The next morning came with an unsettling silence. The mist crawled along the forest floor like a thick veil, and the sunlight seemed hesitant to touch that place. Lucas woke before the others, his body still sore from the fight, but his mind alert.
The system had remained quiet since the battle ended, but now, a notification flashed before his eyes:
Advanced Class Quest: "Awakening of the Chosen"Requirements: Defeat the Guardian of the Argonn Crypt.Rewards: Advanced Class Unlocked + New Skill.Difficulty: High.Time Limit: 48 hours.
Lucas frowned. The name was familiar. He remembered fragments from the journal of the body's former owner—tales of an ancient mausoleum to the north, guarded by a legendary spirit. Apparently, the system wanted him to challenge it now.
"Of course it wouldn't be easy," he muttered with a smirk. "But when has it ever been?"
He called the others as soon as camp was packed. The girls looked rested, but their expressions changed the moment they heard what Lucas had received.
"An advanced class quest?" Kaela raised an eyebrow. "You attract this kind of thing like a magnet."
"This is dangerous," Lyra said, her voice full of concern. "If we fail..."
"We won't fail," Lucas said, confident. "But I won't force any of you to come."
Selene walked up and patted his shoulder. "If you think we're letting you charge into a suicidal mission alone, you're delusional."
Iris smiled softly. "Besides… I'm curious to see how far your power will go."
With the group united, they headed north. The journey took nearly a full day, passing through forgotten trails and ancient ruins swallowed by roots. By nightfall, they arrived at a circular clearing, where a stone structure rose from the earth like a tomb long forsaken. The Argonn Crypt.
Iron gates covered in old symbols slowly opened as Lucas approached. It was as if the crypt had been waiting for him.
Inside, the air was cold as ice, and every step echoed like a drumbeat. Runes glowed faintly along the walls, and shadows danced in the corners. At the center, a shattered altar—and on it… the Guardian.
The creature looked as though it were made of ancient bones and rusted armor, but its eyes glowed with an eerie blue light. A spectral sword floated beside it, and its presence made the air heavy.
Enemy: Guardian of the Argonn Crypt (Spiritual Elite – Lv. 65)Weakness: Light Magic / Soul Drain.
"Combat formation!" Kaela shouted instinctively.
Lucas charged forward, activating his Soulclaw Shadows. Selene flanked right with swift strikes while Iris began chanting a soul-draining incantation. Lyra focused her mana into a beam of pure light—something she rarely used.
The Guardian struck without warning, moving with unnatural speed. Lucas blocked on instinct but was thrown into a wall. The creature turned on Selene, only for Kaela to intercept it with a double strike that shook the floor.
"It's regenerating too fast!" Iris yelled. "We need to seal its soul!"
Lucas spat blood but grinned. "Then let's rip that soul out."
With a roar, he activated his new skill: Rift of the Inner Abyss—a technique that absorbed fragments of spiritual essence to empower his attacks. His hands were wrapped in black flames as he charged, aiming for the creature's core.
At the same time, Lyra unleashed her full power in a divine light beam. The combined impact with Lucas's strike made the Guardian scream, its armor cracking and the spectral sword vanishing.
"Now!" Iris cried, completing the ritual. Magical circles formed beneath the Guardian's feet, binding its soul in chains of living mana.
Lucas struck the final blow, plunging his blade through the creature's core.
Quest Complete!You unlocked: Advanced Class — Warrior of Eternal ShadowsNew Skill: "Step Between Worlds"Status increased!
The Guardian's body crumbled into dust, and the room glowed with a soft blue light. The group collapsed around Lucas, exhausted but alive.
"You... did it," Kaela said with a faint smile.
"We did it," he replied. "Together."
Later, they camped beneath the shadow of the crypt. The victory brought a lighter mood, but also a more intimate one.
Selene lay beside Lucas, pulling him close. "You're becoming hard to resist when you fight like that."
"I'd say dangerous," Iris whispered, sitting on his other side. "But… fascinating."
Lyra said nothing, but she held his hand tightly, as if afraid he might vanish into the darkness.
Kaela kept her distance at first, but as the fire dimmed, she sat beside him and murmured, "Maybe… I judged you too quickly."
Lucas looked up at the starry sky, the girls' voices echoing in his mind. He knew his feelings for them were growing. And he also knew the peaceful days were numbered.
The Black Order wouldn't stop. And his journey to become the strongest—the true chosen of Eldoria—was just beginning.