Lord Arid's eye twitched.
Rage bubbled just under the surface of his calm demeanor. The layers of arrogance he carried like armor had finally been broken by the pain and the insult.
Kael didn't hold back.
The pulse of opportunity swept through his chest.
In the space of a breath, he summoned his stat screen mentally. His eyes darted over the glowing interface that only he could see, and without hesitation, he poured 3 blood points into Dexterity.
A sudden heat blazed through his limbs and the world slowed. His feet dug into the dirt—and he moved.
Kael vanished from where he stood and reappeared behind Lord Arid in a flash.
Sensing something, the noble ignored the pain momentarily and turned, but it was too late.
Kael's dagger tore through the air with the speed of a falling star, making a clean, swift arc.
The blade and flesh came into contact like a long-separated couple.
A piercing, wet sound cut through the silence.
Lord Arid's expression froze. Not in agony—but in disbelief.
His head remained in place for a second longer… then it slowly slid from the base of his neck.
It dropped like a stone, hitting the ground with a dull thud, the eyes still wide in shock—frozen in the moment of realization. His mouth hung slightly open as if trying to finish a thought that would never come.
His body stood still, swaying slightly… then toppled forward, lifeless.
The gorge was consumed by silence.
Kael stood there, panting, blood dripping from the edge of his dagger.
Then—
[DING!]
A clear chime rang through the air and a translucent screen flickered to life before him.
———
[SIDE QUEST COMPLETED: THE END OF THE PUPPETEER]
Your task: Eliminate Lord Arid and shatter the war's foundation.
You have succeeded.
REWARDS:
1. Stat Gained:
Constitution +5 {18 → 23}
Mental Cognition +5 {12 → 17}
2. New Skill Unlocked: Eclipse Step
Merge briefly with shadow and reappear up to 10 meters away. Can only be tracked during use by opponents 10 Levels above you.
Cooldown: 45 seconds.
3. Bonus Experience Gained: +5000 EXP
———
[System Alert]
[You have acquired primal energy of Lvl 12 Forgotten Royal]
[Total Essence Absorbed: 5200 EXP]
[Blood Points: +2]
[You have advanced by two levels {5 → 7}]
[Experience Points: 550/4600 EXP]
———
Kael barely had time to check out his rewards before a sharp, distant sound pierced through the stillness of the gorge.
AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!
The scream cut through the air like a knife—raw, frustrated, and unmistakably human.
His breath caught in his throat.
It had come from the narrow path leading up through the cliffs—where Sera and Mira had guided the royals.
The scream was faint, carried on the wind, and barely audible beneath the crackling of dying embers and settling dust. But Kael heard it clear as day.
His fingers clenched around his dagger. His heart which was still racing from the fight, thudded harder now for a different reason.
He didn't think twice.
Kael sprinted forward with his boots pounding against the rocky ground. The reward screen faded behind him like a forgotten dream, its light swallowed by the shadows of the gorge.
He vaulted over the skeletal remains of a fallen beast and ducked beneath an unevenly cut outcrop. Loose stones scattered underfoot, and one slipped, nearly twisting his ankle, but he didn't stop. He pushed faster.
He ignored the wind, which seemed to be warning him by howling through the slender cliffs.
Another scream rang out. It was shorter this time and cut off halfway.
His blood turned cold.
The path became narrower as he climbed. He was surrounded by walls that pressed in on him from both sides like stone fists. He forced his legs to move faster, lungs burning from the dry air and smoke that still lingered from earlier.
He turned a corner, eyes scanning straight ahead. There was no sound or movement.
The world had gone eerily quiet again.
Kael slowed down, raising his blade in a defensive stance. Each step he took forward was cautious now. The trail ahead was stained with faint streaks of blood that were still fresh and glistening.
Kael's grip tightened and his muscles tensed. But he pressed on.
He took a couple more steps forward and entered a clearing that was partially illuminated by a torch that had been wedged between two stones.
The appalling sight in front of him made his heart drop to his stomach.