The Box: Fate
Chapter 46 — The Echo of Legends
The staircase of blue glass led them to the very foundation of the Ancient Fortress, where the "Under-Realm" guardian waited It was a massive, spectral entity known as the Void Sentinel The battle was fierce, but with Kataki's sight restored and his twin daggers moving like silver lightning, the coordination of the sixteen players was flawless Zanaki's dragon-fire and Axel's golden shockwaves shattered the Sentinel' core, sending a shockwave of experience points through the entire group
[FINAL GUARDIAN DEFEATED]
[LEVEL UP: GROUP AVERAGE — LEVEL 40]
As the dust settled, the group didn't push further into the darkness Instead, they emerged from the fortress as victors The news of the "Blood-Born Usurper" and the "Void Sentinel" falling reached the City of Liya before they even touched the city gates
When they entered the city, the atmosphere had completely changed The citizens didn't look at them with suspicion anymore; they looked at them with awe At the Hunter, Guild, the common players and local hunters whispered as they passed
"Are those the ones?" a veteran hunter whispered "The ones who cleared the Forsaken Fort?"
Names began to echo through the taverns and streets Some called them The Silver-Eyed Shadows, referring to Kataki Others called them The Dragon, Wrath But the name that started to stick among the common folk was The Nameless Vanguards—the group that came from nowhere to save everyone
The group returned to their hotel, but they didn't just sleep They took over the kitchen, replacing their bland travel rations with high-tier, mana-infused meats and rare herbs Hanzoe had gathered
"We need to change our diet" Kataki said, cleaning his daggers "Standard food won't support our new levels We need mana-rich nutrients to stabilize our cores From now on, every meal is part of our training"
Zanaki sat at the table, devouring a plate of roasted Shadow-Boar "I feel the difference already My mana isn't just a pool anymore; it feels like a flowing river"
"Don't get too comfortable," Kataki warned, looking toward the North With his restored eyes, he could see something the others couldn't "The death of the Sentinel has triggered a response The Architect is angry"
Suddenly, the sky outside the window turned a sickly shade of purple A massive, jagged rift tore open in the clouds far above the mountains A pressure ten times heavier than the previous Demon Lord: presence descended upon the world
[WORLD EVENT: THE RISE OF THE SECOND MONARCH]
[NEW THREAT DETECTED: THE RAVAGER OF SOULS — MALAKAS]
"A new Demon Lord" Axel whispered, his golden aura flickering instinctively "And this one... his power level is off the charts"
Kataki stood up, his twin blades catching the purple light from the window "He isn't just a lord. He a Monarch He coming for the Zenith card"
The celebration was over Their names were known, their levels were high, but the real war for the Box was only just beginning