NOVEL WEB Chapter 21: The Scholar's Revelation
The battle ended. The Revenant collapsed into dust, its soul freed or consumed, depending on my choice.
At last, the scholar emerged.
An old man in tattered robes, his eyes sharp and filled with knowing. He had expected us.
☰ New NPC Unlocked: The Exiled Lotus Scholar
✔ Knows the true location of the real counter-artifact.
✔ Once a high-ranking member of the Black Lotus Society before betraying them.
✔ Understands the curse afflicting Bae Kae—but can he be trusted?
He studied me for a long moment. Then, in a voice as old as the monastery itself, he said:
"You carry the curse of the Lotus. But that is only the beginning."
I stiffened. What did he mean?
"The real counter-artifact exists… but it is not what you believe."
☰ New Mystery Unlocked: The Counter-Artifact's True Purpose
✔ It may not be a weapon—but something more dangerous.
✔ The Crimson Ash and Kai-Hoon's forces are closer than ever.
✔ Bae Kae must decide who to trust before the final battle begins.
I was running out of time. The curse was spreading. My enemies were closing in. And the artifact I sought, it might be the key to victory—or my downfall.
☰ Next Mission Preview: The War for the Counter-Artifact Begins
✔ The Crimson Ash make their move.
✔ The scholar's hidden agenda is revealed.
✔ A final battle for control of the artifact looms.
As I stand at the heart of the forgotten chamber, the walls surrounding him seem to pulse with ancient energy. The air grows thick, charged with the remnants of an era long past. My fingers graze the Crimson Ash as he inspects the relic, the firelight flickering off its obsidian surface, casting strange shadows on the walls.
It's here, in this place of power, that the true connection to the empire's past becomes clear. The Crimson Ash is no ordinary weapon; it's a key, an artifact entwined with the secrets of the ancient emperor, his bloodline, and the tragic downfall of a once mighty dynasty. The whispers of the ancestors still echo in this tomb, urging me to understand the true nature of his lineage.
Gameplay Mechanics:
Arcane Knowledge Puzzle: Players must decipher ancient symbols, hidden inscriptions, and cryptic messages that link the Crimson Ash to a lost emperor's reign. These symbols reveal the location of hidden archives within the imperial capital.
Hidden Factions: New factions emerge, including scholars of the forgotten bloodlines, descendants of the ancient imperial guard, and rogue nobles all seeking to unlock the truth behind the Crimson Ash and claim its power.
Faction Reputation System: As players interact with these factions, Bae Kae's choices will impact his relationships with them. Some factions will offer him their assistance in exchange for loyalty, while others may attempt to sabotage his quest, believing they alone should possess the relic.
Twists:
The Crimson Ash's Power: The artifact doesn't just reveal history—it grants me visions of the past, allowing him to relive key moments in the empire's history. These visions show a terrifying truth: the last emperor used the Crimson Ash to ascend to godhood, drawing power from an unknown source that corrupted him, leading to the fall of the empire. My bloodline is marked as the rightful heir to this legacy, but also as the one destined to either break or embrace the curse.
Rival Factions: The Lotus Cult, now revealed to be an ancient faction that opposed the last emperor's rise, sends agents to secure the Crimson Ash for themselves. Their influence spreads across the empire, their motivations more complex than simple greed. They believe that the curse can only be undone by purging the emperor's bloodline entirely—Bae Kae must now decide if they are right or if they are merely a reflection of the empire's twisted history.
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Mission Event: The Vision of the Last Emperor
My mind swirls as the Crimson Ash's power courses through him, unlocking the memories of the long-dead emperor. The vision reveals a court filled with scheming nobles, betrayal, and bloodshed. In this vision, the emperor's first betrayal was not his own; it was of those who sought to manipulate the Crimson Ash to claim the throne for themselves.
The emperor had been forced into this web of lies, and his desire to protect his family and retain control over the empire ultimately consumed him. The Crimson Ash was originally forged to grant immortality to the emperor's bloodline, but it corrupted him, ultimately transforming him into something monstrous.
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Gameplay Mechanics Expansion:
✓Dual Playthrough Mechanics (Vision of the Past vs Present): Players will alternate between Bae Kae's present quest and the emperor's past through a time-shift mechanic. The actions taken in the past will affect the present, such as unlocking secret passages, triggering traps, or revealing powerful hidden abilities that can aid Bae Kae in his mission.
✓Corruption Meter: The more Bae Kae uses the Crimson Ash, the more he risks succumbing to its power. The corruption meter increases with each use of the artifact, leading to potential moral choices and alternate outcomes. Will Bae Kae use the Ash's power for good, or will he fall victim to the same fate as the emperor?
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The Crimson Ash's Forgotten Secrets
The chamber's air thickened, pressing against my skin like unseen hands clawing at my presence. My fingers hovered over the Crimson Ash, an obsidian relic pulsing with an unnatural warmth. The moment I made contact, my breath hitched, as images exploded in my mind, a flood of whispers clawing their way into my skull.
The Last Emperor's Betrayal. The rise of an ancient curse. A throne stained with blood.
I staggered backwards, but the visions didn't stop. My own reflection twisted in the flickering torchlight, and for a split second, I saw him—the last emperor, draped in imperial robes, eyes hollow with madness. His lips curled into a knowing smirk, and then, darkness.
A sharp voice snapped me back to reality.
"Bae Kae—behind you!"
I spun on instinct, just as a shadow lunged from the archway above. My blade met flesh before my mind could process the attack. The assassin let out a choked gasp as my dagger plunged between his ribs. I yanked the blade free, blood spraying across the stone floor.
Ambush.
Distant war cries echoed through the tomb's corridors. More of them.
Wu-Ji, seems to be a spirit that nevers die!.
I had long suspected and knows his betrayal, but I had no proof, until now. My hands tightened around my weapons. That bastard had led them straight to me.
No time to dwell on it. Survival first. Retribution later.
I darted toward the nearest cover, pressing my back against a towering statue of a forgotten deity. My mind raced through my options. The tomb's architecture was ancient, riddled with collapsed passageways and hidden tunnels. If I could find an exit before being overwhelmed—
A sharp twang. The sound of a bowstring releasing.
I dropped into a roll just as an arrow shattered against the stone behind me. Two more assassins emerged from the darkness, twin curved blades gleaming in the dim light. Their movements were precise, disciplined. Elite Imperial Hunters.
Kai-Hoon's personal enforcers. So, he had sent his best after me.
Game Mechanics Unlocked: Stealth Combat & Environmental Kill Traps
✓Stealth Takedowns: Eliminate enemies from the shadows with precision strikes.
✓Trap Utilization: Trigger collapsing structures or use environmental hazards to eliminate enemies.
I stayed crouched, controlling my breathing as the assassins moves forward. Their eyes scanned the shadows, searching for me. I needed to strike first.
Slowly, I reached into my belt, my fingers brushing against the vial of smoke powder. One shot at this.
I threw it.
The chamber exploded in a thick, choking fog. Chaos. Confusion. To my advantage.
I surged forward, my blade finding the first assassin's throat before he could react. His body crumpled, his partner whipping around, but I was faster. My dagger sank into his chest, a clean kill.
Their bodies hit the floor just as more voices filled the chamber. Reinforcements. Too many.
I sprinted toward the deeper tunnels, vaulting over shattered pillars. The whispers in my mind returned, the Crimson Ash's power clawing at my thoughts. It wanted to be used. It wanted blood.
I couldn't afford to let it consume me. Not yet.
Choice Unlock: Resist the Crimson Ash's Corruption or Embrace Its Power
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New Plot Twist: A Rival Treasure Hunter Appears
I barely had time to process my escape route before a figure emerged from the darkness ahead, blocking my path. A woman clad in rogue imperial armor, her crimson sash marking her as someone of status.
She smirked, unsheathing a jagged blade. "Well, well. Seems I'm not the only one after the emperor's secrets."
I tightened my grip on my weapons. Another obstacle. Another threat.
She wasn't with Kai-Hoon. That meant she was something worse—a wildcard.
And I didn't have time for games.
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Next Mission: Escape the Tomb & Unravel the Crimson Ash's Curse