The Gravekeeper’s shoulders pulsed with dark energy as it raised its scythe high above its head, holding it like a great battle axe. Despite having a deformed back, it possessed unimaginable strength, allowing it to pull the weapon back and bring it down with such power that it cleaved through the air and unleashed a blade of dark energy.Ezra crossed his arms in front of his chest to conjure his Reflexive Armor as the arcing blade of darkness cut across the room and rushed toward him. It struck the protective barrier encasing him, releasing a burst of energy that crackled and exploded, pushing him back and slamming him into the door behind.Even though Ezra sustained a few minor burns on his arms and his back was bruised from the impact, his shield had absorbed most of the dark energy, protecting him from certain death.[Magic Power completely drained!][Current Magic Power: 0%!]Ezra felt exhausted and weak. He had expended all his magic power to fortify his shield, and the result w
Outside the eastern gate, Ezra was stopped by two mechanical sentries armed with shock batons. He was surprised to see how advanced the city was. It reminded him of Silver Springs.“Entry to the White Rose is not free. Please pay your dues,” one of the sentries drone out mechanically.“One Celestar for each person,” the other added.Ezra pulled out the coin pouch and handed the guards the whole thing. “Keep the whole thing. I am feeling generous today.”The sentries examined the coins before dumping them inside a collecting vessel attached to their backs.“Donation accepted. You are free to enter the White Rose without any toll from now on.”Ezra felt a bit awkward about acknowledging the robots, but he still thanked them with a short bow before walking past them.When he walked out of the gate and entered the White Rose subdivision, his eyes were dazzled by the granite and sandstone wonders towering before him.There were shrines dedicated to the old gods and statues of the legendary
A shrine only accessible during the freezing cold winters was something only the first civilization could have thought of. But with the necromancers aggressively conquering the human settlements and tightening their grip on Valaria, Ezra did not have the luxury of waiting that long.Retrieving the Beacon of Purity was the only way to stop the demonic forces. Ezra tried to think of a plan as he gazed at the lake. The monstrous alligator could be anywhere now, and one little slip could prove to be fatal.For a brief moment, the thought of making a run for it crossed Ezra’s mind, but when he saw one of the floating stones wobbling on the surface, it made him change his decision.Ezra realized that he could never reach the shrine safely as long as the alligator was prowling inside the lake.“I need to kill that thing first,” he said, staring at the calm surface.“Now that is a decision I can support wholeheartedly,” Marlin added.Ezra knew he only had an hour to enter the shrine, retrieve
Crossing the lake was just the beginning. Ezra realized the Goddess was not ready to accept him into her abode so easily. And to prove his faith, he needed to survive a baptism by fire.“First she tries to drown her devotees and then burn them alive,” Marlin sneered. “I have to say I am slowly starting to lose my faith in the Goddess.”“But I know she would never harm those faithful to her,” Ezra replied. “It’s time to prove my loyalty.”As Ezra approached the flaming corridor, Marlin became increasingly nervous. “Are you really planning to walk through that fire? There must be another way!”“There is no other way.” Ezra walked into the fire without giving Marlin another chance to stop him. But miraculously the golden flames blazing around him parted as he took his first few steps, allowing him to walk right through them.As Ezra kept walking toward the prayer hall, the flames rolled away, creating a narrow path for him. He followed the hallway and soon reached another door while the
With the water level inside the prayer room rising rapidly, Ezra only had a few minutes to find a way across and reach the divine relic. However, the magic arrows created an impassible barrier, and even his Reflexive Armor would not be able to survive the barrage for more than a split second.While Marlin’s cursed eye was twitching frantically and looking for a way out, Ezra’s gaze was fixed on the statue of the Goddess. Staring at the pearl-headed staff in Ishani’s hand, he snapped his fingers and pulled out his crossbow.“Do you notice something wrong with her idol?” Ezra asked Marlin. “What?” Marlin sounded perplexed. He was too overwhelmed by their current situation to notice any trivial details about the idol. “Are you seriously examining Ishani’s idol instead of trying to find a way out of this shrine?” he barked.Ezra’s lips curved into a subtle smile, and he aimed his crossbow at the idol in front. “Ishani is the answer to all our troubles.” Holding his breath, he pulled the t
A numbing coldness spread across Ezra’s body, chilling the blood in his veins. He slowly opened his eyes to a soothing white light that washed over his face like a tide.There was nothing around him except pillars of white smoke and a cloudless blue sky stretched overhead. It looked like a blank canvas devoid of life. The vast expanse of white nothingness made Ezra feel insignificant and alone. Rolling over, he struggled to get back on his feet, but his strength seemed to have deserted him.“Here, let me help you,” a sweet feminine voice called out.Ezra looked up and saw a veiled lady standing before him. She was wearing a white gown and her snowy white locks were decked with pink roses. Her supple white fingers looked so delicate that it made Ezra wonder if she was some princess from a distant land.“Who are you?” he asked, nervously clutching her hand.The lady smiled and replied, “Someone who has been watching you for years.” With that, she pulled Ezra up, helping him get back on
Ezra had already acquired the relic he was searching for, but he needed to escape the ruined city as quickly as possible. The Cursed Statues were roaming the streets like mindless ghouls, and to make matters worse a few buried ones were rising from the rubble and crawling through the debris.No place seemed safe, not even the shrines and watch towers. The statues were everywhere, and as the night darkened, they started coming out from the shadows and crowding the major intersections and squares.“Now that is what I call, 'out of the frying pan and into the fire'!” Marlin whispered as his eye scanned the ruins.Ezra knew the longer he waited, the worse it would get. It was already past sundown and there was no doubt in his mind that he would have to deal with the undead the moment he escaped the ruins.The only good thing about this situation was the time. Since the sun had disappeared from the sky and the crescent moon was hiding behind a veil of foggy gray clouds, the city was drenc
Never in his wildest dreams had Ezra imagined he would be running into his brother like this. But for Ramel, it wasn’t a chance encounter at all. He had turned every rock and interrogated every man, woman, and child to discover his brother’s whereabouts.“It is so good to see you again, my dearest brother,” Ramel said, jumping down from his Vanquisher. A lot had changed since Ramel had first tasted the sweet liquor of corruption. At that time, he was a naïve young man, looking to carve out a name for himself and rise above his peers. But now, he looked like one of Zepheroth’s most loyal servants.Ramel had discarded his silken robes for a black jacket and a furry gray cloak stained with blood. Half his face was burnt, and black veins throbbed under his eyelids.The spark of life in his eyes was long gone, and he no longer looked like a part of the living world. It was as if he had sold his soul to the Dark Lord and now only existed as a shadow of his former shelf.Ezra took a long loo