Ascension: Cursed Blood

This was the second time Kain had seen the mysterious cross. He realized that it was either his Codex or an incarnation of himself.

His essence, his power, his abilities, his origin, even his frosty blood, and the darkness reminded him of the curse.

This cross had everything and no answers at the same time.

"It wasn't here before," Kain muttered, looking at the red circle. "Is the cross evolving? Or... Is this me getting stronger?"

One thing was certain - Kain had to talk to someone who knew more about Keeper powers than a newcomer like him.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The door opened as Kain entered Lurra's office. Unlike Kserx or Loir, she worked for the Stellar Fortress, which did not belong to a tower.

"Hmm. Kain?" She raised an eyebrow, busy with paperwork. "Is there something urgent? I'm just filling out your group's forms."

"Yes, a dark cross hovering in some strange place. I don't know one or the other, but you do, right?"

Lurra looked at him, puzzled.

Then, her eyes went wide, and she touched the bridge of her nose.

"Oh, right, you had an active Rune Brand. Sorry, I'm always forgetting that. Sit down, it's not some secret. They talk about it both in briefing and at training camps."

Lurra set the papers aside.

"That cross you see is the Oblivion Cross. It is different for everyone, it depends on many factors, but primarily on your abilities and background. The place where the cross is located is called the Oblivion Shore.

"To put it bluntly, it is the most important place of any Keeper, the foundation unique to each, storing and releasing energy."

Kain looked down. "What about the core? It's the same core that the runes show in..."

"Status." Lurra smiled weakly.

"Agh?"

"It's the runes where all the information about you is written. Think of it as a letter from the Arcane Scripture. Your personal file. And yes, the Oblivion Cross is linked to the status information."

She leaned back in her chair.

"If you choose to return to the Astral Dimension time after time like Mr. Zoran and Mr. Kreyn did, your cross and shore will change. It's up to you."

"Got it. Then I will try to make my Oblivion Cross as strong as possible." Kain nodded as he headed for the exit.

"Hey!"

Lurra called out to him.

"Two days from now. You're going on an expedition, right?"

"Sure, as a rookie, I have to perform at my best. What about you?" Kain looked over his shoulder.

"I have no other choice. Zoran requires all Keepers working for the fortress to go this time." She shrugged.

Kain raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Is there going to be something special this time?"

"Something like that. So to speak, a period has passed, and it's time for a change, but I'm not at liberty to tell you more. First - qualify for the pledge group. Only a few of you will be able to travel with us."

Zoran's aura reflected in Kain's mind as something in his gaze changed.

Lurra was a Keeper like him, more experienced, but they had the same Rank.

What would happen if they fought right now?

What would happen if his drop of blood exploded right in front of her face?

Kain didn't have an answer, but he felt like he knew.

...

Two days later, he stood in the crowd, alone among a hundred newcomers. His gaze fixed on Zoran, who stood in the center. The others were nervous, preparing for his announcement about today's expedition. Kain, on the other hand, continued his musings.

In a battle between ordinary men, many factors were decisive: experience, physical fitness, and equipment. A weak, frail-looking man could kill another man several times his size, a mountain of muscle, with a simple kitchen knife, much less a gun. The human body could not become strong enough to stop a knife or fast enough to dodge a bullet.

At the Keeper world, it wasn't like that.

Kain didn't need to check, he felt that nothing would happen to Zoran if Kain attacked him with his ability.

'Maybe hypothermia or simple goosebumps, but that's it. My ability, my knife, will just bend like rubber trying to pierce his defenses.

Keepers had equipment too - artifacts. But, as Kain had managed to find out, having a higher Tier artifact in their hands was even worse than the right one. It was like giving a katana to someone who had always used a simple knife.

The night was approaching.

In fact, the sunlight had already gone, allowing the moon to shine on the large object hidden by the cloth behind Zoran.

"Good, let's get started."

A Keeper behind pulled down the cloth, revealing a steel cage with a cornered monster. Its elongated, wide-headed body resembled a scorpion, but there was no tail, and instead of claws, there were two paws with sharp claws and two large hind legs, four in all.

The head was almost nonexistent - two large eyes and powerful jaws between the front paws.

The young Keepers ahhed, some took a few steps back, shivering with fear.

They're not getting on the expedition.

Zoran pointed at the monster.

"This is the Grim Seeker, a Tarnished Rank like all of you. It's one of the monsters of the Faint Chasm - the Nest where we're going this night."

Kain's eyes traveled downward. In an instant, he had the answers to his questions.

What was the name of the area at the bottom of the abyss? What kind of monsters lived there? What were the territories for which expeditions were being conducted?

The first thing the Grim Seeker did was look up, afraid to see the rays of the sun. As soon as it realized it was dark, it immediately pounced on the cage in an attempt to escape.

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Thump.

From the sudden leap, the cage flipped over, collapsing to Zoran's right, yet he didn't even glance in the monster's direction.

"As you realize, the Grim Seeker will be part of the selection trial. Out of a hundred newcomers, we can only take five with us."

Zoran pointed to a group of six Keepers waiting off to the side.

"That way we can see to your safety, at least to some extent.

"So...

"Take a step back for those who have changed their minds about going on the expedition. If you want a place, you'll have to fight that monster."

With a slight hesitation, more than eighty youths abandoned the idea.

"You." Zoran pointed to the youth who was first in line. "Come forward."

"Y-Yes!" he stammered.

Crackle.

The man opened the cage, pointing the Grim Seeker directly toward the young man.

Zoran glanced at his watch. "One minute. If you hold out, you're coming with us."

Not ten seconds later, the Grim Seeker pounced on the young man, pinning him to the ground. Powerful jaws closed in front of his face, as claws dug into his chest.

The young man didn't even have time to activate his Codex.

"NO!!!"

At the last moment, a Keeper tossed the monster aside, looking at the terrified lad without interest.

Zoran yawned widely. "Next!"

And, the next one went and lost.

Then, another and another.

The four youths couldn't give the Grim Seeker even a semblance of a fight. This should have frustrated Zoran, but he didn't care, he just waited for the next one.

Step.

Kain stepped forward, looking at the snarling Grim Seeker without fear.

'We're of the same rank, which means I'm stronger!'