The Box: Fate
Chapter 25 — The Silent Sovereign
The early morning sun painted the city in shades of orange and gold Near the city gates the family they had rescued from the old mill stood waiting The father his hands still calloused from years of labor stepped forward with a heavy leather pouch
We are simple people the man said, his voice thick with emotion as he looked at Akira and the others We do not have the magic or the swords you carry But we have our lives because of you Please take this It is every coin we have saved and it is not nearly enough
Akira looked at the pouch then at the small girl who was now smiling holding her mother hand He accepted the gold knowing that in this real world they would need resources for better equipment and information from the Hunter Guild
As the family turned to leave the small girl ran back toward Zanaki She reached into her pocket and pulled out a weathered metallic card It didn't look like money it looked like an ancient relic cold to the touch and engraved with scales that seemed to shimmer with a hidden heat
I found this in the mill's basement before the shadows came she whispered pressing it into Zanaki palm The red eyes were looking for it I think... I think it belongs to someone brave
Zanaki stared at the card The moment his fingers brushed the metal his Thread of Fate vibrated violently A notification appeared in his mind invisible to everyone else
**[HIDDEN RELIC DETECTED THE HEART OF THE CALAMITY]
[SKILL LOCKED DRAGON SOVEREIGN — BEAST MANIFESTATION]
Zanaki heart hammered against his ribs He quickly closed his hand hiding the card from the view of the other sixteen players He felt a sudden heavy weight of responsibility If the Demon Lord servants were hunting for this his friends would be in even more danger if they knew he had it
Thanks kiddo Zanaki said with his usual playful grin ruffling her hair I'll keep it safe
As the group began to walk back toward the Hunter Guild to research the Class Advancement shrines Zanaki lagged behind His mind was racing He looked at Kataki who was walking ahead with his Void Sight blindfold and at Axel Hatanaki who was boasting about his next level-up
*Not yet* Zanaki thought *I can't show them this yet This power... it feels untamed*
While the others entered the bustling Guild hall to speak with the officials Zanaki made an excuse about needing fresh air He slipped away moving toward the outskirts of the city where a waterfall crashed into a deep secluded basin hidden by high stone walls
He stood alone in the mist of the waterfall The silence was absolute He pulled out the metallic card
Active Zanaki whispered
The card didn't just glow it roared A pillar of crimson and gold energy erupted from the metal swirling around Zanaki like a cyclone The air grew hot the water of the basin beginning to steam From the energy a massive spectral shape began to form behind him—a Dragon with eyes like molten suns and scales harder than any known ore
The pressure was immense Zanaki knees buckled but he refused to fall
So this is a Beast Skill Zanaki gasped his skin beginning to tingle with a draconic heat The power of a Dragon Sovereign
The beast let out a silent mental roar that echoed in Zanaki soul He realized that this wasn't just a move he could use it was a partner he had to master Unlike Kataki Azrael The Angel of Death which was a law of the end, this was a law of pure raw existence and dominance
After several minutes of intense struggle Zanaki managed to pull the energy back into the card The spectral dragon vanished and the air cooled He stood panting his shirt soaked with sweat and spray from the waterfall
He tucked the card deep into a hidden inner pocket of his jacket He wouldn't tell Akira He wouldn't tell Kataki Not until he could control the beast well enough to ensure it wouldn't hurt his friends
He walked back toward the Guild hall wiping the sweat from his forehead and putting on his mask of the carefree joker once again
Inside the Guild Kataki turned his blindfolded head toward the door as Zanaki entered The silver runes on the cloth flickered for a second sensing a residual heat but Kataki said nothing
The records are found Kataki announced pointing to a map spread across a stone table The first Advancement Shrine is located in the Whispering Canyons It is guarded by a trial of spirit We leave at dawn
Zanaki joined the circle leaning over the map with a grin The Whispering Canyons huh? Sounds like a party Let's go get those upgrades
The seventeen players were ready But among them two now carried secrets of power that could either save their world or burn it to the ground