Eliard stood on a crumbling stone bridge that spanned a deep ravine, sweat beading on his forehead. His heart pounded as a massive, wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes snarled from the other side, pacing back and forth.
Its name burned in his vision:
[Bloodfang Sentinel – Level 12]
Eliard gritted his teeth. He was only Level 6—no match for this beast, at least on paper. But the Codex pulsed in his mind, feeding him fragmented strategies and hints.
You can beat it. The Codex’s voice was soft, almost seductive. Think. Adapt.
He reached out and called forth his ability. The air around him crackled with raw magic, and a shimmering glyph appeared beneath his feet—a geometric pattern of glowing lines.
[Ability: Force Glyph Activated]
The Sentinel charged, its claws tearing into the stone bridge with each step. Eliard slammed his palm down, triggering the glyph. A surge of kinetic force blasted outward, catching the beast mid-leap and sending it crashing into the ravine.
A deafening roar echoed from below as the creature plummeted into the abyss.
+500 Experience Points
Eliard collapsed to one knee, his breath ragged, but a grin spread across his face. His Codex Interface lit up with notifications.
[Level Up!]
[New Ability Unlocked: Arcane Bind]
His mind swirled with new information. Arcane Bind—a spell that could lock enemies in place for a few precious seconds. A tactical tool, perfect for controlling the battlefield.
He exhaled, feeling the rush of power seep into his bones. It was intoxicating, almost too much.
Careful, a voice warned at the back of his mind. But it wasn’t the Codex. It was his own.
For the first time, Eliard felt a pang of unease.
The walk back to camp was long and quiet. The thrill of victory faded, leaving behind a strange hollowness. His fingers twitched with residual magic, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something inside him had shifted.
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Selene Ashfall waited for him by the fire, sharpening one of her daggers. She raised an eyebrow when she saw him.
“Let me guess,” she said, her voice tinged with dry amusement. “You either won… or barely escaped with your life.”
“Both,” Eliard muttered, dropping onto a fallen log.
Selene studied him, her eyes narrowing. “You leveled up again, didn’t you?”
He nodded.
“And how does it feel?”
Eliard hesitated. He wanted to say amazing, but that wasn’t entirely true. The power was exhilarating, yes, but it also felt like it was tugging at something deeper. Something dangerous.
“Different,” he finally said. “Like I’m changing… inside.”
Selene set her dagger down and leaned forward, her expression serious. “The Tower has a way of doing that. Power’s a funny thing—it doesn’t just make you stronger. It changes how you think, how you act. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes… not.”
Eliard looked into the fire, the flames reflecting in his eyes. He could already feel it—the temptation to push harder, to seek out stronger foes just for the rush.
The Codex whispered softly in his mind again. You’re destined for greatness. Don’t be afraid to take what’s yours.
The next morning, Eliard woke early, driven by a strange urgency. He needed to test his new abilities. The Codex had revealed another location deep within the Verdant Expanse—a ruined temple said to house ancient magic.
Selene insisted on joining him. “You’ve got that I’m-about-to-do-something-stupid look again,” she said, falling into step beside him.
The journey to the temple was arduous. The forest grew darker, the air thicker with magic. Eliard’s senses heightened as they approached the ancient stone structure, its walls covered in glowing runes.
Inside, the air hummed with energy. At the center of the temple was a raised dais, and hovering above it was a crystal sphere, swirling with arcane light.
The Codex pulsed in Eliard’s mind. Take it.
Without thinking, he reached out.
The moment his fingers touched the sphere, the world seemed to explode around him. His vision blurred, and the Codex roared with energy. New abilities, new knowledge—whole fragments of forgotten magic—flooded into his mind.
[Ability: Arcane Nova Unlocked]
[Passive: Mana Efficiency Boost]
Eliard gasped, clutching his head as the influx of power threatened to overwhelm him. His knees buckled, but Selene caught him before he hit the ground.
“Hey! Stay with me!” she shouted, shaking him. “You’re not invincible, remember?”
The Codex’s voice whispered again, calmer now. You are evolving. This is just the beginning.
Eliard’s breathing steadied, and he looked up at Selene with newfound determination.
“I’m fine,” he said, rising to his feet. “Better than fine. I know what I need to do next.”
Selene frowned. “You’re scaring me a little, Grey.”
He gave her a faint smile. “Good. The Tower should be scared too.”
That night, as they camped outside the temple, Eliard examined his status window.
[Eliard Grey – Level 8]
Abilities:
-
Force Glyph
-
Arcane Bind
-
Arcane Nova
Passive: Mana Efficiency Boost
The power was real, tangible, and it was only the beginning. But he knew Selene was right—power came at a cost. He just didn’t know what it would be yet.
As he closed the Codex, he made a silent promise to himself:
I won’t lose myself to this power. No matter how strong I become.
But deep down, a small part of him wondered if that was a promise he could keep.