's gift, long dormant, now responding to his desperate, life-or-death need.
His status screen immediately updated, a new line glowing with emerald light.
> Liam – Level 100 (MAX)
> * Title: Assassin
> * Strength: 500
> * Agility: 500
> * Endurance: 500
> * Magic: 500
> * Dark Force: 250
> * Green Attributes: 10
> * Health: 25000/25000
> New Ability Unlocked: Full Body Recovery
>
A blinding, emerald light erupted from Liam, pushing back the demon's dark flames.
He plunged his hands into the demonic fire consuming Lyra, ignoring the searing pain,
and willed the emerald light to flow from him into her.
The effect was instantaneous and miraculous. The demonic flames flickered,
The black charring on Lyra's skin vanished,
her wounds knitting closed,
her eyes fluttering open briefly before closing again.
Her ragged breath smoothed,
and the color returned to her face. She was whole, completely healed, but unconscious,
as if her body had shut down from the shock of the attack and the miraculous recovery.
Liam was baffled by this new, unexpected power.
an aura of spent power still clinging to liam
Liam scooped Lyra gently into his arms.
Her skin was warm,
her breathing even. He focused, channeling his Dark Force, and with a silent, instantaneous "Dark Force Jump,"
he vanished from the garden, reappearing moments later within his own room in the palace.
Royal guards, alerted, finally arrived, but they didn't see anyone
He laid Lyra carefully on the bed,
her golden hair fanned out around her serene face.
He sat beside her,
He simply watched her,
the new emerald glow of his power still tingling in his hands.
Hours passed.,
Finally, Lyra's eyelids fluttered. Her eyes, wide and intelligent,
slowly focused on Liam.
A soft gasp escaped her lips as she sat up,
her hand instinctively going to her chest.
She looked at herself, then at liam.
"You… you saved me again," she whispered, her voice husky with awe and gratitude. "
but her word's were quickly replaced by an intense curiosity.
"
I remember the fire, the pain… and then… a blinding green light. It was a miracle. Show me. Show me both of your magic.
I saw the darkness, and then… that light."
Liam nodded.
He lifted his hand, and the dark tendrils of the Dark Force coalesced around his fingers,
swirling like miniature shadows.
Then, with a thought, he willed it to recede, and a soft, emerald glow, warm and vibrant, pulsed from his palm.
Lyra watched, utterly captivated, her eyes tracing the mesmerizing play of light and shadow.
"What… what is this?" she breathed, leaning closer,
her fascination overriding any fear. "You have both. The green and the dark Attributes
How is this possible?"
Liam stood there, the emerald glow still faintly outlining his hands, the dark tendrils of energy still retreating into his form.
He had defied the law of this world's magic,
Lyra, regaining her composure, fixed him with an intense gaze.
"Liam, we need to understand this.
I know where I can find answers
My father's archives,
I need to research magical lineages,
And these rare dual-attribute wielders.
I want to know more about this.
" Her eyes burned with a newfound determination,
a shared purpose forming between them in the aftermath of the demon's attack.
The System's ultimatum had been shattered.