[KHAR’SETH – 11 PM]
The city slept.
Empty streets. Dark windows. Only the sound of the night wind dragging sand.
The temperature had dropped drastically—from 40 degrees during the day to nearly 15 at night.
Extre desert climate.
Alex, Raven, and Emily left the inn silently.
Dressed in dark clothing. Weapons hidden under cloaks.
Grim in his small form—80cm, hidden in Alex’s backpack.
"Ready?" Alex whispered.
"Ready," Raven and Emily replied.
They began walking toward the outskirts.
A full moon shone above—providing enough light to navigate but creating deep shadows.
Perfect for hiding.
Thirty minutes later—they neared the temple.
They stopped 100 ters away.
Watching.
The building was... illuminated.
Not normal lights.
A pale green glow emanating from the windows.
Unnatural. Sickly.
"That’s not standard lighting," Raven murmured.
"No," Alex agreed. "It’s magic."
"What kind?"
"Dark," Grim replied from the backpack. "Very. Dark. Twisted."
"Worse than the Fragnts?"
"Different. Not. Ancient. But. Corrupted. Like. If. Holy. Power. Were. Contaminated."
That was... unsettling.
Holy power corrupted.
How was that possible?
"We need to get closer," Alex decided.
They approached cautiously.
Using shadows. Moving slowly.
The Beastfolk who had been working during the day—gone.
The temple seed empty.
But the green glow continued.
They found a side window—partially open.
Alex looked inside.
The main hall was empty.
But the glow was coming from below.
The basent?
"There has to be an entrance," Emily whispered.
They circled the building.
Found a back door—no lock.
Simply ajar.
Too easy.
"It’s a trap," Raven said quietly.
"Probably," Alex agreed. "But Kira is in there. We can’t leave."
"I know."
They entered.
The hallway was very dark. Silent.
Each step echoed slightly.
They advanced carefully—weapons ready.
The green glow intensified.
They reached the descending staircase.
Leading to a basent.
Green light emanating from below.
And sound.
Chanting.
Not in a recognizable language.
Ancient. Twisted.
Alex looked at Raven and Emily.
They nodded.
They descended.
---
[TEMPLE BASENT]
The stairs ended in a wide chamber.
Low ceiling. Stone walls. Damp.
And in the center—
A ritual circle.
Enormous. Carved into the floor. Symbols glowing with sickly green light.
And inside the circle—
Kira.
Tied to a stone altar.
Unconscious. Breathing but unmoving.
Around her—twenty Beastfolk.
The sa ones who had been working.
But now... different.
Eyes glowing green. Expressions completely empty.
Standing in perfect formation.
Like soldiers.
And in front of the altar—
Father Matthias.
His white robe replaced by a black robe with green symbols.
Hands raised. Chanting in that twisted language.
Green energy flowing from his hands toward Kira.
Wrapping around her. Penetrating her.
Converting her.
Alex felt instant fury.
"Stop," he said, his voice cold but clear.
The chanting stopped.
Matthias lowered his hands slowly.
He turned.
And smiled.
Not surprise. Not panic.
A genuine smile.
"Alex! Raven! Emily!" he said cheerfully, as if greeting old friends. "How wonderful! You arrived just in ti."
"Just in ti for what?" Alex demanded.
"For the ceremony, of course." Matthias gestured toward Kira. "I was converting this sweet girl. Making her... better. More obedient. More useful."
"That’s mind control," Emily accused. "You’re enslaving her!"
"Enslaving? Oh no no no." Matthias shook his head, still smiling. "I’m freeing. Freeing her from corrupt will. From sinful thoughts. From doubt."
He paused.
"I’m making her perfect."
"You’re insane," said Raven, her scythe materializing in her hands.
"Insane? Maybe. But it works." Matthias pointed to the Beastfolk around them. "Look at my congregation. Perfect. Obedient. Sinless. Doubtless."
"Soulless," Alex spat.
"Semantics." Matthias shrugged. "But let’s set that aside. Let’s talk about you."
He walked around the altar—casual, relaxed.
"Especially you, Alex. With your little... problem."
He touched his own chest—where the Fragnt mark would be on Alex.
"Reaper Fragnt. The Core, if I’m not mistaken. 74.5% corruption. Dangerously high."
Alex tensed. "How do you know that?"
"Because I can see it." Matthias’s eyes glowed green montarily. "My power allows to see corruptions. Impurities. Curses."
He smiled wider.
"And you, dear Alex, are full of them."
"If you’re so concerned," said Alex, his sword materializing, "why don’t you try to ’purify’ ?"
"Oh, I will. Eventually." Matthias looked at Raven. "And you too. Fragnt 3. The Hand. Fascinating."
"You won’t touch us," Raven growled.
"We’ll see."
Matthias snapped his fingers.
The twenty Beastfolk moved.
Formation shifting.
Surrounding Alex, Raven, and Emily.
[SYSTEM – ALERT]
[CONTROLLED BEASTFOLK – LEVEL 35-45]
[TOTAL: 20]
[STATUS: UNDER MIND CONTROL – PAIN RESISTANCE INCREASED]
"Here’s my offer," Matthias said casually. "Surrender now. Allow to ’purify’ you. And I promise the process will be... relatively painless."
"And if we refuse?" asked Alex.
"Then my congregation will subdue you. And the process will be very painful."
A pause.
"What do you say?"
Alex looked at Raven.
Then at Emily.
Both nodded.
Decision made.
Alex turned toward Matthias.
"You know what? Pass."
Matthias sighed—but still smiling.
"I was hoping you’d say that."
He snapped his fingers again.
The Beastfolk attacked.
---
Twenty against three.
Not good odds.
Alex blocked the first Beastfolk’s attack—a wolf man, level 42.
Strong. Fast.
But empty.
No technique. No strategy.
Just brute force.
Alex deflected him—counterattacked.
[Shadow Strike] —a quick strike.
SLASH.
[Beastfolk HP: 3,200 → 2,800/3,200]
Decent damage.
But the Beastfolk didn’t react.
No pain. No fear.
Just continued attacking.
Another Beastfolk appeared—a fox woman, level 38.
Attacked from the flank.
Alex had to retreat—defending from two directions.
"Master!"
Grim erged—his Awakened form activating.
2.5 ters tall. Full bone armor.
He intercepted three Beastfolk trying to surround Alex.
Scythe cutting.
SLASH. SLASH. SLASH.
But they didn’t stop.
Even wounded, they kept attacking.
"Don’t. Feel. Pain," Grim reported.
"I know!" Alex replied.
---
Raven summoned skeletons—twenty level 40 ones.
She launched them against the controlled Beastfolk.
A full‑out brawl.
Skeletons vs Beastfolk.
Absolute chaos.
But the Beastfolk had an advantage—mind control eliminated fear, doubt, pain.
They fought like machines.
[Skeletons: 20 → 15 remaining]
Five destroyed in the first thirty seconds.
Raven cursed.
She materialized her Fragnt scythe.
Leaped into the fray.
Cutting with surgical precision.
SLASH. SLASH.
[Beastfolk downed: 3]
But there were seventeen more.
---
Emily maintained a [Holy Barrier] around herself.
Providing healing from range.
[Purifying Light] on Alex—healing minor cuts.
[Blessing of Protection] on Raven—a temporary shield.
But she was being pressured.
Five Beastfolk were trying to break her barrier.
Punching. Scratching. Biting.
[Holy Barrier: 100% → 78%]
Cracks appearing.
"I can’t keep this up much longer!" she shouted.
---
Alex assessed the situation.
Twenty Beastfolk—three downed, seventeen active.
His team—being overwheld.
And Matthias—watching from the altar.
Smiling.
Enjoying.
We need to change the montum.
"Raven!" Alex shouted. "FRAGNT SYNERGY!"
Raven understood imdiately.
"Now!"
Both touched their Fragnt marks.
[ACTIVATE FRAGNT SYNERGY?]
[WARNING: CORRUPTION 3% FOR BOTH]
[ALEX: 74.5% → 77.5%]
[RAVEN: 48% → 51%]
[CONFIRM?]
Alex hesitated.
77.5%.
Dangerously close to 80%.
But they had no choice.
Accept.
[FRAGNT SYNERGY – ACTIVATED!]
Energy exploded.
Alex’s dark aura—black as the void.
Raven’s green aura—brilliant erald.
rging.
BOOOOM.
A shockwave shook the basent.
The Beastfolk were pushed back.
And then—
The transformations began.
---
[ALEX – FRAGNT SYNERGY ACTIVE]
Level: 41
HP: 870/1,050 → 870/1,628 (Max HP 55%)
STATS BOOSTED ( 55%):
· Strength: 112 → 174
· Agility: 119 → 184
· Intelligence: 75 → 116
Alex’s eyes glowed—crimson rings around his pupils.
His hair waved. The white streak shining.
The Fragnt mark BURNED through his tunic.
Absolute power flowing.
---
[RAVEN – FRAGNT SYNERGY ACTIVE]
Level: 56
HP: 920/920 → 920/1,426 (Max HP 55%)
STATS BOOSTED ( 55%):
· Strength: 142 → 220
· Agility: 156 → 242
Raven’s eyes glowed full erald green.
Her Fragnt 3 attire appeared—replacing her normal clothes.
Her hair levitating as if underwater.
The scythe transforming—red blade with black veins.
---
The fifteen remaining skeletons CHANGED.
White bones turning black as obsidian.
Empty eyes filling with crimson light.
Size increasing—from 1.7m to 2m.
[Skeletons: Level 40 → Level 70]
[Buff Applied: 50% to All Stats]
They weren’t weak skeletons.
They were warriors.
---
Matthias stopped smiling.
For the first ti—his expression changed.
Surprise.
"Fragnt Synergy," he murmured. "I didn’t expect you to have mastered it already."
Then—the smile returned.
But different.
Wider.
More hungry.
"EXCELLENT! This will be much more interesting!"
He raised his hands.
Green energy exploding from his palms.
[FATHER MATTHIAS – POWER RELEASED]
[LEVEL: 78]
[HP: 32,000/32,000]
[SKILL ACTIVATED: HOLY CORRUPTION – MAXIMUM OUTPUT]
Green light filled the basent.
Not pure holy light.
Holy light corrupted.
Twisted. Sick.
As if a god had been infected.
"Co then!" Matthias roared. "Show the power of the Fragnts!"
---
Alex launched himself—speed enhanced.
[Shadow Step] —appeared behind Matthias.
Sword cutting.
Matthias spun—impossibly fast.
Blocked with his bare hand.
CLANG.
Like tal against tal.
Matthias’s skin glowed green—hardened by magic.
"Level 41 against level 78!" he laughed. "Even with Fragnt Synergy, it’s not enough!"
He pushed—Alex was thrown back.
CRASH.
Alex slamd into the wall.
[Alex HP: 870/1,628 → 720/1,628]
Raven attacked from another angle.
Her scythe cutting in a horizontal arc.
Matthias dodged—slid under the attack.
Counterattacked—his fist glowing green.
WHAM.
He struck Raven’s stomach.
[Raven HP: 920/1,426 → 750/1,426]
She gasped—stumbling back.
The level 70 skeletons charged.
Fifteen skeletal warriors attacking simultaneously.
Matthias smiled.
Raised both hands.
"HOLY BURST!"
An explosion of green light.
BOOOOM.
All fifteen skeletons—disintegrated.
Instantly.
Reduced to dust.
"NO!" Raven shouted.
Emily channeled energy.
"LUNAR BEAM!"
A beam of pure light—fired at Matthias.
He caught it.
With his hand.
The holy energy absorbed—converted to green.
Contaminated.
"Your holy power is impressive, little healer," he said. "But against my Holy Corruption... it’s useless."
He threw the energy back.
Emily raised a [Holy Barrier] —
The beam struck.
CRASH.
The barrier shattered.
Emily was thrown back.
[Emily HP: 850/850 → 520/850]
She crashed beside Alex.
"This is bad," she gasped. "Really bad."
Alex stood up—his body aching but Fragnt Synergy maintaining montum.
"How much ti left?"
[FRAGNT SYNERGY – 7 MINUTES REMAINING]
Seven minutes.
And Matthias was just warming up.
"We need a new plan," said Raven, appearing beside them.
"Open to suggestions," Alex replied.
Matthias walked toward them—casual, confident.
"Giving up already? You lasted longer than I expected. Impressive, really."
"Go to hell," Raven spat.
"I’ll probably end up there eventually. But first..." He stopped five ters away. "...I’ll convert you. All three of you. Imagine—two Fragnt bearers under my control. The power I would have!"
He raised his hands.
Green energy gathering.
Preparing for a final attack.
Alex thought quickly.
They couldn’t win by fighting directly.
Matthias was level 78. Real power 85 .
Even with Fragnt Synergy, they were outmatched.
He needed...
His eyes landed on Kira.
Still on the altar.
Still being converted.
The ritual.
"Raven!" he shouted. "The ritual circle! Destroy it!"
Raven understood imdiately.
She launched herself—not toward Matthias.
Toward the circle carved into the floor.
Her scythe cutting through the inscribed symbols.
SLASH.
Matthias froze.
"NO!"
For the first ti—real panic in his voice.
He teleported—appeared in front of Raven.
Too late.
The scythe completed its cut.
CRACK.
The ritual circle shattered.
Green energy exploded—uncontrolled.
BOOOOM.
A massive shockwave.
Everyone was thrown back.
Alex, Raven, Emily—slamming into walls.
Matthias too—but he recovered quickly.
But the ritual—
Broken.
The energy flowing into Kira—cut off.
She gasped—eyes opening.
Green fading.
Returning to normal amber.
Free.
"Kira," Alex gasped. "Can you move?"
She sat up—dazed but conscious.
"I... what happened?"
"We’ll explain later. RUN!"
Matthias roared—absolute fury.
"YOU RUINED THREE MONTHS OF WORK!"
Green energy exploding from his body—out of control.
The basent began to shake.
Walls cracking.
The ceiling starting to collapse.
"The temple is coming down!" Emily shouted.
"EVERYONE OUT!" Alex ordered.
They ran toward the stairs.
Matthias tried to pursue—
But a massive chunk of ceiling fell.
Blocking his path.
"THIS ISN’T OVER!" he roared from behind. "I WILL FIND YOU, ALEX CARTER! AND WHEN I DO...!"
They didn’t hear the rest.
They were already climbing the stairs.
Kira stumbling between Raven and Emily.
Grim covering the rear.
They exited the temple just as—
CRASH.
The entire building collapsed.
Dust exploding.
Rubble everywhere.
They stopped fifty ters away—gasping, wounded, but alive.
"Is... is he dead?" Emily asked, hopeful.
Alex checked his system.
[FATHER MATTHIAS – STATUS: UNKNOWN]
"I don’t know," he admitted. "But we’re not going to wait around to find out."
---
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