He stood before the door.Lane touched the stone surface, tracing the carvings with his fingers. The writings were in an ancient tongue; no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't decipher them. Still, he took out his small notebook and copied each symbol one by one—perhaps he could study them later.
Three small holes marked the sides of the door. He curiously reached out and slid his fingers into each. Inside, he felt a pattern—as if his fingertips were meant to fit into a design. The same markings appeared faintly on the nearby wall.
After a moment's thought, he adjusted the carvings in order."What kind of door has its own key carved into it…? I should be careful. It might be trapped."
With a weak flame spell in one hand and dark mana gathering in the other, he prepared himself.The door began to tremble deeply. Dust rose into the air as stone scraped against stone.With a heavy groan, the door opened. Inside—only darkness.
Lane strengthened the flame spell; the orange glow flickered against the ancient walls.The first thing he saw inside was a massive stone statue—a long-haired man pierced by dozens of spears, rising above a crowd of kneeling figures.
The vault was enormous; hundreds of stone people surrounded the statue in positions of prayer.Lane lifted his head and met the statue's gaze.Its eyes were staring at him.
A shiver ran down his spine, but he didn't move.Something glimmered on the ground. He approached and picked it up.A sword—its craftsmanship flawless, forged from mithril alloy.
Then came a faint sound—a crack.It came from behind the bust.
Lane tightened his grip on the sword and slipped into the shadows.Moments later, torchlight began to pierce the darkness of the cavern.Four silhouettes appeared.
Tall, slender beings with golden hair and sharp features—humanoid, but not human.Elves.
Lane held his breath."I'd better cover my face before they notice me," he thought.
He quickly pulled a cloth from his bag and wrapped it around his head.There were four elves. Three were armed, guarding the fourth—a woman. Small, graceful, yet radiating a far stronger aura than the rest.
Lane held his sword ready; if needed, he'd strike first.The elves began to inspect the surroundings.When the female elf reached the statue, a small rock rolled near Lane's foot.
She flinched instantly and called out to her guards.Lane sprang from hiding, closing the distance in one breath.His sword flashed—its edge slicing beneath one elf's throat.
The others turned in alarm.Lane's eyes glowed with dark mana as he shouted,"Vanish!"
Lightning erupted from his hands. The roar was deafening.One elf was reduced to ash instantly.
The larger guard raised his enchanted shield, deflecting the energy.The female elf drew her bow and loosed an arrow.By the time Lane noticed, it was too late.
He dived behind the kneeling statues. The arrow shattered against the floor.The guard charged forward.Lane staggered back, steadying his breath.Just as he prepared to leap—an arrow struck his leg.
"Arghh! Damn it!" he groaned.He fell to his knees.
The guard raised his blade, ready to strike him down—At that instant, Lane triggered his lightning spell.The clash of steel rang out, sparks ripping through the darkness.
The elves were swift, but Lane's instincts were sharper.He kicked a stone beneath his foot, breaking the guard's balance, then struck his chest with a burst of lightning.The guard blocked with his shield, muscles tensing, roaring in fury.
"Haaah!" he bellowed, swinging again.But before the blade could reach Lane, a figure appeared behind the guard—Silent, moving like a shadow.
A cold gleam flashed.The sword pierced through the guard's heart.
The elf froze, eyes wide, and collapsed.Lane crawled back in shock."What the hell is going on…" he muttered.
The new elf's eyes glowed green. His movements were unnatural—he was being controlled.The female elf, terrified, loosed another arrow.
The arrow embedded in the controlled elf's skull—but he didn't stop.He turned on her, driving his sword straight into her stomach.
The woman dropped to her knees, gasping.Lane forced himself to his feet, channeling all his dark mana.
"Enough!"
A black wave burst from his hand, engulfing the controlled elf.The body decayed instantly and collapsed into dust.
Silence.Only heavy breathing remained.
Lane limped forward.He approached the fallen elf woman. Her golden hair shimmered faintly in the dim light, her pale skin like moonlight.
"I shouldn't kill her," he thought. "Perception matters. She could be useful later."
He knelt beside her. She tried weakly to push him away, but his grip was firm.Her stomach wound was deep, bleeding fast.
Lane pulled a cloth from his bag and pressed it down.The elf whimpered in pain, tears forming in her eyes.Lane exhaled slowly, voice cold:"Stay still. This will hurt."
He lit a flame in one hand and placed the cloth between her teeth.Then he pressed the fire onto the wound.
She screamed. The smell of burning flesh filled the chamber.Lane stayed calm, finishing the cauterization. He pressed the cloth again, then lifted her onto his back.
He looked around at the corpses.With a flick of fire magic, he burned the guards' bodies.He carried the unconscious girl to the door and set her down.
Then his gaze returned to the statue.The stone eyes still stared at him.Suddenly—they glowed.
Lane froze.Not warmth, but a freezing vibration pulsed through the air.His eyes turned green.
Everything went black.Time stopped.
He found himself elsewhere—In an infinite void, beyond the stars.
Before him, two figures were fighting.The first was the man from the statue—bloodied, holding a spear, with galaxies burning behind him.And the other—
Lane's mind nearly collapsed.It wasn't fear—it was the disintegration of his very being.
The figure wore dark eastern armor and a dǒulì hat, draped in a black and gold hanfu embroidered with a dragon of blood and fire.In his hands gleamed a twin-bladed scythe, radiating pure energy.Gray light flowed from his eyes.
The longer Lane looked, the more his thoughts were dragged into the void.That being was the void itself.
Other gods were there too—entities from countless realms—fighting against that one man.Planets shattered. Stars went dark.Each strike erased galaxies.
The man in the hanfu swung his scythe, and five gods were cleaved apart in one blow.Then he raised his head—and looked directly at Lane.
Lane's heart nearly stopped.The being's voice tore through the universe itself:"I'm waiting for you… your path is my pa—"
The voice cut out.Everything vanished.
When Lane opened his eyes, he was still trembling.He was back in the vault.
But the mana within him—lightning and darkness—was surging wildly.It felt as if the essence of all magic had been carved into his mind.His body couldn't handle it.
Blood dripped from his veins, from his eyes, nose, and mouth.He was on the verge of tearing apart.
Then a ring appeared in his hand.Formed of violet energy—the mark of dark mana.
Lane stared at it before losing consciousness.
When he awoke, he was outside the vault.The elf girl was beside him.And next to her—his master.
"What… happened to me?" Lane groaned.
Old Vaen bent down, examining him."My child, you've undergone enlightenment. Your mana is overflowing. What did you see in there?"
Lane tried to recall, but his mind throbbed in pain."The only thing I remember... was his gaze. The gods were fighting him—all of them against one man... it was terrifying... aghh!"
Vaen saw the fear in his student's eyes."Calm yourself, my boy. Steady your heart."