Trial of Blightfall

Josh stepped into the heart of the valley. The winds stilled. The air turned thick.

Suddenly—

A voice boomed from nowhere. Deep. Ancient.

"What do you seek?"

Josh spun around, startled. "Who's there?!"

Silence. Then again—

"What do you seek?"

He straightened his back.

"…The Blightfall," he answered.

A pause.

"Are you worthy of the Blightfall?"

Josh squinted at the sky. "What do you think I am? Five?"

He crossed his arms.

"Of course I'm worthy."

A long silence.

Then—

"Then prove it."

A massive stone door shimmered into existence, suspended in the air. As Josh reached toward it, light engulfed him.

The world shifted.

He stood in his old village.

The skies were red. The ground trembled.

The day of the slaughter.

Josh froze as his own memories unfolded before him—except now, he was part of it again. He turned and saw himself dining with his family. The warmth. The laughter.

Then—

Meteorites rained from the sky.

Black cloaked sorcerers poured into the village, tearing it apart.

"No…" Josh whispered. "Not again."

He turned to flee—but the village was on fire.

Children screaming. People burning.

His parents huddled behind him. "Josh!"

Tears burned his eyes. "What do you want from me?!"

No response.

Only fire. Screams. Death.

Josh clenched his fists.

Not this time.

He charged forward, attacking the sorcerers with nothing but his fists and raw magic. He shielded his parents from spells, throwing himself between them and death.

One by one—he sacrificed magic cores from deep within his system to heal wounded villagers.

He fought. Protected. Defended.

And slowly… the tide turned.

The sorcerers retreated.

He collapsed to his knees. Panting. Crying.

The villagers came forward.

One by one, they embraced him.

"You saved us."

"You're our hope."

He clung to his mother the hardest.

She kissed his forehead, eyes warm with pride.

"I love you."

She turned to mist.

So did the others.

All of them… merged into him—their essence flowing into his chest like glowing purple threads.

Josh looked down.

A sword had formed in his hands.

Dark steel. Violet glow. Faint hum. Etched with runes that pulsed with living memory.

>

---

» Blightfall Acquired

»Sword Class: Mythical

»Binding Type: Soul-Bonded

»Curse Level: [Redacted]

» Hidden Effects: Locked

The voice returned—softer now.

"You are worthy. But beware... the curse that comes with what you carry."

The vision shattered.

---

Josh stood again in the valley.

His hand clenched around the Blightfall sword—no illusion this time.

He stepped forward and found Kaen, still asleep on a patch of grass, peaceful.

Josh exhaled. A calm strength in his posture now.

» LEVEL UP

»LEVEL UP

▪️ Speed: +10%

▪️ Combat Protocol: +10%

▪️ Durability: +10%

▪️ Fogbeast Iron Fragment: Strength boosted by 30%

▪️ Obedience Bonus:

  ▪️ Fire Power +20%

  ▪️ Strength +20%

▪️ Sword Skills Unlocked

»Weapon Class Detected: Blightfall – Soul Tier

Josh stared at the blade as it pulsed faintly in his hand.

"…Let's see what kind of curse you're hiding."

He sat beside Kaen and waited for dawn.

The first light of dawn broke over the valley, painting the world in soft amber.

Kaen stirred. His eyes blinked open—and instantly widened.

"W-Whoa…"

There it was.

The Blightfall sword, pulsing faintly with purple light, resting beside Josh like a slumbering beast.

Kaen crept closer, eyes wide with wonder. "It's… it's beautiful."

He picked it up—both hands trembling at the weight, then suddenly swung it over his shoulder like a fantasy hero.

"Haha! I, the mighty Kaen, have come to vanquish darkness!"

He struck a pose, nearly falling over in the process.

Josh groaned, rubbing his temples. "Don't drop it, you clown. That sword's alive."

Kaen grinned, holding the blade like a sacred relic. "You sure you're the chosen one? 'Cause I look awesome with this thing."

Josh snatched it back. "Down, hero boy."

---

Unseen to them...

Atop a jagged cliff overlooking the valley, a man in a long black cloak and wide-brimmed hat stood silently, face hidden.

He watched as Josh and Kaen packed up their supplies.

A faint smile curled at his lips.

But he said nothing.

And vanished into the mist.

---

"Where do we go now?" Josh asked as they tied up their bags.

Kaen stretched and cracked his neck. "To my home. It's not far if we cut through the ridge path."

Josh nodded. "Good. Maybe I can finally get a decent—"

Kaen climbed onto the Carter and grabbed the reins.

Josh climbed up behind him.

>

---

▶ SYSTEM ALERT:

Unauthorized Entry Detected.

Carter Travel is restricted for current Host.

Obedience Protocol Active.

▶ Penalty Incoming.

Josh narrowed his eyes. "Oh, come on. You've gotta be—"

ZZZZZZZAP!

A surge of purple lightning exploded beneath him.

Josh was launched off the Carter, crashing face-first into the dirt.

"AAAAARGHH!!"

Kaen turned with a wince. "Dude... you okay?!"

Josh sat up slowly, his face covered in dust, his hair frizzed from the shock.

He glared at the sky. "I swear, I'm going to fight this system one day…"

>

---

▶ SYSTEM MESSAGE:

You may continue your journey on foot.

▶ Running is essential to Host Development.

Obedience is not optional.

Kaen gave him a pitying look from the Carter.

"…You want me to walk too?"

Josh stood up with a grunt. "Nah. Ride. I'll be fine."

He cracked his neck, glanced at the path ahead, and started running again.

"I've been through worse."

---

Behind them...

That same man in the black cloak watched their departure.

But now his eyes glowed faintly beneath his hat.

And a whisper escaped his lips:

"Let's see how far you'll run.