Chương 231: B3 - Chapter 63: Legacy

"So... they know," Elena whispered. Her voice was unnaturally tight in complete silence. Seth kept his grip firm around the steel pyramid.

"They were bound to find out," he said.

"After all the casualties I've caused, it would've been stranger if they hadn't." Elena looked at him. Something flickered across her face. Self-doubt or... maybe shame? As if his words implied she hadn't accomplished enough for the Empire to suspect she carried a Legacy as well.

"You're Rank 46, Elena," he voiced, stepping closer.

"And despite that, you're already among the five highest contributors in the entire war. If you were at the Peak of Iron like Jaxar or Marine, your contributions would be twice what it is now. And I'm sure you saved dozens more lives than they did." The corners of Elena's lips rose up, and her emerald eyes met Seth's as the tension slowly drained from her shoulders. Then a smile finally broke through.

"Thanks." Seth looked down at Jaz's ruined body. The three harvested Seeds could explain the Guardian's monstrous resilience. But at the same time he doubted they accounted for everything. After kneeling beside the corpse, Seth pressed the cold steel base of the pyramid against the dead man's shattered breastplate.

"You're really going to use it?" Elena asked, unable to hide the unease in her voice.

"I don't see how this is any different from harvesting his Seeds," Seth replied, eyes moving to her.

"If the situation had been reversed, they would've done the same to us." He looked back at the artifact.

"He carried this for a reason." Elena's lips pressed into a thin line. She couldn't argue with that. Seth didn't wait any longer and channeled a wisp of aether into the steel pyramid. The intricate runes blazed to life, then a crushing pressure settled over the clearing. The air itself seemed to grow heavier and something stirred within Jaz's corpse—a presence far older and far more powerful than anything Seth had ever encountered. Glowing words materialized above the pyramid.

[Lightning Protection - Uncommon] Seth stared at the grade. Uncommon. Legacies were valuable enough to drive King Theoron and the Bridan Empress into war... but would it be the case for one that was only Uncommon? For a moment, the question lingered. Then he pushed it aside. There would be time for speculation later. He funneled another stream of aether into the artifact, forcing the extraction to begin. The oppressive presence immediately intensified, and the air vibrated around him.

Seth felt as if that presence was now staring into his soul. He cast a glance over his shoulder to looked ath the forest behind him. The intensity of this signature would alert anyone wandering too close. He needed to finish this extraction quickly. Streams of radiant violet energy rose from Jaz's corpse. The light flowed into the apex of the pyramid, where it slowly spiraled together into a single swirling sphere. Seth looked at Jaz's Endless Pouch.

There had been no specialized container for a harvested Legacy inside. Then he remembered when he had found Kreytorus's Legacy inside his father's gift box. It hadn't been stored inside any special vessel either. It should be fine, Seth thought. Above the corpse, the purple sphere continued to condense until its energy finally solidified. A smooth crystalline shell formed around it and locked the swirling aether inside. As if on cue, the crushing presence eased at the same time.

Seth reached out, gripped the crystallized orb, and cast Intermediate Identify. Lightning Protection Lacion Serry's Legacy Tier: Iron | Peak-Platinum Grade: Uncommon Affinity: Lightning Restrictions: - Warrior or Guardian - Lightning Affinity [...] The Uncommon grade had completely fooled Seth. The crystalline text hovering before his eyes just shattered every earlier assumption he had made.

Months ago, Toren had explained that a Legacy functioned as a blueprint to guide a Wielder along a predetermined Path, making their breakthroughs and advancements far easier than they would normally be. From its Tier, this Legacy extended that effect all the way to the Peak of Platinum. Seth stared at the crystal in his palm. The strongest Wielder in Kastal was King Theron, and even he had only reached High Platinum. Yet this smooth, violet orb offered a proven road beyond that.

Toren had compared using a Legacy to selling one's soul to the devil, since it required abandoning all personal agency to walk someone else's Path. Yet despite that philosophical cost, Seth had little doubt many would kill for the chance to claim one. He focused his gaze on the dots at the bottom to expand the full item description. Spell description (Passive) - Increases Toughness Power by 10/15/20/25%. - Enhances all Lightning-affinity spells by an additional 5/10/15/20% Arcane Power.

Legacy description - Forms a core with a piece of Lacion's Path inside the owner's chest. - The core amplifies a trait or aptitude of the owner and guides them toward Lacion's Path. - Very slight personality changes may occur over time. - Lacion's Path: Unstoppable Lighting The Toughness bonus was extraordinary, especially at the higher Tiers. Unfortunately, the Lightning-affinity requirement ruled Colossus out immediately. Even if it hadn't, Seth doubted a beast could inherit a human Legacy in the first place.

But the extractor mentioned that it could be extracted from a beast's corpse. That made him wonder how he could even recognize a beast that carried a Legacy? Just by its strength? Or was there some other sign? The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Seth glanced at Elena. The noblewoman was studying the glowing violet crystal, yet there was no trace of astonishment on her face. She simply looked... curious. Is it because her own Legacy is stronger? Seth wondered.

His thoughts drifted back to the day he had Identified Kreytorus's Legacy. Aside from Link's name, the entire description had consisted of rows of question marks. For the past year, he had assumed it was because back then Identify was simply not powerful enough. Now he wasn't so sure, given all the attributes Link granted him. But if that was the case... what grade was it? His gaze then lingered on the Legacy's description and the possible alteration of personality. Seth's jaw tightened.

It wasn't as if the idea was completely foreign to him. More than once, his core had tried to nudge him toward certain actions—urging him to hunt, to fight, to give in to his instincts. Nightmare had never missed the chance to tease him about it. Yet they had always remained just that: urges and suggestions. He had resisted them more than once. It showed that it was merely a possibility, and he could fight back against them.

The only time he had truly felt himself lose control and had done something he hadn't intended was during his battle against Elysha—and that had happened only once, in the heat of a single fight. That hardly meant his Legacy could dictate his every action. Seth shoved the thought to the back of his mind and stored the violet Legacy inside his Endless Pouch before securing the bag tightly to his belt. Then he looked back at Elena.

"We need to leave," he said. His gaze swept across the dark tree line.

"There's a good chance someone sensed that." Elena nodded, and without another word, the two of them broke into a run to disappear beneath the dense canopy, relentless rain still pouring down on them. Some time later, Seth and Elena sat beneath the sprawling roots of a massive tree, tucked inside the natural hollow they formed. The secluded shelter was remarkably similar to the one where Seth had absorbed the Claw of the Primal Tiger the previous night. Outside, dusk gradually gave way to night.

Not long ago, Elena had used her communication orb to contact Marine and confirm the others had escaped safely. A profound sense of relief had washed over Seth upon hearing it. Devus was already recovering under the care of the party's Priest, and the Guardian and the other members had found a secure hiding place well away from the main trails. Considering their own injuries and the darkness now creeping over the forest, Seth and Elena had decided not to risk traveling any farther.

If he had been alone, Seth would have continued through the night. With Elena, the risk wasn't worth it. Rain continued to hammer the forest outside their shelter, turning the ground into a sea of mud and puddles. The two of them quietly chewed on dry field rations, replenishing what strength they could after the battle. A few feet away, Nightmare lay with his head raised, crimson eyes fixed on the forest as he silently watched for the slightest sign of movement.

After hours of relentless pestering through Link, Seth had finally given in and let Colossus absorb the Copper Seed taken from Jaz's corpse. Depending on how long the process took, he would decide afterward whether to feed the scorpion the Iron Seed as well. Doing one right now made sense, just as Colossus had insisted countless times. His damaged carapace needed extensive healing, leaving the giant scorpion unfit for combat over at least the the next day regardless.

Nightmare had taken a little over two days to absorb both of Morsh's Seeds. Seth suspected Colossus would require roughly the same amount of time—perhaps even less, thanks to his superior raw Potential. Seth swallowed the last of his dry rations and turned his thoughts to the future waiting for him. He expected the remainder of the battle to be significantly easier. Jaz and Elysha were dead. Celeste had abandoned the Rift. Kaelen had openly betrayed the Empire.

No one on the imperial side now was strong enough to stand against him. As long as he destroyed the Stabilizer Obelisks and denied the Empire access to their arsenal of Instant spell-scrolls, the balance would swing heavily in Kastal's favor. The final battle, however, required careful timing. It had to end precisely when both Kaelen's allies and the Champions of the Chaos were close by and ready to take action.

To make that possible, Seth planned to ask Elena, Devus, or Selena to leave the Rift while the others kept Kaelen's sister as a prisoner. The one who pulled out could then inform Orwen about the upcoming events, allowing the branch's leader to decide whether or not to trust—and exploit—the Dark Assassin's plan. At least, the version Seth intended to share with them. Over the past hour, he had made up his mind: he would keep part of the truth to himself.

With an organization like the Oracle Guild and creatures such as Oracle Snakes, which could both peer into someone's mind, Seth couldn't afford to reveal everything. If the Champions of Chaos later stood before the leaders of the NEVAK to assert that Kastal should become a republic, and it was discovered they had known the association's representatives were the true targets, it could ruin everything. No. That risk was too great. The safest option was to say that Kaelen was going after the Empress herself.

It was a believable lie, one that still gave Orwen the opportunity to decide if he should exploit the situation, while eliminating the risk of implicating the man and the others if their mind were ever examined. It wasn't ideal. But telling them the truth would put them at risk. Seth pulled Kaelen's communication orb from his Endless Pouch. The crystal warmed in his palm as a brief message from the assassin illuminated its surface.???: I thought you'd move your head faster.

Didn't think my blade would actually hit. Seth let out a scoff, then sent a pulse of aether into the orb.???: I was exhausted, asshole. He stared at the glowing crystal for a long moment before sending another message.???: Thanks for saving her, by the way. I appreciate it. The orb pulsed seconds later with Kaelen's answer.???: I did it for my sister. I know that noble will treat her well, even as a prisoner. Seth looked across the small, fireless shelter.

Elena had just brushed the last crumbs of her field ration from her hands, tension now gone from her shoulders and face. Kaelen had judged her character perfectly. Of everyone Seth knew, Elena was the one he trusted most to show genuine compassion to anyone. When she raised her head, she caught him looking. Her emerald eyes narrowed as they drifted to the faint glow still lingering in the communication orb in Seth's hand.

"Who are you talking to?" she asked, suspicion creeping into her voice. Seth slipped the orb back into his Endless Pouch.

"Can you activate your Isolating Crystal?" he replied instead of answering the question. Elena frowned, confusion creasing her brow. She reached into her damp gear, drew out the faceted Isolating Crystal, and channeled a pulse of aether into it. A shimmering dome expanded around them, silencing the relentless drumming of the rain beyond their shelter. Seth shifted closer until their knees were almost touching. Then he told her everything. Almost everything.

He started with his encounter with Kaelen weeks before the war inside the Rift and continued through everything that had happened up until their conversation the previous day. He explained how they had formed a temporary truce to save both Colossus and Kaelen's sister, how the assassin held a deep hatred against the imperial regime, and finally, he revealed Kaelen's plan—or rather, the version Seth had decided to share.

He told Elena that Kaelen had allied with powerful individuals who possessed a crippling poison and had entrusted the assassin with using it. Instead of revealing the true target were the NEVAK officers, Seth claimed that Kaelen intended to unleash the poison beside the Empress herself and had offered to use it on Kastal's king at the same time. All he asked in exchange was to take his sister as a prisoner to protect her from retaliation for his treason.

"And... you agreed?" Elena whispered, her face etched with disbelief. Seth gave a slow nod.

"Yeah. But I don't—""Seth, that's suicidal!" Elena exclaimed.

"We're talking about Kastal's king! Even if that assassin somehow succeeds in poisoning him, what's stopping the king from killing you before your father's friend or the Champions of Chaos can intervene?"

"They'll already be nearby and ready to help," Seth replied, keeping his tone level.

"How can you possibly know that?" Elena shot back.

"You'll be risking your life for nothing."

"I was planning to ask you, Devus, or Selena to leave the Rift a day or two before Kaelen and I do," Seth explained.

"Whoever leaves could tell the Champions of Chaos everything. If Orwen decides it's worth the risk, he'll give me a signal when I get out. If he doesn't, I'll simply back off."

"You'll just... betray the assassin like that?" Elena asked, her tone shifting. Seth blinked, caught slightly off guard.

"No. We'll still take his sister into Kastal's custody and keep her safe. I just won't get involved otherwise." He studied Elena's expression for a moment before tilting his head.

"Why does it sound like you want me to honor my agreement with him no matter what?" Elena lowered her gaze to her mud-stained boots.

"He saved me." The quiet admission hung in the hollow shelter. She was right. Even if Kaelen had said that it was for his own and his sister's benefit, he had not been obligated to save Elena. Outside the shimmering dome of the Isolating Crystal, rain continued to splash soundlessly against the tree's roots.

"I don't know," Elena said at last, letting out a quiet sigh.

"Maybe we should wait and see what the Champions of Chaos think."

"Yeah," Seth agreed. The noblewoman fell silent again, and her lips twisted thoughtfully.

"I just feel like you keep taking risks," she murmured.

"One day... your luck is going to run out." Seth let out a sigh as well.

"This is the last time I can help people here," he answered.

"Once this battle is over, I'll be gone." Elena lowered her gaze, and now the exhaustion on her face gave way to something deeper. Her eyes lingered on the ground between them for several long seconds.

"How long do you think it'll be before I see you again?" The question came out as little more than a whisper. Seth leaned back against the rough bark of the roots behind.

"I don't know." The shimmering barrier around them rippled as a few stray droplets slipped through from above and splashed onto Elena's crimson hair. Seth shifted farther in the shelter, drawing his knees closer to his chest to free a dry patch of ground beside him.

"Come here," he said. A few paces away, Nightmare lifted his head and shot Seth a long, knowing look. Seth was just about to glare back at him when Elena quietly scooted over. Though instead of sitting beside him, she settled herself in the narrow space between his legs. Seth's breathing stopped. Elena leaned back ever so slightly, causing the warmth of her body to brush against his chest. Then, almost hesitantly, she turned her head and tilted it up toward him. Their eyes met, now only inches apart.