Chapter 78: Cursed Roots
They entered the blight at dawn.
Kael's boots cracked through a crust of grey moss as the sunlight dimmed unnaturally overhead. The sky above the cursed forest was a wash of green-tinted clouds, and the air smelled faintly of iron and old blood.
The world whispered here.
Twisted trees leaned inward unnaturally, their bark carved with runes older than any known script. Each breath Kael took felt… challenged. As if something in the forest wanted to reject his presence.
Nysera walked ahead, her veil fluttering in the stagnant wind, a soft crimson glow beneath her steps. Her blood affinity pulsed faintly—resonating.
"We're close," she whispered. "This soil remembers what happened."
Selene scanned the woods, her fingers resting lightly on the hilt of her dagger. "It's more than memory. This forest is still alive."
"It's cursed," Thalaria muttered, lightning flickering along her knuckles.
"Not cursed," Evelyne corrected, her voice steady. "Bound."
Kael held up a hand.
[System Alert: Hidden Zone Discovered — Wraithbound Grove]
Environmental Modifier Active: Spirit Suppression (−15% Mana Regen)
Unknown Presence Detected…
Vira curled tighter around his shoulder, her serpentine body tense.
Valeria stepped beside him, hand extended to touch the bark of a tree. It recoiled. "These trees are feeding on something. Rage. Sorrow."
Kael frowned. "Nysera. What happened here?"
She looked back slowly. "This is where I was supposed to die."
Silence followed.
"Ritual sacrifice," she continued. "When I refused the High Priest's demands, they sent me here, bound in blood chains. They hoped the roots would drain me—offer me to their god of decay."
Kael's fists clenched.
Evelyne reached for his arm. "Don't let it consume you."
Kael closed his eyes. Then breathed. "We cleanse it."
[Main Quest Updated: Threads of Betrayal — Stage 3: Cleanse the Grove]
Objectives:
— Locate the Heart of the Wraithbound Grove
— Destroy the Bloodbound Roots (0/5)
— Face the Guardian
Roots shifted underfoot.
The forest began to awaken.
First battle came suddenly. A shriek erupted from the canopy—followed by a diving creature cloaked in rotting leaves and bone.
[Entity Identified: Wraithbound Fiend — Tier 5]
HP: 12,400
Status Effect: Cursed Claws (Applies stacking Bleed)
Weakness: Holy or Cleansing Flame
Kael met it mid-air with a burst of flame, his Nullfire igniting the beast's shoulder. It screamed and twisted, trying to swipe at his eyes, but Kael ducked low, grabbed the arm—and ripped.
[Sin Skill: Sovereign Flame Crush — Critical Hit]
Ash exploded into the trees.
Selene covered their flank, slashing through two more as Thalaria blinked into position above.
"Lightning Drop!"
The forest howled in answer, and dozens of eyes lit up through the dark.
Kael turned his head slightly.
"Let them come."
[Wave Initiated — Phase 1: Wraithbound Kin (Estimated Entities: 37)]
STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN
System Level: 46
EXP: 49,802,000,000 / 58,982,400,000
Realm: Skyshatter Realm — Tier 9/9
HP: 75,800 / 75,800
Mana: 86,200 / 86,200
Stats (with buffs):
Strength: 870 × 2.4 × 2 = 4,176
Endurance: 820 × 2.4 = 1,968
Willpower: 845 × 2.4 = 2,028
Charm: 912 × 2.4 = 2,188
Intellect: 750 × 2.4 = 1,800
Dexterity: 850 × 2.4 × 2 = 4,080
Sin Points: 263,160,000 / 100,000,000,000
Sin Tier: Warlord Rank
Trait: Nullfire Core — Passive
➤ Grants 10% resistance to nullification effects
➤ Adds Null-element to all flame-based Sin skills
Bonded Wives:
Selene — Skyshatter 9/9 (Moon/Shadow)
Evelyne — Moonglade 8/9 (Ice/Lunar Flame)
Thalaria — Sunbound 3/9 (Lightning)
Nysera — Skyshatter 1/9 (Blood/Curse)
Valeria — Skyshatter 3/9 (Nature/Wind)
Pet Panel:
Emberfang — Flame Tiger Cub (Tier 4) — Lineage Awakened: Celestial Tiger (Progress: 27%)
Vira — Sky Serpent Hatchling (Tier 2)
Cultivation Realms:
Initiate → Essence Drawn → Veinwoven → Soulroot → Starforged → Sunbound → Moonglade → Skyshatter ← Current (9/9)
Next: Worldpiercer (Unlocks at System Level 47)
Heaven's Echo → Celestiaflame → Worldbreaker → Eternal Crown → Primordial Ascendant
Origin Flame (Locked)
Next: Chapter 79 — The Heart That Should Not Beat