The air inside the Spiral Crypt turned sharp—like every breath cut deeper than the last.
The Bound Oracle stepped forward, each movement slow, deliberate, as if time itself bowed to his presence. Behind him, the half-lit ritual circle began to spin, runes sliding like celestial gears.
"You carry her flame," he said, voice layered in echo. "But do you understand the price?"
"I watched her memory," I replied, stepping beside Lira. "And I saw what you called faith was only fear."
He tilted his head, as if disappointed.
"No flame endures without feeding on something. And now that it has chosen you, you will burn in her place."
[System Alert: Unique Encounter Initiated – Bound Oracle of the Final Seal]
Rank: Elite Echo Construct (Residual)
Attributes: Ritual Manipulation, Flamebound Resurrection, Spiral Remnants Control
Objective: Prevent Seal Break
Lira pulled the Moonkindled Ring close to her chest. It pulsed in sync with the sigil under my feet.
"I'm with you," she whispered.
I nodded. "Then let's burn the Spiral down."
The Oracle raised both hands. The runes ignited.
Six Echo Wretches tore themselves from the walls—not bodies, but living memories of tortured Spiral disciples. They screamed with voices that sounded like broken glass and grief.
The Oracle lifted his head—and began to chant.
[System Notice: Ritual Seal Initiating – Countdown: 2:00 Minutes]
Failure Condition: Seluriel's Flame Rebound
Success Condition: Disrupt or Destroy Core Node
I moved first.
[Clawing Swipe – Rank D ]
My slash shattered the first Wretch mid-lunge. It didn't bleed—only dissolved into static and memory.
[Soul Echo Triggered – Agility +1]
Lira darted past me, the Moonkindled Ring blazing bright. She stabbed one of the Wretches through the chest.
[Lunar Ward Activated – Cursed Pulse Nullified]
The Oracle snarled, raising a skeletal hand wrapped in spirals of crimson light.
[Enemy Skill Detected – Spiral Flamebind Ritual]
I recognized the casting time.
Too slow.
[Spiral Rend – Rank C ]
I hurled a blade of cutting will through the ritual formation. The lines warped—then shattered.
[Core Disruption 1/3 – Time Extended +30 Seconds]
The Oracle staggered, light bleeding from cracks in his mask. "You… are not her…"
"No," I said, stepping in close. "But I'm the echo she left behind."
He struck with flame-wrapped claws. I ducked, countered with—
[Rot Pulse – Rank C – Lv. 3]
His robe ignited with decay. The Oracle screamed—more from memory than pain.
[Corpse Absorbed – +1 STR, +2 WIL]
But the seal continued.
Its core pulsed at the back of the chamber, protected by a wall of burning memory.
I reached for the final piece.
[Devourer's Core – Rank EX]
A tendril of black flame lashed out—into the Oracle himself.
He screamed—not from agony, but recognition.
"No… not again—"
[Core Assimilation Complete – Final Seal Integrity Cracked]
The chamber trembled.
[System Notice: Spiral Seal Disrupted – 100%]
[System Objective Updated – Memory of the Bound Flame Released]
A sound like bells made of stars rang through the crypt. The walls split. The slab bearing Seluriel's name shattered—revealing beneath it not a body, but a flame. White. Silent. Infinite.
It drifted toward me.
Lira fell to her knees, weeping.
The flame touched my chest.
And I saw her.
Not just her death. Her life. Her struggle. Her loneliness.
Her vow.
"To the one who would carry my spark… do not avenge me. Free them."
[Title Acquired – Bearer of the Unbound Flame]
Passive Bonuses:
Immunity to Spiral Ritual Influence
Moonlight Affinity +3
Unique Skill Unlocked: Seluriel's Grace (Rank ???)
[LEVEL UP!]
Level: 10
HP: 155 / 155
MP: 80 / 80
Strength: 16
Agility: 10
Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 12
Willpower: 11
Charisma: 3
Luck: ???
Moonlight Affinity: 6
New Title: Bearer of the Unbound Flame
Skill Gained: Seluriel's Grace (Rank ???)
[Architect's Insight – EX Triggered]
As a result of surpassing standard growth expectations, you may select 2 new skills at this milestone.
I stood.
The Spiral Temple was no more.
Only echoes remained.
And the flame that once cried alone…
Now burned in me.