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The smoldering ruins of the Hellblight Dungeon still crackled beneath my feet, long after Hellshade had fallen. I thought that was the end. I'd survived firestorms, resisted chaos debuffs, and walked away with rare cores and enchant materials—standard dungeon rewards. But the strange glowing sigil left behind where Hellshade perished… it wasn't in the official dungeon guide.
I knelt beside it, tracing the ancient rune etched into the obsidian floor.
> [You have discovered a hidden mechanism.]
[Requirements met: Willpower ≥ 200 | Affinity with Flame Resistance ≥ 60%]
The entire chamber began to tremble.
"What the—"
Stone ground against stone as part of the floor split open. Flames hissed and retreated, unveiling a winding staircase of blackened steel spiraling into darkness. A system prompt flared in gold:
> [Secret Vault: Ashborn's Relic Sanctum]
This area has remained sealed for 300 years. First Discoverer Bonus: +2% stat growth permanently.
Warning: This sanctum has not been balanced for player scaling. Proceed at your own risk.
My heart raced.
Ashborn? That wasn't a name I'd heard before. Not in lore, not in the rankings, not even in the fanmade wikis. I gripped my pickaxe—yes, still that pickaxe—and stepped downward.
The deeper I descended, the colder it became. Not fire. Not chaos. But still oppressive, like walking into the memory of war. The torches lining the stairwell lit one by one in my presence.
The sanctum wasn't large—but what it lacked in space, it made up for in sheer presence.
Dozens of blackened weapon racks lined the walls, each holding rusted armaments… save one. In the center of the chamber floated a crimson cube, humming with a low resonance, like a heartbeat. It was suspended mid-air by chains made of runes.
> [Ashborn's Sealed Core]
Class: Unknown
Grade: ???
Status: Dormant
Effect: Unknown
Note: This item binds directly to the soul of its user. Once bound, it cannot be removed.
My hands trembled as I approached. What kind of item didn't even show its grade?
I reached out.
> [Are you sure you wish to awaken the Sealed Core of Ashborn?]
Warning: This will trigger a unique awakening event.
Note: This event cannot be reversed.
Of course I pressed yes.
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