Chapter 84: Grave of the Fallen Prince
The morning sun crested behind veils of silver mist, bathing the shattered woods in a ghostly glow. Kael's party, now gathered beyond the forest edge, resumed their journey toward the site marked in Nysera's quest—the place she had not dared return to for over a hundred years.
No one spoke much. The silence wasn't from fear, but reverence. Emberfang padded beside Kael, his form more imposing after the previous battle, his stride full of purpose. Nysera walked slightly ahead, gaze fixed to the horizon, every step weighted with memory.
They passed twisted trees, petrified by time, and fragments of ruined towers once held high by a forgotten elven kingdom. By midday, they reached a deep ridge wrapped in thorns and silence. At its heart lay a sunken field, blackened by magic and fire.
[Location Discovered: Ruins of Black Hollow]
[Quest Objective: Locate the Grave of Serenthiel Var — 3 Days Remaining]
Kael scanned the surroundings.
[No visible threats detected. Corruption: Stable. Soul Echoes Detected — Moderate.]
Nysera stopped before a jagged stone obelisk rising from cracked soil. She knelt slowly and brushed away centuries of dirt, revealing faded Elvarin script beneath:
Here lies Serenthiel Var — Protector of the Bound Flame. Betrayed not in battle, but by kin.
Her voice trembled. "I never thought I'd return here. I buried him myself."
Kael lowered his head in respect. "And now he will rise through your will."
A pulse of dark red light surged from the grave. The ground vibrated. The air turned heavy.
[Hidden Trigger Activated — Bloodline Resonance]
[Special Phase Unlocked: Echoes of Serenthiel]
A ghostly figure emerged from the grave—a tall elf with flowing silver hair, armor cracked and scorched. Serenthiel.
His voice echoed within their minds:
"To the one who survived me… I am sorry. I failed to stop them. But within the Hollow Flame lies the truth. Find my sigil. Awaken the Bound Curse."
His form dissolved into embers and vanished.
[New Quest Phase: Awaken the Bound Curse]
Objective: Enter the Hollow Flame Cavern and retrieve Serenthiel's Sigil. Time Remaining: 72 hours.
A rumble tore through the ridge. Soil collapsed as an obsidian staircase unfurled downward, glowing faintly with crimson runes.
Valeria stepped back. "That's not a cavern. It's a prison."
Kael looked toward Nysera, who clenched her fists, her breath sharp.
"This is what they wanted buried," she whispered. "But I won't let his truth rot in darkness."
Kael nodded once. "We move in by nightfall."
[EXP Gained: +4,000,000,000 — Quest Discovery + Resonance Bonus]
[Previous EXP: 49,822,850,000]
[Current EXP: 53,822,850,000 / 58,982,400,000]
STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN
System Level: 46
EXP: 56,022,850,000 / 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: 263,480,000 / 100,000,000,000
Sin Tier: Warlord Rank
SKILL WINDOW
Active Sin Skills:
• Sovereign Flame Crush [+]
• Wrathflare Lance [+]
• Flamebind Chains [+]
• Infernal Domain [+]
Passive Traits:
• Crown of Dominion [+]
• Sovereign Union [+]
• Nullfire Core [+]
Bloodline / Physique Traits:
• Carnal Sovereign Core [+]
• Sin Catalyst Matrix [+]
[Skill Upgrade Available — Spend Sin Points to enhance or evolve active/passive/bloodline skills]
[Bonded Partner Skills Eligible for Sin Point Upgrade]
Bonded Wives:
Selene — Skyshatter 9/9 (Moon/Shadow)
Evelyne — Moonglade 8/9 (Ice/Lunar Flame)
Thalaria — Sunbound 6/9 (Lightning)
Nysera — Skyshatter 1/9 (Blood/Curse)
Valeria — Skyshatter 3/9 (Nature/Wind)
Pet Panel:
Emberfang — Infernal Flamebeast Cub (Tier 5)
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 85 — Into the Hollow Flame