Zane's slumped form lay at the foot of the crystalline altar, his last desperate words hanging heavy in the air. "The Emblem... protect it... don't let... the Shadow Syndicate... get it..."
Arthur knelt, checking for a pulse. His face was grim. "He's barely clinging to life. Too many wounds. The Golem, perhaps even the Guild, drained him dry."
Elara's gaze swept the cavern, a new urgency in her eyes. "He made it this far, activated the Hall, and fought them. If he knew the Shadow Syndicate was after something, it must be incredibly important. We can't just leave him." She looked at Kai. "Can you... can you do anything, Kai? With your unique abilities?"
Kai felt a surge of determination. He might not be a healer, but his new abilities, coupled with his instincts, told him there was a way. He placed a claw gently on Zane's chest, focusing his mana. The Ancient Soul Emblem Zane had mentioned, though not visible, felt like a faint, vibrating hum beneath his touch. He recalled the healing properties of water in some of his skills.
Attempting 'Minor Healing Wave' on target.
Mana Cost: 10 MP.
A faint, warm, blue glow emanated from Kai's claw, seeping into Zane's body. It wasn't a miracle cure, but it stabilized him, stopping the active bleeding and giving his weak pulse a tiny boost.
"It's not much," Kai said, panting slightly from the effort. "But it should buy him some time. He needs a proper healer, and quickly."
Arthur's eyes widened slightly. "You can heal? Incredible. He's stable for now, but we're still deep underground. Getting him out and finding a healer will be a monumental task."
"We must try," Elara insisted, her usual pragmatism softened by a fierce resolve. "He gave us this warning. He led us to the Crystal Dragon Hall. We owe him that much."
Just as they were about to formulate a plan, a low, guttural growl vibrated through the very crystals of the Hall. It wasn't the Golem. This sound was deeper, more ancient, emanating from the central crystal embedded in the altar.
The massive crystal, previously radiating a calm blue light, began to pulse with an erratic, ominous red glow. The ground beneath them trembled.
"What's happening?" Arthur gripped his hammer, looking around nervously.
Kai's "Keen Senses" screamed in warning. The 'Crystal Manipulation' skill he'd absorbed from the Golem also began to throb, resonating with the pulsing crystal. "The Hall... it's reacting! Zane must have awakened something more than just the entrance!"
From within the altar's crystal, spectral figures began to emerge. Not solid, but shimmering, transparent, and menacing. They were humanoid, but their forms rippled like heat haze, and their eyes glowed with malevolent red light.
Spiritual Entity: Crystal Phantom (x3) Level 10
HP: 100/100 each
Danger: Moderate (Ignores physical defense, sensitive to light/mana manipulation)
"Phantoms!" Elara gasped. "They're manifestations of the Hall's defense system! My arrows won't do much!"
Arthur swung his hammer, but it passed harmlessly through the first Crystal Phantom. "They're ethereal! My attacks are useless!"
Kai realized this was his moment. His "Crystal Manipulation (Water)" skill was perfect for this. He focused mana, directing it towards the first Phantom. A wave of pure water energy erupted from his claws, crashing into the spectral form.
[-20 HP! Crystal Manipulation (Water) is highly effective!]
The Crystal Phantom shrieked, its form flickering violently before it dispersed into thin air.
You have defeated Crystal Phantom Level 10!
Received 100 experience points!
Experience Points: 1070/100 (Level 23).
Congratulations! You have reached Level 24! All attributes slightly increased.
"They're vulnerable to mana-based attacks, especially water!" Kai yelled, quickly targeting another Phantom. "Elara, focus on channeling your mana through your arrows! Arthur, try to disrupt them with your spiritual energy!"
Elara quickly adapted, focusing her own internal mana to imbue her arrows. Her next shot, though still physical, left a faint, shimmering trail as it struck a Phantom, causing it to flinch and flicker.
Arthur, roaring, swung his hammer, not at the Phantoms directly, but at the very air around them, creating localized shockwaves of his combat aura that caused the ethereal beings to waver and momentarily distort.
More Phantoms began to emerge from the crystal altar, their numbers growing. The Hall's defensive system was now fully active, attempting to purge the intruders.
Amidst the chaos, Kai's "Keen Senses" picked up something else: a faint, desperate hum coming from Zane's body. It was the Ancient Soul Emblem – it was trying to leave him. It was seeking a new host, a new bearer.
As the Phantoms pressed their attack, Zane's body convulsed. A faint, glowing orb began to rise from his chest – the Ancient Soul Emblem itself. It pulsed with ancient power, its light momentarily pushing back the encroaching Phantoms.
"The Emblem!" Elara shouted, seeing it. "It's leaving Zane!"
The Ancient Soul Emblem drifted in the air, seemingly drawn towards Kai. It pulsed, brighter and brighter, until with a silent whoosh, it merged with Kai's chest, sinking into his scales.
Ancient Soul Emblem has chosen you as its new bearer!
New Trait Unlocked: 'Ancient Lineage' (Effect: Greatly enhances affinity with ancient artifacts and locations. Minor passive mana regeneration in ancient areas.)
You have absorbed skill 'Soul Imprint' (Level 1) from Ancient Soul Emblem!
A torrent of knowledge and ancient power surged through Kai. He now understood more about the Temple, about its true purpose, and about the sheer scale of the Shadow Syndicate's ambition. He saw glimpses of a distant past, of ancient dragons and the creation of these very halls. This was more than a mere item; it was a legacy.
The Crystal Phantoms shrieked, their forms destabilizing further as the Ancient Soul Emblem merged with Kai. They seemed to instinctively recoil from the power now residing within him.
"The Emblem... it chose him," Arthur whispered, astonished.
With the Emblem now part of him, Kai felt an unprecedented connection to the Crystal Dragon Hall. The oppressive energy of the Phantoms now seemed... comprehensible. He knew how to deal with them.
"Let's go," Kai said, his voice now imbued with a faint, resonant quality. "We have what we came for, and more. Zane... he trusted us with this. We need to honor that trust, and find a safe haven for him. This Hall is not safe anymore."
With newfound resolve and a powerful artifact integrated into his being, Kai led Arthur and Elara towards a hidden exit revealed by the Emblem's knowledge. The Crystal Dragon Hall, once a place of mystery and battle, was now a source of incredible power and a heavy burden. The true game had just begun.