Novel Full Chapter 415 Another Kain
As the team approached the temple, the oppressive energy grew stronger, wrapping around them like an invisible weight. Kain’s instincts prickled, he felt as though he was being watched by dozens of invisible eyes, however no matter how much he searched there was no one.
“You can stop searching,” Benji said, likely fed up with Kain tossing his head around to locate the source of the uncomfortable gazes. “Most relics that are historical echoes will give off the uncanny feeling of being surrounded by invisible people—likely due to the many souls caught in limbo, destined to repeat the events of that relic repeatedly. However, Habitat relics can also give off a similar feeling, but it’s usually in the case of a large amount of intelligent creatures being kept captive inside.”
Not that Kain knew the source of the unsettling feeling, he was able to better focus on the task at hand.
The temple loomed before them, its entrance framed by a pair of weathered stone columns etched with intricate carvings.
‘Crazy…I lived in this city my whole life, but don’t think I’ve seen this building even once…did it just appear? Or for some reason was it unconsciously ignored by everyone for decades, centuries even.’
Nadia motioned for the group to halt just outside.
The temple clearly worshipped an entity whose identity had been long lost and the key features of the worshipped creature had long faded with time. However, Kain could tell that this temple was extremely old and may even predate the empire.
If his guess is correct and it truly is that old, then Kain was no longer surprised by it being the site of a relic.
“Check your gear one last time,” Nadia instructed. Her dark-winged griffin stood alert beside her, its sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for threats. Clearly, it wasn’t only the humans that found the heavy aura to be unsettling. “And place your badges on your chests. Should we get separated they will allow us to easily identify one another.”
“Stay behind me,” Nadia said bluntly. “And don’t touch anything unless I say it’s safe.”
With that, she stepped forward, leading the team into the temple.
Inside, the air was thick and musty, carrying the faint scent of earth and decay. The light from a fire attribute hawk-like spiritual creature summoned by Nadia was leading the way and ensuring they could all see. It’s flaming body cast flickering shadows across the walls, illuminating more of the intricate carvings that lined the corridor.
“These markings…” Benji murmured, running a hand along one of the walls. “They’re consistent with relics from the Warring States Period, but they’re… warped. Look at the patterns—they’re spiraling inward, almost as if—”
“As if they’re drawing something in,” Nadia finished. She glanced back at Benji. “Good eye. That’s consistent with relics related to the Abyss. These strange designs actually contribute to the formation of an array that’s probably been running this whole time for centuries. They help to conceal the location, making it unconsciously ignored by everyone. Which is why this old building was never torn down.”
‘That also explains why this building was practically invisible to me until I was forced to look at it due to a mission’
Nadia continued, “They also serve as a guide for the corrupted. If there is ever an outbreak of the corrupted in this city now, the corrupted will unconsciously move toward this building rather than continue to attack civilians. Therefore, this array is a double-edged sword. It may protect more civilians in the event of an outbreak, but it will also draw in any corrupted within miles toward the city. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem as though many entrances have broken down yet, and there are no corrupted in the city.” Read new adventures at empire
Kain’s stomach churned slightly at the mention of the Abyss. He couldn’t shake the memory of the corrupted creatures he’d faced during the attack at the dragon’s territory. If this relic was connected to the Abyss, there was no telling what they might encounter.
The group pressed on, the corridor gradually widening into a larger chamber. At the center of the room stood a raised dais, upon which rested an ornate, rectangular mirror twice as large as the average person. Its surface was dark, almost liquid-like, and faint ripples spread across it as if it were alive.
“That must be the entrance,” Nadia said, her voice low. She gestured for the group to spread out and secure the area. “No one touches the mirror until I say so.”
As the team fanned out, Kain felt a strange pull toward the mirror, like an invisible thread tugging at his mind. He shook his head, trying to shake off the sensation.
Out of everyone there, Vauleth was probably the most familiar with Abyssal energy, so Kain summoned him and Bea, who could inconspicuously remain on Kain’s body.
Similarly, those that didn’t already have contracts summoned began to do so as well. It was common practice to go into a relic ready to engage in a battle immediately.
Nadia, her eyes fixed on the mirror, inquired. “Benji, can you sense anything?”
Benji possessed a Spirit Mouse, a spiritual creature with practically no combat abilities, but is capable of seeing things that normally can’t be detected. Reportedly it even has the ability to see through time and observe past events that occurred in an area. It was an invaluable resource for Pathfinders.
After Kain’s inquiry, and direction from Benji, the mouse stared into the mirror while its eyes turned an eerie pale blue.
A moment later, its eyes snapped back to their normal black, and Benji conveyed what it had seen to Kain and the others. “It can be confirmed that it is a historical echo. However, some of the creatures on the other side feel…twisted. There are likely corrupted—many of them.”
Before anyone could react, the mirror’s surface began to ripple more violently. A low, guttural sound emanated from it, sending chills down Kain’s spine.
“Positions!” Nadia barked, her griffin stepping forward with a fierce screech. “We’ve got company!”
The mirror’s surface bulged inward, and with that inward pulling, Kain and the others were also all sucked in no matter how badly they struggled.
———————–
Kain had never been special. At least, that’s what he thought growing up. He was the eldest of three siblings in a small, struggling family in the fragmented city-state of Ishvaran, a place constantly teetering on the edge of survival.
Life in Ishvaran wasn’t easy. Between the ever-shifting borders of rival states, raids from spiritual creatures, and the unrelenting pressure of external conflicts, survival often felt like an achievement in itself.
Thankfully, compared to other city-states rife with internal conflict, Ishvaran was relatively harmonious internally.
His father was a blacksmith, his mother a weaver, and Kain spent most of his childhood helping with whatever needed doing—hauling water, delivering messages, acting as an assistant to both or watching his younger siblings while his parents spent the bulk of their time working. It was a hard life but a simple one.
Until the day everything changed.
When Kain turned 19, a massive Storm Drake attacked Ishvaran. The city’s defences barely held, and though the beast was eventually driven off, the devastation it left behind was immense. Kain’s family home was among the casualties, and in the chaos, his younger brother went missing. For days, Kain searched tirelessly, scouring the wreckage and calling out until his throat was raw.
On the seventh day, he found his brother trapped beneath a collapsed section of the city wall. Unfortunately, the wall was too heavy for ordinary people to lift on their own, but awakened individuals were also too scarce to request help from. He’d never even met a beast-tamer in his life, who would he know to even contact?!
The child was barely clinging to life, and Kain, along with some good Samaritans trying to help, was too weak to lift the debris. Overwhelmed by desperation, Kain shouted to the heavens, his voice hoarse with anguish.
That’s when it happened.
A surge of power coursed through his body, alien but undeniable. He had a vague memory of entering a dark space filled with nothing except for a large egg that appeared right in front of him. Unconsciously, he touched the egg…and awakened an affinity.
The spiritual power fluctuations from his independent awakening could not be hidden, and a high-level official soon came to the area. After easily assisting and treating Kain’s brother, Kain was carted away by who, Kain later found out, was the Vice City Lord.
In the years that followed, Kain’s life changed dramatically. Beast-tamers were rare and highly valued, especially in struggling city-states like Ishvaran.
He was quickly taken in as a personal disciple of the Vice City-Lord, a prestigious 7-star beast-tamer whose job was to train any new talents that arose.
Under the Vice City-Lord’s guidance, Kain honed his abilities, forming contracts with four spiritual creatures: an invisible creature capable of controlling a target’s mind, a vespid queen, a sturdy Earth golem capable of creating defensive barriers and a rare Red Coloured Dragon.
But life as a beast-tamer was far from easy. Ishvaran’s precarious position meant Kain was often called upon to defend the city or negotiate with rival states. His youth and humble beginnings made him an easy target for those who viewed him as unworthy of his position.
He worked harder, trained longer, and fought more fiercely than anyone else, determined to prove himself—not just to his superiors, but to himself. He refused to let Ishvaran fall, no matter the cost!