Chapter 55: Whispers of the Cursed Land
The cursed winds of Stormrend howled like cries of tormented souls as Rio, Iris, and Retina stood at the darkened border of the land. An eerie fog hung low over twisted trees and scorched soil, with no sunlight piercing through the dense, gray sky.
"This place… it feels alive," whispered Iris, her beast vision trembling with flickers of corrupted mana.
Retina narrowed her eyes, scanning the surroundings. "Stormrend wasn't always like this. Something… or someone, twisted it."
Rio placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, the one gifted by the King. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
They stepped into the land, and with each step, the ground beneath their feet pulsed unnaturally, like a heartbeat buried deep in the earth. Black vines snaked across the landscape, writhing away from their presence. As they ventured further, ghostly whispers echoed from every direction—taunting them, trying to warp their minds.
Suddenly, the ground split open before them.
A skeletal knight clad in cursed armor rose from the chasm, his crimson eyes burning with hatred. Behind him, more undead warriors emerged—silent, soulless, relentless.
"They're not ordinary undead," Retina muttered, summoning a dark flame to her palm. "These things were warriors… corrupted over centuries."
Rio stepped forward, his shadow energy rising. "Then let's give them a warrior's death."
The battle erupted. Rio activated Shadow Phantom Drive, splitting into three afterimages that danced around the undead, cutting through armor and bone. Retina chanted a spell, casting a dome of abyssal fire that consumed their enemies, while Iris's astral form darted between the knights, disabling them with precise blows.
But the whispers grew louder.
They weren't just enemies—they were memories. Lost souls of fallen heroes, twisted into guardians of the cursed land. One of the skeletal knights broke through their formation and charged straight at Rio, sword raised.
"Retina, now!" he shouted.
Retina raised both hands and roared, unleashing her Abyssal Dominion—the ground cracked, and spikes of black crystal shot up, impaling the knight mid-charge.
Silence returned.
Only the whispers remained… but they were closer now. Personal.
Rio heard his own name. "Rio… Rio Fate… Betrayer of Fate… Chosen of Shadows…"
His grip tightened. "They know me."
"They know all of us," said Iris, stepping beside him.
In the distance, a towering black fortress began to emerge through the fog. Chains wrapped around it, and a crimson eye pulsed at its peak like a heartbeat.
Retina took a deep breath. "That's our destination."
Rio nodded. "Let's end this curse once and for all."
To be continued…
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