Chapter 14: Gateway to Darkness

The swirling illusionary haze thinned as Reziel and the knights emerged from the ravine into a wide, rugged clearing. Broken columns of ancient stone jutted like crooked teeth from the earth, some half-collapsed, others covered in clinging moss and faint runes. Even from a distance, Sir Galland, Aria Highwind, and the other knights could feel the heavy aura of old magic blanketing the site.

So this is it… Reziel thought, his heartbeat thudding in his ears. The fortress—or what's left of it—guarding the temple.

Remnants of a crumbled outer wall sprawled in front of them, leading to a massive archway carved into the base of a cliff. Flickers of violet glinted near the entrance, as though wards or braziers glowed from within. Beyond that archway, darkness beckoned—deep and foreboding.

A hush fell over the knights. Many exchanged uneasy glances. The illusions from the ravine had rattled their nerves, and the air here felt denser, heavier with power. A faint hum, like a distant heartbeat, thrummed underfoot.

Sir Galland raised a hand for caution, and the group fanned out in a loose semicircle. A few knights dismounted; others remained on horseback, scanning the perimeter with wary eyes. Aria gestured for two of the more agile scouts to circle the left flank, searching for alternative entries or hidden threats.

Reziel lingered beside Aria, pressing a hand to his side. The wound still ached, but the sharper stabs of pain had dulled to a chronic throb. More pressing was the distinct pressure he felt in the air—like walking into a charged storm cloud, each breath tasting of arcane potential. The Forbidden System pulsed in his veins, sensing something significant nearby.

An edge of excitement blended with dread. The cult's seat of power. If the rumored Ritual of Severance existed, it could be somewhere in this labyrinth of stone. But the circle's strongest mages must be waiting inside.

Aria pointed to a towering fragment of wall on their right. Cracks ran through the stone, revealing a partial mural—barely visible after centuries of weathering. At its center was a familiar shape: a stylized swirl akin to the System's runic patterns. Beneath it, faint figures bowed or reached upward, as if worshiping something that once stood in the mural's center.

Reziel's breath caught. "That symbol… it's like the one on the cultists' robes."

Aria nodded, knuckles whitening around her spear. "So they've claimed these ruins as part of their greater design. Whatever used to be worshiped here—perhaps an old deity—might be tied to the System."

Before they could investigate further, Sir Galland motioned them to regroup near the cliffside arch. The knights formed a defensive ring, mindful of possible ambush from above. The faint glow dancing at the archway's threshold revealed intricate runes carved into the stone, not unlike the illusions in the ravine.

A middle-aged knight with keen magical senses—Anora—stepped forward, warily approaching the runes. She traced them with her fingertips, then shook her head. "Another ward. Stronger than the illusions back there, and anchored deeper within. Passing through may trigger defenses."

Galland exhaled, scanning the exhausted faces of his knights. "Then we have little choice but to dismantle or bypass it. The cult is surely inside. We can't turn back now."

As the knights prepared to breach the ward, Aria assigned lookouts to maintain a guarded perimeter. A few knights would remain outside with the horses and the captive cultist (if still conscious), ensuring their supply lines stayed intact. The rest of the force—about ten knights in total—would venture inside.

Aria, Reziel, Anora, Sir Galland, and six more knights advanced on foot. The plan was to proceed cautiously, neutralize any wards, and secure a foothold in the fortress's upper corridors. Once certain of their route, they would signal the remaining knights to move in.

Reziel's stomach twisted. The hum of old magic intensified near the archway. Dark Rupture pulsed in his consciousness, eager, almost as if the System relished the confrontation. He inhaled and fixed his gaze on Aria's back, grounding himself in her unwavering resolve.

"Anora," Galland said, voice low. "On your mark."

Anora produced two fist-sized crystals—one milky-white, one shimmering faintly gold. Holding them together, she incanted a soft prayer to the Radiant Dawn. Wisps of light gathered, forming a luminous orb that pressed against the runic ward. Sparks flew, the runes crackling in protest, but eventually the arcane barrier flickered and dulled, its immediate power disrupted.

The knights tensed. The partial dispel wouldn't last forever, but it might buy them enough time to enter without triggering a lethal trap.

Sir Galland led the way, sword in hand, armor clinking softly with each step. Aria followed close, spear angled forward. Reziel came behind, flanked by two knights bearing shields. The archway gaped like a mouth into darkness, and once they crossed its threshold, the temperature dropped significantly.

Inside, a long corridor stretched ahead, lined with torch sconces—some burning with violet flame, others dark. The walls were a blend of natural stone and crumbling masonry. The faint sound of dripping water echoed.

Anora pressed a palm to the corridor's floor. "Feels stable," she murmured, but her caution was evident. "Though these walls are laced with old magic. We should assume traps further in."

A knight near the front flinched as a flicker of violet flame snapped from a nearby torch, almost as if it lunged at him. He cursed under his breath, raising a shield. The flame subsided, but Reziel sensed the wards' presence coiling through these halls, watchful and menacing.

System Notice

Environment: High Arcane Saturation.

Host Advise: Maintain mental discipline. Potential illusions or corruptions remain possible.

Reziel huffed quietly. "Yeah, I can feel it," he muttered under his breath.

They advanced carefully, turning a corner into a broader chamber—a hall lined with massive stone statues. Each statue stood twice the height of a human, some depicting robed figures, others grotesque beasts. Most were partially eroded by time, missing limbs or heads. Yet the carved eyes that remained seemed to bore into the intruders.

Aria paused at the threshold. "Heads up. Statues are often used as focal points for traps—or guardians."

Sir Galland gestured for two knights to proceed, weapons raised. They inched forward, scanning for triggers or hidden runes. The rest followed in a tight formation, footsteps echoing on the cracked tiles.

Reziel's gaze flicked between the statues. The stale air prickled the back of his neck. In that moment, the largest statue—depicting a robed figure with outstretched arms—seemed to shift. A rumble vibrated underfoot, so faint he thought he imagined it. But the next instant, the statue's arms jerked with a screech of grinding stone.

"Move!" Aria shouted, diving aside just as an arc of dark mana burst from the statue's hands. Knights scattered, some raising shields to block the sinister energy wave. Stone dust exploded where the spell struck the floor, leaving a blackened scorch mark.

At the same time, two lesser statues on the flanks began to glow, their empty eyes igniting with violet luminescence. A rhythmic pounding echoed through the chamber—like beating hearts made of stone.

Chaos erupted as the knights engaged these animated statues. Sir Galland hacked at one, only to have his blade chip the stone, drawing sparks. Another knight tried a magic-laced arrow that cracked part of a statue's torso. The echoing booms of rock-limbs on tile filled the hall.

Anora pressed her hand to the floor again, chanting a spell that sent ribbons of white light curling around the statues' feet, slowing their movements. It helped, but the largest statue still hurled arcs of dark mana, each one forcing the knights to dodge or brace.

Reziel steeled himself. He recognized the vile signature of the circle's enchantments fueling these statues. If left unchecked, the guardians could grind them down or bottle them in the corridor, easy prey for cultists deeper inside.

Time for Dark Rupture. He flexed his hand, feeling the System respond.

Violet energy crackled around his forearm. He targeted the largest statue, aiming for its midsection where hairline cracks already marred the stone. "Clear the way!" he shouted.

Aria ducked behind a broken pedestal, offering cover as another arc of mana whizzed overhead. Reziel unleashed Dark Rupture, a swirling sphere of negative energy that blasted forward. It struck the statue's torso with a thunderous impact. Shards of stone exploded outward, leaving a gaping hole where the chest had been.

The statue wavered, arms twitching spasmodically before it collapsed in a heap of rubble. Dust plumed across the chamber, momentarily clouding everyone's vision.

System Prompt

Skill Usage: Dark Rupture – Success.

Host Mana: Critically Low (Caution).

Reziel winced as dizziness assaulted him, the System's drain heavier than ever. He fought to remain upright, chest heaving. This power… it takes so much out of me.

Meanwhile, Sir Galland and two knights dealt with the remaining animated statues, exploiting the slowed movements from Anora's spell. A final, well-placed sword blow and a thrust of a spear shattered the smaller guardians. Silence settled, broken only by the knights' labored breathing.

When the dust cleared, the chamber floor was strewn with chunks of stone and black scorch marks. A knight tended to a comrade who had taken a glancing hit from dark mana—his armor sizzled, and the man groaned, but appeared conscious. Anora knelt by him, channeling a cleansing prayer to dispel any lingering curse.

Aria approached Reziel, worry knitting her brows. "You look pale."

He shrugged, gulping air. "Using Dark Rupture again so soon… Takes a toll. But I'll manage."

Sir Galland surveyed the destruction, frowning at the battered walls. "If this is how they protect the outer corridors, the deeper levels will be far more dangerous."

Anora wiped sweat from her temple. "No doubt. But we can't turn back. The only path forward is deeper into these halls."

Reziel caught his breath, reflecting on the swirling tension inside him—the system's power, the illusions and wards, the cult's determination. Even these statues… mere gatekeepers. The real fight lies ahead.

After a brief respite, Sir Galland ordered the knights to press on. They cleared debris from the entry behind them, ensuring the others could follow without stumbling into ambush. Aria stepped over the largest statue's remains, spear tip scraping the tile.

Reziel glanced at the corridor leading out of the statue hall. Flickering violet torches lined the passage, and that faint heartbeat-like hum was louder here, as if something pulsed from far below. The catacombs. The place the cult wants to unseal. Could the "sealed sanctum" be near?

He recalled the cultist's words about a temple from ages past, housing artifacts or divine relics that could reshape the world. And in the midst of that, the possibility of the Ritual of Severance that might free him from the System. Or make it stronger, he realized with a shiver.

Aria paused at his shoulder. Their eyes met—hers reflecting steeled resolve, his a mixture of fear and determination. She gave a faint nod, as if to say we face it together.

Reziel exhaled slowly, then stepped across the threshold. The corridor stretched ahead, disappearing into gloom. Sir Galland and the knights fanned out, cautious but driven. The fortress's deeper chambers awaited, teeming with unknown wards, cultists, and the secrets Reziel both needed and dreaded.

Let's finish this, he thought, summoning what remained of his courage. One step at a time.

With that silent vow, the party advanced deeper into the fortress, the flicker of violet torches casting dancing shadows on the walls. Each footfall echoed with the unspoken promise of revelation—and the dire price that might come with it.