The dust raised by the collapsing ceiling began to settle, leaving the Cathedral shrouded in a heavy silence, broken only by my labored breaths that escaped like the hiss of a viper. I stood amidst the wreckage, my left arm dangling at my side like a dead piece of meat after the shoulder bone had been completely shattered under the blow of Lars's sword pommel. Pain gnawed at my body like cauterized knives, but the ecstasy I felt as I watched the fading remains of "Lars" was an antidote to every ache.
"Wake up... my servant."
With a single word saturated with my will, I released the threads of my soul to entwine with the new Echo. The hall grew cold instantly. The pale blue shadows emitted by the glowing plants began to gravitate toward the center of the hall, condensing and solidifying until they formed a majestic entity rising from the ashes.
Before my eyes, the [Oathbound Knight] manifested.
He bore no resemblance to the knight I had just slain. His pitch-black armor had transformed into a substance akin to a black hole—a material that absorbed light rather than reflecting it. He was taller than the living Lars, and terrifyingly leaner, giving him a demonic appearance from another world. The greatsword he held had become a serrated blade dripping with liquid darkness, and behind the slit of his helm, there were no human eyes, but a cold red glow pulsing with an absolute desire for the harvest.
I summoned my spiritual interface, and the runes for the Echo appeared before my eyes:
[Echo: Oathbound Knight]
Rank: Ascended.
Core: Monster.
Attributes:
[Steadfast]: This Echo is utterly loyal to its master, fighting with unwavering resolve until its very last breath, without fear or hesitation.
[Dark Knight]: The strength and speed of this Echo increase exponentially whenever the surroundings are plunged into darkness.
Abilities:
[Blade of Darkness]: This Echo's sword possesses terrifying corrosive properties; every strike melts armor and flesh, leaving a mark that never heals.
[Heart of Darkness]: The ability to manifest dense darkness from his soul to shroud the area and blind enemies.
[Aura of Terror]: Radiates a massive spiritual pressure that weakens the enemies' will and makes their hearts tremble.
Echo Description: "The oath that was once a beacon lighting his life became the very blade that slaughtered it. Now, nothing remains of his soul but a hollow echo; a void promise of loyalty, forever imprisoned within a cage of black steel."
"Hahaha... hahahaha!"
When I looked at the Echo's attributes and abilities, I couldn't help but laugh with pure joy. Since this nightmare began, I hadn't felt this much confidence to keep going—until now.
A distorted smile crept onto my face, blood trickling from my twisted lips. I looked at the silent Knight waiting for my signal. There was no time for rest; the Cathedral was still teeming with terrified priests hiding in the dark corners, praying to gods who would never answer.
"Kill everyone inside this church," I commanded coldly, my voice echoing like the hiss of death through the hall. "Purge this place of their false light... leave no one breathing."
[Oathbound Knight] moved without a sound. His gait was like the flow of a shadow over marble. The moment he reached the first group of priests hiding behind the ancient wooden pews, the massacre befitting this cursed shore began.
The Echo activated the [Aura of Terror]. I saw the priests fall to their knees, clutching their chests as if their hearts were about to stop from raw fear. The Knight showed no mercy; he swung his sword in a single horizontal arc that cleaved three bodies at once. There was no sound of metal striking bone—only the "hiss" of darkness devouring living flesh.
In my mind, the cold, familiar voice of the Nightmare Spell resonated:
[You have slain a dormant human. Name: Unknown.]
[You have received a Memory: Shard of Light.]
I left the Echo to complete its work like a tireless harvester. I turned slowly, ignoring the cries for help that began to fill the hall and crash against the marble walls, and started walking toward the long corridor leading to the "High Priest's" chambers. My shattered arm throbbed with every step, but rage and absolute focus kept me upright.
As I walked, the Echo had activated [Heart of Darkness]. A thick black mist began to crawl from the main hall, swallowing the candlelight and turning the corridors into tunnels of absolute void. Behind me, I could hear the sound of tearing robes and flesh, and the heavy thud of bodies hitting the polished floor.
[You have slain a dormant human. Name: Unknown.]
[You have received a Memory: Incense of Awakening.]
[You have slain a dormant human. Name: Unknown.]
[You have slain a dormant human. Name: Unknown.]
[You have slain a dormant huma...]
[You have slain a...]
[You have slai...]
[You have s...]
I ignored the whispers of the Spell. My goal was the golden key hanging around the High Priest's neck. I reached a narrow spiral staircase; the air there had grown heavy with the scent of fresh blood and ozone. My feet left bloody prints on the stairs—some mine, and some belonging to those who dared stand in my way.
On the upper floor, the scene was different. Here, the "elite" priests were trying to construct a weak magical barrier. But as soon as the Shadow Knight approached them from below, the [Aura of Terror] seeped through the walls.
[You have slain a dormant human. Name: Unknown.]
[You have received a Memory: Broken Tin Armor.]
Finally, I reached a wooden door that looked slightly larger than the rest. I pushed the door open and stepped inside. There sat the High Priest on a chair behind a table, praying peacefully.
Upon my entry, he ceased his prayers and looked at me calmly.
There was no fear in his eyes.
In fact, there was nothing at all. No anger, no resentment, no hatred—just an unsettling stillness.
At this, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of respect for him, so I initiated a greeting.
"A pleasure to meet you. My name is Orion."