The Sanctified Watch closed in—eight in total, clad in jagged ceremonial armor that shimmered faintly with residual glyphfire. Their masks, spiral-forged and seamless, hid all trace of humanity. They moved in perfect sync, not as men, but as dogma given shape.
Behind them, the broken Spiral Temple moaned with wind and memory.
Lira pressed her back to the stone, eyes fixed on them with terror—and defiance.
I felt the mark beneath my feet pulse again.
The sigil Seluriel left behind.
I stepped forward, drawing in a breath that tasted of ash and ancient vows.
[System Notice: Combat Engagement Imminent – Multiple Elite Entities Detected]Enemy Type: Sanctified Watch – Spiral Flamebound (x8)Threat Level: HighStatus: Bound by Flame OathsTactic: Coordinated Ritual Formation
[Passive Triggered: Echo of the Moonkindled Flame]Ritual Disruption Radius Increased.Enemy Formation Synchronicity reduced by 15%.
They broke formation—but only slightly.
The one in front raised a two-handed glaive etched with spirals of red crystal. Its voice echoed like flame dragged across bone:
"You wear her flame."
I nodded. "And she remembers what you did."
Then I moved.
I didn't charge—I struck the ground.
[Clawing Swipe – Rank D – Lv. 4]
My arm lashed out like a whip. Glyphfire exploded along the stone as the Watch scattered. The lead warrior caught the brunt of the slash—his armor cracked and he stumbled back.
[Direct Hit – +38 EXP Earned][Soul Echo Triggered – Stat Increased: Strength +1][Skill Fragment Acquired: Spiral Guarding Form Lv. 1]
'Good. One down. But not out.'
A second Watcher struck with twin shortblades. I twisted—
[Rot Pulse – Rank C – Lv. 2]
A burst of decay-laced mana erupted from my palm, shattering his footwork. He staggered, blades scraping against the cursed ground. His armor hissed as rot laced through it.
Then came the third—aiming for Lira.
"No—!"
But she moved.
Fast.
The ring on her hand blazed with moonlight. Just before the sword could touch her, a pulse of radiant energy knocked the attacker back.
[System Alert: Moonkindled Ring Reaction Triggered]Active Trait Unlocked: Lunar Ward – Rank CGrants the bearer a protective shield once per encounter. Purifies minor curses. Duration: 10 seconds.
She stared at her hand in awe. "I didn't do anything…"
"You didn't have to," I shouted. "She did."
Another warrior lunged. I ducked under his strike and activated—
[Devourer's Core – Rank EX]
I reached toward the fallen one I'd wounded.
A tendril of black light snapped from my palm, sinking into his armor. His body convulsed, then withered, as the stolen life poured into me.
[Corpse Absorbed – +2 STR, +1 AGI][New Skill Fragment Gained: Spiral Flame Lance Lv. 1][Soul Echo Triggered – Stat Increase: Intelligence +1]
My arms surged with heat. I wasn't just fighting anymore—I was becoming something else.
No longer Isaac the corpse.
I was fire. Bound and reborn.
Three more of them surrounded me, coordinating. Their eyes pulsed. Their bodies shimmered. They spoke as one:
"Unravel the false flame."
They struck simultaneously.
Spear. Blade. Fist.
I raised my hand—
And the mark beneath my feet blazed up into the air like a beacon.
[System Override – Sigil of the Moonkindled Flame Activated]Triggering: Seluriel's Radiance (Echo Form)
Moonlight exploded outward.
It wasn't magic. It wasn't even mana.
It was memory.
Pure and wrathful.
Each of the Watchers was flung back, seared by the radiant echo of Seluriel's final cry.
For a moment, I could see her—her silhouette superimposed over mine. Wings of fire and sorrow outstretched.
They screamed.
And then… silence.
Only three remained.
They didn't flee.
They knelt.
Arms to the ground. Weapons cast aside.
As if they remembered.
And feared.
[System Notice: Combat Concluded – Partial Conversion Triggered]New Title Unlocked: Ashborne Heir of the Moonkindled FlameBonuses:
+5% Damage to Spiral-Affiliated enemies
Passive Aura: Lesser Spiral Followers suffer Disruption
Moonlight Affinity stat unlocked (Base: 3)
[Status Updated]HP: 77 / 145MP: 25 / 65Strength: 13Agility: 8Endurance: 8Intelligence: 9Willpower: 8Charisma: 2Luck: ???Moonlight Affinity: 3
Recent Gains: +2 STR, +1 AGI (Devourer's Core), +1 INT (Soul Echo), New Title
Lira emerged from behind the pillar, her voice shaking:
"That was… her, wasn't it?"
I nodded, my breath catching.
"She's not done with this place."
Lira stared down at her glowing ring.
"And neither are we."