Echoes of Elrach
The night wind howled as Riven stood at the mouth of a long-forgotten canyon — narrow, jagged, and cloaked in perpetual fog.
> [Location Reached: The Forgotten Prison of Elrach]
Access Code: Ashborn
Sealed since Year 482 of the Empire.
This was no ordinary prison.
Elrach was where the Empire sent those who were too dangerous to kill — monsters, failed experiments, heretics who knew too much.
> "And now I'm walking in willingly," Riven muttered.
---
📜 System Quest Update
> [Main Questline: Ashborn Conspiracy – Part 2]
Objective: Recover Genetic Memory Fragment of Subject Zero.
Warning: Prison Hosts Rogue Experiments – Danger Level: Critical
Optional Bonus: Free Prisoner #0189 – Codename: 'Nyra'
---
🕳️ Inside the Ruins
As Riven descended the cracked staircase, he could smell the rusted blood in the air. Chains hung from the ceiling, some moving on their own.
The first chamber was dark — lit only by faint green glyphs on the walls.
> [System: Danger Imminent]
Active Threat Detected: Biological Entity – Code 43: Flesh Weaver
A monstrous shadow dropped from the ceiling.
Its body was a patchwork of stitched human limbs, eyes blinking across its torso.
> "Target confirmed… Ashborn genetic signature… delicious."
It rushed at him.
---
⚔️ Combat Engaged
> [Skill: Rift Dash – ON COOLDOWN]
[Skill: Shadowmeld – Useless in motion]
"Then let's test the new one," Riven said grimly.
> [Skill: Chrono Perception – Activated]
Perceiving alternate movement pathways…
Time slowed.
In that instant, Riven saw five futures. Four ended in death. One showed a narrow escape using a broken pipe as leverage.
> "That one."
He rolled, leapt off the pipe, and slammed his dagger into the creature's neck.
But it didn't die.
> [System Alert: Target Regenerating]
Riven gritted his teeth and stabbed again — this time using his Ashborn code to overload the system nodes still lingering inside the creature.
It screamed… and exploded into black mist.
---
🧬 Memory Fragment Detected
In the silence that followed, a single red crystal hovered into view.
> [Genetic Memory Fragment: Subject Zero – Acquired]
Memory: Origin of the System Core.
Installing...
Warning: Mental Strain – 64% Threshold. Proceed?
> "Yes," Riven said without hesitation.
The world around him went white.
---
🧠 FLASHBACK – UNKNOWN TIME
He stood inside a glass room. Scientists in crimson coats pointed at a glowing sphere.
> "The System Core must bind with a living subject. But we failed. None of the first 10 survived."
A woman stepped forward — face hidden, voice like thunder.
> "Then we make it forget. Reset the prototype's mind. We'll try again."
And in the center of the lab…
He saw himself. Younger. Confused. Eyes wide.
Chained. Crying. Screaming.
As they erased his memories.
---
> [System Integration Enhanced – You now control 4 base system modules.]
> New Passive Skill Unlocked:
System Override (Lv. 1):
Allows Riven to hijack other system users' abilities for 3 seconds.
Cooldown: 6 hours.
---
🔓 Optional Objective – Activate
> "Prisoner #0189: Codename Nyra"
Her cell was sealed by three magic runes and a cursed blood sigil.
Inside was a girl, barely 18, floating in stasis — silver hair, cracked mechanical arms, and eyes that briefly opened when Riven approached.
> "Who are you?" she whispered.
> "Your only chance," he replied.
> [System Response: Artificial Soul Detected – Compatibility: 81%]
Unlock her… and she might either serve you… or kill you.
> "I'll take that risk."
---
With a surge of mana, he broke the sigils.
Nyra fell to the ground coughing, eyes blazing like molten steel.
> "Riven Kael. I know your name. I was made to kill you."
> "Then you'll have to evolve," he replied coldly, offering a hand.
She looked at his hand. Then at the burning sigils.
And took it.
> [Companion Added: Nyra – Synthetic Warlock]