The shrine lay in ruins.
Statues shattered. Altar cracked. Ceiling mildly on fire. Just another Thursday for Provisional Squad 3.
Kazuki sat on a chunk of collapsed column, nursing what felt like seven broken ribs and a new phobia of glowing spirals. Mistral licked his paw nearby with smug composure, as if he hadn't just summoned a death spell from memory like a fuzzy warlock.
Darin staggered over, bleeding but smiling. "Guys. That. Was. Awesome."
Kazuki coughed. "You have a rock embedded in your shoulder."
"Badge of honor!"
"No, seriously. It's in there. Like, deep."
Vera was off to the side, poking through the altar debris with her staff like she was hunting for plot.
She found a scroll.
Her expression darkened immediately.
"What is it?" Kazuki asked, limping over like a broken shopping cart.
"The prophecy again," she said, voice low. "More stuff about 'The Vessel,' and a being called the Broken One. Mentions of seven shrines… and a cycle that repeats every thousand years."
Mistral padded over. "That's a lazy number. Every prophecy uses a thousand."
Kazuki squinted at the scroll. "So… this 'Broken One.' That's me, right? I'm the repeat customer?"
Vera didn't respond.
But she didn't say no, either.
[System Alert: New Trait Unlocked – Dream-Touched (Passive)]You are now susceptible to visions, whispers, and unfiltered truths. Effects may include insomnia, prophecy comprehension, and the occasional out-of-body breakdown.]
[New Skill Gained: Echo Dive (Lv. 1)]Temporarily step into past echoes of cursed locations. Not recommended before breakfast.]
Kazuki stared at the notification. "Did I just unlock a trauma simulator?!"
Mistral yawned. "Better than what I expected. I was betting you'd grow another eye."
The team gathered at the shrine exit, sore, dirty, and at least 14% more traumatized.
"Anyone want to never do that again?" Kazuki asked.
Darin beamed. "Let's do six more!"
"Why are you like this?!"
Vera held up the scroll. "We have to. These shrines are tied to your path. And possibly to whatever's warping this world."
Kazuki groaned. "Can't we tie my path to something less cursed? Like… farming?"
Mistral leapt back into his hood. "No one would buy that light novel."
They stepped outside just as the sun began to set.
Golden light filtered through the trees, completely failing to make them feel better.
Kazuki glanced up at the sky and sighed. "We're not normal adventurers, are we?"
Vera shook her head. "We're bait. Dangled in front of something old and angry."
Darin grinned. "But we're fun bait!"
Kazuki facepalmed. "This is why I have a corruption meter."