The Box: Fate
Chapter 49 — The Zenith's Secret
The tension in the air dissipated as Vahn the Iron-Heart lowered his hood Beneath the grey fabric was a face marked by old scars—souvenirs of battles that most players never lived to see Kataki signaled for the group to head inside the hotel! private strategy room
Once the heavy oak doors were sealed and Murasaki had placed a silencing ward around the room, Vahn stood by the window, his back to the group
"You have the Origin Spark: Zenith" Vahn began, his voice like gravel "You think it's just a tool to break a curse You are only half-right"
He turned around, his eyes scanning the sixteen players with a piercing intensity
The Revelation of the Spark
"Listen carefully" Vahn said, "because the Architect doesn't want you to know the second function of that card The Origin Spark operates on a 'Soul-Rewrite' logic Here is the truth line by line:"
* The Law of Cleansing: Yes, it breaks any curse, whether it's from a Demon Lord or the Architect himself It restores the user to their 'True State'
* The Latent Wish: The card is a fragment of the Box's core code Once the curse is removed! the remaining energy in the card can fulfill one absolute wish—The Zenith Desire
* The Price of the Wish: There is no limit to the wish It can resurrect a fallen player, grant a god-tier skill, or even open a permanent portal back to the Real World
* The Trigger: The wish only activates when the card is bathed in the blood of a Monarch
"Malakas is coming because he wants that wish" Vahn continued "He doesn't just want to rule this world; he wants to use the Spark to invade the Real World If he gets that card, the link won't just bring people *in* anymore. It will let the demons out"
The Vanguards' Choice
A heavy silence fell over the room Zanaki looked at the card glowing in Kataki, pocket, then at his friends
"One wish?" Zanaki whispered "We could all go home? Right now?"
"Not right now" Axel grunted, his arms crossed over his chest "We need a Monarch's blood And Malakas isn't going to just give it to us in a vial"
Sharky Bee leaned forward, his eyes sharp "So, Vahn You're Level 65 You could have tried to kill us and take the card for your own wish Why tell us all this?"
Vahn looked at Sharky Bee, then at Kataki "Because I've tried to fight a Monarch alone before That's how I got these scars My entire squad was deleted I realized that in this world, a 'Star-Rank' is still just a man But you... you are a unit You have the Dragon King, the Titan, and the Angel"
Vahn stepped toward Kataki and held out a hand—not to strike, but to offer a pact
"I don't want the wish for myself" Vahn said "I want to see the Architect burn for what he did to my people I will help you level up. I will show you how to hunt a Monarch But when the blood is spilled, you decide the wish"
Kataki looked at the scarred hand of the strongest hunter they had ever met He looked at his team, seeing the determination in their eyes He reached out and gripped Vahn's hand
"We have a deal" Kataki said "We train for Malakas We hunt the Monarch And we take our world back"
,The Nameless Vanguards had just gained their most powerful ally But the shadows outside were growing longer Malakas was no longer just a name—he was a storm on the horizon!