Leo stood at the edge of the canyon, gazing down at the Ruins of Eldros—a sprawling labyrinth of ancient stone buildings, half-buried beneath centuries of overgrowth. The moonlight bathed the ruins in a pale glow, revealing broken archways, shattered statues, and strange glyphs carved into the walls.
The air felt thick with magic, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
"These ruins are ancient… far older than Astrid or even the great empires of this world," Zeraldris spoke within his mind. "Something powerful sleeps here."
Leo exhaled, gripping the reins of his warhorse. He had ridden hard to get here, and now that he had arrived, he needed to proceed carefully.
He dismounted, gently patting the warhorse's side. "Wait here. If I don't return by morning, find your way back to Astrid."
The warhorse snorted, as if understanding.
Leo then turned toward the ruins and took his first step forward.
[System Notification]
You have entered the Ruins of Eldros.
A powerful presence lingers in the air… Something is watching.
Leo's muscles tensed. He immediately activated Arcane Sovereign's Authority, letting his magic pulse outward in a soft, invisible wave. If anything was hiding in the ruins, it would feel his presence just as he felt theirs.
A low whisper drifted through the air, carried by the wind.
Leo stopped. His golden eyes scanned the darkness, but he saw nothing.
"Did I imagine that?"
But then—
A system message appeared.
[New Quest: The Forgotten Guardian]
Description: "Long ago, the Ruins of Eldros were protected by an ancient guardian. Those who sought the Celestial Archives had to prove their worth before being granted passage. Survive the Guardian's trial and earn the right to continue your journey."
Objective:
Defeat the Sentinel of Eldros (??? Tier)
Rewards: ???
Leo read the quest description twice. "A guardian, huh?"
Zeraldris hummed in thought. "Be prepared. This 'Sentinel' has likely been dormant for centuries, but if it still functions, it will not be an easy opponent."
Leo drew his sword, letting his Arcane Blade Mastery enhance its edge. His MP pulsed at 175,000, and he was at full HP—ready for anything.
He took another step forward—
BOOM.
The ground trembled violently beneath his feet.
Leo jumped back, narrowly avoiding a massive stone fist that erupted from the ground.
From the darkness of the ruins, a towering figure emerged—a colossal golem of black stone and glowing blue veins, its form cracked but still imposing.
Two piercing blue eyes ignited within its stone-carved face.
"INTRUDER."
Its voice shook the air like thunder, ancient and unwavering.
Leo gritted his teeth. "Looks like I found the Guardian."
[Boss Battle: Sentinel of Eldros]
Name: Sentinel of Eldros
Level: ???
HP: 500,000
Magic Resistance: High
Physical Defense: Extremely High
Leo clicked his tongue. 500,000 HP? That's insane.
The golem raised its fist again, preparing to strike.
Leo reacted instantly.
[Skill Activated: Spatial Blink]
WHOOSH!
He vanished, reappearing above the golem's arm, sword flashing with Arcane power.
[Skill Activated: Arcane Blade Mastery]
His sword slashed downward, aiming for the Sentinel's glowing blue veins—the weakest points.
SLASH!
A powerful shockwave erupted from the impact, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the golem's arm.
[Damage Dealt: -35,000 HP]
Leo's eyes widened. That actually worked!
But before he could strike again—
The golem's massive other hand swung at him.
BOOM!
The force of the attack sent Leo flying, crashing through an ancient wall and slamming into the ground.
[HP Reduced: -12,500]
Leo groaned, pushing himself up. "That thing hits like a truck…"
Zeraldris spoke urgently. "Its core is within its chest. You must break through its armor and destroy it before it regenerates."
Leo gritted his teeth, gripping his sword.
"Then I better finish this fast."
The Sentinel of Eldros charged forward, its massive stone body moving faster than something its size should.
Leo narrowed his eyes, calculating his next move.
Then—
He ran forward to meet it.
With the golem's fist descending, Leo waited until the last second before—
[Skill Activated: Arcane Sovereign's Authority]
A shockwave of magic exploded from Leo, slowing the golem's movements just enough.
WHOOSH!
Leo leaped into the air, flipping over the Guardian's attack.
He raised his sword high, channeling his most powerful attack yet.
[New Skill Activated: Arcane Judgement Slash]
A colossal arc of magical energy erupted from his sword, tearing through the night sky and slamming directly into the golem's chest.
BOOOOOOM!
The Sentinel staggered back, a gaping wound now in its chest—its core fully exposed.
Leo didn't hesitate.
[Final Attack: Arcane Blade Execution]
He lunged forward, his sword glowing with blinding light.
With a single, devastating strike—
He pierced the Sentinel's core.
The golem trembled, its blue veins flickering—then, with a final, shuddering groan, its massive body collapsed into dust.
[Boss Defeated: Sentinel of Eldros]
XP Gained: +320,000
Gold Acquired: +50,000
Special Item Obtained: Eldros Key Fragment (1/3)
Leo exhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling. "That… was tough."
Zeraldris chuckled. "You handled it well. But this is only the beginning."
Leo wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the Eldros Key Fragment in his hand.
"One down. Two more to go."
He turned toward the ruins ahead, knowing that his journey had only just begun.
Next stop: The Celestial Archives.
Nyxaris examined the Eldros Key Fragment in his hand. The small, intricately carved stone pulsed with an ethereal blue glow, faint but filled with a deep, ancient energy. Though only a fragment, it carried a weight of significance, as if it had witnessed eras long forgotten.
Deep within his mind, Zeraldris stirred.
"This artifact holds traces of a power long lost… something that predates even the ruins themselves."
Nyxaris turned the fragment over between his fingers before slipping it into his inventory. "Then I need to find the rest."
[Quest Updated: The Forgotten Guardian]
Objective Progress:
Defeat the Sentinel of Eldros (✔️ Completed)
Collect all three Eldros Key Fragments (1/3 obtained)
He cast his gaze deeper into the ruined corridors ahead, knowing that two more fragments awaited somewhere in the darkness.
With his HP still recovering from the battle against the Sentinel, he activated Mana Regeneration (High Tier), feeling his MP replenish at an accelerated rate.
Current Stats:
HP: 48,500 (Fully Recovered)
MP: 175,000 (Fully Recovered)
Taking a steadying breath, Nyxaris stepped forward, ready for whatever awaited him.
As Nyxaris ventured deeper, the air grew heavy and cold. A strange silence hung over the ruins, pressing against his senses. The soft glow of the moonlight outside was swallowed by an unnatural darkness, making it nearly impossible to see.
Then, the system notification appeared.
[Warning: Domain of the Forgotten Wraiths]
You have entered the resting ground of fallen warriors. The spirits that perished here seek vengeance. Only the worthy shall pass.
Nyxaris instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword, Arcane energy pulsing around him.
A chilling wind swept through the ruins, and suddenly—
The darkness shifted.
From the shadows of broken archways and shattered pillars, phantom-like figures emerged, cloaked in a dense mist of cursed energy. Their hollow eyes burned with hatred, and each one wielded spectral weapons flickering with an eerie glow.
A deep, ancient voice rumbled through the ruins.
"Only those who can withstand the wrath of the fallen may claim the key."
And then—
They attacked.
[Battle Start: The Trial of the Forgotten Wraiths]
Enemies:
Ancient Wraiths (Level 80 - 85) x 50
The first wraith lunged, its spectral blade aimed directly at Nyxaris' chest.
[Skill Activated: Spatial Blink]
WHOOSH!
In an instant, Nyxaris vanished, reappearing behind the wraith. His sword, glowing with Arcane energy, swung down in a precise, devastating strike.
SLASH!
The wraith let out a piercing shriek as its form tore apart, dissolving into fading motes of light.
[Enemy Defeated: +7,500 XP]
But before he could celebrate, two more wraiths lunged from different angles.
One wielded a cursed battle-axe, swinging downward with terrifying force, while the other raised its hand, summoning a barrage of dark projectiles.
Nyxaris reacted instantly.
[Skill Activated: Arcane Barrier]
A shimmering shield of mana erupted around him, deflecting the attacks in a burst of Arcane light.
Without hesitation, he countered.
[Skill Activated: Arcane Blade Mastery]
His sword flared to life, raw magical energy coursing through its edge. He stepped forward—
SLASH!
SWIPE!
Both wraiths were cut down, their bodies dissipating into wisps of darkness.
[Enemies Defeated: +15,000 XP]
Nyxaris exhaled. "Only forty-seven more to go."
Zeraldris chuckled in his mind. "Do not grow overconfident. Wraiths do not fight alone."
As if on cue, the air shook with a deep, reverberating cry.
From the depths of the ruins, a new enemy appeared—
A towering wraith, clad in darkened ethereal armor, gripping a massive two-handed sword that pulsed with malevolent energy.
[Boss Monster Appeared!]
Corrupted Wraith Lord (Level 90)
Nyxaris tightened his grip. "Now this is getting interesting."
Without hesitation, the Wraith Lord charged—its blade raised to strike.
And Nyxaris rushed to meet it.