Kael stood at the edge of the rift.
The Gate was unlike any he'd seen before—not a swirling vortex of blue light or silver glyphs. It pulsed with violet static and crimson veins, like a living wound torn open in the sky itself.
Wind howled from within, thick with ash and the faint sound of… chanting?
> [Entering Unregistered Gate…]
[Warning: Dimensional Sync Unstable]
[Seed Fragment Presence: Confirmed – Host Signature Unknown]
[Do you wish to proceed?]
Kael stepped forward.
> "I didn't come this far to stop now."
---
The world warped.
His body twisted and reformed mid-step as the system fought to hold his matter together. Light broke apart into symbols. Stone became blood. Gravity bent sideways.
And then—he landed.
Hard.
The inside of the Gate looked like a cathedral built inside a dragon's ribcage. Massive skeletal spines curled through the air like fossilized pillars. Runes pulsed along the bones. Every breath Kael took filled his lungs with metallic smoke.
> [Welcome to Dungeon: Hollow Sanctum of the Draconic Husk]
[Time Limit: Unknown]
[Escape Route: Unavailable]
He scanned the ground—black sand, shattered weapons, claw marks etched deep into the obsidian.
> [Life Sign Detected: High-Tier Corrupted Entity. Proximity: 274m]
[Seed Fragment Signature Active – 32% Sync Detected]
Then he saw it.
A massive creature hunched between the ribs, curled in on itself like it was asleep.
Draconic, but twisted—its wings broken, fused with chains that pulsed like arteries. One eye socket glowed dim violet. Its skin was half scales, half armor. Black mist poured from its mouth with every exhale.
> [Name: Husk Dragon – Devourer Type]
[Rank: Unknown]
[Status: Dormant]
[Fragment Host Confirmed]
Kael's breath caught.
> "This is a trap. No way this thing's asleep by accident."
He began to circle slowly.
But then—without warning—a voice echoed behind him.
"You're early, Kael Riven."
Kael spun, rod raised.
There, standing in the darkness—barefoot on the bone-ridden floor—was a masked figure, cloaked in black with silver runes glowing across their arms.
Their face was hidden behind a sleek visor.
But they knew his name.
> [Scanning…]
[System Match: Not Found]
[Error: Entity Not Registered in Known Factions]
Kael narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
The figure tilted their head.
> "A remnant. A survivor. A shadow that the System forgot."
> "You're a Reclaimer?"
"No. I'm what happens after a Reclaimer fails."
The masked figure raised one hand.
And the Husk Dragon opened its eye.
---
> [BOSS ENGAGING – DRACONIC HUSK / SEED HOST]
[Survive or Terminate]
Kael turned to run—but the bones around him shifted like puzzle pieces, forming a dome.
He was trapped.
The dragon stood. The ground cracked beneath its weight.
Kael's HUD exploded with alerts:
> [Warning: High-Level Threat Active]
[Status: Critical]
[Suggested Action: Stall and Analyze]
[Seed Fragment Integration: Optional]
Kael raised his weapon, fire crackling in his hand.
> "Then let's see if you can bleed."