boyutpedia Chapter 1440: Cost Of Strength
Chapter 1440: Cost Of Strength
The two men stood in silence for a moment longer before Neron straightened, pushing off the wall.
"We should get going. Missions won't wait for us."
Legris nodded, stepping forward and extending a hand. "Good luck out there, Neron. Make sure you come back in one piece."
Neron clasped his hand firmly, a rare smile crossing his face. "You too, Legris. Don't do anything reckless."
They released their grip, stepping back from each other.
"See you on the other side," Legris said as he turned to walk away, his steps confident and purposeful.
"See you," Neron replied, watching his friend disappear down the hallway.
As Neron turned to leave, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The path ahead was dangerous, but he knew they both had what it took to see it through.
For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself a moment of hope.
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~BOOOOOOMMMM!!!~
The chamber rumbled, the sound of crumbling stone echoing as the last of the massive Golems and Puppets fell to pieces.
Shards of enchanted metal and glowing runes scattered across the floor, their faint glow fading into darkness.
Neron wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his breathing steady despite the sheer intensity of the battle.
"You've got to admit," Karlia said, flipping her long hair back and smirking as she surveyed the destruction, "they really don't hold back with these trials. That was a good workout."
Neron cast her a sidelong glance.
"Good workout? You nearly brought the entire room down with that last spell. We're lucky the Arcana wasn't damaged."
Karlia chuckled, shrugging nonchalantly.
"What can I say? Destruction is one of my specialties." She gestured toward the floating card at the center of the room, its ethereal glow casting soft rays of light across the rubble.
"But I think it's safe to say we've earned our prize."
The card hovered in place, untouched by the chaos surrounding it.
Its surface shimmered with shifting patterns of gold and crimson, radiating an almost tangible aura of power.
Neron could feel its energy from where he stood—a steady, overwhelming pulse that seemed to resonate with his very soul.
Together, they approached the Arcana, their footsteps echoing in the now-silent chamber.
"[Strength]," Neron murmured, his eyes fixed on the card. "It's... incredible."
Karlia stopped beside him, her arms crossed as she studied the glowing relic.
"No kidding. This one feels... different. Even compared to the other Arcanas we've retrieved."
Karlia walked beside him, her usual smirk softened into something less teasing.
"You handled that well," she said after a long stretch of silence.
"Handled what?" Neron replied without breaking stride.
"The Arcana's power," she clarified, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "Most people would have passed out—or worse—after touching it. But you just... took it in stride."
"I didn't feel like I had much of a choice," Neron said flatly.
"Failing wasn't an option."
They entered the grand chamber where the Cult Leader and several other high-ranking members awaited.
The veiled lady in white stood silently behind the young-looking leader, her presence radiating an unspoken authority.
"Ah, Neron. Karlia." The Cult Leader's voice was soft, almost melodic, but it carried an undeniable weight.
"Welcome back."
Neron stepped forward and knelt, offering the containment sphere.
"The Arcana [Strength] is yours, Leader."
The young man leaned forward in his ornate chair, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.
"Well done. I knew you would not disappoint." He gestured for the attendant in white to retrieve the sphere.
"With this, we grow ever closer to our goal."
Karlia spoke up, her voice carrying a faint edge of pride. "The trial was tough, but we managed. Though I'd say Neron deserves most of the credit."
The Cult Leader's gaze shifted to her, his smile widening slightly. "I'm aware of your capabilities, Karlia. And I trust they were instrumental in this success."
She chuckled, waving a hand. "Flatter me all you want, but we both know Neron's the golden boy."
Ignoring her comment, Neron cleared his throat.
"You mentioned before that another team had been sent on a mission. Has there been any news?"
The Cult Leader leaned back in his chair, folding his hands as his smile faded.
"Ah, yes. The Fairy King returned not long ago. He was successful in retrieving an Arcana as well, though at a cost. One of his subordinates... perished during the mission."
Karlia's playful demeanor vanished, her expression darkening.
"A loss like that isn't easy. Even for him."
Neron nodded solemnly. "And what of the team sent to investigate the uncertain location?"
His voice was calm, but a faint tension underlined his words.
The room grew heavy with an unspoken gravity. The Cult Leader's expression turned grim, and the veiled lady's gaze dropped slightly.
"They are dead."