[06: 20: 01: 24]
...
"Let's pray there’s not a bigger sibling," Dorian muttered, his voice low and flat, still catching his breath.
Cassian chuckled hoarsely, wiping blood off his jaw. "Yeah… bet it’s an orphan."
Dorian furrowed his brows and let out a long, slow sigh, shaking his head. Cassian only grinned in response.
"What? Cheer up, man. There's already enough doom and gloom down here no need to add more."
With a tired shrug, Cassian stepped closer to the twitching corpse of the fallen Kalrach. The massive, spider-worm hybrid lay sprawled across the vault, its body torn open, black blood pooling beneath it. Cassian knelt beside the creature’s chest, trying to find its soulspark.
“Let me help,” Dorian said, kneeling opposite him. He pulled out his blade, and together they began tearing into the monster’s armored shell. Eventually, their blades carved a path through, exposing the inner core of the Kalrach.
There it was—nestled beneath what passed for its sternum. A vibrant, glowing mass. The soulspark.
Roughly the size of Cassian’s hand, it pulsed with a deep amber hue, like a slow heartbeat frozen in crystal. He exhaled slowly, wiped his palm clean on his pants, and crushed the soulspark in his grasp.
[DING! [SPECIAL] GREATER SOULSPARK (RARE) ABSORBED, SOULKEEP STRENGTHENED, 10 WISH FRAGMENTS RECEIVED]
Cassian’s eyebrows rose, Wow! 10 fragments just from one… this fucker was a greater rare type monster.
He whistled, That brings me to 210 wish fragments, definitely time for another wishing session…
Taking in the aftermath—the crumbled stone of the floor, the steaming remains of the Kalrach. His gaze fell across the battlefield, over the glistening severed limbs of the monster. A thought gnawed at the edge of his mind.
Why didn’t my Truth ability activate? Was it not a life-or-death moment?
His mind replayed the combat—being slammed, sliced at, nearly overwhelmed—and yet… there’d been no trigger. No whisper of that deep, burning vow.
Curious and unsettled, he glanced at the twitching limbs sprawled near the creature’s body. They’d cut through steel like paper. Maybe they could be salvaged.
“Hey, Dorian,” he called out. “Think we can turn any of these limbs into weapons?”
Dorian nodded and walked over to one of the larger severed appendages. He knelt, ran his hand along the glossy surface, and gave it an experimental bend.
It snapped like brittle bone.
He frowned and moved to another. The result was the same.
“No idea what’s going on,” he muttered. “I think… whatever made them durable died with the monster.”
Cassian sighed. “Bummer. Would’ve made a nice spear.”
“Or a fancy toothpick,” Dorian added, dryly.
Cassian muttered as he suppressed a yawn. “Let’s check out that Prototype Deck Lab and call it a night.”
“Agreed,” Dorian said with a faint smile. “We’ve pushed far enough today.”
"Next monster better drop a bed," Cassian muttered.
Dorian grunted. “Sure”
They chuckled quietly as they moved out into the corridors.
…
The hallway stretched ahead; The twisted terraforming of B3 pulsed with low, reddish light, but the familiar rotten stench had grown thinner here. Soon the ?PROTOTYPE DECK LAB? came into view.
“Huh, we’re here already?” Cassian muttered, raising an eyebrow. He rolled his shoulders, the joints popping with quiet cracks. “I was sure as hell expecting some kalrachs along the way.”
Dorian didn’t answer, though the tension in his posture spoke volumes. Both of them had their weapons drawn, torchlights sweeping across the corridor.
Cassian exhaled as he stepped up to the scanner beside the sealed doors. “There better be something good in there”
He tapped the card against the reader. A harsh beep responded—followed by a hiss of decompression and the slow rumble of hydraulics. The reinforced doors creaked open, revealing a room unlike any other they had encountered so far.
Inside the Prototype Deck Lab, the corruption hadn’t yet taken root. Clean, sterile walls gleamed with old steel polish. Rows of reinforced glass chambers lined the room, their interiors filled with half-constructed devices. Mechanical arms hung from the ceiling like dead vines, frozen mid-task.
Cassian’s fingers brushed against a crumpled piece of paper near the edge of the compartments, half-buried beneath a layer of dust and shattered data chips. He pulled it free, unfolding it carefully. The memo was in rough shape—edges torn, the surface stained with age and smeared with dried blood. The ink had bled in places, words blurred beyond recognition, but he could still make out parts of the message scrawled hastily in jagged handwriting:
***
Lab Entry: Chief Engineer Vel Larin—Prototype Weapons Lab
“We’ve confirmed it. Soulsparks can power the weapon constructs. Not just fuel, not just stabilize. They amplify. The more fragmented the soul, the more volatile the result—but the power curve is exponential. We’ve reached the limit of synthetic cores. We’re going to test with the real ones now.”
—@#@$$….@#D@#
—“Subject 04’s final scream shattered two containment windows. The dagger absorbed the feedback.”
—@#@#@!#$$….
—“We didn’t know souls could bleed like that.”
—whatever you do, don’t let it out—
—not stable… Subject 12 failed again. Escalation protocols were ignored. Yohan says the dagger reacts to emotional charge… gods help us if it—
***
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Hmm, a dagger? And these fuckers were feeding it soulsparks, what a waste He folded the memo slowly, slipping it into his bag.
“Cassian, look over here,” Dorian’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Cassian turned, following the direction of Dorian’s gesture. In the center of the room stood a long cylindrical containment tube made of some reinforced, glass-like alloy. Whatever was inside wasn’t immediately recognizable—but his soul felt it before his mind did.
Drawn forward by an unseen pull, Cassian stepped closer.
Suspended within the tube, rotating slowly in midair, was a dagger.
Its form was alien and menacing. The blade was a matte black, so dark it seemed to devour light, but streaked through with faint red veins that pulsed rhythmically, like a beating heart. The handle bore a strange, circular slit near the hilt. Along the blade’s spine, the foreign script was etched in sharp, angular lines.
He didn’t recognize the weapon. Not its material, not its design—nothing. But something deeper, something buried within his soul, stirred the moment he laid eyes on it. Like the blade was… calling to him.
And he didn’t like it. Not one bit.
Cassian’s gaze narrowed, his voice low. “You feel that Dorian? Hear those whispers?”
Dorian glanced at him, brow furrowed. “No. Nothing. Is something wrong with the dagger? I don’t like it. Should we leave it?”
Cassian shook his head slowly, eyes still locked on the rotating blade. “No… this feels important. I found a memo earlier—it mentioned a dagger. This could be it.” He exhaled, steadying himself. “We’ll look around first. See if there’s anything else. If not... I’ll take it. I think I can handle it.”
Dorian nodded and stepped closer to the adjacent console, fingers brushing off a thin layer of dust. “Looks like the room’s still partially functional. This system’s alive.”
Cassian moved beside him as Dorian tapped the console. Static. Then a low, mechanical voice echoed through hidden speakers.
***
“RECORD LOG: PROJECT SINDIVINITY
LEAD DESIGNER: DR. SHANTY
—Status: Prototype Weapon Containment Stable—
—Prototype Properties: Adaptive Material Composition. Weapon Form: Blade (Dagger).
—Origin: UNKNOWN. Essence Reaction: Highly Volatile.
***
Cassian arched an eyebrow. “Essence reaction volatile? And origin unknown great… just great”
Dorian tapped again. The next few entries were corrupted. But the last two logs played through clearly.
***
“LOG 4A: Testing continues. SINDIVINITY reacts strongly to destruction-aligned energy. The more intent the wielder shows, the more the weapon adapts. Not recommended for prolonged use—too unstable. All users have died without fail”
***
“LOG 5A: Containment breach during the last trial. Subject 12FAE became hostile. Slaughtered two researchers before succumbing to feedback resonance. Weapon neutralized him instantly after an emotional spike. Unclear if that was intent or coincidence. Locking prototype. Red-level access required.”
***
Cassian’s eyes drifted back to the blade—still hovering, still humming with that eerie, steady pulse. “It reacts to intent,” he murmured. “And adapts.”
Dorian glanced at him sideways. “Why are you grinning, Cassian?” He shook his head, already knowing the answer. “I can tell. You’re gonna pick it up.”
Cassian smirked faintly. “You’re learning.”
Dorian shook his head and focused and finding anything of use when he spotted a torn document resting against one of the adjacent consoles. He plucked it up and passed it over. “Cassian read this.”
***
Observation Note – Subject Spark Drift
“When near the blade, the Soulsparks flicker. Some vanish entirely. The leading theory is the weapon feeds on residual identity. Whatever was first sealed inside it—whatever resonance drives it now—it remembers.”
And it wants more, that’s the only consistent statement from all its users.
***
Dorian took a step back. “Doesn’t exactly scream user-friendly. Still wanna take this?”
Cassian gaze drifted to the containment glass again. “Yeah, We have come too far to turn back and you have seen it too our weapons are hardly causing any damage to the monsters, and from now on we must assume every monster we face could be an elite”
He stepped closer to the glass, extending one hand toward it. No screams. No flashes of horror. Just… presence. Cold and patient.
Dorian stepped up beside him, quiet now. “I’m putting a bullet in your skull… The moment I see something is wrong”
“Wow! No faith huh?” Cassian chuckled, his hand was already moving to the release panel beneath the containment chamber.
“It’s not about faith if you turn then god help us…” Dorian sighed. “Kids these days—see a shiny, they just gotta have it.”
Surprisingly, the chamber offered no resistance. No lockdown protocol. No security override. The containment lights slowed, then spiraled inward. With a gentle hiss of depressurization, the glass columns slid apart.
The dagger dropped an inch… and hovered. Free now. Waiting.
Okay, no turning back! System you’ll help me right?
Right?
Cassian reached for it.
The moment his fingers closed around the hilt, a shock ran through his arm like electricity laced with memory. His heart skipped a beat.
A single, resonant pulse.
[DING! YOU HAVE OBTAINED A UNIQUE PSEUDO ARTIFACT: ?SINDIVINITY?]
[DING! WARNING: ?SINDIVINITY? IS SENTIENT. IT MAY RESIST AND EVENTUALLY TRY TO DEVOUR YOU]
[DING! YOU ARE AT 1ST ASCENSION WITH A DESTRUCTION STAR, ?SINDIVINITY? NEGATIVE EFFECTS GREATLY REDUCED]
[DING! YOUR CURRENT ALIGNMENT WITH DESTRUCTION FAR EXCEEDS ?SINDIVINITY? DESTRUCTION ALIGNMENT]
[DING! TRANSFORMING ?SINDIVINITY? INTO AN ARTIFACT CARD]
Cassian saw with excitement as the dagger no, ?SINDIVINITY? began to tremble in his grip. Thin red veins across the blade pulsed erratically, flaring once like a heartbeat before the entire weapon fractured into motes of glowing energy. Each fragment shimmered, twisting in the air, before rushing inward straight into his chest.
He staggered back slightly, gasping as the lights vanished into him. A burning sensation ignited at his core. Not painful—more like an overwhelming fullness.
[DING! ARTIFACT CARD GAINED: PSEUDO ARTIFACT ?SINDIVINITY?]
Dorian lowered his weapon slowly, with a amused grin. “Cassian… Should I shoot you or not?”
Cassian chuckled. “Seriously? You’re pulling my leg now?”
Dorian tilted his head slightly. “Hey, you absorbed a floating dagger that eats supposedly souls. You can’t blame me for keeping my options open.”
“Well, it’s never a boring day with you around,” Dorian murmured, holstering his gun.
Cassian flexed his fingers. The warmth had faded, leaving behind a faint humming sensation in his veins. He was so much excited about all the wishes he had, the card slot +1, and now another artifact card.
“All went well. We found the lab and grabbed the prize. Now, how about we find a place to rest and call it a—”
Before he could finish, red emergency lights flared to life across the ceiling, bathing the lab in a harsh glow. An automated voice blared through tinny wall-mounted speakers:
“PROTOTYPE ?SINDIVINITY? TAKEN FROM CONTAINMENT.”
“ALL UNITS BE ADVISED!”
“PROTOTYPE ?SINDIVINITY? TAKEN FROM CONTAINMENT.”
“ALL UNITS BE ADVISED!”
“Oh, shit…” Dorian muttered, eyes snapping toward the far wall where a monitor blinked erratically with red alerts. The entire room seemed to shudder as distant hissing echoed through the corridors, followed by sounds of approaching footsteps—heavy, frantic, and growing louder by the second.
Cassian turned sharply. The main door was open. Claws dragged against metal walls. Bodies slammed into each other in a frenzied attempt to force their way through the narrow doors.
“Fuck!” Cassian swore, tossing his ID card toward Dorian.
No words needed. Dorian caught it in stride, nodding sharply as he looked for an opportunity to close the doors. Cassian dashed, toward the main door, lightning already crackling across his fingertips.
“[Lightning Bolt]!”
[DING! RUN CARD ?LIGHTNING BOLT(DESTRUCTION SORCERY)? USED CHARGES: 08/25]
[DING! ESSENCE WELL: 41/42]
The red arc erupted forward with a crackling roar, chaining from one Kalrach to the next. Screeches filled the hall as a handful of them collapsed in smoking heaps.
[DING! YOU HAVE KILLED A KALRACH (DRONE)]
[DING! YOU HAVE KILLED A KALRACH (DRONE)]
[DING! YOU HAVE KILLED A KALRACH (DRONE)]
[DING! YOU HAVE KILLED A KALRACH (DRONE)]
“Damn it—there’s dozens of them!” Cassian shouted as he readied the spell again.
“[Lightning Bolt]!”
The spell surged once more, frying another small cluster. The smell of burning flesh and ozone choked the air—but more kept pouring in.
[DING! RUN CARD ?LIGHTNING BOLT(DESTRUCTION SORCERY)? USED CHARGES: 07/25]
[DING! ESSENCE WELL: 40/42]
Gunfire rang out to his left as Dorian fired from behind the entry panel, shots slamming into the faces and torsos of those trying to wedge themselves into the door.
“Cassian—thin them out!” Dorian shouted, reloading in a blink.
“I am trying!”
“Try harder! I don’t have enough stamina left for another brawl!”
Cassian gritted his teeth as his mind raced to what he could do. Piercing light, No time for charging. He extended his palm and activated another card.
“[Stone Golem]!”
[DING! RUN CARD ?STONE GOLEM(CREATION SUMMON)? USED, CHARGES: 04/10]
[DING! ESSENCE WELL: 37/42]
Golem crush them, do whatever you can to make them step away from the doors.
The golem materialized in front of Cassian and on Cassian’s commands surged forward slamming into the encroaching Kalrachs. Bodies flew. Bones cracked. The Golem’s stone fists smashed skulls and flung bodies back into the hall.
Dorian rushed using the opportunity the golem created. He slid the ID card into the inner scanner and tapped a series of prompts. The gate hissed. The massive internal door began sliding shut.
Still, two kalrachs tried to leap through the narrowing gap.
Dorian blew one’s head off mid-air. The other barely made it a step before the golem’s foot came down and crushed it flat.
Finally, with a hiss of air and a metallic clang, the door sealed.
Dorian lowered his weapon with a shaky breath, just as he opened his mouth to speak—
BANG.
A sharp metallic crash overhead cut him off. Both men flinched, eyes snapping upward as the ceiling vents began to rattle violently. Another bang echoed, followed by the distinct metallic clang of a vent cover being kicked loose.
A head popped out of the narrow opening. Not a Kalrach. A kid. No older than twelve.
Their face was smeared with grime, hair matted and tangled beneath a hooded coat several sizes too large.
Cassian stared in disbelief. “What the fu—”
The kid didn’t wait for the rest. “They’re coming, dimwits! No time, follow me!” the child hissed, waving frantically. “Climb, for crap’s sake! Outta all the people we could’ve found, we got a malnourished uncle and wannabe teen!”
Cassian turned to reply, but behind him—SCREEEEEEEECH.
The sound of claws. Dozens of them. Metal screamed as something began dragging down the outside of the blast door, long talons gouging the surface. The entire gate groaned, already buckling under pressure.
Cassian’s eye twitched. “I suppose kid’s a better choice than a swarm of ravenous monsters… Unless you wanna stay behind and fight?”
Dorian glared at him, half-exasperated. “Yeah, sure, not all of us are battle maniacs, Cass. Now help me up first, damn it!”
Cassian grinned and gave him a boost toward the open vent, just as the door behind them slammed again, louder this time.
...
A/N : So what do you all think about the story so far.
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