Chapter Three Hundred And Sixteen - 316The Temple was eerily quiet as Ifre stepped within. Torchlight flickered within, but she saw no torches, no source at all for the illumination.
"What happened here?" Tyrk said in a low tone. His slender forehead was slick with sweat. Ifre kept forgetting how young he truly was; she shook her head and motioned for silence.
The ground was littered with debris, but they had anticipated that after seeing the butchery outside. The scaffolding alone was a creation of creatures without regard for grace, aesthetics, or the ability to perform fine motor skills. What they had not been expecting, however, were the dozens of crushed alcoves, walls, and murals. Thousands upon thousands of years of history had been shattered and scattered across the floor of the Temple, in some places utterly unrecoverable. Ifre was aghast at the destruction, at the wanton disregard of history and artistry. The Henaari sought such things, reveled in them, and the damage to the Nymean Temple hurt her soul.
She made several sharp gestures and the three of them advanced, toward an open, green-metal door.
The Temple was empty. Her Perception and Skills could detect nothing living, so whoever had committed the atrocities above had left. They padded quickly down the spiraling staircase, its length lit by some sort of clever magic, intent on making their way into the very heart of the Temple.
Only there could they finish their duty.
Eventually the stairs opened up on a massive, circular chamber festooned with sculptural reliefs. Nymean magi, stars in their grips, fought back the noxious forms of several terrible Urges. That was clear to Ifre, she had seen its like before, though never Nymeans. Urges, however, were often depicted in many hidden sanctuaries around the Continent. Not all of them were as altruistic as the Endless Raven.
The Raven would draw immense power from this, she thought. The clan, we would be empowered many-fold.
The Matriarch had been right, but Ifre still didn't like it. Felix was an ally. He had helped her specifically, and others too, when he'd charged into the tunnels to face the Wurms. And then he and his team had taken on the Arcid's entire force. That was not something an enemy of the clan would do.
I will claim this place, for my people. But I will not kill him. Ifre set her hand upon the Dire Talon, still wrapped at her waist. Still pulsing like a heart. Let the Matriarch punish me, but I'll not do it.
The defiance had her breathing heavily, and her forehead beaded with sweat near instantly, but she was steady. Ifre would not be budged, not anymore. With a sharp nod, she stalked her way into the lit chamber, making sure to stay low. The Dire Talon throbbed in her hand, a powerful Blessing from the Endless Raven. It was a weapon designed to slay the clan's greatest threats, to end them with a single strike. She gripped it loosely, hoping it would not be needed.
Down the steps they went, until a circular pool of cloudy green water appeared. It was the center, the heart; from there Ifre could claim the Temple for the Endless Raven.
She crept upon it, her subordinates close behind. She made no sound, her Blessing disguising them all as shadows upon the ground, a power the Raven granted passingly few. The pool of green liquid bubbled slightly, as if something far below had moved or shifted. It struck a sense of dread within Ifre's chest, something primal that caught her breath. Slowly, she unwrapped the Dire Talon, forcing her fingers to cease their trembling.
"What have we here?" said a deep, rattling voice. "What an interesting Skill."
Ifre gasped in astonishmentwhere had it come from!?but her Body did not fail her. She spun, Dire Talon pivoted into a saber grip, and drove its preternaturally sharpened point straight up.
It sank halfway into the golden metal, and its noxious power discharged. The golden giant grunted and grabbed her wrist. With the ease of a parent dislodging a child's hand, it forced hers from the hilt of the Dire Talon.
"No," she whispered.
"A wicked weapon. But useless in the end." Crimson lightning spat out from its joints and tangled all three of them. She heard Tyrk and Isyk both scream in wretched pain, and only belatedly realized she too was howling. "But you three...I have a use for you. I tossed something into this pool a short while ago. For a bit the liquid churned quite interestingly, but now it's all gone still. I'm still not sure what lies beneath." The lightning stabbed and burned across Ifre's chest and face, holding her aloft like burning strings. "Do be sure to find out."
The strings were cut, and Ifre was dropped into a liquid that parted beneath her like smoke.
The moment Felix stepped out of the door, back into the liquid Mana pool, the System redoubled its efforts to reach him. Karys thrummed, his life Mana spiraling around Felix's form before sinking into the base of his skull. It soaked into his channels, boosting his handle on the Tiering Skills, and for a brief, important instance, let loose the notifications he most needed to see.
You Have Completed A Hidden Quest!
Walk The Omen Path!
You have used the Omen Key and survived. You have not only chosen a Path, but forged one yourself! All bonuses are doubled!
Rewards:
+6 Levels
+30 All Harmonic Stats
+2 Titles
50% XP Penalty In Effect!
+6 Levels
+3 Levels
Congratulations!
You Have Gained 3 Levels!
You Are Now Level 55!
You Gain:
+60 to STR! +66 to PER! +66 to VIT! +78 to END! +72 to INT! +84 to WIL! +78 to AGL! +87 to DEX!
+60 All Harmonic Stats!
You Have 90 Unused Stat Points!
Pit Has Gained 6 Levels!
He Is Now Level 62!
He Gains:
+60 to STR, +42 to PER, +12 to VIT, +54 to END, +18 to INT, +36 to WIL, +96 to AGL, +102 to DEX, +30 to AFI, +30 to RES, +30 to REI!
Beside him, Pit screeched in triumphant agony, his being wracked by incredible power. Felix could barely think, could only notice that Pit grew once more and his piercing cry become something of a shattering bellow. His own Body, his Mind and Spirit too, surged with a sudden, terrible potency.
The notifications continued, unabated.
New Title!
Coronation of the Wild Song (Transcendent)!
You've forged a Path from the very threads of Harmony and Dissonance! A crown from the fields of Creation itself. Hope that the benefits outweigh the consequences of your actions.
+10% INE, AFI, ALA, and FEL.
+20% Leveling Bonus to all Skills touching on the Wild Song!
New Title!
Forge Of Cardinal Thunderflame (Unique)!