Chapter 30: Vanguard’s Curse
The rumbling finally stopped when the vault door opened. I stood there in confusion, my eyes narrowing as I wondered if they were playing tricks on me.
I rubbed them and looked again, but the sight remained the same: the room was empty apart from a single stone platform in the center.
I glanced over my shoulder, wanting to ask Lord Ravus what this meant—but I knew he wouldn’t respond. He was little more than a mindless beast now.
"Is this some sort of illusion?" I muttered, but no answer came, neither from Lord Ravus nor the System.
I couldn’t help but wonder how Pamela and Viktor would react if they saw this.
With a heavy sigh, I stepped inside, my eyes skeptical. Only after taking a few steps did I realize Lord Ravus wasn’t following. I looked back and found him standing like a statue where I’d left him, his gaze locked onto the stone platform—with a tinge of fear in his eyes.
I frowned and followed his line of sight. Lord Ravus was now a monster devoid of basic intelligence, yet whatever lay on that platform terrified him.
Huff!
I exhaled sharply and took a few more steps forward, revealing a two-handed sword embedded in the stone. It was forged from blackened steel, its surface etched with ancient runes that glowed faintly.
The blade’s edge looked unnaturally sharp, almost alive, and pulsed with a soft red hue as I drew closer.
My gaze shifted to the hilt, wrapped in dark leather, weathered with time, and adorned with a silver pommel shaped like a raven’s head—its eyes set with rubies. The guard was jagged, resembling broken wings, and emitted a faint hum.