Chapter 33: Sacred Union – Part III
The door behind the broken glyph wall creaked open slowly, as if reluctant to reveal what secrets lay beyond. It exhaled a faint gust of ancient air—dust and blood and something faintly metallic. Kael took the lead, his feet echoing softly against the newly revealed obsidian floor, a faint sheen of moonlight guiding their steps.
Selene, Thalaria, Valeria, and Nysera followed, their clothes still torn from the earlier battle, skin marked with faded bruises, dried sweat, and fading runes. The aftermath of the Harbinger's assault was still etched into their eyes, but they walked with heads high, united and dangerous.
What they found was not a room.
It was a hall.
Massive. Celestial in construction. Star-forged pillars lined either side, etched with constellations unknown to any current sky. At its heart stood a floating monolith of obsidian crystal, held aloft by chained moonlight and dripping sparks of forbidden knowledge.
[New Area Unlocked: Vault of Sin's Genesis]
[Quest Extension Triggered — Investigate the Monolith]
Kael stepped forward, drawn as if by instinct. The Crown pulsed on his head. He raised his hand—and the monolith responded, lowering gently before him like a deity bowing to its chosen vessel.
A voice echoed within all their minds: "Bearer of Sin. Your path is only just beginning. Would you see the truth?"
Kael didn't flinch. "Show me."
The monolith shattered—not violently, but with divine serenity. Light and memory spiraled outward, forming an illusionary projection that engulfed the chamber.
They saw an ancient war.
Not just between kingdoms or races—but between Sin and Virtue. Not metaphorical concepts, but actual forces given flesh. The Virtues sought order, balance, unity. The Sins sought evolution, desire, freedom through conflict.
And the Sins were losing.
Until a man rose wearing the same crown Kael now bore.
Kael gasped. The man looked like him—almost identical, yet older, darker, hungrier.
[Bloodline Echo Detected — Origin Line: Crown of Sin Inheritor #001]
[Memory Sync 16% — Synaptic Warning Triggered: Collapse Risk If Exceeded]
Selene caught Kael before he staggered. "What did you see?"
Kael's hand trembled. "The first Sin-Bearer... he destroyed the gods. But it cost him his soul."
Nysera's brow furrowed. "Are we destined to follow that path?"
Valeria reached out. "Not if we stay together."
Thalaria grinned. "Not if we kill faster."
Kael laughed—but it was hollow.
Suddenly, the far wall cracked. Not shattered—cracked.
Then came the sound.
The rhythmic thump-thump. Like a heartbeat.
A massive clawed hand slammed through the fissure.
A beast emerged. Tall as a spire. Muscles like corded shadow. Its eyes burned with void flame. It had the face of a man—twisted in pain and hunger—and wings of bone and glass.
[World Boss Engaged: Archsin Revenant – Grade: Forbidden Calamity]
[Recommended Party Level: ??? — Status: Guaranteed Death If Unprepared]
[Escape Option Disabled – Lockdown Zone Initiated]
Kael swallowed hard. "Looks like we're the appetizer."
Selene whispered, "Then let's make them choke."
Valeria summoned her ancient song. Thalaria spun lightning into her spear. Nysera drew a twin seal of forbidden glyphs across her arms.
And Kael?
He opened the system.
[Emergency Function Accessed: Shared Sin Surge — Consume All Partner Affinities For 300 Seconds]
[Caution: Will render partners unconscious for 12 hours after]
They nodded.
He didn't even need to ask.
The surge hit like a tidal wave of heat, lust, power, and memory. His limbs cracked with divine essence. His skin shimmered like starfire. His breath scorched the floor.
Kael pointed at the Revenant.
"Let's rewrite fate."
The fight began.
Kael clashed with the Revenant midair, their blows sending out ripples that cracked the vault's celestial stone. With his lovers' power coursing through him, Kael fought like a demon in divine flesh. His flame, lightning, moonlight, and shadow blended into something primal.
The Revenant roared and retaliated, summoning skeletal arms from void rifts. They struck like vipers, but Kael danced through them, blades spinning, eyes glowing. Every strike burned into the creature, but it healed with terrifying speed.
[Revenant Trait: Eternal Hunger — Regeneration Active]
"Valeria, cut its chant!" Kael roared.
Though barely conscious, Valeria stirred, lips moving in sacred counter-harmonics. Her song clashed with the creature's dread aura, weakening its magic.
Kael pressed forward, blade in one hand, flame in the other.
The Revenant screamed and unleashed a breath of decay.
[Critical Damage Imminent — Shield: Thalaria Active]
Thalaria leapt in, sacrificing her own barrier to shield Kael. The impact flung her back, but the damage was mitigated. Blood trickled from her lips.
Kael felt it—rage. Love. Duty.
He screamed.
[System Override Triggered — Emotion Threshold Surpassed]
[Form Evolution: Primordial Sin Avatar – Duration 60 seconds]
Kael's body exploded in light. Horns curled from his temples, wings burst from his back—one feathered in gold, the other bathed in black fire. His blade doubled in size, forged of raw chaos.
He struck the Revenant—once, twice, thrice.
The beast reeled, screeched, stumbled.
Kael grabbed its jaw and roared, "You face the Crown of Sin, bastard!"
He plunged the blade into its skull.
Light. Silence. Collapse.
The Revenant fell to its knees, then dissolved into ash and screaming memories.
[World Boss Defeated — Archive Fragment Retrieved]
[System Level +2 — New Level: 12]
[New Functions Unlocked: Sin Market Tier II, Bloodline Selection Node, Physique Evolution Pathway]
[New Passive Gained: Lover's Resurrection Aura — Bonded Partners Auto-Revive After Fatal Blow Once Every 48 Hours]
Kael collapsed to his knees.
His partners lay around him—unconscious, but alive. Breathing. Whole.
He reached out, touching each one, whispering their names like prayer.
A faint whisper filled his mind:
"You have stepped into the garden of ruin. Now let's see if you bloom... or bleed."
End of Chapter 33