Two days had passed since Auron killed the Shadow Priest.
Since then, the mine had gone strangely quiet.
The pit wasn't full of noise or fighting like usual. The slaves whispered less. Even the guards didn't bark orders as much. Something had changed.
It felt like the mine itself was holding its breath.
Auron sat alone near the water barrels. His eyes were closed, but his mind was awake. He was waiting. Watching. Listening.
The system pinged again.
\[Corruption Level Stable: 7%]
\[Void Edge – Cooldown Complete]
\[Skill Fragment: Echo of the Void – Progress: 1/3]
\[Next Mission Pending…]
He wasn't sure if he was growing stronger fast enough. The power was real — he could feel it in his hands, his steps, and his thoughts. But something inside him was also changing. The dreams had started to return.
Dreams of the throne room.
Of fire.
Of screams.
Of the moment they stabbed him and left his body to rot.
But in the dreams, he didn't die.
He rose.
And everything around him turned to ash.
---
That morning, a new group of people arrived at the mine.
Not guards.
Not slaves.
But nobles.
They wore black coats with golden threads. Their boots were clean. Their skin pale. Their expressions full of disgust.
One of them had a silver mask covering half his face. His voice was calm and cold.
He spoke to the Warden at the edge of the pit, but loud enough that everyone could hear.
"We've heard rumors. Strange deaths. Unnatural energy. Someone is feeding from forbidden sources."
The Warden didn't answer.
The noble continued.
"If you can't keep your shadows in line, we will come down and cut them ourselves."
Then he turned and walked away.
Auron watched them from a distance.
He recognized the mask.
House Vael.
The same house that ordered his execution.
His hands curled into fists.
So they still walked above the ground, pretending to rule.
Pretending they had won.
---
That night, the Warden called for Auron.
They met in the silent hall beneath the training floor.
"They're watching now," the Warden said.
"I know," Auron replied.
"They'll send someone soon. Not just to talk. To test us."
"Let them," Auron said. "I've been waiting."
The Warden tossed him a folded note.
Auron opened it.
It was a name.
**Mira Vael.**
A noble woman. Commander of the palace scouts. Known for being brutal, loyal, and cold.
"She's leading a group down here by the end of the week," the Warden said. "Officially, it's for inspection."
"And secretly?"
"They're hunting the source of the curse."
Auron looked up.
"They're hunting me."
The Warden didn't reply.
Auron smiled slightly.
"Good."
---
Later that night, Auron sat alone near the broken statues at the far end of the pit. The moonlight above barely reached him. The other slaves were asleep.
Then he heard it again.
The voice.
The Abyss.
"They know what you are," it whispered. "Soon they will come with blades and fire. But it won't be enough."
Auron stayed silent.
The voice continued.
"You must go deeper."
"Why?" Auron asked.
"Because there is more of me below," it replied. "A greater core. A true source. With it, your power will become something they cannot chain."
"What's the cost?"
"Does it matter?" the Abyss answered. "You were already a dead man. I just gave you a second life."
Auron stood.
The air had changed again. The weight of the mine felt heavier. The future felt close — like something was about to break.
"I'll go," he said softly.
The voice purred.
"Then begin the descent."
---
\[New Quest: Descent into the Forgotten Vault]
\[Objective: Reach the Abyssal Core]
\[Warning: High-Level Threats Detected]
\[Reward: Unknown]
\[System Notice: This path is irreversible]
Auron didn't flinch.
His mind was clear.
His blade was sharp.
And his revenge was only just beginning.