Chapter 9 – Blood and Pact

The shrine was broken, overgrown—and not nearly empty enough.

Riku stood still, watching from the shadows of the treeline. Crumbling stones formed a half-circle of forgotten worship. Moss covered cracked marble. A shattered effigy of the so-called Lightfather lay face-down in the dirt, vines coiled around its throat like nature’s revenge.

“Five,” Selene said softly beside him. “Two warriors, two casters… and the one in the back. Can’t get a read on her.”

Kaela’s eyes narrowed. “The leader.”

Riku’s system pulsed.

[Proximity Alert – Divine Threat Level: HIGH]
Optional Quest Triggered: Purge the False Sanctuary]
**Objective: Eliminate all divine agents]
Bonus: Title Unlock if completed solo or with bonded allies]

Riku exhaled. “Then we wipe them out.”

No hesitation. Just resolve.

He stepped into the clearing.

The five turned, startled—but quickly composed.

The leader stepped forward, eyes gleaming beneath a lion-shaped helm. Her voice rang like a cathedral bell. “So you’re the little heretic.”

Riku tilted his head. “Funny. I thought you’d be taller.”

A flicker of rage passed her face.

“Kill them all.”

They struck first.

Kaela loosed three arrows before anyone moved. One slammed into a caster’s shoulder, breaking their concentration. The other two zipped toward a warrior, who raised his shield just in time—barely.

Selene cast Spectral Chain across the battlefield, binding the feet of the second warrior. Riku charged like a bullet.

His blade struck clean through the throat of the first caster.

[Critical Hit – Vital Organ Severed]
[Caster Eliminated – LV 25]
XP + 310]

The remaining enemies recovered fast. The second caster roared, “Mark of Purity!”—a glowing glyph blazing toward Kaela.

She leapt sideways—but not fast enough.

The blast scorched her shoulder, and she hit the ground with a grunt. Riku turned just in time to parry the first warrior’s downward strike.

Metal rang.

He reversed the blade and stabbed upward through the underarm.

[Weak Point Targeted]
[Warrior Eliminated – LV 26]
XP + 380]

Kaela rolled to her feet, breathing hard. “Still kicking.”

The second warrior broke free of Selene’s chain and barreled toward Riku. But Selene shouted, “Backlash Echo!”

A mirror shield of magic appeared—reflecting his momentum and staggering him.

Kaela loosed a snapshot arrow that slammed into his chest.

Riku didn’t give him time to recover. One leaping slash, a twist midair—his dagger tore through the warrior’s neck.

[Warrior Eliminated – LV 27]
XP + 390]

The second caster screamed in fury, drawing a rune mid-air: “Judgment Flame!”

A pillar of white fire erupted beneath Selene.

She shrieked—translucent form glitching like broken glass—but recovered.

Riku didn’t wait. He lunged straight through the heat haze, blade low.

The caster raised his hand—too slow.

[Caster Eliminated – LV 25]
XP + 330]

The clearing was chaos and flame.

Only the lion-helmed leader remained.

She ripped her helm free—revealing sharp features, golden eyes, and a sneer carved from pride.

“You think you’ve won?” she hissed. “I am the Flame Queen’s Mouthpiece.”

Kaela spat blood. “Then let’s shut you up.”

But as she raised her bow, the leader vanished in a blink—teleporting behind her.

Riku’s eyes widened.

“Kaela—!”

Too late.

The divine blade slashed across her back, deep and fast. She dropped with a cry.

Blood pooled fast.

Selene dove toward Kaela, shielding her with translucent wings.

Riku’s vision narrowed.

He rushed the leader with no words—just rage.

They clashed—blade to blade, blow to blow.

She was stronger.

He was angrier.

A system alert blazed midair:

[Critical Threshold – Rage Memory Triggered]
New Skill: Demon’s Drive – Bonus strength and reflexes during bonded companion crisis]
Effect: +20% to all stats for 30 seconds]

Riku roared.

His next strike shattered her guard.

The second drove through her chest.

She coughed blood—eyes wide.

“I… see now… why she fears you…”

She fell.

[Leader Eliminated – LV 28 – Named Elite]
XP + 1200 (Boss Bonus + Party Bonus + Bonded Trigger Bonus)]
[LEVEL UP – LV 30]
New Title Earned: Pact-Bearer]
System Unlock: Class Trait Access – “Demon Lord Tree: Locked (1/3)]

Riku collapsed to his knees beside Kaela.

She was still breathing—but just barely.

He pressed cloth to her wound.

“No. No, you’re not dying. I won’t let you.”

The system pulsed again.

[Companion Status: CRITICAL]
Condition Met: Pact Opportunity Triggered]
Offer: Pact of Binding Flame – Shared vitality, dual combat synergy, emotional link evolution]
Accept? Y/N

He didn’t hesitate.

“YES.”

The pact ritual ignited.

Runes of fire formed a ring around Kaela’s body. Riku grasped her hand.

Selene stood back, watching in reverent silence.

The seal blazed across Kaela’s chest, embedding itself like a living flame.

Her eyes snapped open—and her pain vanished.

She sat up, blinking fast.

“What… was that?”

Riku let out a breath. “A promise. You bleed for me—I bleed for you.”

[Pact Sealed – Kaela, Spirit Scout]
Skill Unlocked: Predator’s Reprisal – Dual finisher technique]
Bond Level: 1.0 / 5.0]

Later, they stood at the shrine, smoke still curling from the ground.

Selene crossed her arms. “We can’t stay here anymore.”

Kaela touched the sigil on her chest, expression unreadable.

Riku looked toward the distant mountains.

“No. We’ve outgrown this forest.”

He turned.

“Time to hunt gods in the open.”