Chapter 97: Challenge

Chapter 97: Challenge

A crystal carved with intricate patterns rested on the plain stone. It was dim and lifeless, faint lines of purple crossing over its surface and winding beneath the glistening crystal. There was no doubt that this crystal was the one depicted in the murals.

Arwin stood with bated breath, waiting to see if opening the chest would cause something to change – but the room remained silent and empty. Rodrick hadn’t said anything from above them where he stood watch, so it didn’t seem likely that the crystals had all suddenly come alive.

The Mesh glittered before him as it swirled to life. It danced in lazy patterns, as if mildly peeved to have been called back so suddenly after its last message, then took form into its usual letters.

Heart of the Devouring Prism: Epic Quality

[Dead]: This item was once a piece of a greater being, but no longer. It lies dead, though some of its former power still simmers beneath the faceted surface of its heart.

[Suppressed]: Bands of life have been woven around this item, binding its powers permanently.

[Magical Hunger]: The Heart of the Devouring Prism requires a continuous flow of magical energy to keep beating. Any sources of magic that come into contact with it will slowly be drained of their energy. Suppressed: [Magical Hunger] cannot drain more energy than the Heart of the Devouring Prism can contain.

[Spreading Corruption]: The Heart of the Devouring Prism will infest its host, modifying it in its image. Suppressed: [Spreading Corruption] cannot spread beyond the confines of its host.

[Crystalline Plague]: The Heart of the Devouring Prism can convert magical energy it has absorbed over a period of time into pure crystal that can absorb energy and send it back to the Heart of the Devouring Prism. Suppressed: New crystals formed by[Crystalline Plague] can no longer store energy and have a limited range of operation.

“Godspit,” Lillia muttered from beside Arwin. “It’s been dead for years, got suppressed so badly that its abilities are mere shadows of what they once were, and its heart is still Epic? I don’t even want to think about how difficult of an opponent this would have been when it had been alive. We would have needed an army if it got so much as a foothold anywhere.”

“I wonder how powerful the skeleton that bound it was,” Arwin said, his brow heavily furrowed. “Doesn’t it seem a bit... odd?”

“More like terrifying,” Anna said. “What do you mean by odd?”NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

“Well, Lillia and I – we were the strongest soldiers in our respective armies,” Arwin said. “That was the whole point. But... I don’t think I could have handled something like this on my own. Not if it had spread as far as the murals showed that it had.”

“Neither could I,” Lillia said. “I knew we weren’t as strong as we’d been led to believe, but the skeleton singlehandedly took this creature out. An enemy that should have been enough to stand up to our entire army, dead to a single enemy. One that wasn’t even strong enough to make any legends or records that I’ve ever seen.”

Anna looked from Lillia to Arwin. “Are you implying that you were actually far weaker than you actually thought?”

“No,” Arwin said. “I don’t think it’s that we were all that weak. Sure, we missed out on countless Achievements and Titles that would have made us far stronger, but we were still powerful warriors. I don’t think it was us. I think it was everyone else. I don’t think the peak of power is anywhere near where we thought it was. If creatures like this were just... wandering around, then the true peak is far, far higher.”

“It would make sense,” Lillia said. “If we were literally just puppets in a play for the populace, then there’s no reason to tell us that we were actually only halfway to the top – or however far we actually were from it. I don’t even know anymore.”

“How many Tiers were you told existed?” Anna asked, a worried frown crossing her lips.

“Ten,” Lillia said. “Apprentice, Journeyman, Adept, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, Archon, King, Emperor, and Legend.”

She looked to Arwin for confirmation and he nodded. “That’s what I know of as well.”

Arwin reached down. He paused before he touched the crystal’s surface, fingers hovering just an inch above it. Nobody stopped him. He picked the crystal up. It was heavier than he’d expected but felt just like a normal glossy stone.

Light refracted through it, twisted by the carvings and purple lines running through the Heart, and danced across Arwin’s face. A faint tingle of energy tickled the back of his head he felt the Mesh wake.

He dropped the crystal, jerking his hands back, but it was too late. Golden lines erupted before his eyes and curled into letters.

Challenge: [Curb the Hunger] has been initiated.

[Curb the Hunger] – You’ve unveiled a hidden aspect of your Class. All that lives must consume to persist, but some hunger more than others. Unfortunately for you, your hunger is far greater than what your body can sustain. Find a way to bring it under control before you consume yourself. Rewards: range on completion. Failure to complete a sufficient amount of the Challenge will result in your death.

Milestone 1: Discover your lack of knowledge and initiate the Challenge.

Reward 1: [The Hungering Maw] will have an extra variant to choose from upon your next Class Specialization. This achievement will be consumed upon your next Class Specialization

Milestone 2: ?

Reward 2: Unknown Item

Milestone 3: ?

Reward 3: Unknown Title

“What the hell?” Arwin breathed, staring at the words before him as if they were in a different language.

Lillia grabbed his shoulders and shook him violently, snapping him out of his daze.

“Arwin! Are you okay?” Lillia demanded; her hand raised as if to slap the life back into him. He blinked and raised his hands to forestall her.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Arwin said hurriedly. “Nothing is wrong.”

“You looked like you saw a ghost. What happened when you picked up the crystal?” Anna asked. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, I’m definitely fine. I just got an unexpected message from the Mesh,” Arwin said slowly, his eyes still running back over the golden letters even as they faded from view.

“What was it?” Lillia asked. “Don’t make me shake it out of you.”

“A reward for figuring something out about how my class works,” Arwin said. “But... what in the world is a Challenge?”