The inner sanctum of the Obsidian Fortress yawned like a maw of midnight stone, walls veined with throbbing crimson runes that pulsed like exposed arteries under torchlight. Air hung stagnant-thick with incense rot and copper-blood tang, reversal fields humming faint drain-pull on meridians. Abraham crossed threshold sword-drawn, lean frame taut-sinew glistening sweat, fresh gashes shoulder-deep oozing hot trickle down Plum robes muddied ichor. His dark eyes pierced gloom, Plum Blossoms ready—petals qi-coiled hilt-ready. Kaien's gambit throne-bound, he thought, Origin Fragment syncing warnings. Sanctum heart—curse or revelation? ��Michael flanked colossus-shadow, seven-foot yoke-broad armor cracked shoulder-veins crimson-gleaming muscle-bulge sweat-beaded, gauntlets knuckle-ooze split-lip curled snarl. Disciples held courtyard rear—Li Wei wiry-resolute jade-slip clutched arm-gashed bandaged, remnants Storm-petals repelling knights. Sanctum sealed rune-door boom-thud, isolating duo.Central altar dominated: crystalline dais cradling Blood Oracle—gaunt woman chained obsidian, skin parchment-pale veined black-red pulsing, eyes milky-voids swirling madness-stars. "Bearer... come," she rasped silk-thunder, voice mind-echoing. Chains rattled qi-leech; reversal intensified, pulling Abraham forward nausea-roil meridians-invert. Forbidden rite, inner voice sharpened. Oracle devours truth—pay sanity glimpse.Kaien unobserved—throne empty? Oracle cackled: "Warlord's veil—see!" Visions assaulted: qi-riddles flooding dantian—blood-moons eclipsing empires, guardians devouring light mazes, eight worlds keys veiled fire-abyss-shadow. Abraham staggered, Plum Barricade blooming petals-shield mind-assault, but curse clawed sanity-fringes: Betrayals echo—Han knife, allies thorns. Flashbacks crushed: machine-agony screams, Hua peak-shatter Vorath-laugh, Michael fist-crimson storm.Truth costs soul, he gritted, Violet Cloud renewal purging curse-taint qi-refresh dawn-kiss. Oracle lunged chain-stretch, palm reversal-explosion yanking life-essence—Abraham's vision tunneled, life force siphoning phantom-drain. Michael intercepted fist-quake CRASH!—chain snapping porcelain, crimson backlash oracle-flinging wall-crack. "Weakness ends," bodyguard growled gravel-thunder, split-lip bloodied fresh.Abraham surged Pinnacle illusory-blossoms masking thrust—sword piercing oracle-heart gore-fountaining black-red steam. Visions peaked revelation: Kaien fled catacombs, relic-shard stolen counter-empire-core, cult ritual blood-moon summoning calamity-guardian. Curse backlash imploded dais-shatter, reversal fields collapsing scream-harmonic stone-tremble.Door rune-cracked open; Li Wei burst: "Knights breach—Kaien fled east tunnels!" Abraham panted meridians-raw, sanity-fringes frayed but steel-resolve: Oracle's madness gift—warlord's plan unveiled. Inner reel: Guardian awakens blood-moon; second key Emberfire-heart. Wounds throbbed—shoulder gash festering curse-residue, but Fragment stabilized qi-tenfold.Michael hauled oracle-corpse aside, gauntlet dripping ichor: "Ritual site—east warrens." Disciples rallied bloodied—two fallen courtyard, Li Wei arm-ooze bandaged grim. Abraham addressed hoarse: "Kaien summons calamity—intercept ritual." Storm-petals chanted low; advanced warrens labyrinth-veins pulsing ritual-chants echo.Tunnels narrowed torch-flicker shadows, reversal-traps yanking footing—Abraham Zenith-dome shielded, petals corroding spikes. Michael vanguard-pulverized golem-sentries viscous-crunch. Adepts ambushed blood-rites veins-bulge chanting; Abraham Cascade evaded ritual-bolts, Eclipse Descent crescent-bisecting ranks steam-gore.Deeper: cavern ritual-heart blood-moat bubbling, Kaien silhouette thorn-armor silhouette commanding adepts circle-ward moon-projection crimson-eclipse. "Too late, bearer!" Warlord bellowed, reversal-domain exploding qi-pull devouring light. Abraham's qi recoiled drain-tug, but oracle-curse tempered resistance: Eclipse counters eclipse.Michael qi-quake fissured moat-steam; Abraham Throne dragons spiraled breach, coiling adept-strikes. Disciples Storm overwhelmed flanks. Kaien reversed blood fully—veins black-red bulge aura-eclipse, greatsword malice-swing mountain-quake. Clash cataclysmic: Plum Pinnacle illusory met reversal-thrust, qi-explosion hurling Abraham back ribs-crack fresh, copper-mouth.Curse's truth—guardian calamity stirs, mind raced. End ritual—sever warlord. Disciples held adepts; Michael knight-bisected. Abraham rose bloodied, sword radiant: Sovereign tempers Plum—strike dawn. Ritual peaked moon-eclipse blood; Kaien laughed: "Empire falls eternal!"Sanctum quaked calamity-rumblings; Abraham lunged Pinnacle-dragon convergence—CLASH!—greatsword locking, reversal-drain life-siphon agony-marrow. Hold—sanity pays power. Michael's fist-intercept shattered balance, crimson backlash Kaien-staggering. Disciples petals overwhelmed circle; ritual imploded reverse-explosion cultists vapor.Kaien retreated shadows cursing: "Eclipse rises anew!" Tunnels collapsed pursuit-block. Abraham slumped wall-breath ragged, curse-madness fringes whispering doubt—but revelation crystal: Second key wards calamity; warlord lives vendetta. Li Wei supported: "Fortress ours." Michael grunted wound-poultice: "Hunt ends blood-moon."Victory pyrrhic—sanctum claimed, cult crippled, but Kaien escaped ritual-shards fueling guardian-stir. Abraham's frame trembled exhaustion, shoulder-gash festering black-veins curse-residue, meridians void-throb. Oracle's price sanity-fray; sovereign endures. Disciples chanted victory low; wasteland winds howled promise greater storms.
