Chapter 5: The Forgotten Bond

### **Chapter 5: The Forgotten Bond**

The forest thickened as Lyra pressed onward, the path ahead marked only by faint System-guided arrows hovering at the edges of her vision. The tension in the air had eased since her encounter at the ruins, but a sense of unease lingered. Something about the energy of this place still felt... wrong.

Her hand rested on Fate’s Edge, the dagger’s warmth bleeding into her palm as if it were alive. Lyra didn’t trust the weapon—not fully. It was a tool, yes, and a powerful one at that, but she knew better than to rely too heavily on something gifted by the System. Tools had a habit of turning into chains when wielded carelessly.

The arrow ahead blinked out, replaced by a new notification.

**[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: TASK UPDATED.]**

**Objective: Reach the Heart of the Plain.**

“Because vague directions are your specialty,” Lyra muttered, her voice cutting through the silence. She paused, glancing around the dense forest. The violet leaves above glowed faintly, casting dappled light over the gnarled roots beneath her boots. The stillness felt... unnatural. Too quiet.

A low growl shattered the silence.

Lyra’s body tensed, her instincts kicking in as she spun toward the sound. Emerging from the shadows was a creature unlike anything she’d ever seen. It moved on four legs, its body covered in sleek, black fur that seemed to absorb the light around it. Its eyes glowed an eerie crimson, and jagged spines jutted from its back like the teeth of some primordial predator.

“Well, aren’t you a charmer,” Lyra said, her voice steady as she unsheathed Fate’s Edge. The dagger responded instantly, its blade glowing with a faint blue light. The creature’s growl deepened, its muscles coiling as it prepared to strike.

**[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: NEW ENEMY DETECTED.]**

**Name**: Riftborn Stalker

**Type**: Cursed Beast

**Level**: 5

**HP**: 200/200

**Abilities**:

- *Shadow Phase*: Can briefly become intangible to avoid attacks.

- *Lacerating Strike*: Deals heavy damage with its claws.

“Level five? Great. Guess I’m punching above my weight again,” Lyra muttered. She shifted her stance, her free hand crackling faintly with residual energy from her **Healing Touch** ability. “Alright, big guy. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The creature lunged, moving with a speed that defied its massive frame. Lyra ducked low, rolling to the side as its claws sliced through the air where she’d been standing. She came up on one knee, slashing upward with Fate’s Edge. The blade connected, leaving a glowing gash along the creature’s flank. It howled, the sound reverberating through the forest like a thunderclap.

“Not so tough now, are you?” Lyra taunted, though her smirk faded as the creature’s body began to shimmer. Its form blurred, becoming translucent, and it vanished into the shadows.

**[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMY USING SHADOW PHASE.]**

“Of course you can go invisible,” Lyra muttered, her eyes scanning the darkness. She tightened her grip on the dagger, its hum growing louder as if urging her to act. She closed her eyes, focusing on the faint pulse of the plain’s energy. The hum of Fate’s Edge seemed to guide her, drawing her attention to a spot just behind her.

Without thinking, Lyra spun and slashed. The dagger cut through empty air—then resistance. The Riftborn Stalker reappeared mid-strike, its crimson eyes wide with surprise as the blade dug into its shoulder. The creature howled again, its body flickering as it stumbled back.

**[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: NEW ABILITY DISCOVERED.]**

---

**[Rift Sense (Passive)]**

*Description*: The wielder of Fate’s Edge can sense nearby entities tied to Rift energy, even when concealed.

---

Lyra’s grin widened. “Looks like the playing field just got even.”

The Stalker wasn’t done yet. It lunged again, its claws glowing with a dark energy as it unleashed its **Lacerating Strike**. Lyra darted backward, the claws missing her by inches, but the sheer force of the attack sent her sprawling. She hit the ground hard, her breath knocked from her lungs.

Her HP bar in the corner of her vision dipped to 95%. She groaned, pushing herself up as the creature charged again. This time, she was ready. Fate’s Edge pulsed in her hand, its energy building as she channeled her mana into the blade.

“Let’s see how you like this,” she said, her voice low and dangerous.

The dagger flared with blue light as she activated **Phantom Bane**. She slashed upward in a wide arc, the blade releasing a wave of energy that tore through the Stalker’s intangible form. The creature howled one last time before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into a dark mist.

**[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMY DEFEATED.]**

**Experience Gained: 200.**

**ITEM ACQUIRED: Shadow Essence.**

Lyra exhaled, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. She glanced at the shimmering remnants of the creature, her mind racing. “A Riftborn Stalker,” she muttered. “What the hell are you things, and why are you here?”

The System chimed again, providing no answers—only more direction.

**[TASK UPDATE: CONTINUE TO THE HEART OF THE PLAIN.]**

Lyra sheathed Fate’s Edge, her fingers brushing against the new item in her inventory. **Shadow Essence.** She’d figure out what to do with it later. For now, the path ahead demanded her attention.

---

The forest began to change as she ventured deeper. The trees grew larger, their trunks twisted and gnarled like ancient hands reaching skyward. The air was colder here, the violet glow of the canopy replaced by an eerie silver light. Lyra felt the weight of the plain pressing down on her, the hum of its energy vibrating in her bones.

Ahead, the ground sloped upward, leading to a plateau bathed in pale light. At its center stood another obelisk, this one far taller and more imposing than the last. Its runes pulsed with a steady rhythm, each beat resonating like a heartbeat.

And standing before it was a figure.

Lyra stopped, her hand instinctively resting on her dagger. The figure was cloaked in shadows, their form indistinct, but there was something familiar about them—something that sent a chill down her spine.

The figure turned, and Lyra’s breath caught. Their face was obscured, but their posture, their presence—it was like looking into a mirror.

“Welcome, Lyra,” the figure said, their voice smooth and cold. “You’ve come far. But are you ready to face the truth?”

Lyra’s jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing. “Who the hell are you?”

The figure smiled, their shadowy form shifting as they stepped closer. “I am the one who will show you what you truly are. And what you could become.”

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