Level Up Legacy

Chapter 1197  A Lovers' Reunion

The blinding light of the Eggs Dungeon portal faded, replaced by the cool, luminescent glow that seemed to define every corner of this extraordinary place. Arthur blinked, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. They weren't on barren plains, as he expected, but within the tower itself.

Golden light emanated from intricate patterns adorning the walls, swirling in mesmerizing dances. Lush, bioluminescent vines snaked across the ceiling, casting an otherworldly aura on the polished stone floor. This was unlike any other tower Arthur had ever seen – more an organic marvel than a cold, imposing structure.

Elara, a black shadow rippling behind Arthur's shoulder, let out a spectral sigh. "The heart of the tower…" she breathed, hope and trepidation warring in her voice.

Mister White, his weathered face etched with a curious mix of awe and apprehension, gestured to the vibrant flora blanketing the ceiling. "Welcome to the first of the Ascending Gardens," he rasped. "These are rarely seen by those who enter the tower. Most face a more… traditional, shall we say, path. But your arrival, heralded by Elara's unique connection to this place, has granted you a different passage. Each floor of this tower presents a unique challenge. Overcome them, and you'll reach the summit where Cyrian awaits."

Arthur's gaze flickered towards Elara. Her spectral form seemed to hum with a strange energy, resonating with the luminescence of the tower. Was it a good sign? It felt… unsettling.

"I can return you to Yalen," Mister White continued, his voice laced with a hint of melancholy. "The tower will remain, a testament to their love. But your purpose here, it seems, is fulfilled."

Arthur shook his head, his resolve hardening. "No. I came this far, and Cyrian deserves the chance to see Elara again. Besides," he added, a determined glint in his eye, "I have a feeling these gardens will prove… interesting."

Mister White bowed his head in respect. "As you wish, Lord Arthur. Then let's face the first test together."

Koby and Sarohan, ever the pragmatists, exchanged nervous glances. This vibrant garden, while beautiful, held an unknown danger. Still, they squared their shoulders, ready to follow Arthur's lead.

The first challenge materialized as ethereal butterflies, their wings shimmering with an otherworldly light, fluttered down from the bioluminescent vines. But these were no ordinary butterflies. As they neared, a soft, lulling hum filled the air, a melody that tugged at the travelers' minds, weaving dreams of comfort and forgetfulness.

They watched, mesmerized, as Sarohan's eyes drooped, his grip slackening on his trusty axe. Koby swayed, a blissful smile spreading across his face. Even Mister White seemed to struggle, his normally alert gaze dimming.

Elara, however, remained unaffected. Her spectral form crackled with defiance, her voice sharp as she cried out, "These are illusions! Don't succumb!"

Arthur, drawing strength from Elara's resolve and the distant wails of his Kingdom of Wrath, countered the butterflies' melody with a rune of his own. A resonating chord, a burst of [Motivate], surged through the air, snapping the alluring dreamscape.

Elara sobbed, her luminous form flickering in anguish. "Father… what have I done?"

Arthur watched the scene unfold, a deep unease settling within him. The tower's whispers grew louder, the pleas to join them more persistent. He thought of the echoes that haunted those who failed, their desperation now fueling a vengeful spirit that sought to consume Cyrian's love.

"Elara, get out of here!" Sarohan bellowed, his axe raised.

"Not without Cyrian!" Elara cried, her form blazing with defiance. Fury contorted the king's spectral visage. "You took him from me!" he shrieked, his voice a tortured rasp. "He was mine, heir to the throne! You stole his love, his destiny!"

Elara flinched, a flicker of guilt crossing her luminous features. "But Father, our love…"

"Love?" The king's spectral laughter echoed through the chamber, devoid of humor and filled with a chilling bitterness. "Love is weakness! It clouds judgment! You bewitched him, turned him from his duty!"

The king lunged with surprising speed, his withered fingers outstretched like claws. Elara recoiled, but before the king could touch her, Arthur unleashed [Obliterate], the annihilating force tearing through the spectral figure.

The king screamed, his echoing cries filled with centuries of pain and frustration, as the power of destruction ripped him apart. And yet, as he dissipated, a final gasp escaped his twisted features: "Cyrian… my son…"

Silence descended upon the throne room. The suffocating energy ebbed away. Where the king once reigned, a flicker of spectral light bloomed, coalescing into the form of Cyrian. He was weak, his essence stretched beyond its limits, but unmistakable sorrow and relief warred in his translucent features.

He met his beloved Elara's gaze. "Father… the lengths to which he went…," he whispered, a tremor in his spectral voice, mirroring Arthur's own fear of the path to power. Yet, Cyrian's focus shifted, a flicker of gratitude and recognition in his pale eyes as he addressed Arthur. "Thank you. You have ended his centuries of torment, freed him…freed me."

Elara rushed to Cyrian, her luminous tears tracing trails down her radiant face. They embraced, and something extraordinary began to happen. Cyrian's spectral form solidified, gaining color, while Elara's glow softened. The tower pulsed in harmony, as the lovers' reunion mended the wounds of the past.

The tower's light flared, bathing the reunited lovers in a warm, opalescent glow. As it faded, Cyrian stood before them, not a specter but a man, aged and worn yet undeniably alive. Elara, beside him, was vibrant, radiating warmth and joy.

"You did it, Arthur," Cyrian said, his voice stronger, filled with a wonder tinged with melancholy. "You brought her to me, and in doing so, have broken my curse and unbound her spirit."

Elara turned to Arthur, her luminous eyes overflowing with gratitude. "You have given us a gift beyond measure," she said. "May I repay this kindness?"

She held a withered flower, a Forget-Me-Not, its delicate blue petals shimmering with a faint, opalescent glow.