The chapel's crumbling walls trembled as Black Lotus enforcers surrounded the shrine. Izuku leaned against the cracked altar, his vision blurring, blood pooling beneath his legs. Edric stood shakily beside him, clutching the moonstone shard like a lifeline.
[Quest Updated: Final Stand]
[Objective: Survive Until Dawn]
[Reward: None | Risk: Death Probability 99.8%]
"Give. Him. Up." Hana's voice echoed through the shattered stained glass, her silhouette framed by torchlight. "This isn't a fight anymore, Izuku. It's a mercy."
Izuku's grip on the rusted dagger slipped. His stats flickered crimson:
[Vitality: 0.08 (Critical)]
[Pain Resistance: 0.35% (Overridden by Blood Loss)]
Edric pressed the moonstone into Izuku's hand. "Use it. Burn them all."
The stone flared, its light piercing the gloom.
[Moonstone Activation: 20% (WARNING: Host body instability)]
[Temporary Strength: +300% (Duration: 30 seconds)]
[Cost: Vitality -0.05/sec]
Izuku surged forward, a scream tearing from his throat. The dagger flashed, carving through enforcers like wheat. Bones cracked. Blood sprayed.
[Combat Log: 6 Enforcers Neutralized]
[Vitality: 0.08 → 0.03 (Critical)]
Hana retreated, her mask of calm fracturing. "You'll die for a noble?!"
Izuku collapsed to one knee, the moonstone's light guttering. "Not… for him."
The system's final offer blazed:
[Divine Pact: Bow and Live]
[Regain Full Strength Permanently | Cost: Abandon Edric]
Izuku spat blood. "Never."
[Penalty Enacted: Vitality Locked at 0.01]
Hoofbeats thundered outside. A horn blared—sharp, authoritative, noble.
"By order of House Varyn, lay down your arms!"
Hana froze. "Knights. Damn it all—retreat!"
The enforcers scattered as armored figures flooded the chapel. Izuku's vision narrowed to slits. A knight in silver plate loomed over him, her helm etched with winged serpents.
"Lord Edric," she said, kneeling. "Your father sent us."
Edric swayed, pointing at Izuku. "H-He saved me. Help him."
The knight's gaze fell on Izuku—a frail, blood-soaked slum rat. She hesitated.
"He's… with me," Edric insisted, voice fraying.
The knight nodded stiffly. "Bring the boy."
Izuku's hand tightened around the moonstone as a squire reached for him. Memory: The Tanner's Son, dragged away by slavers. "I won't bow."
"Touch me," Izuku rasped, "and lose the hand."
[Status: Hostile (Knights of House Varyn)]
[Penalty: All rewards forfeited]
The knight sighed. "Sedate him."
A needle pricked Izuku's neck. The moonstone's light died as darkness swallowed him.
To Be Continued in Chapter 14 – The Price of Nobility