The western crypt was a place of mourning, silence, and shadow.
Torchlight flickered as Garron led us down the narrow steps beneath the estate. Dust stirred with every breath, and the carved visages of long-dead ancestors glared from alcoves along the stone walls.
"This place was sealed after Lady Evelyne's passing," Selene whispered. "Few dared return."
"My mother hid the vault here for a reason," I said, brushing cobwebs from the hilt of my borrowed dagger. "Even in death, she knew her enemies might be watching."
We reached the false sarcophagus. A faded statue of a kneeling warrior knelt over it—its eyes hollow, hands clasped around an empty sword hilt.
[System Alert: Hidden Entrance Detected. Glyph Signature Matches Bloodline — Accessing...]
I pressed my palm against the sarcophagus lid. The engraved runes on the statue shimmered.
A quiet click sounded.
Then, stone scraped against stone. The sarcophagus slid to the side, revealing a staircase spiraling downward into pure darkness.
A cold draft rose to meet us.
"Stay behind me," Garron muttered, drawing his blade. "Whatever lies below hasn't seen daylight in decades."
We descended into a chamber half-swallowed by time. Vines clung to cracked walls. A dry fountain stood in the center, its marble basin empty. At the far end: a steel door etched in flowing script. My mother's sigil glowed faintly upon it.
But something else stood in our path.
A knight in silver armor, unmoving. Head bowed. Sword planted before him, point in the ground. His armor bore the mark of the Valewyn line.
"Is he... alive?" Selene asked, voice thin.
[System Scan: Guardian Construct — Dormant][Status: Reactivating Due to Bloodline Presence]
The knight stirred.
Steel groaned. The visor creaked upward—and behind it, only darkness.
Then, it charged.
"Move!" Garron shoved Selene aside and blocked the first blow. Sparks flew. The force of the strike sent him sliding backward.
I gasped. The strength of the knight was beyond anything I had expected. Garron, Champion-ranked, a powerhouse of strength and skill, struggled to regain his footing as the knight advanced relentlessly.
"Impossible…" Garron growled, parrying another strike. "This thing is far stronger than I anticipated."
I took a step back, my heart pounding as Garron barely blocked another blow. The knight's sword was almost too fast to see, its strikes like thunderclaps.
"He's no ordinary construct," Garron barked, sweat beading on his brow. "We'll have to break its core or—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the knight's sword slammed down with such force that Garron's sword was nearly wrenched from his grip. The impact pushed him to his knees.
"No… no, no…" Garron muttered. "I won't fall here."
The knight raised its sword for a finishing blow, its armored gauntlet gleaming under the torchlight.
[System Alert: Hostile Intent Detected – Guardian Construct][Activate Strategic Option: Enhanced Reflexes? Y/N]
I didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
[System Alert: Reflexes Activated. Agility Boost +10. Neural Response Delay Reduced.]
I lunged forward. My body felt lighter, faster. I dove into the knight's blind spot and slashed with the dagger I had drawn, aiming for the exposed joint at its knee.
The blow was barely a scratch, but it distracted the knight enough for Garron to push himself up.
"Thanks," Garron grunted, his voice strained. He wiped the blood from his lip. "I can't hold on much longer. This thing is too much for me."
[System Alert: New Skill Available: Arcane Disruption Pulse – 1500 GC][Disrupts Constructs and Magical Effects Within 10 Meters][Activate Now? Y/N]
"Activate," I ordered, voice tight.
A powerful wave of blue light emanated from my chest. The knight faltered. Its armor sputtered, runes glowing erratically, before the energy flickered and died. The knight froze, its sword suspended in mid-air.
"Now, Garron!" I shouted.
Garron surged forward, his blade flashing with deadly intent. With a mighty cry, he drove it straight through the knight's chestplate, piercing its heart.
The knight collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
[Guardian Neutralized. Access Granted.][System Bonus: Combat Adaptability Lv1 – Free Upgrade Unlocked]
We stood in heavy silence, gasping for breath. Garron leaned on his sword, his usually unshakable composure visibly strained.
"You… saved my life," Garron muttered, glancing at me with a mix of respect and wariness.
I wiped my brow, feeling the weight of the encounter. "That was too close. If the System didn't step in, you'd have been…"
"I know," Garron said, the usual arrogance in his voice absent. "This wasn't just any guardian. It was a weapon forged to be used against even the strongest."
I nodded. "It seems my mother prepared for more than just treasure."
Garron's eyes narrowed, his warrior instincts flickering. "Then we better be ready for whatever else lies behind that door."
The vault door slid open with a hiss of old enchantments breaking.
Inside: gold bars stacked like bricks. Chests of coins. Gem-encrusted scepters. Rolled parchments bearing ancient trade seals. Shelves lined with potions, elixirs, and relics.
And in the center: a pedestal with a black ledger upon it.
I approached slowly.
My mother's handwriting adorned the inside cover.
To my son,If you're reading this, then my enemies have moved against you as they did against me.This vault holds more than coin. It holds truth. Use it to survive—but also to understand.— Evelyne Valewyn
I turned the page. Lists of secret accounts, contacts across the continent, names of allies... and enemies. Even Reynard's name appeared—alongside bribes paid to him by foreign merchants.
This ledger alone was worth a kingdom.
[System Notification: Prestige-Level Purchases Unlocked.][New Functions Available: Asset Management, Strategic Manipulation, Political Favor Purchase]
I glanced over the treasure trove. I could fund a small army with this.
But more importantly, I could fight smart.
Selene's eyes were wide. "You're... really going to use this, aren't you?"
"Every last crown," I said.
I opened the system to see how much I could now use
Garron exhaled. "You'll need secrecy to move this without alerting Reynard."
"Let him think I'm still convalescing," I said. "We'll siphon it quietly, piece by piece. First, I'll use the System to grow stronger. Then, we buy information, favors, power. Whatever it takes."
The ledger snapped shut.
The war had begun.
And for once, I had the coin to win it.