Chapter 88: Whispers from the Depths
The Hollow Flame Vault now stood silent—its guardian gone, Serenthiel's memory left echoing in the hearts of those who bore witness. Yet, in that stillness, something ancient stirred.
Kael stood at the edge of a newly revealed passageway. The sigil Serenthiel left behind had embedded itself into the altar's core and now projected a circular seal—one humming with life.
[Quest Chain Updated: Inheritance of the Paragon Flame — Phase II: Ember of Depths Activated]
Behind Kael, the ground was still scorched from the awakening of his wives' mythic forms. The atmosphere shimmered with latent divinity. Each of them stood changed—no longer just peerless beauties, but now living goddesses.
Selene, the Mythic Eclipse Matron, radiated dark serenity. Her calm aura belied the deadly power that now churned behind her silver gaze. Her tribulation loomed close—every breath she took sang of rising thunder.
Evelyne, reborn as the Starlit Ember Empress, was a harmony of flame and frost, and her mere presence altered the ambient temperature of the realm.
Thalaria, the Stormheart Valkyrie, had not stopped crackling since her transformation. Her body coursed with layered lightning essence, her 11-tier advancement pushing her dangerously close to the next realm.
Nysera, the Scarlet Hexmistress, stood silently, her red eyes focused. Her aura was both a caress and a threat, like a thorned rose poised to bleed gods.
Valeria, now the Verdant Windborne Queen, held her staff gently—but her every motion carried the weight of nature's will.
Kael turned to face them. "The next path lies downward. Deeper into the roots of this world."
They nodded.
The descent began.
The stairway spiraled like an umbilical cord into the dark womb of the earth. Strange whispers tickled their minds—unformed words, thoughts borrowed from something beneath.
At the base, a wide chamber opened. Ruins of a city lay before them, submerged partially in thick crimson fog. Symbols etched on walls depicted flame-worship and sacrifice. Massive skeletons lined the periphery—ancient beasts who had once bowed to flame-born masters.
[Location Discovered: Sunken Sanctum of the Cindered Choir]
[Passive Threat Detected — Mindwear Aura: Partial Illusion Field]
[Skill Check Auto-Resolved: Illusion Resisted — Sovereign Mind active]
Kael's eyes flashed. "Stay close. The fog's alive."
As they stepped forward, ghostly figures appeared. Priests. Children. Warriors. All illusions. All echoes. But one figure lingered longer than the rest—a woman wrapped in tattered priestess robes, bound in luminous chains.
She opened her eyes.
Kael tilted his head. "You've been watching us."
Aelisa licked her lips with a smirk. "I'll admit, it was an entertaining night."
Kael's smirk faltered for the first time in a long while.
Evelyne raised a brow. "Who is she?"
[Quest Added: Tame the Watching Flame — Optional Outcome: Trait Reward — All-Seeing Omen]
Kael looked back once more.
"I don't know yet. But something tells me… we'll be seeing a lot more of her."
STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN
System Level: 47
EXP: 59,822,850,000 / 58,982,400,000 (Cap — Heavenly Tribulation Required)
Realm: Skyshatter Realm — Tier 9/9 (MAX)
HP: 83,400 / 83,400
Mana: 94,300 / 94,300
Stats (with buffs):
Strength: 890 × 2.6 × 2 = 4,628
Endurance: 850 × 2.6 = 2,210
Willpower: 870 × 2.6 = 2,262
Charm: 940 × 2.6 = 2,444
Intellect: 770 × 2.6 = 2,002
Dexterity: 870 × 2.6 × 2 = 4,524
Sin Points: 173,480,000 / 100,000,000,000
Sin Tier: Warlord Rank
SKILL WINDOW
Active Sin Skills:
• Sovereign Flame Crush [+Max]
• Wrathflare Lance [+Max]
• Flamebind Chains [+Max]
• Infernal Domain [+Max]
Passive Traits:
• Crown of Dominion [+Enhanced]
• Sovereign Union [+Enhanced]
• Nullfire Core [+Enhanced]
• Phoenix Mantle [+New]
Bloodline / Physique Traits:
• Carnal Sovereign Core [+Enhanced]
• Sin Catalyst Matrix [+Enhanced]
Bonded Wives (Mythic Bloodlines/Physiques Active):
Selene — Skyshatter 9/9 (Mythic Eclipse Matron) — Requires Tribulation
Evelyne — Skyshatter 9/9 (Starlit Ember Empress)
Thalaria — Skyshatter 8/9 (Stormheart Valkyrie — Advanced 11 tiers)
Nysera — Skyshatter 9/9 (Scarlet Hexmistress)
Valeria — Skyshatter 8/9 (Verdant Windborne Queen)
Cultivation Realms:
Initiate → Essence Drawn → Veinwoven → Soulroot → Starforged → Sunbound → Moonglade → Skyshatter (MAX) → Worldpiercer → Heaven's Echo → Celestiaflame → Worldbreaker → Eternal Crown
Next: Worldpiercer (Requires Heavenly Tribulation)
Pet Panel:
Emberfang — Infernal Flamebeast Cub (Tier 5)
Vira — Sky Serpent Hatchling (Tier 2)
Next: Chapter 89 — The Chain That Tempts