Chapter 19 – The Infernal Warden’s Shadow
Chapter 19 – The Infernal Warden’s Shadow
[Player: Tyler] [Level 65]
[HP: 400/400] [PE: 25/25]
> Attack: 25 (+20)
> Defence: 10 (+50)
> Agility: 4 (+15)
> Speed: 4
> Power Regen: 15
> Accuracy: 2
> Dodge: 2
> Health Regen: 10
Remaining Attribute Points: 0
Tyler had finally equipped his new reinforced titanium gear. He chose the twinswords over the claymore — faster, sleeker, more suited to his agile combat style.
The flickering firelight danced across the stone walls as Tyler and Milo followed Vitamin Ape through the winding tunnels of his smithy. The path led deeper than they’d expected, carved not just from stone but with care, smooth enough that even Milo’s clumsy feet didn’t trip. At the far end of the cavern, Yandeon stood with his new hammer, the head pulsing with ethereal energy.
“Welcome back,” he said without turning. His voice was calm, but it carried a certain weight, the kind that made you listen. “I imagine you have questions. Fortunately, I have answers. Well— some of them. But before we get to that, there is an urgent matter we must address.”
Tyler folded his arms. “Urgent matters first, huh?”
Yandeon finally turned, his expression grim. “The Storm Wizards. They’ve begun their rites in the eastern regions of Yandi. Their dark magic is draining the life force from the land, and they’re channelling it into a resurrection spell.”
Milo blinked. “Resurrection? For who?”
Yandeon’s eyes darkened. “Shindeon. One of the Primordial Beasts. He is known by many names, but the most feared is… the Infernal Warden.”
The air in the room grew heavier.
Tyler narrowed his eyes. “And? Isn’t that kind of what I’m aiming for? Defeat the Primordial Beasts, get their divine keys. Why not let them finish resurrecting him? Saves me the trouble of searching.”
Yandeon shook his head sharply. “You don’t understand. If Shindeon is fully resurrected, it won’t be a challenge— it’ll be an apocalypse. The Storm Wizards, thankfully, are limited. Even at their peak, they can only bring back a fraction of his original strength. But that fraction is more than enough to destroy cities, forests, entire ecosystems. His domain is fire— uncontrolled, unforgiving, and absolute. He will scorch everything in sight.”
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Tyler frowned. “So, I should fight him while he’s… undercooked. That what you’re saying?”
Milo elbowed him. “This is serious!”
Yandeon’s voice took on a solemn, almost ancient cadence. “[Player], this world may be a game to you— but to us, it’s our home.”
There was a long pause. Tyler shifted uncomfortably. He glanced at Milo, who had gone quiet, his usual smirk gone.
“You know…” Tyler said finally, “we just want to go home. That’s all.”
Yandeon nodded. “And that brings us to the divine keys.”
Tyler perked up. Milo’s eyes lit up.
“The divine keys,” Yandeon began slowly, raising his staff so the crystal glimmered, “are artifacts forged to unlock the Gates of Aether. Beyond those gates lies a realm untouched by time or decay— the dwelling of the Creator God, known as the Aether Dragon.”
He stepped forward, the room dimming around him.
“The Aether Dragon is omnipotent. A being of unfathomable will. In his slumber he dreams of worlds, and in his wake, he brings them to life. If he so desired, he could erase everything we know with a single thought. But he does not. He watches. He grows weary of silence and stillness, and so he sets trials. Challenges. And for those rare few who can gather all five keys, survive the path, and reach his sanctum—”
Yandeon lowered his voice to a reverent whisper. “—he will grant a single wish. No boundary, no limitation. Even the impossible becomes real.”
Tyler’s breath caught.
Milo looked stunned. “So… there is a way home.”
A smile began forming on Tyler’s face, but it vanished the moment Yandeon continued.
“However,” he said gently, “I must ask— are you so heartless as to pursue your goal while letting this world burn in the process?”
Tyler blinked.
“To you,” Yandeon said, “we may be fictional. Programs. NPCs. But we have families. Friends. Lives. This world may not be real to you, but to us— it’s everything. If you use our destruction as a stepping stone, what does that make you?”
Milo remained silent, eyes low. Tyler stared at the floor. He couldn’t say anything, not yet. Because deep down… he knew Yandeon was right.
Yandeon sighed. “I am not blaming you for your desire to go home. But I am asking for time. Help us delay this catastrophe. Eventually, the Storm Wizards will succeed. They’ll find a place where my foresight does not reach. But if you intervene now— if you weaken them, scatter their ranks— we may buy precious time. Time enough for you to become strong enough to defeat Shindeon after he returns. And when you do… you’ll earn your key.”
Tyler looked up. “And what do I get now?”
Yandeon smirked. “Always the bargainer. Fair enough. I can’t tell you exactly where the remaining Primordial Beasts are… but I can give you strong leads. I’ve studied the ley lines of this world for centuries. I’ve seen the shifts in energy. I can point you in the right direction— but only once you deal with the Storm Wizards.”
Tyler thought for a moment, then nodded. “Deal.”
[Quest Assigned: Dark and Forgotten Magic]
[Objective: The Storm Wizards are siphoning life energy from the Yandi Forests to resurrect the Infernal Warden. Prevent their rituals before the resurrection progresses too far. Reduce their numbers and scatter their camps to delay the return of the Primordial Beast. Quest must be completed before 100% resurrection is reached.]
Milo read the quest log and looked at Tyler. “So… we’re going to be monster hunters now?”
“Not monsters. Wizards,” Tyler replied, his fingers tightening around the grip of his twinswords. “Let’s make sure Hell stays closed.”
Yandeon nodded approvingly. “Good. Then I will begin scanning for the nearest camp. Once I find their location, I will mark it on your map.”
As the wizard began his incantations, Tyler stepped aside, glancing back at the glowing forge entrance where Vitamin Ape still hammered away.
He glanced at Milo, who had a hesitant smile.
“Guess this game just got another twist,” Tyler muttered.
“And here I thought it was finally time to grind mobs in peace,” Milo sighed.
Tyler looked down at his hand, clenching it. A wish, huh? One wish to go home.
But now… the road to that wish was covered in fire.