The morning crowd in Riverford was dense and loud. Merchants shouted prices while children ran between carts and horses neighed impatiently. Silas pulled his hood lower and merged with the flow of people.
Kael walked beside him and the zombie was summoned again. The disguise cloak covered the gray skin but the smell of decay was faintly present.
Silas checked his energy. Twenty points remained from the night recovery. Kael drained one point per minute while active. He needed to find the Vault entrance before the energy ran out.
"We move to the docks," Silas said. He spoke without looking at Kael. "The clue mentioned hidden storage."
Kael shuffled forward and the crowd parted around them. People avoided the sick-looking traveler and his guarded companion.
Silas felt eyes on his back. It was not paranoia because the sensation was too specific. Someone was tracking them through the crowd.
"Do not look back," Silas whispered. He kept his pace steady. "Let them follow."
Kael did not respond because it could not speak. It only walked with uneven steps.
They turned into a narrow alley near the docks. The buildings were tall and blocked the sun. The shadows were deep here despite the morning light.
Silas stopped at the end of the alley. It was a dead end with a wooden fence. He turned around and faced the entrance.
"Come out," Silas said. His voice echoed off the brick walls. "I know you are there."
Three figures stepped from the shadows. They wore dark leather armor and held curved daggers. The mark on their collars was a black shadow with three claws.
Shadow Guild thieves. Silas recognized the insignia from the contract he burned.
"The boy knows too much," the leader said. He twirled his dagger and smiled. "Hand over the Key and you live."
Silas did not move. He kept his hands visible but ready. "The Key is not for sale."
The leader laughed and it was a dry sound. "Everything is for sale. Even your life."
Silas calculated the odds. Three opponents at close range. Kael was active and draining energy. He could not dismiss the zombie during combat because the summoning delay was too long.
"Kael," Silas said. His voice was calm. "Kill them."
Kael lunged forward and the movement was faster than before. The zombie slammed into the leader and knocked him against the wall.
The other two thieves attacked Silas. Their daggers flashed in the dim light.
Silas sidestepped the first strike and grabbed the thief's wrist. He channeled decay energy into the arm.
"Decay," Silas whispered. The flesh turned gray and the thief screamed. He dropped the dagger and fell to his knees.
[Skill Used: Touch of Decay.]
[Energy Cost: 3.]
[Current Energy: 16/100.]
Silas felt the drain but he kept his focus. The second thief stabbed at his chest and Silas caught the blade with his left hand. The skin cut but he did not flinch.
He headbutted the thief and the man stumbled back. Kael finished the leader and turned toward the second thief.
The zombie moved without a command. It intercepted the thief before Silas could order it. The fist crushed the man's throat and he collapsed silently.
Silas looked at Kael. The zombie had acted before the command was given. It was a slight deviation but it was noticeable.
[Undead Autonomy Detected.]
[Level: Minimal.]
[Note: Souls adapt over time.]
Silas filed the information away. Kael was evolving slowly. It was useful but also risky. An independent undead could become unpredictable.
He checked his energy. Sixteen points remained. The fight lasted less than a minute but the drain was constant. He could not dismiss Kael yet because more enemies might be nearby.
"Loot them," Silas said. He wiped blood from his hand. "Look for maps or keys."
Kael searched the bodies and pulled out a folded paper from the leader's pocket. It was a map of the Riverford docks.
Silas took the paper and unfolded it. There was a red circle marked on Warehouse 7. It was near the water.
"Warehouse 7," Silas said. He pocketed the map. "That is the entrance."
He looked at the bodies. They were Guild thieves and their disappearance would be noticed.
"Bury them," Silas said. He looked at Kael. "Deep enough so the smell does not rise."
Kael nodded and began digging into the soft earth near the fence. The zombie worked silently and efficiently.
Silas leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He needed to recover energy but he could not sleep here. He needed to move.
"We leave now," Silas said. He pushed off the wall. "Before the Guild sends more."
Kael finished burying the bodies and followed him. They exited the alley and merged back into the crowd.
Silas kept his hand on the knife in his sleeve. The Shadow Guild would not stop after three thieves. They would send hunters next.
He checked his energy. Fifteen points remained. The drain was constant and relentless. He needed to reach the Vault before nightfall.
A System panel flickered in his vision. The text was violet and it pulsed slowly.
[Quest Updated: Find Vault Entrance.]
[Progress: 50%.]
[Reward: 10 Energy + Skill Book.]
[Warning: Time Limit Applied.]
Silas frowned. The System was imposing a time limit. It wanted him to move faster.
"Why the urgency," Silas asked. He spoke to the air. "The Vault has waited centuries."
[System Notification.]
[Source: Kaal.]
[Content: Rivals Approach.]
[Reason: Competition Increases Value.]
Silas clenched his fist. The God was pushing him. The rivals were likely other System users or Guild masters.
"Fine," Silas said. He started walking faster. "We move to Warehouse 7."
Kael followed him and the shadows stretched behind them. They moved independently of the sun again.
Silas ignored the shadows. He focused on the path ahead. The docks were crowded with workers and crates. The smell of salt and fish was strong.
Warehouse 7 was at the end of the pier. It was abandoned and boarded up. The wood was rotten and the windows were broken.
Silas stopped at the door. He listened for sounds inside. There was nothing but the sound of water lapping against the pilings.
"Open it," Silas said. He stepped back and let Kael take the lead.
Kael kicked the door and the wood shattered. They entered the warehouse and the darkness was absolute.
Silas raised his hand and decay energy formed a small orb. It provided faint violet light.
The warehouse was empty except for a large circle drawn on the floor. It was made of salt and bone dust.
"A summoning circle," Silas said. He stepped closer and examined the runes. "But it is incomplete."
Kael stood in the center of the circle. The zombie looked down at the floor and tilted its head.
[Observation Detected.]
[Circle Type: Vault Gate.]
[Requirement: Key + Blood Sacrifice.]
Silas touched his pocket. The black iron key was warm. He had the Key but he did not have the sacrifice.
"Blood sacrifice," Silas said. He looked at Kael. "Undead blood does not count."
He needed a living target. But killing innocents would increase Corruption. He could feel the stat ticking up slowly.
[Corruption: 1.5%.]
[Threshold: 50% (Critical).]
Silas sheathed the knife. He would not kill innocents for power. There was another way.
"Use my blood," Silas said. He cut his palm with the knife. The blood dripped onto the circle.
The runes glowed red and the floor began to shake. The salt lifted into the air and formed a vortex.
[Key Accepted.]
[Blood Accepted.]
[Gate Opening.]
A portal opened in the center of the circle. It was a swirling void of darkness. Silas felt the pull from the other side.
"We enter," Silas said. He looked at Kael. "Stay close."
Kael nodded and stepped toward the portal. Silas followed and they vanished into the darkness.
The warehouse was empty again. The circle faded and the salt fell to the floor.
Outside the warehouse, a shadow detached itself from the wall. It watched the building with featureless eyes.
[Observation Logged.]
[Subject: Silas Thorne.]
[Status: Vault Entry Confirmed.]
[Report To: Kaal.]
The shadow vanished and the pier was silent. The water lapped against the pilings and the sun continued to rise.
Silas was gone. But the hunt was just beginning.