Chapter 7: Under Siege

A deafening crack of thunder shook the garrison as Reziel and Aria Highwind dashed into the corridor. Shouts and the clang of weapons echoed around them. The overhead lanterns swayed wildly, sending shadows leaping across the walls. Flickers of violet and crimson light—unmistakably magical—flared from distant hallways, illuminating the turmoil.

Aria kept her spear at the ready, her wet armor glinting under erratic torchlight. "We need to regroup with Sir Galland," she said, voice tight. "He's likely coordinating the defense at the main hall."

Reziel nodded, adrenaline crashing through his veins. The air smelled of ozone, scorched wood, and rain-soaked stone. In the back of his mind, he felt the Forbidden System stir—like a ravenous beast awakened by the promise of conflict.

Quest: Growth Through Conflict

Progress: 50%

Condition: High-threat environment detected. Engage to advance.

He clenched his teeth, ignoring the quest prompt. I'm not here to feed your twisted appetite, he told the System silently. But if I have to fight, I will.

Suddenly, a dull explosion rocked the east wing. Stone dust rained from the ceiling. Aria cursed under her breath. "They're breaching the walls." She pointed down one corridor. "This way!"

They sprinted past a group of knights barricading a doorway, who spared a glance at Reziel with clear suspicion—but Aria's presence kept them from interfering. Further on, they found a small staircase leading to the ground-floor passages where the main hall lay.

As they descended, the sound of chanting rose up to meet them—a low, resonant hum. The corridor opened onto a larger hall, partially collapsed from a fresh explosion. Jagged cracks ran along the wall, and water leaked through from outside. Amid the rubble stood three Circle of Twilight cultists in dark robes, their faces obscured by hoods and masks.

Pale flames swirled around their hands, illuminating their twisted sigils and half-finished runes on the stone floor. One of them glanced up and spotted Reziel and Aria. "There he is—the bearer of the Forbidden System!"

Aria moved first, stepping between Reziel and the cultists. "Knights of the Radiant Dawn!" she shouted. "Stand down, or we will—"

Her voice was drowned out by a sudden barrage of magical blasts. Violet arcs of energy scorched the floor where she'd been standing. She rolled aside, spear raised, while Reziel pressed himself against a cracked column for cover.

"They really want me," he muttered, heart pounding.

The lead cultist raised a staff etched with glowing runes. "Reziel Blackwood, surrender to the Circle of Twilight, and we shall spare your life!" His tone was resonant, magnified by whatever magic thrummed in the air.

Reziel's lips twisted in a grimace. "Sorry, not interested in a second kidnapping attempt," he growled back.

The cultist snarled, unleashing a surge of sickly green fire. Aria swatted the flames aside with a quick thrust of her spear, a faint golden shimmer protecting its tip. "Stay behind me," she ordered Reziel. "We'll handle—ugh!"

One of the other cultists had cast a telekinetic wave, knocking Aria off balance. She stumbled, leaving a momentary gap in their defense. Another robed figure lunged forward, brandishing a dagger coated in eerie purple light—poisoned or magically enhanced.

Reziel's breath caught. If Aria goes down now— Without thinking, he tapped into the System's power. A dark, crackling energy coalesced around his forearm as he thrust out his hand.

Skill: Dark Pulse – Tier E

A wave of violet energy blasted the dagger-wielding cultist off his feet, slamming him against the wall. The man gasped, sliding to the ground. But the effort cost Reziel dearly; his side burned, and dizziness briefly washed over him.

Aria regained her footing, shooting him a quick, grateful nod. Together, they faced down the remaining two cultists. "You want him?" Aria said coldly. "You'll have to get through me."

Lightning flashed through a gaping hole in the outer wall, revealing more knights clashing with cultists in the courtyard. Rain swept into the hallway, puddling around the rubble.

The lead cultist seemed undeterred. "Very well," he hissed. "We shall claim our prize—by force!"

The hall lit up with magic as the cultists chanted in unison. Their combined aura shimmered darkly, forming a swirling sphere of malevolent force. Aria's eyes narrowed; she braced her spear. "They're preparing a high-tier spell!"

Reziel's pulse thundered. If they released that spell, it could blow the corridor apart, taking him and Aria with it. What do I do? The System's quest beckoned him to fight—against formidable foes.

Host's Mana: Low

Warning: Opponents' combined spell surpasses current defense.

A flicker of rebellious determination sparked inside him. I can't just let them blast us to bits. Summoning Dark Pulse again wouldn't be enough to stop the incoming onslaught. He needed something stronger.

He recalled the quest: Defeat a worthy opponent to complete your objective and unlock further power. The cultists, with their advanced spell, certainly qualified.

Reziel surged forward, ignoring Aria's shout of warning. The cultists sneered, expecting to cut him down—but he ducked under a sweeping lash of energy. A second wave of blackish flame grazed his coat, scorching the fabric. Pain lanced his shoulder, but he pressed on.

Quest Updated: Enemy identified: Circle of Twilight Adept (Combined Rating: Tier D). Overcome them to advance.

The swirling sphere neared completion, crackling with twisted arcane lightning. Reziel gritted his teeth, veins pulsing with the System's adrenaline-like surge. This is reckless… but I have no choice!

He flung out his hand, pouring every ounce of will into Dark Pulse—but more power answered his call this time. The skill's violet aura flared brighter, forging something denser, sharper.

System Notice:

Forcing Skill Evolution – 80% synergy…

A roaring wave of darkness tore free from Reziel's outstretched arm, colliding with the cultists' forming sphere. For a moment, the corridor blazed with clashing energies: violet meeting blackish-green, arcs of unstable magic crackling in all directions.

Aria shielded her face, teeth gritted against the wind-like backlash. The cultists stumbled, their chant faltering as Reziel's empowered wave disrupted their synergy.

Boom!

The corridor erupted in a thunderous detonation. Chunks of stone rained down, and dust choked the air. Reziel was thrown back, pain lancing through his side as he hit the ground hard. For a few seconds, all he could hear was ringing in his ears.

When the debris settled, he forced himself up on one elbow, blinking dust from his eyes. The lead cultist lay sprawled, his staff shattered. Another was groaning under collapsed rubble. A third had vanished—perhaps blasted further down the hall.

Quest Complete: Growth Through Conflict

Skill Evolution: [Dark Pulse – Tier E] → [Dark Rupture – Tier D]

A new swirl of text flickered in Reziel's peripheral vision, but his head pounded too fiercely to read it fully. Dark… Rupture? So the skill had leveled up.

Aria stumbled over, coughing. "Reziel…" She knelt beside him, scanning the corridor for any surviving cultists. Seeing none immediate, she exhaled shakily. "That was—insane."

He let out a weak laugh, tasting blood in his mouth. "Yeah… definitely insane."

No sooner had they caught their breath than more footsteps and shouts echoed from the direction of the main hall. A group of knights, led by Sir Galland, burst in with torches and healing supplies. His eyes swept the wreckage before locking onto Aria and Reziel.

"Highwind! Reziel!" he barked. "We're pushing the intruders back, but there's chaos in the courtyard. We need every able body."

Aria nodded, wincing as she stood. She offered Reziel a hand. "Come on. Can you still fight?"

The question made him pause. He was exhausted—his side throbbed, his limbs felt like lead. Yet a fierce drive pulsed in his chest, an echo of the System's triumphant surge. "I can manage," he replied hoarsely.

Galland's gaze flickered with approval. "Good. We'll regroup in the main hall. Our mages have sealed off part of the courtyard, but a few cultists remain inside the walls. Keep close if you want to avoid stray spells."

Reziel stumbled to his feet, leaning momentarily on Aria's spear for support. He noticed the lingering glimmer of violet power around his fingertips before he forced it away. Dark Rupture… I need to be careful with that.

The knights—six of them in total—formed a protective wedge around Reziel and Aria. Together, they made their way back toward the center of the garrison. The corridors were littered with debris, scorch marks, and occasional injured soldiers. Through shattered doors, Reziel glimpsed more knights clashing with robed figures.

Despite the chaos, the tide seemed to be turning in the Knights' favor. Where the cultists had broken through, the defenders were gradually retaking ground.

By the time Reziel and Aria reached the main hall, a wave of relief spread among the remaining defenders. The thunderstorm outside still raged, but the cultists' presence inside the garrison had been drastically reduced. Sir Galland dispatched squads to secure the perimeter and drive out any stragglers.

A temporary command post had been set up near the hall's grand fireplace, where an older knight-lieutenant barked orders to runners. Flickering torches gave the room a grim glow. Knights slumped against pillars, catching their breath. A few clerics hurried around, casting healing spells on the wounded.

Aria guided Reziel to a bench near the edge of the command area. "Wait here," she told him. "You need rest—and more healing. I'll speak with Sir Galland."

Reziel nodded, sinking down onto the bench. Exhaustion bore down on him, though adrenaline still thrummed through his veins. Sweat and grime coated his skin. How many times can I nearly die in one day?

He tried to focus on the faint text floating in the corners of his vision:

Quest Complete

Dark Rupture (Tier D) unlocked.

A concentrated sphere of negative energy that detonates on impact, causing greater damage and disruption than Dark Pulse.

He exhaled shakily. More destructive power, just what I need. A pang of guilt twisted in his stomach—he was wary of how the System craved violence, yet ironically, it had just saved him and Aria.

Nearby, knights dragged in two bound cultists. One was conscious, glowering through a cracked mask. Aria approached, exchanging hushed words with Sir Galland. Reziel couldn't hear them clearly, but he guessed they were discussing how the Circle of Twilight had managed such a direct assault—and whether they might try again.

His thoughts scattered when he noticed the robed figure's menacing stare on him. Even captured, the cultist's eyes burned with a fanatical gleam, as though Reziel was an artifact they still intended to claim. A chill prickled his skin. They won't stop until they get me—or until we destroy them.

Soon, Aria returned to Reziel's side, her expression stern but not unkind. "Sir Galland wants to debrief you again—tomorrow. For now, we have to stabilize the garrison. Most of the cultists retreated, but the Knights are on high alert."

He nodded, pushing a damp lock of hair from his forehead. "I—thanks, by the way. For not leaving me behind."

Aria's eyes softened. "We're not monsters, Reziel." She glanced at his side, noticing blood seeping through the bandage. "You should get that looked at."

Before he could protest, she motioned for a cleric. The white-robed woman hurried over, kneeling to tend Reziel's reopened wound. Cool healing magic seeped into his flesh, numbing the pain.

As the healing took effect, Aria crossed her arms. "You risked your life back there. I won't forget that."

He offered a tired half-smile. "Guess it's a new experience—fighting alongside knights instead of running from them."

She acknowledged his remark with a slight dip of her head, then leaned in to speak quietly. "This isn't over. The Circle of Twilight knows exactly where you are, and they won't hesitate to try again—perhaps in greater force."

Reziel's throat tightened. He forced himself to meet her gaze. "Then I'll fight them again. I… I don't have much choice."

Aria studied him, something akin to respect flickering across her face. "We'll do our best to protect you, and in return, you'll help us stop them at the source. That's the deal."

A subtle hush fell between them. Reziel nodded slowly, still wrestling with the reality that the Knights—once a threat to him—were now his best hope of surviving. How did my life get so twisted?

Meanwhile, the storm raged on outside, fierce winds battering the garrison walls. The downpour drummed a relentless rhythm on the roof, as if mirroring the turmoil in Reziel's mind. He glanced at the battered hallway where knights continued searching for any hidden cultists. For better or worse, his path seemed bound to theirs.

I'm in this with them now, he thought. Let's see where it leads.