Liam watched Lyra speak quietly with her father, King Alaric.
Liam knew she didn't tell his father about the full, horrifying truth of the demon attack,
offering a palatable explanation for her sudden illness and miraculous recovery.
A strange, almost tender ache settled in Liam's chest. They were in danger because of him
Now he was responsible
He retreated to his room,
calling up the System . It glowed before him, displaying his current status
> Liam – Level 100/∞
> * Title: Assassin
> * Strength: 500
> * Agility: 500
> * Endurance: 500
> * Magic: 500
> * Dark Force: 250
> * Green Attributes: 10
> * Health: 25000/25000
>
The infinity symbol, a clear declaration that his growth was now limitless.
He wasn't meant to stop at any predetermined peak.
A profound realization settled over him – his power was boundless,
He needed to find the most dangerous,
the most powerful creatures,
places where his limits would be tested and shattered.
He sought out the city's Adventurer's Guild, a bustling hub of mercenaries and explorers,
he listened intently. Whispers of a mythical dragon,
said to dwell in the highest, most treacherous peaks,
captured his attention. "The Sky-Scorcher," they called it, a creature of immense power, rarely seen,
and even more rarely survived. It was the perfect target.
Before he slipped out of Oakhaven at dawn, heading north towards the daunting silhouette of the Skyfall Peaks,
Liam sought out Lyra. He found her in the royal library, already immersed in her research. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, a warmth in her gaze that surprised him.
"I have so many questions, Lyra,"
he began.
"About that demon, about these powers I have. There's only one thing I'm certain about:
I know I have to be stronger.
I have to find the answers myself, and the path to them is out there, beyond these walls, where the greatest challenges lie."
Lyra's expression grew serious, understanding dawning in her eyes.
"You're leaving, aren't you?"
Liam nodded. "I promise you, I will come back. But while I'm gone, please, Lyra, be safe. Do whatever it takes to protect yourself until I return."
The unspoken weight of the System's threat against her hung heavy in the air between them. He turned to leave,
knowing his absence might cause worry, but understanding that this journey had to be undertaken alone.
He slipped past the outer guards, a shadow blending with the pre-dawn gloom.
As he cleared the city gates and the last of Oakhaven's protective enchantments,
the System screen flared once more before his eyes.
The URGENT ORDER that had plagued him for days,
the terrifying directive to "Eliminate King Alaric" with Lyra's life as the penalty for failure, was gone.
Liam stared at the blank space where it had been, a wave of relief washing over him
The immediate threat,
was lifted.
Maybe she's safe now, he thought,
His journey took him through vast plains and dense forests.
One evening, as twilight painted the sky in hues of orange and purple,
he stumbled upon a scene of horrific devastation.
The small, peaceful farming village of Hearthbrook was under siege.
Monstrous, shadowy figures,
swarmed the burning huts.
Night Stalkers. Their eyes glowed with malevolent hunger as they tore through the villagers.
The villagers fought bravely, but they were no match for the creatures' supernatural strength and speed.
Children screamed, women wept, and men fell, their blood staining the earth.
he saw the despair in the villagers' eyes, the raw terror.
He saw himself, the weak boy in Oakhaven, mirrored in their helplessness.
Unleashing a controlled burst of Dark Force, he became a blur of motion,
a dark whirlwind of vengeance.
He moved through the Night Stalkers like a reaper,
his blows infused with devastating power.
Shadows coiled around his fists, tearing through the creatures' forms.
He fought without mercy, a terrifying blend of dark and green ,
until the last Night Stalker dissolved into dust. The air shimmered with the residue of his power. Silence fell over the ravaged village,
broken only by the sobs of the survivors. They stared at him, their faces a mixture of fear.
the villagers, hesitant at first, slowly began to emerge from their hiding places.
Women, their faces streaked with tears and soot, approached
"Thank you ! Thank you!"
they cried, falling to their knees.
One old woman, her hands calloused from years of labor, pushed forward with a basket of fresh bread and dried meat.
"Please, stranger, accept this meager offering as our gratitude. You saved us all."
A young man,
"Who... who are you, sir? What is your name?"
Liam looked at their faces,
"My name is Liam," he replied,
Be safe help each other build your homes
And he went
And from that day forward, the whispers of Hearthbrook carried across the land,
telling tales of the mysterious savior, a wielder of both green and shadow,
who had walked among them. Now, the village knew there was a savior in the world, walking around.
He turned and continued his ascent towards the daunting peaks,
the weight of his new purpose pressing down on him, a path leading to ultimate power, or perhaps, ultimate transformation.