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Chapter 28 – The Black Temple's Whisper
The temple loomed like a forgotten god, half-consumed by lava and time. Its obsidian spires cut into the red sky, defiant against centuries of decay. Kael stood at its threshold, the heat pressing against his skin like a warning.
Behind him, Lys shifted uneasily. "This place doesn't want us here."
"It didn't want the others either," Kael replied, eyes fixed on the great stone door. "But they came. And they failed."
He placed a hand on the scorched sigil at the center—an ancient draconic rune so faded it could barely be seen.
The stone door rumbled and opened.
The temperature dropped instantly. Beyond was a corridor of smooth black stone, its walls carved with runes that pulsed faintly with crimson light. The silence inside felt alive.
---
They entered carefully. The floor was lined with old offerings—melted weapons, cracked crystals, burnt bones. Kael's footsteps echoed like memories.
> Gracebound System Update
Location: Emberwind Sanctum – The Last Trial
Warning: This trial is unique to draconic inheritance candidates.
Grace Point rewards are doubled.
Death is permanent.
Lys gave him a side glance. "That warning wasn't there last time."
Kael nodded. "Because this time, it's meant for us."
---
At the end of the corridor, the room widened into a great chamber—circular, with five tall pillars spaced evenly in a ring. A throne of molten metal stood in the center, empty.
Kael stepped toward it—
And the shadows moved.
A figure emerged. Not human, not entirely beast. Its form flickered between dragon and man, cloaked in broken scale armor and dripping with dark flame. One eye burned white, the other black.
> Gracebound System Alert
Trial Guardian Detected
Name: Ashthane, Warden of Legacy
Class: Draconic Sentinel (Corrupted)
Combat Level: Peak Foundation Tier
Behavior: Unstable – Will test all who approach the throne
Victory Reward: Legacy Core Fragment + Random Tier-A Reward
Ashthane spoke without lips. Its voice echoed directly into their minds.
"Another seeks what was lost. Another dares to remember."
Kael drew his blade. "I'm not here to ask. I'm here to take it back."
Ashthane growled, the sound splitting the air.
"Then remember this, child of fire."
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[Memory Fragment: Echo V]
Kael lay on the ground, breath ragged.
Vireya knelt beside him, pressing a hand to his chest. "Don't move," she whispered. "You're dying."
"I thought I could handle it," Kael rasped. "The dragonfire…"
She leaned closer, brow furrowed with pain. "Stop trying to master it."
He looked up at her, confused.
Vireya's voice softened. "Let it become you, Kael. The legacy doesn't respond to control. It responds to truth. Your truth."
And in that moment, her eyes glowed not gold—but crimson.
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> Optional Memory Recovered: Truth in Flame
+25 Grace Points
Total GP: 425
Resonance Level: 3/10
---
Kael surged forward just in time to block Ashthane's massive claw. The clash shook the temple, sending cracks spidering along the ground.
Lys struck from the side, slashing across the creature's ribs, but its flame healed the wound instantly. It countered with a pulse of dark energy that knocked her back into a pillar.
"Not enough," Kael muttered.
He flipped back, scanning the environment. Then, he focused.
> Gracebound Arsenal Access – Combat Aid Available
Current GP: 425
He quickly pulled up the arsenal list:
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[Gracebound Arsenal – Available Options]
Powerups
Draconic Pulse (Temporary 2x Strength & Speed for 30 sec) – 120 GP
Fireborn Heart (Resist all fire damage for 3 min) – 150 GP
Focus Surge (Massively enhance reaction speed for 10 sec) – 90 GP
Weapons
Infernal Fang (Shortsword that cleaves spiritual energy) – 180 GP
Ashglaive (Polearm with explosive sweep attacks) – 200 GP
Twin Flame Arrows (Ranged weapon, 20 fire-charged arrows) – 100 GP
Pills
Vital Ember Pill (Instant heal + stamina regen over 30 sec) – 80 GP
Wyrm Sight Pill (See enemy weaknesses for 60 sec) – 90 GP
Flame Veil Pill (Temporary invisibility in fire environments) – 110 GP
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> Choose one or more. Remaining GP: 425
Kael's eyes flicked across the options. His breathing slowed.
He didn't choose immediately.
Lys was regaining her footing. The creature loomed, flame building again in its maw. One wrong decision would end them both.
Kael clenched his fists. Power, healing, vision, speed… Every choice had a cost.
He remembered Vireya's voice: "Let it become you."
And he focused.
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