The desert stretched endlessly beneath a blood-tinted sky. Shattered statues half-buried in the sand whispered of a civilization long dead — the once-holy city of Elarion.
Wind howled across the ruins, carrying the faint scent of rust and old magic. Broken pillars jutted from the ground like the ribs of a forgotten god.
Hayate walked at the front, his long red hair blowing against the storm. Behind him, Lyria and Kael followed silently, their cloaks whipping in the wind.
"This place…" Lyria murmured, her voice barely audible. "It feels… wrong."
Kael nodded grimly. "Elarion was the first city to defy Elythra. When it fell, she cursed it — every soul here became a wraith of regret."
Hayate's eyes narrowed. "Then we'll set them free."
[System Notice: Entered Restricted Zone – Ruins of Elarion.][Caution: Divine Residual Energy Detected.][Mission Objective: Locate the First Fragment of Divinity.]
They stepped into what once was a grand temple. The floor was cracked, the ceiling open to the red sky above. Golden murals depicting winged beings now oozed black mist.
At the center of the temple stood an altar — and on it, a floating shard of glowing crystal pulsing faintly with divine energy.
"That's it," Kael whispered. "The Fragment of Elarion."
As they approached, the ground trembled. A voice echoed — ancient, sorrowful, yet furious.
"Who dares disturb the sanctum of the Fallen Saints?"
The air turned cold. From the shadows emerged a colossal figure — a knight clad in black armor, his helm cracked, eyes burning blue.
[Boss Detected: Fallen Guardian of Elarion – Lv. 65]
Lyria gasped. "He's… still guarding it after all this time."
"No," Hayate said quietly, his hand tightening around his weapon. "He's trapped."
The Guardian's sword came down like lightning. Hayate dodged, the shockwave sending sand and stone flying. Kael rolled aside, drawing his dual blades.
"Lyria! Barrier!"
"On it!"
A translucent dome of light formed just in time to block the next strike. Sparks rained like golden rain.
Hayate's arm burned with dark-red energy — the mark of the Revenant pulsing fiercely.
[Skill: Revenant's Echo – Phantom Armament Summoned.]
Spectral blades materialized around him, circling like hungry wolves.
"I promised I'd crawl out of hell…" Hayate whispered. "Now, I'll tear down heaven too."
He charged.
The phantom blades struck in a flurry, each blow colliding with the Guardian's armor. Cracks spread across its chestplate — glowing blue beneath the surface.
Kael joined in, his movements precise and lethal. Lyria's magic flared, sealing their wounds as fast as the monster could inflict them.
With a final roar, Hayate leapt high, his weapon blazing crimson.
"Fall, Guardian of the cursed city!"
The sword struck — and light consumed the ruins.
When the dust settled, the armored knight was gone. In his place remained only the glowing shard, hovering peacefully once more.
Hayate reached out. The shard pulsed — then sank into his chest like liquid fire.
[Fragment Acquired: Elarion's Blessing.][New Skill Unlocked – "Divine Severance."][Attribute Boost: +30 Strength | +20 Endurance | +15 Will.]
Hayate staggered, catching his breath. The energy burned inside him — painful, but alive.
Lyria smiled faintly. "You did it."
Kael crossed his arms. "One fragment down. Twelve more to go."
Hayate looked at the horizon. The red sun was setting behind the ruins, painting the sands in crimson light.
"Then let's move," he said. "Before the goddess notices what we've taken from her."
The wind howled again — this time, sounding almost like laughter.
[Quest Updated: Path of the Revenant – First Fragment Secured.][New Quest Unlocked: Shadows of the Lost City.]