Len stood silently at the edge of the glowing courtyard of the Moonfall Sect, letting the cold wind brush against his face. The night felt unusually still, almost as if the darkness itself was waiting for something to happen. Since arriving in the sect, he had sensed invisible tension around him—the elders whispering behind closed doors, disciples avoiding eye contact, and the strange feeling that someone was constantly watching him.
But tonight… things were worse.
A system notification floated before his eyes:
[Warning: Unknown spiritual pressure detected.]
[Source: Hidden… concealed… analyzing failed.]
Len frowned. This was the third time today.
He clenched his fist.
"Something is wrong inside this sect… and they're hiding it."
Ever since meeting Arin— the mysterious girl who seemed to appear whenever danger approached—he felt both comfort and uncertainty. She always kept him at a distance, yet her eyes told a different story. Whenever she looked at him, it felt like she carried a secret that she desperately wanted to reveal but couldn't.
Earlier that day, she had said softly, almost in a whisper:
"Len… if anything strange happens tonight, don't go near the old library."
Why?
She didn't explain.
She just left before he could ask.
Now, standing alone, he looked toward the dark path leading to the library. The moonlight barely touched it, making the place seem abandoned, almost forbidden.
"Which means… that's exactly where I need to go," he muttered.
He walked slowly down the narrow path. Each step felt heavier, as if the shadows were trying to pull him back. His system flickered again, sending another warning:
[Caution: Anomalous energy disturbance detected within 20 meters.]
Suddenly—
A deep, rumbling sound echoed from the library basement.
Len's heart sped up.
He pushed the door open.
The library was filled with old scrolls, torn manuscripts, and ancient relics sealed in glass cases. But his eyes caught something odd—dusty footprints leading downstairs.
Someone had gone inside recently.
Len followed them, descending the stairs slowly. With each step, the smell of old parchment grew stronger. At the bottom, he found a huge circular stone tablet glowing faintly with crimson runes. The air around it felt… alive.
And in front of the tablet—
stood Arin.
Her back was facing him, but her shoulders trembled.
"Arin…?" Len whispered.
She stiffened.
For a moment, she didn't turn.
When she finally did, her expression was filled with fear and relief mixed together.
"Len… you shouldn't have come here."
"Then tell me," he said firmly. "What is this place? And why is the system detecting danger everywhere?"
Arin looked at the stone tablet, her voice trembling.
"Because the sect is hiding something. Something ancient. Something sealed for centuries. And it's waking up."
Len stepped closer.
"Then why are you here?"
She hesitated… then slowly lifted her right hand.
A glowing mark shimmered on her skin — a sigil matching the runes on the stone tablet.
Len's eyes widened.
"Arin… what is that?"
Her voice cracked.
"I'm not supposed to tell you. But if I don't… you'll die just like the others."
Before Len could speak, the tablet's runes flared violently.
BOOM!
A shockwave burst outward, sending both of them crashing against the walls. Dust exploded everywhere. The ground trembled as cracks spread across the stone floor.
The system screamed:
[CRITICAL WARNING!]
[A sealed entity is awakening.]
[Immediate retreat advised.]
Arin grabbed Len's wrist.
"Run—! Now!"
But his feet stopped when he heard a voice emerging from inside the tablet—deep, echoing, ancient:
"So… the chosen vessel has returned… and the outsider arrives with her."
Arin froze in terror.
Len looked at her.
"Vessel? Arin… what have you been hiding?"
Her eyes filled with tears—not of sadness, but of fear.
"Len… I'm not who you think I am."
The tablet split open—
A blinding scarlet light shot out—
And a shadowy figure began emerging from inside.
The air turned cold.
The walls shook violently.
The voice spoke again:
"Come, vessel… fulfill the contract."
Arin screamed—
Len grabbed her hand—
The entire chamber erupted around them—
And then everything went black.
—End of Chapter 10—
Chapter 11 coming soon
Chapter Ten ends here!
Chapter Eleven coming soon!
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