The Pact of the Stars

The Desolate Continent, with its ash dunes and half-buried elven ruins under a blood-red sky, felt like a tomb of forgotten eras. The howling wind carried the scent of sulfur and dust, and the cracked ground trembled with remnants of the energy from the clash that shattered the Veil of Stars. Athos, floating with his glitch cloak pulsing and the Tear of Eryndor glowing at his neck, held the seven remnant elves—Sylvana, Lirath, Thalira, Elyssa, Vorian, Korvyn, and Zyrath—in a glitched force field, keeping them suspended. Lysara and Veyra, the elves who followed him, watched with relief, their eyes reflecting admiration for Athos’s power. He descended gently, releasing the elves, who landed with expressions of exhaustion and reverence. “Let’s go,” Athos said, his cynical smile softened by a touch of respect. “The Glitch Fortress awaits.”With a gesture, Athos opened a portal of blue glitches, transporting everyone to the Glitch Fortress. They emerged in the main hall, a vast obsidian chamber with blue runes pulsing on the walls, illuminating artificial green fields visible through distorted crystal windows. Towers of hacked energy rose around, and the air vibrated with technological magic, a stark contrast to the external desolation. The elves, still wounded from the clash, looked around, stunned. Sylvana, with cracked vines, murmured: “This place... it’s like reality shaped by a god.” Thalira, with faded runes, said: “How did you create this in a dead continent?” Korvyn, coughing arcane blood, grunted: “It’s a living fortress... but not elven.” Zyrath, with wise eyes, observed: “You rewrite the world, Athos. This is beyond any magic we know.”Athos, with a wave, activated Vital Code Healing, a skill that released green glitch threads enveloping the elves, restoring their wounds. Arcane cuts closed, luminous burns vanished, and exhaustion gave way to vitality. Elyssa, feeling energy return, exclaimed: “You heal with magic we don’t understand!” Lirath, with shadows reformed, nodded: “It’s like he fixes the very fabric of our existence.” Athos just smiled, his interface flashing with successful healing data.In the hall’s corner, Drakonath, the dragon defeated by Athos chapters ago, watched with a downcast gaze, his dull black scales reflecting memories of his loss.“It’ll be alright, Drakonath,” he said, his voice firm but with a hint of empathy. “You’re not an enemy anymore. We’re allies now.”
The elves, now gathered around an obsidian table in the hall’s center, began the dialogue. Sylvana, the short elf, spoke first, her voice firm: “Athos, you defeated us. Your strength is undeniable. The prophecy speaks of a fallen star to save Eryndor. You are that star.”Lirath, with intense gray eyes, added: “We were wary, but your magic—your system—is beyond our imagination. You’re the prophecy’s hero.”Thalira, with braided silver hair, leaned forward: “But the Corruptor approaches. He destroyed Eryndor once, and now his demons, like Ghultar, grow in power. We need your help, Athos. Only you can face him.”Elyssa, with her light sword sheathed, said: “You proved your strength. Fight with us against the Corruptor.”Vorian, with a measured voice, added: “You united us, something we couldn’t do in ages. Be our leader.”Korvyn, still reluctant, grunted: “You’re strong, but the Corruptor’s an abyss. Are you ready?”Zyrath, the eldest, concluded: “Athos, we accept you as our hero. But we need a pact—a union of our strengths against the Corruptor.”Athos crossed his arms, his interface analyzing the elves: High levels, earned loyalty, potential synergy. “The Corruptor’s my enemy too,” he said, his voice sharp. “To build my kingdom, the demons must be destroyed. You want a pact? Let’s seal it.”He raised his hand, the Tear of Eryndor glowing brightly. A wave of glitched energy enveloped the elves, linking their auras to his system. Sylvana felt a vital warmth, as if nature flowed in her veins. Lirath felt her shadows deepen, denser and deadlier. Thalira sensed her stellar runes pulsing with new cosmic energy. Elyssa felt her light intensify, nearly blinding. Vorian felt his vital energy amplified, like a forest’s heart. Korvyn felt his arcane flames burn hotter, almost uncontrollable. Zyrath felt his dimensional portals stabilize, linked to Athos’s system. Each elf felt more powerful, as if their essences had been elevated to a new level.The elves, now smiling, exchanged hopeful glances. Sylvana said: “I’ve never felt such power... it’s like Eryndor reborn in us.” Thalira nodded: “You gave us more than strength—purpose.” Elyssa laughed: “The Corruptor isn’t ready for this.”Athos, seeing their smiles, tilted his head, his interface flashing. “Good. Now, let’s see your memories.” He activated Systemic Memory Reading, a skill to access the elves’ experiences, including their memories of the Corruptor. His eyes glowed with digital codes, and he prepared to dive into Eryndor’s visions—and the enemy he would destroy.