NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32: Vielstrider
The heavy air of the ruins was suffused with tension. Flickering torchlight illuminated the crumbling stone walls, casting long shadows over the piled bodies at the center of the chamber. The sickly-sweet fragrance of floral fog lingered, a remnant of the trap that had incapacitated the Borough personnel.
Among the pile, Awakened Colero and his men lay motionless, their unconscious forms indistinguishable from the lifeless bodies surrounding them.
At the center of it all stood Niro, the Amulet of Fate clutched tightly in his hand. Beside him, his Ascended ally, Hughe, stood silently, his presence commanding despite the ominous stillness of the chamber. Around them, the remaining cultists stirred, their low chants growing louder as the ritual began.
"Burn the bodies!" Niro's voice rang out, sharp and commanding, spurring the cultists into action.
But just as the first torch was raised, a booming voice cut through the chamber.
"Stop right there, Niro!"
Awakened Zion stepped into the light, flanked by the Borough personnel. His presence was commanding, his sharp gaze locking onto Niro. Behind him, Lee trailed cautiously, gripping Eclipse tightly in both hands.
Niro turned, his expression twisting into a sneer. "Ah, Awakened Zion," he drawled.
"Here to save the day, are we?"
Zion ignored the taunt, his eyes scanning the room. He noticed Colero among the pile of bodies, his jaw tightening in frustration.
"Your crimes end here," he said firmly, drawing his Transcendent Echo—a gleaming humanoid figure stood tall along with its tendrils on its back, its edge glowing faintly.
Lee's grip on Eclipse tightened as Zion summoned his Transcendent Echo, radiating authority. The Borough personnel spread out, surrounding the cultists and blocking any possible escape routes.
"Big words," Niro said with a chuckle, the amulet in his hand glowing faintly. "But you're too late. The ceremony is already underway."
Lee glanced nervously at the cultists, who now glared at the intruders with growing hostility. The chants had stopped, replaced by murmurs and the faint sound of shuffling feet.
"We'll see about that," Zion said. He raised his blade, the faint hum of his Echo filling the air. "Take them down!"
The room exploded into chaos. The Borough personnel clashed with the cultists, swords and spells meeting in a cacophony of metal and energy. Zion charged forward, his movements swift and precise as he engaged Hughe, their blades colliding in a brilliant display of skill and power.
Hughe has the upper hand in terms of skills and abilities, however, the Transcendent Echo along with Awakened Zion made the fighting chance on equal terms.
"You are quite lucky to have a powerful Echo such as that." Hughe said mockingly,
"Perks for working with the Borough Official." The Awakened said as he and his Echo engaged in barrage of attack towards the Ascended.
Lee hesitated at the edge of the fray, his heart pounding in his chest. The cultists were too many, their weapons gleaming dangerously in the torchlight. He wasn't a fighter—at least, not yet. But he couldn't just stand by.
Spotting a smaller group of cultists attempting to flank the Borough personnel, Lee gritted his teeth and stepped forward.
Eclipse felt heavy in his hands as he swung it in a wide arc, forcing the nearest cultist back.
The blade's enchantment allowed it to cut cleanly through their weapons, but his strikes lacked the precision and confidence of a seasoned warrior.
"Just hold them off," Lee muttered to himself, dodging a clumsy swing. "Buy them time."
At the center of the chaos, Niro raised the amulet high, its glow intensifying. "Enough!" he roared, his voice echoing across the chamber.
The cultists fell back, forming a protective ring around their leader as the amulet's crimson light bathed the room. Hughe activated his Aspect Ability—the floral fragrance thickened, seeping into every corner of the ruins.
Awakened Zion clicked his tongue, covering his nose as he leaped back from Hughe's blade.
The Borough personnel weren't as fortunate. One by one, they crumpled to the ground, their bodies limp as the fog overwhelmed them.
Lee stumbled, his vision swimming as the scent reached him. "No… not now," he gasped, dropping to one knee.
Zion glared at Niro, his grip on his blade tightening. "You think this will stop me?"
He commanded his Transcended Echo to charge forward engaging with the Ascended in battle once more while he recuperates himself at the sidelines.
But for his unfortunate plan, the Ascended has finally grasped the Echo's movements, overpowering it then finishing it off with a powerful swing, slaying the powerful Echo in the process.
Niro smirked. "Good job, Hughe," he said then looked the disdained Awakened.
"No… The Transcendent Echo." His body limped forward as his shock still lingered. He smacked the ground in defeat, kneeling.
"This isn't over yet…"
Niro grinned. "This isn't for you, Zion. It's for them." He gestured to the unconscious figures strewn across the room. "You've already lost."
Hughe stepped forward, his blade raised. "Shall I finish him off, Niro?"
"No," Niro said, lowering the amulet. "Let's finish the ceremony."
But before he could give the command, a weak but determined voice broke through.
"Niro… stop."
The cult leader turned, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Lee struggling to his feet, Eclipse still in hand.
"Mason?" Niro's voice faltered, his expression flickering with confusion.
Lee took a shaky step forward, his breathing ragged. "You don't have to do this."
Niro's confusion turned to anger. "Stop? After everything they've done to us? No, Mason. I'll fix this world, no matter the cost."
Before Niro could react, Zion surged forward, his sword glowing brightly. With a powerful swing, he struck Hughe's blade aside and drove his own sword towards Hughe, piercing him through his abdomen.
With Hughe's last attempts, he grabbed Zion on his throat, mustering all the strength he had left—smashing him on the ground.
Zion lying unconscious on the ground, Lee trembled, his legs shaking in fear, paralyzed on the spot.
'H-how can I defeat him, he killed an Awakened even though he's way too injured.'
Hughe picked up his sword from the ground, he dragged it along with him, the sword still pierced through his abdomen, his blood still flowing from it.
Every step he groans in pain. He's gaze fixed on the Awakened, full of resentment.
He raised his sword below Zion, piercing him on his nape, killing the Borough Official on the spot.
Lee froze, his mind racing. Blood pooled around Zion's lifeless body, and Hughe stood above him, his face twisted in pain and anger. The floral fragrance still hung thick in the air, making it hard to think, hard to breathe.
'He killed Awakened Zion… and now it's just me.'
Niro turned, his smirk widening as he met Lee's terrified gaze. "You don't stand a chance, Mason. Not against Hughe. You can't even hold that sword properly."
However, as the air grew heavier as Hughe collapsed to his knees, blood pooling beneath him.
Niro's expression twisted with frustration, but his grip on the Amulet of Fate remained firm, its glow intensifying with each passing second.
Lee steadied himself, barely managing to stand. His knuckles turned white as he gripped Eclipse. Fear threatened to paralyze him, but he forced himself to focus.
'Think, Lee. You're not stronger than them, but there has to be a way out of this.'
The thought burned in his mind as Lee frantically searched for options. Then it struck him. The floral fragrance of the fog—it had to be related to a plant-based poison.
Without hesitation, he summoned Arbora Mind, the enchanted glasses materializing in his hand. Slipping them on, he felt a faint hum as the lenses activated, and the world shifted subtly.
Annotations appeared in his field of vision, analyzing the residual traces of the floral fog.
….
Floral Fog Analysis:
Composition: Nathalia Bloom
Properties: Rare, toxic plant capable of inducing unconsciousness.
Warning: The pollen reacts violently to fire.
….
'Fire… That's it!'
A spark of hope ignited in Lee's chest. He quickly reached into his bag and retrieved a small pouch of leftover matches—one of the few survival tools he had managed to pack.
His eyes darted to Niro, who was consumed with stabilizing the collapsing ritual. The cult leader's chants grew louder, more desperate, as cracks began forming in the sigils.
'This has to work,' Lee thought, fumbling with a match.
Behind him, a groan broke through the chaos. Hughe stirred, still bleeding but managing to stand. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Lee, seething with rage.
"You're dead," Hughe spat, dragging his blade across the ground as he limped toward him.
Lee froze but forced his trembling hands to stay steady. He struck the match, the tiny flame flickering unsteadily in the heavy air.
"You know," Lee began, stalling for time, "I thought you were the one who created this fog since it came out of your hands. But…"
He adjusted his glasses slightly, the glow from Arbora Mind catching the edge of Hughe's blade. "Upon closer observation, I realized your Aspect Ability revolves around plants. So that's why I plan to use this."
Hughe's eyes narrowed, his steps slowing.
"What are you—"
Before he could finish, Lee tossed the match toward a cluster of Nathalia Bloom vines creeping along the walls.
The reaction was immediate. The vines ignited, and a chain reaction rippled through the chamber. Sparks and flames consumed the toxic pollen, creating a burst of acrid smoke that spread toward the altar and sigils.
The remaining cultists screamed in panic, stumbling over each other in their frantic attempts to flee the spreading fire. Hughe staggered, coughing violently as the smoke filled his lungs.
Lee didn't hesitate. He gripped Eclipse and ran, his footsteps barely audible in the chaos. The Ascended was disoriented and weakened, his movements sluggish as he tried to recover.
With one precise swing, Lee plunged the blade into Hughe's chest, driving it through with all the strength he could muster.
[You have slain Ascended Human, Hughe.]
Lee pulled the blade free, his arms trembling as the body crumpled to the ground.
Niro spun around, his face a mask of fury and panic. "What have you done?!" he roared, clutching the Amulet of Fate as its glow began to flicker.
Lee steadied himself, glaring at Niro. "Stopping you."
The cult leader raised the amulet high, its crimson light flaring in a last, desperate attempt to stabilize the ritual. But the fire had already spread to the sigils, and the unstable energy coursing through them was collapsing.
"No!" Niro screamed, trying to channel the amulet's power.
Lee saw his chance. Summoning the last of his strength, he charged forward and swung Eclipse. The blade struck true, severing the amulet's chain and sending it clattering to the ground.
The crimson light vanished, and the sigils burned out completely, plunging the ruins into darkness.
As the smoke cleared, Lee stood over Niro, who knelt amidst the wreckage. The once-commanding cult leader now looked broken, his shoulders slumped, his hands trembling as he clutched at the shattered remains of the amulet.
"You… you ruined everything," Niro whispered, his voice hollow.
Lee pointed Eclipse at him, the blade's edge gleaming faintly in the dim firelight. "It's over, Niro. No more excuses."
Behind him, the surviving Borough personnel began to stir, groaning as they regained consciousness. Awakened Zion's body remained still, his sacrifice unspoken but deeply felt.
Niro looked up, his eyes full of hatred. "You think you've won?"
Lee didn't respond.
He lowered the blade and turned away as the Borough officers moved in to restrain the defeated cult leader.
As Lee stepped outside, the faint light of dawn crept over the horizon. The heavy weight of the Nightmare Spell began to lift, but the scars it left behind were impossible to ignore.
Lee tapped his chest, exhaling shakily. "Thank God. I'm finally done."
Rune's Messages Appeared.
[You have spared Dormant Human, Niro.]
[You have slain your targets.]
[You have disrupted the Daemon Cult's ceremony.]
[Wake up, Lee Wang! Your Nightmare is over.]
[You have received a Memory, Veil of Horizon.]
[Prepare for Appraisal.]
Lee stared at the glowing hologram, his expression tired but contemplative.
"It's finally all over… and I finally get my powers." He paused, frowning as a gnawing unease settled in his chest. "But why do I feel… frustrated?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe it's because I didn't win like I expected it to be?"
The rune's messages Continued:
[Aspirant! Your Trial is over.]
[A scholar lost amidst chaos ventured into the depths of destruction, confronting insurmountable odds to uncover truths and dismantle the corruption threatening his world.]
[You have outsmarted your adversaries and dismantled the ritual.]
[Your performance is commendable.]
[Final appraisal: Your resourcefulness and determination are exceptional.]
[Dreamer Lee Wang, receive your boon!]
[You have been bestowed a True Name: Vielstrider.]
"Vielstrider?" Lee muttered, squinting at the screen.
"What's that supposed to mean? Sounds like something from a fantasy MMO…" He scratched his head, muttering under his breath, "Guess it fits?"
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
Lee tilted his head, unsure what to make of it. "Uh… okay?" he answered cautiously.
'Will didn't mention this. Did he forget, or was this just something I wasn't supposed to know about yet?'
[Feeble Scholar is evolving…]
[New Aspect acquired.]
Aspect: [Knowledge Keeper]
Aspect Rank: [Supreme]
Aspect Description: You are the guardian of wisdom with near-perfect recall, creating masterpieces that preserve and share knowledge.
Aspect Ability: [Tinker's Insight] Your mind grants you an intuitive understanding of how things work, enabling you to identify flaws and improve them.
….
Lee froze, reading the details carefully. His brow furrowed as he processed the information.
"Supreme rank?! Isn't that way too high?! Will said there's barely Supreme Rank Aspects in this world!"
Then a flicker of thought emerged.
"Wait, since it's a Supreme Rank Aspect, then the Flaw must be really bad."
….
Flaw: [Mental Capacity] Flaw Description: [The sheer volume of information overwhelms you, causing difficulty in distinguishing relevant details in critical moments. Prolonged use of your abilities may lead to debilitating mental fatigue, episodes of memory fragmentation, or even cognitive shutdown.]
….
"Memory fragmentation? Cognitive shutdown? Mental fatigue?" He groaned, pressing a hand to his temple. "You know what they say—with great power comes with a great cause, well it should be responsibilities but it doesn't relate with my situation."
Lee sighed. "Why would anything in this world come easy?"
Lee leaned back against the stone wall, staring up at the sky. The dawn light was getting brighter, but the weight of what he had just gained—and lost—kept him grounded.
'Tinker's Insight… sounds useful. If I can figure out how to control it, maybe it won't be so bad.'
Still, the flaw gnawed at him. The idea of his own mind betraying him at a critical moment sent a chill down his spine.
"There isn't much for me to complain, I just have to accept it." he muttered. "It's not like I have a choice anyway. I'll figure it out, or ask for Will's advice."
'Supreme Aspect or not, I still have a long way to go.'
[Wake up, Vielstrider!]