Greyfall

Chapter 68 — Greyfall

Two days later, the forest finally gave way to a barren valley.

Broken stone buildings covered the landscape.

Some had collapsed completely.

Others stood crookedly, their walls covered in moss.

Aether stopped at the edge of the valley.

"That's Greyfall."

Lyra looked around.

"There's no one here."

"That's what makes it suspicious."

Aria tightened her grip on her weapon.

"Do you think Blackridge already arrived?"

Aether studied the ground.

Footprints.

Several sets.

Fresh.

"They're here."

The group immediately became alert.

Aether crouched beside one of the tracks.

"More than twenty."

Seris looked toward the ruined settlement.

"Then why haven't we seen them?"

Aether pointed toward the center of Greyfall.

"They're underground."

They moved through the ruins carefully.

The deeper they went, the more unusual the buildings became.

There were no ordinary houses in the center.

Instead, there were massive stone structures covered in strange symbols.

Aether touched one.

The moment his fingers made contact—

a faint pulse traveled through the stone.

The system appeared.

[Origin System]

[Unknown Origin inscription detected.]

[Partial analysis available.]

[Function: Energy storage.]

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Aether's eyes narrowed.

"These ruins weren't built normally."

Lyra stepped closer.

"What does it say?"

"Something stored energy here."

Aria looked around.

"For what?"

Aether shook his head.

"I don't know."

A loud crash suddenly echoed from beneath them.

Everyone froze.

Another crash.

Then voices.

Blackridge.

Aether immediately signaled for everyone to move.

They followed the sound toward a collapsed building.

Behind the rubble was a stone staircase descending underground.

Aether looked down.

"That's their entrance."

They descended.

The staircase led to a massive underground chamber.

Torches illuminated the walls.

Blackridge soldiers surrounded a circular stone platform.

At the center stood the commander.

But he wasn't alone.

Aether stopped.

Another man stood beside him.

He wore a long gray robe and carried a strange metal staff.

The system scanned him.

[Human detected.]

[Origin Awakening — Stage 5]

[Potential: B]

The man turned.

His eyes immediately landed on Aether.

"So you're the one."

The commander looked over.

His expression changed.

"Aether."

Aether stepped into the chamber.

"You've been busy."

The gray-robed man smiled.

"We've been looking for you."

"Why?"

The man tapped his staff against the stone.

"Because you're carrying something far more interesting than that boy."

Aether's expression became cold.

"What?"

The man's gaze moved across Aether's body.

"The same energy contained within the fragments."

Silence.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

"Explain."

The man smiled.

"I'll explain after you cooperate."

"No."

The man's smile disappeared.

"Then we'll take the answer from you."

The commander raised his spear.

"Attack!"

Blackridge soldiers charged.

Aether stepped forward.

"Lyra, left."

She moved immediately.

"Aria, right."

"Got it."

"Seris, stay behind us."

Seris nodded.

The battle began.

Aether disappeared.

Shadow Step.

He appeared behind a soldier and struck him down.

[Origin Points gained: 30]

[Origin Points: 90 / 650]

Another soldier attacked.

Aether blocked.

Lyra arrived from the side and knocked the attacker away.

"You're welcome."

Aether smiled.

"I didn't ask."

"I know."

She grinned.

Aria fought differently.

She didn't rush.

She watched Aether's movements and covered openings whenever an enemy tried to surround him.

Aether noticed.

"You've gotten better."

Aria smiled.

"You taught me."

"I did?"

"You just forgot."

She attacked another soldier.

Aether laughed.

"Fair."

On the opposite side, Seris was protecting their rear.

Three enemies tried to sneak around.

She stopped them before they reached the others.

"Not today."

She released a burst of Origin Energy.

The soldiers fell.

Aether glanced toward her.

"Nice."

Seris smiled.

"Thanks."

The battle continued.

But the gray-robed man wasn't fighting.

He was watching.

Studying.

Aether noticed.

The man wasn't interested in winning.

He was interested in observing.

That bothered Aether.

He suddenly changed direction.

Instead of attacking the soldiers, he charged straight toward the man.

The commander intercepted him.

CLANG!

Aether blocked the spear.

"You'll have to get through me."

Aether smiled.

"Gladly."

Their weapons collided again.

The commander was stronger than the ordinary soldiers.

But Aether had learned his rhythm.

One thrust.

Two slashes.

Downward strike.

Aether activated Shadow Step.

He disappeared.

The commander immediately turned.

But Aether didn't attack him.

He appeared beside the gray-robed man.

The man's eyes widened.

Aether's weapon stopped inches from his throat.

"Now."

Aether stared into his eyes.

"Explain."

The man slowly smiled.

"You're much more interesting than the reports suggested."

Aether's expression hardened.

"Wrong answer."

The man raised one hand.

The entire chamber suddenly lit up.

The circular platform beneath them activated.

A massive wave of energy erupted.

Aether was thrown backward.

Lyra shouted.

"AETHER!"

He landed heavily.

The gray-robed man stood at the center of the platform.

The stone beneath his feet began to glow.

He looked at Aether.

"You want answers?"

His smile returned.

"Then survive this."

The entire underground chamber began shaking.

Something beneath Greyfall had just activated.