Chapter 4 – The Graveyard of the Forgotten

The ruins of Whitebridge stretched before Aldric like the ribs of a long-dead beast, broken stone walls standing against the dark evening sky.

Aldric walked forward, his boots crunching against loose gravel and shattered bones.

The ghouls he had slain lay scattered across the dirt, their twisted bodies motionless. The blood-soaked ruins reeked of rot, but the air still carried something worse.

Something alive.

He could feel it.

The way the shadows shifted unnaturally beyond the broken archways, the distant echoes of something moving beneath the rubble.

This place was no ordinary ruin.

And whatever lingered here was watching him.

Aldric put his hand on his sword.

Then he let whatever it was observe him.

He moved deeper into the ruins, his senses sharp.

The remains of ancient homes and collapsed towers loomed over him like skeletal remains, their walls blackened from old fires. Once, Whitebridge had been a thriving city, its stone bridge spanning the great river that connected the kingdom's northern and southern halves.

But now, only death remained.

Aldric stepped past a fallen obelisk, its surface carved with the worn sigils of old noble houses. He recognized some of them—families that had once stood alongside his own.

Now they were nothing.

Just like the Everthorne name.

His jaw tightened.

Darion had taken everything from him.

And soon, Aldric would take everything from him. But first, he had to survive. And that meant finding out why this city was still crawling with the dead.

The first sign of an answer came as he reached the city's center.

A great stone bridge, cracked but still standing, stretched across the dried riverbed below. In the past, this bridge had been Whitebridge's heart—the place where merchants, nobles, and commoners alike once passed.

Now, it was a grave.

Aldric stopped at its edge.

The ground was scarred, massive claw marks dug deep into the stone. Rusted weapons and shattered armor lay strewn across the bridge, some still clutched by skeletal hands.

A battle had been fought here. And no one had won.

Aldric kneeled, running his fingers over one of the claw marks.

Too big for a ghoul. Too deep for any normal beast.

Something else had passed through here. Something powerful.

Aldric exhaled slowly.

He had come here for answers. But he was starting to wonder if he was the one being hunted.

[New Quest Received: The Forgotten King]

Objective: Discover the source of Whitebridge's corruption.

Reward: ???

Aldric frowned.

A hidden quest.

That meant whatever was here wasn't just some minor infestation—it was something important. Something connected to the Abyss itself.

His fingers curled around the hilt of his sword.

Then let's see what kind of king still lingers in his grave.

Aldric stood and crossed the bridge.

The ruins waited for him.

And so did the thing that ruled them.

As Aldric stepped deeper into the city, the air grew colder. Not the natural chill of night, but a deep, bone-gnawing cold that held to his skin.

The streets were too quiet.

Even the ghouls he had fought before didn't make a sound.

Then, he saw it.

The remains of a great statue stood in the city's heart, shattered into three massive pieces. It had once portrayed a king, his outstretched hand clutching a sword aimed toward the sky.

But something had ripped the stone apart, as if destroying it had been an act of hatred rather than time.

Beneath the broken statue, an altar of black stone remained intact.

Aldric's breath slowed.

Something about that altar felt wrong.

Its surface was covered in deep carvings, runes that pulsed faintly with a dark energy.

And in the center of the altar, embedded in the stone, was a skeletal hand—clutching a massive, rusted greatsword.

Aldric stepped forward.

A chime echoed in his mind.

[New Interaction Available: The Fallen King's Blade]

Would you like to claim the weapon?

[Yes] / [No]

Aldric hesitated.

This wasn't a normal weapon. He could feel it—the Abyss itself was tied to this blade.

But he hadn't come this far to turn back.

He reached out—

And the moment his fingers touched the hilt, the world shattered.

Darkness swallowed him.

The ruins, the altar, even his own body—gone.

Aldric stood in a vast abyss, endless and empty.

Then, the voice came.

Low. Hollow. Ancient.

"You are not worthy."

Aldric barely had time to react before something moved.

A shadowy figure appeared before him—towering, armored, its face hidden behind a cracked iron helm. And in its hands, it held the greatsword from the altar.

The figure raised its weapon.

Aldric smirked.

So this was the Forgotten King?

Then let's see how much of a king he really was.

The figure charged.

Aldric met him head-on.

The Forgotten King moved like a storm of steel and shadow. Aldric barely had time to raise his sword before the massive greatsword came crashing down.

He twisted away, dodging just in time as the blade slammed into the abyssal ground, sending a shockwave of black mist rippling outward.

The impact alone could have split him in half.

Fast. Too fast for something that size.

Aldric steadied his stance, eyes locked on his opponent.

The Forgotten King was massive—easily over eight feet tall, clad in tattered black armor. His helmet was cracked, revealing glimpses of a skull beneath, glowing with faint embers of green fire.

His greatsword—the very blade Aldric had tried to claim—was massive, jagged with time but still sharp enough to cleave through stone.

Aldric exhaled.

A test.

This wasn't just a weapon. The Abyss was making him fight for it. This was a test to see if Aldric was really worth it.

He would have to take it by force.

The Forgotten King lunged forward again, his sword cutting through the air in a brutal horizontal slash.

Aldric ducked down, feeling the wind of the strike pass just over his head. Without hesitation, he countered—his own blade flashing toward the King's exposed ribs.

A direct hit.

Steel bit into armor—but did not break through.

Aldric barely had time to react before a gauntleted fist slammed into his chest.

Pain exploded through his ribs as he was launched backward, launched across the abyssal void.

He coughed, feeling something inside his body move painfully.

Strong.

Stronger than anything he had fought so far.

His health bar flashed in his vision, a chunk of it missing.

He rolled back onto his feet, his breathing sharp, controlled.

The Forgotten King stood still, watching him.

Waiting.

It wasn't mindless like a ghoul. It was measuring him.

Aldric smirked, wiping the blood from his lips.

"Not bad."

He flicked his sword to the side, taking his stance again.

"My turn."

Aldric charged.

He moved faster this time—testing the King's defenses, striking from different angles. His sword lashed out in quick, bending it accurately, aiming for weak points—joints, exposed areas of armor, even the cracks in the King's helm.

But the Forgotten King blocked each strike effortlessly.

And when he attacked, it was with the force of a landslide.

Aldric barely dodged another downward swing, feeling the weight of the strike crack the ground where he had just stood.

This wasn't working.

He needed an opening.

Aldric exhaled sharply, activating his skill.

[Skill Activated: Predator's Gaze]

His vision shifted.

Faint red lines traced across the King's form, marking potential weak points.

There—his left knee joint, slightly exposed beneath the ragged armor.

And—the crack in his helm.

Aldric's grip tightened.

Got you.

The Forgotten King swung again.

But this time, Aldric was ready.

Instead of dodging, he stepped forward, angling his blade low.

Just before the King's attack connected, Aldric dropped into a slide, passing beneath the deadly swing.

And as he moved past—

His sword slammed into the King's exposed knee.

A sharp crack rang out.

The Forgotten King staggered, his balance breaking for just a moment.

That moment was all Aldric needed.

He surged upward, using the momentum to drive his sword toward the crack in the King's helm.

The blade pierced through.

The Forgotten King let out a soundless roar, his body shaking violently.

For the first time—Aldric had wounded him.

Dark energy poured from the wound, spilling into the abyss like ink in water.

Aldric landed a few feet away, breathing hard.

His attack had worked.

But the fight wasn't over.

The Forgotten King slowly straightened, his movements jerkier, more unnatural now.

Then—his body ignited.

Green flames erupted from his armor, his wounds sealing instantly as the Abyss itself poured more power into him.

Aldric's eyes narrowed.

The real fight had just begun.

The Forgotten King stood still for a moment, the eerie green flames consuming his form. The wound Aldric had inflicted—gone.

Sealed by the Abyss.

Aldric exhaled.

Not unexpected.

If the Abyssal Rebirth System had given him the ability to grow stronger through death, it made sense that whatever ruled Whitebridge's ruins had a similar power.

But that just meant he had to kill it properly.

The King moved.

Faster than before.

Aldric barely had time to react before the greatsword came crashing down—but this time, the impact sent a shockwave of Abyssal energy across the void.

[Warning: Abyssal Shockwave detected. Incoming Damage: -30 HP]

The force slammed into him, sending him flying backward. His body ached, but he ignored it, forcing himself to stabilize.

The King's second phase had begun.

Aldric adjusted his stance.

Time to end this.

[Skill Activated: Blood for Power]

Sacrificing 10% Health… Strength +10 for 10 seconds.

A sharp burning sensation spread through Aldric's veins as power flooded his body. His grip on his sword tightened. His mind sharpened.

The King charged again.

But Aldric was already moving.

Faster. Stronger.

The King swung, his greatsword carving through the darkness.

Aldric sidestepped at the last second, closing the distance in an instant.

His sword lashed out—not at the King's body, but at his weapon.

Steel met steel.

The impact rang through the abyss as Aldric's sword cut into the Forgotten King's greatsword—not to block, but to redirect.

The King's weapon lurched off balance, his stance faltering.

Aldric didn't hesitate.

He stepped in close, gripping his sword with both hands—

And drove it straight into the crack in the King's helm.

[Critical Hit!]

The blade sank deep, piercing through the skull beneath.

The Forgotten King froze.

A hollow, strangled breath escaped his broken helm—and then, his body began to collapse.

The flames flickered.

The Abyss recoiled.

And then—he fell.

The Forgotten King crashed to the ground and his bones turn to ashes , his greatsword slipping from his grasp.

The world shuddered.

And Aldric heard the sound he had been waiting for.

[Boss Defeated: The Forgotten King]

[Experience Gained: 1,500]

[Level Up!]

Aldric exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as the rush of strength and experience surged through him.

His first real test in this world—and he had passed.

But it wasn't over yet.

His gaze shifted to the greatsword lying in the dust.

The weapon the Forgotten King had wielded.

Aldric approached, reaching for the hilt.

A notification flashed before his eyes.

[New Item Acquired: King's End]

Weapon Type: Abyssal Greatsword

Effect: Each successful kill strengthens the blade.

Aldric smirked.

Now this was a weapon worthy of vengeance.

He lifted the greatsword, testing its weight. It was heavy, but not in a way that slowed him down. It felt right, like it belonged in his hands.

With one last look at the fallen Forgotten King, Aldric turned toward the darkness ahead.

Whitebridge was only the beginning.