Beneath the towering spires of the Holy Church, beneath the righteous prayers and golden hymns, lay something ancient—something divine, yet rejected even by the heavens.
The Temple of Eternal Silence.
As the moon arced across the midnight sky, Priyanshu slipped past the divine warding. Cloaked in a veil of shadow and sanctity, he moved like smoke through forgotten corridors, following the path only visible through his system interface.
[System Skill Activated: Heavenly Concealment Art – Divine Sensor Evasion: 99.9%]
At the end of a spiraling staircase, he reached an obsidian gate. Symbols glowed faintly: wings clipped, mouths sewn shut, swords snapped.
[Requirement: Key of Silence or Equivalent Aura Detected]
The aura of the Archcleric clung faintly to him—enough. The gate shuddered and opened, revealing an immense underground temple. Stained glass cast colors on the ancient stone. Murals of angels weeping, gods crumbling, and a lone man standing above all.
A pedestal stood in the center. On it, a black lotus with thirteen petals floated in still air.
[System Alert: Forbidden Relic Detected – Black Lotus of Nihility]Touching it may trigger permanent divine hostility.Benefits: ???Risk: Cataclysmic
A smirk tugged at Priyanshu's lips.
"Tempting."
His hand hovered over the lotus. He didn't touch it—yet. Instead, he placed a single drop of his blood on the pedestal. The lotus trembled.
[System Response: Relic Recognizes Host's Ancient Will]Compatibility: 89%Bonding Initiated: 1%...
"Not yet," he whispered, and retracted his hand. "I still need the Church."
The door behind him creaked.
He turned, prepared to summon a shadow blade, when a familiar voice echoed.
"I had a feeling you'd find this place."
It was the Archcleric.
But something was... off. His eyes glowed with shifting light—celestial, chaotic.
"You're not surprised?" Priyanshu asked calmly.
"I was once the Night Prophet's vessel," he said. "The gods discarded me. But I remember everything. And you... you are his heir, aren't you?"
[Hidden Quest Triggered: Inheritor of the Night Prophet]
The Archcleric stepped forward. "Take it. I cannot."
Priyanshu nodded slowly and finally touched the lotus.
It bloomed.
His vision filled with stars collapsing, gods screaming, and fate rewriting itself.
[Black Lotus Bond: 25%]New Ability Unlocked: Petal of Silence – Nullify One Divine Technique per day
The Archcleric fell to his knees. "The silence... is finally lifted."
Priyanshu turned and walked away.
The temple sealed behind him, quieter than death