Chapter 6: The Legion of Forgotten
The clearing shook as the obsidian warriors advanced in unison, blades scraping like stone grinding on stone. Their hollow faces reflected no life, only the cold gleam of runes etched across their armor.
Elias gripped his bloodstained stone shard tighter. His chest still ached from the Hollowfang fight, but the system's reward pulsed faintly within him, knitting his stamina thread by thread. I can't take them all. Not head-on.
The girl—his so-called Echo—stood unnervingly calm. "They are fragments like me. Lost. Hungry. Strike them down and you'll gain strength. Bind them… and you'll gain more."
Her words slithered into him like temptation.
The system confirmed it with a flicker across his vision:
> [Echo III Options:]
Kill = +Power Core (Minor).]
Bind = +Obsidian Servant (Lv.1).]
Warning: Bound entities share fate with binder.]
The warriors broke into a charge.
Elias moved before he could think. The first warrior's jagged blade swung down, and he ducked, jamming his stone weapon into its chest. Cracks spread across its body, runes dimming, until the statue exploded into shards.
> [Power Core Acquired.]
Strength +1.]
A rush of heat surged through his arms. His muscles responded sharper, faster.
But two more came at him, their blades striking in tandem. Elias blocked one with his improvised stone, but the second cut across his arm, searing pain ripping through him. He staggered back, blood slicking his sleeve.
The girl's voice cut through the chaos. "Bind one. Now. Before you bleed out."
Elias's teeth ground together. Another warrior lunged. Desperation guided his choice—he slammed his hand onto the warrior's chest, echoing the pulse of the obsidian shard.
The runes blazed.
> [Binding Sequence Initiated.]
The warrior froze mid-strike, its ember eyes flickering before dimming to a faint glow. The system hissed in Elias's mind:
> [Obsidian Servant (Lv.1) Acquired.]
Bound Entity: Legion Fragment.]
Caution: Link drains user's vitality during battle.]
The statue turned, blade raised—not at Elias, but at its brethren. With one clean strike, it shattered another.
Elias panted, his knees nearly buckling. It worked. But… gods, it hurts. His chest felt tight, as though invisible chains tugged at his lungs.
The remaining warriors faltered, their hollow eyes flicking between Elias and his new servant. For the first time, hesitation rippled through the Legion.
The girl stepped closer, her faint glow intensifying. "You see now. Binding is power… but power has its cost. Kill them, and you grow slowly. Bind them, and you risk losing yourself."
The system's timer continued its merciless countdown.
> [05:51:03]
Elias tightened his grip, sweat stinging his eyes. The choice lay heavy in his hands: cull the Legion piece by piece… or bind more of them, gambling with his own life for strength he desperately needed.
The bound warrior turned to him, waiting. Silent. Obedient.
Elias raised his stone blade, torn between survival and temptation