The air grew heavier the deeper Hayate ventured.
The faint light from the upper ruins was gone. Only the pale glow from the runes etched across his arm guided him through the pitch-black corridor. Each step echoed off ancient stone, swallowed by the silence of the dungeon's lower depths.
He tightened his grip on his sword. Ren's words still lingered in his mind — the laughter, the arrogance. And Selith's warning: "Power always demands a price."
Hayate clenched his jaw. "Then I'll pay it. Whatever it takes."
[Quest: Hunt for the Crimson Sigils – Step 1: Descent into the Abyss]
Objective: Locate the first Crimson Sigil hidden within the Abyssal Labyrinth.
Warning: Expect high-tier corrupted guardians.
Reward: System synchronization upgrade (unknown bonus).
The walls here were different — smooth, obsidian-like stone, covered with faint red symbols that pulsed as he passed. The deeper he went, the louder the whispers became.
—blood… remember…—the fallen… rise…
Hayate stopped, scanning the darkness.
The whispers weren't human.
They came from the walls.
He took a breath and pressed on. His System interface flickered faintly before his eyes, glitching as if reacting to the strange energy.
[System Stability: 67%]
[Caution: Interference Detected – Unknown Source]
A low growl rumbled through the corridor.
Hayate raised his weapon. "Show yourself."
From the shadows ahead, something crawled into view — a massive wolf-like creature, its fur black as tar, its eyes glowing crimson. But its body shimmered strangely, like smoke wrapped around bones.
A corrupted guardian.
[Target Identified: Abyssal Hound Lv.45]
[Type: Cursed Beast – Bloodbound]
Hayate's expression hardened. "Perfect."
He lunged first, his blade flashing crimson. The beast met him head-on, jaws snapping. Sparks flew as steel clashed with bone. The impact sent shockwaves through the narrow corridor.
Hayate ducked, rolled, and slashed across the creature's flank. Black ichor splattered the walls, burning through stone like acid. The beast howled, spinning with unnatural speed, and struck with its tail — a whip of shadow that smashed him into a wall.
Pain surged through his ribs.
[HP -34%][Pain Conversion Activated]
[Temporary Strength Boost: +45%]
Hayate grinned through the blood running down his chin. "You hit hard. I'll hit harder."
He launched forward, aura flaring red and gold. Each strike grew heavier, faster, fueled by agony itself. The corridor became a blur of light and shadow, crimson arcs slicing through darkness.
The hound lunged again — but this time, Hayate met it head-on. His sword pierced its skull, and the explosion of energy tore through the floor beneath them.
When the dust settled, the creature dissolved into mist, leaving behind a glowing crimson fragment floating in the air.
[Quest Progress: 1/1 Crimson Sigil Located]
[Item Acquired: Crimson Sigil – Fragment of the Abyss]
[Synchronizing…]
The sigil hovered for a moment, then embedded itself into Hayate's arm. His entire body trembled as power surged through his veins — but it wasn't the warm, burning energy he felt before.
This was colder. Heavier. Almost alive.
[System Update Complete]
[New Passive Skill Unlocked: Blood Sense Lv.1]
[Effect: Detect life essence and hostility within 100 meters.]
Hayate staggered, panting. "So this is the Crimson Sigil…"
He could feel his heartbeat syncing with something deeper — like a pulse beneath the dungeon itself.
But then the whispers returned. Louder. Clearer.
—He awakens… The Vessel stirs…
"Vessel?" Hayate muttered.
A chill ran down his spine. He turned toward the end of the corridor, where faint light spilled from a large chamber ahead.
The Chamber of Echoes
It wasn't a natural cavern.
It was an ancient hall — circular, with twelve massive statues surrounding a central platform. Each statue depicted a warrior, a priest, or a beast, all kneeling before a single figure carved at the far end: the Evil Goddess herself.
Her stone eyes seemed to follow him as he stepped forward.
And beneath her feet… was a coffin.
The coffin's surface pulsed faintly with red light, the same rhythm as his own heartbeat.
[System Interference: High]
[Warning: Unknown Core Detected – Do Not Engage]
Hayate's instincts screamed danger, but curiosity — and something deeper — pulled him closer.
As he approached, faint red smoke leaked from the cracks of the coffin. The air turned thick, heavy with the scent of blood and something ancient.
[Analyzing energy source…]
[Result: 99.7% compatibility with Host Bloodline]
Hayate froze. "Compatible? With me?"
Before he could react, the coffin burst open.
A shockwave of crimson energy exploded outward, hurling him back against a pillar. His vision blurred as the entire chamber shook. Dust fell from the ceiling, and a blinding light consumed the room.
When it faded, someone stood where the coffin had been.
A man — or something close to one — with skin as pale as bone, long dark hair flowing like ink, and eyes glowing the same gold-red hue as Hayate's own.
His voice was low, echoing like thunder.
"So… the bloodline endures."
Hayate gritted his teeth, standing shakily. "Who are you?"
The figure smiled faintly. "I am the first vessel of the Blood System. The one who failed to control it."
Hayate's stomach dropped. "Failed?"
The man's expression twisted into something between sorrow and madness.
"The System was not made to help you, boy. It was made to feed the goddess."
Hayate's eyes widened. "Feed… her?"
The man stepped forward, his aura radiating pressure that bent the air itself. "Each time you kill, each drop of blood you spill, she grows stronger. You are her chain… and her weapon."
[System Overload Detected]
[Memory Seal Fragment Breaking…]
Pain shot through Hayate's skull. He dropped to his knees, clutching his head as flashes of memory assaulted him — the summoning circle, the goddess's smile, her whisper: "Become my vessel."
He screamed.
The pale man crouched before him. "It's already begun. But you can still defy her… if you're willing to destroy the System itself."
Hayate gasped, trembling. "Destroy… the System?"
The man nodded slowly. "But the cost—"
His words cut off as a spear of light burst through his chest.
He looked down in shock — then dissolved into red mist.
A chilling voice echoed through the chamber.
"You speak too much, traitor."
From above, descending like a phantom wrapped in divine fire, came a woman — cloaked in silver and gold, her presence suffocating.
Her beauty was cruel, her smile soft yet merciless.
Hayate's heart froze.
He knew that voice.
He had heard it in his dreams, in his nightmares.
The Evil Goddess.
[Divine Entity Detected][Warning: Power Level Exceeds System Parameters]
She hovered above the shattered coffin, eyes glowing like twin suns.
"So, you're the little failure who slipped through my fingers."
Hayate raised his sword, blood dripping from his palm. "You… you're the one who threw us into this nightmare."
The goddess's laughter filled the chamber, sweet and terrible.
"Nightmare? No, child. I gave you purpose."
She lifted her hand — and invisible force slammed Hayate into the ground.
Cracks spidered beneath him.
[HP -78%]
[Critical Condition]
"You shouldn't have killed my chosen," she whispered, voice like silk. "But I do admire your defiance."
Hayate struggled to move, fury burning behind his eyes. "I'll kill you…"
She smiled wider. "You may try. But first—sleep."
A wave of divine energy enveloped him. His vision darkened. The last thing he saw was her descending slowly, her eyes filled with amusement — and something else.
Fear.
[Emergency Protocol Activated]
[Unknown Entity Interference Detected]
Then everything went black.
[Quest Updated: Unknown Path Unlocked – "Defy the Goddess"]
Objective: Survive.
Status: ???