Unlike the other items displayed inside the Exchange, this particular item called out to Kieran, resonating with his creed, mindset and conviction on a level he had never felt before.
With such high compatibility between him and this item, Kieran felt like he'd be a fool not to attempt to learn more about it.
Holding the fragnted to in his hand, Kieran experienced a haptic phenonon wherein touching the to resulted in so mild sensory distortion. If Kieran wasn't aware of his current surroundings, he would have believed he was transported into so kind of dreamscape through re touch.
Though, what he felt was the remnants of an extraordinarily pure intent.
"It's no surprise you're drawn to an item like that," Veradin spoke up, his eyes flashing with faint delight as his lips curled into a pleased smile.
From what Veradin knew, this particular item had never reacted in such a way before. Perhaps it was far too picky, requiring a specific individual with inimitable circumstances, or maybe it simply needed an individual that did not fear death.
Whatever it may be, Kieran experienced a subtle resonance, making it almost impossible for him to put it down without learning more about it.
"You seem quite familiar with this item. What exactly is it?"
"You can… call it a nto of one of the War Deity Council's forefathers. It is an item that once belonged to the person we called the Draconian Warmonger, an undeniably savage force on the battlefield that many cowered, recoiled and retreated from."
"Sounds partially barbaric," Kieran remarked, continuing to examine the ti-worn and fragnted to.
"How did you know? Barbaric is an apt word to describe that man's behavior and conduct. I was but a young boy at that ti, but I saw things. Fascinatingly grueso, but primitive and fundantal. Who I am today is a culmination of what I saw then," Veradin said.
Afterward, Veradin's gaze beca nostalgic, as if relishing in the mories of a grisly but perversely filling ti. For those that loved battle, the earlier era was a windfall of never-ending conflict and opportunities to bleed and return stronger.
In Veradin's eyes, it was a ti of real n, with shifty machinations and deceitful artifices only playing a minimal role.
Initially, Kieran believed it was sothing like a Legacy Relic that would bestow a set of techniques, but now it felt a bit different. Like it was part of a much greater picture.
Given the sentints that Veradin revealed, it was plausible. This item could very well be extrely important. However, the issue of this matter was its price. If Kieran chose to obtain this item, the balance of his points would essentially be wiped out.
Its price was after all… 7.5 million points.
"I think I understand why the item resonated with you the way it did. You possess an unprecedented synergy with it. You carry sothing innate that can blossom into sothing greater, possibly even resembling the Draconian Warmonger's bullish ways."
"Is this item the reason you gave such a specific increase in points? Did you see sothing in ?" Kieran suddenly asked.
It all seed too convenient to him. Though there was a sizable difference between 7.5 million and 10 million points, Kieran couldn't ignore the fact that this number would allow him to co in contact with the item without fail.
Due to the restrictions of the Exchange, perusing items above one's point threshold was impossible. Sure, it limited the information that could be gained and, in so cases, prevented expectant observers from gaining sothing to aim for.
Unfortunately, the War Deity Council felt that the aspirations of their mbers needed to be monitored and curtailed if they grew too absurd. Nothing was more detrintal than a fantasizer with the potential to transform their idyllic fantasy into reality.
This was especially true, given the secrets that the War Deity Council was aware of. So aspects of ti were too grand for any person, entity or individual to influence.
At least… that much rang true for this Lesser Boundary, where they could exercise their authority and remain one of the top dogs.
"I saw the capacity for you to be sothing special. And this realization of mine did not include the power you inherited from Scar. When I say this… I am talking about you—the inner and true you. That Aspect of yours is living proof. You should know that this forefather possessed an Aspect similar to yours. It was at that mont I decided… perhaps it was you that could find the ruins."
"Ruins?" Kieran turned his head in Veradin's direction, all of his attention now trained on the older man.
"Correct. This forefather's death was sowhat unceremonious. Though there was a celebration, mourning and rembrance to exalt the grand figure… the truth is that no cadaver remained. No legacy left behind to edify the council's future generation. Perhaps it would be different if that were the case."
Thinking of this made Veradin sigh regretfully, his shoulder now drooping as he summoned a cane to support him, though it served no actual purpose. He managed just fine, but his disappointnt in the organization made him montarily weary.
"Straightforward, blunt, and rigid—those were that man's traits. If there was conflict, you could count on him to deliver swift, just and befitting retribution. In fact, this thod could be called… cruel and disconcerting."
"You seed to really idolize this man, Lord Veradin."
"That much is for certain," Veradin admitted, making no efforts to hide his sentints. "My Righteous Faction was founded upon the skeleton of what I extracted from his behavior. Even if it's only in na and not to carry out my will, you are a mber of that faction. Who knows… maybe one day, it may even enter your grasp. Should that occur… I hope you honor the tenets of its moral propriety."
"That said… what will you do? Do you accept that piece of history? The choice is yours. I shall not impose sothing upon you that you have zero interest in."
"No," Kieran answered hastily. With a faint shake of his head, he lifted the to to eye level. "I'll accept. If this to can lead to a Lost Legacy, I'll more than happily accept the journey."
To him, a forefather of the War Deity Council powerful enough to earn a moniker like the Draconian Warmonger during a ti when unfathomable powerhouses were born must possess a formidable Legacy.
Kieran couldn't give that up. Not when it sounded like it suited a Berserker and a Barbarian.
In his eyes, Veradin's words were the truth.
The mont Kieran purchased the to, more information about it was revealed to him.
〈System: You have obtained the item: «Fragnt of the Warmonger's Tomb».〉
〈System: The «Fragnt of the Warmonger's Tomb» can be used to find the Lost Ruins of a Fallen Empyrean. Refer to the intensity of the call to locate its destination.〉
'As I suspected. As it is a Lost Legacy… it can only be found in a Lost Ruins. I just hope the difficulty isn't too great. Then again, we've been over this. What good is hope? I'll find out what this matter of an Empyrean ans once I reach it,' Kieran inwardly muttered.
For a mont, Kieran considered posing the question to Veradin, but it might seem strange for a young man such as himself to understand an archaic and essentially lost term like an Empyrean.
Besides, Kieran didn't even understand the aning of the na.
If he did, he would know that voicing the term Empyrean on this Boundary could lead to grave misfortunes.
After acquiring the Fragnt of the Warmonger's Tomb, Kieran continued to search for anything of minor use, obtaining so valuable items that could be conducive to repairing Crimson Ashrune in the future.
…
Having obtained his rewards, Kieran's attention returned to a luxurious room that broadcasted sheer opulence. As he looked around, Kieran rubbed on his War Crest of Champions in deep thought.
"How much ti has passed since I stepped inside the War Phantasmagoria?"
Veradin considered the passage of ti before answering. "Roughly 2 days. It must have been one hell of a fight for you to reach the 6th stage in that amount of ti."
'I'm in no condition to fight. The Sword of Vengeance and Imperfect Blood Armor essentially drained my vitality. Since that's the case… maybe it's ti for a break. That much sounds like it could be good.'
Determining that rest was in his best interest, Kieran eventually bade his farewells, thanking Veradin before walking out of the doors of the War Deity Council minutes later.
He could visit the Hero's Sanctuary and request so of the Quintessential Aether he left with Isadora, but Kieran decided that it wasn't ideal.
Frankly speaking, most of Kieran's fatigue stemd from the stress placed upon his willpower. Soothing respite, solace and the familiarity of his allies were the only things he believed would fortify his weary mind.
'Huh… I miss them? Who would have thought.'
On his journey to the nearest Teleportation Hall, Kieran cracked a faint smile betraying the irony he felt. Despite all his efforts to keep people at a distance, sohow, their images had seeped into ruminations.
Were they a strength or weakness? Only ti could tell him that answer.
…
Hours later, Kieran stood before the Godhand Consortium, which by now, experienced a steady flow of foot traffic and revenue. Given its low-cost margins, the unchallenged behemoth was already beginning to turn a profit.
Yet, the business' glowing success was not the matter Kieran focused on. Upon entering the Godhand Consortium, Milana t up with him, alerting him of so matters.
"Sir, you have so visitors. They have said to know you personally," Milana revealed. Looking down, she confird their identities and then continued. "It's one… Ezra and company, sir?"
'Ezra has reached out to ? I want to say it's strange, but I'll bite. After all, it's been so ti since I've seen her.'
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