Alliance of the Fallen
Chapter 19.1: Echo of the Lost
The wind roared across the vast battlefield, carrying a chilling sound that almost felt like whispers from the past.
It was as if the voices of those who had perished here still lingered, trying to tell their stories to anyone who would listen.
The ground was covered in signs of a long-forgotten war.
Swords and spears lay broken, their metal rusting with time.
Pieces of shattered armor were scattered across the battlefield, some buried in the earth while others stood as silent reminders of those who had once worn them.
The land itself bore deep scars—gaping holes left by powerful attacks, burned patches where fire had raged, and uneven terrain shaped by long-ago battles.
Each step we took felt like walking through history's graveyard.
The atmosphere was heavy, filled with the scent of damp earth and the faint, lingering smell of dried blood.
Even though years had passed, the memory of war remained imprinted in this place.
Liu Ying pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, trying to keep out the cold that was not just from the wind but also from the eerie feeling of the place.
"This place... it feels like a graveyard," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It is," I replied, my fingers tightening around the hilt of my sword.
The weight of it was familiar, grounding me in the present.
"This is where some of the greatest Spirit Guardians fell during the war against the Shadow Devourer."
Tian Lan held his staff firmly.
A soft light began to glow from it, pushing away the surrounding darkness just enough for us to see clearly.
"The energy here is restless. Be on your guard," he warned, his sharp eyes scanning the ruins for any movement.
Suddenly, the system appeared.
[System Notification: New Quest Initiated – Alliance of the Fallen
Objective: Form an alliance with the Fallen, powerful figures reincarnated from Li Wei's past life.
Reward: 300 Faith Points, Mystery of the Celestial Gate's Deal.
Warning: Quest must be completed.]
I let out a slow breath, the reality of the situation settling in.
The past always had a way of catching up with me.
My journey had been filled with battles, challenges, and losses, but this was different.
This was not just about finding allies; it was about confronting ghosts from my past.
These were not just warriors who had died in battle—they were people who had once fought against me.
Would they be willing to put the past behind them?
Would they see the bigger threat, or would they still hold onto their grudges?
As we walked further into the battlefield, the remains of the past became even more apparent.
Torn banners fluttered weakly in the wind, their symbols faded with age.
The remnants of once-powerful warriors lay motionless, their skeletons frozen in the positions of their final battles.
Some still hold their weapons, as if refusing to accept defeat even in death.
It felt as if the spirits of the fallen were still here, their presence lingering, watching us, waiting.
Liu Ying glanced at me, concerned in her eyes.
"Are you sure about this, Li Wei?" she asked, her voice steady despite the unease around us.
"Even if they accept an alliance, that doesn't mean they'll forgive you."
"I know," I answered truthfully.
"But we don't have a choice. The Shadow Devourer is growing stronger. We need every ally we can get."
She didn't argue, but the worry on her face remained.
I understood her concern.
These warriors had died long ago, their spirits now bound to the battlefield.
If they held onto their anger, forming an alliance with them wouldn't be easy.
As we approached the heart of the battlefield, a large, ruined temple came into view.
Its once-grand structure was now in decay, with walls cracked and covered in moss.
The massive stone pillars that once held the ceiling now lay broken on the ground.
It was clear that time had not been kind to this place.
Yet, despite its ruined state, there was something unnatural about it.
As we got closer, the air around us became colder—not the kind of cold that came from the wind, but a deep, unsettling chill that seemed to seep into our bones.
A strange silence settled over the area.
The wind, which had been howling moments ago, had stopped completely.
There were no birds, no rustling of leaves—nothing.
It was as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Inside the temple, faint golden runes glowed on the walls, their light flickering like dying embers.
In the center of the hall, three figures stood waiting for us.
Their presence was overwhelming.
Even without speaking, I could feel the power radiating from them.
Those were the Fallen.
Not just any warriors, but powerful figures who had once lived, fought, and died in the same world as me.
In their past lives, they had been my enemies, great warriors who had stood against me.
And now, they had been reincarnated, bound to this battlefield by fate itself.
Would they be willing to put the past aside for the greater good? Or would old grudges resurface, leading to yet another battle?
The Echo of the Lost had led us here.
Now, it was time to see if the past could truly be rewritten.