Blackwall loomed.
Even from a mile away, the ruined prison was a jagged blot against the horizon. Its obsidian towers twisted into the sky like broken spears, half-swallowed by mist. The surrounding trees had long since died, their trunks bleached and warped from exposure to mana storms.
Lyria stood at Aelric's side, her hand resting on the hilt of her lightning-forged blade. "This place feels wrong."
"It's not just a feeling," Aelric said, eyes narrowed. "My system's reacting."
> [System Warning: Forbidden Zone Detected]
[Residual Curse Energy | Mana Decay Field: Active]
[Recommended: Proceed with Caution]
The air was thick here—not just with mana, but memory. The kind that settled into bone.
They crossed the shattered bridge leading into the outer yard. Aelric ran his fingers across the fallen stones. Faint glyphs were etched into the rock—worn, but familiar.
Vaelion script.
His family's ancient tongue.
"What is it?" Lyria asked.
He traced one glyph slowly. "A warding seal. Something meant to lock something in."
Inside, the prison was dead.
Doors hung crooked. Chains lay in piles of rust. In the cells, only bones remained—some twisted, others clawed like they'd died screaming.
And deeper still, the shadows thickened.
As they descended the cracked stairwell, the torches lit on their own.
> [System Resonance Detected: Bloodline Match – 87%]
[Legacy Fragment Reactivated: Bladeborn Memory Thread Initiated]
Aelric staggered.
His vision blurred.
And suddenly, he was somewhere else.
A memory.
Stone halls gleamed. Soldiers in silver and crimson armor knelt before a tall figure—broad, cloaked in black and gold, a sword on his back and a pendant at his chest.
Kaelen Vaelion.
His father.
"I'll die for this truth," Kaelen's voice rang in the memory. "But if my son survives… he'll carve it free."
Aelric gasped, falling to one knee.
Lyria caught him.
"What happened?"
He looked at her, breath ragged.
"My father… he knew. He left this place knowing I would come."
They reached the central chamber.
A circle of stone surrounded a massive seal—black iron etched with the Vaelion crest. In the center: a sword plunged into the stone, ancient and humming with restrained power.
> [System Alert: Artifact Detected – Blade of the Oathsworn]
[Condition: Locked | Requirement: Blood Resonance + Trial Completion]
As Aelric stepped forward, the ground trembled.
And a voice echoed from the shadows.
"You wear his face."
A massive figure stepped out—clad in tattered crimson armor, eyes glowing green with mana corruption.
"I was his jailor. Now I'll be yours."
> [Boss Battle Initiated: Warden Ralzek – Corrupted Bladekeeper]
[Tier: 6 | Combat Style: Dual Wield, Curse Bindings]
Aelric drew his blade, heart pounding.
"I'm not here to be caged."
Lyria stood at his side, lightning coiling in her palm.
"Let's break this curse together."