David’s mind was still reeling from the battle when a sudden moment of clarity struck him.

  Strangely enough, Zephiron didn’t make a move.

  David hesitated, weighing his approach, but even as doubt lingered, he was ready to advance when—

  “That’s enough, Azrikal.”

  Zephiron’s voice cut through the silence, firm and unquestionable.

  David’s head snapped behind him instantly—just in time to see the abyssal flames roar inches from his face.

  Azrikal stood behind him, mid-attack, his molten veins still alight with power. How? How was he still standing, let alone attempting a treacherous strike from behind? David had just put him down—hadn’t he?

  Astonishingly, he hadn’t even sensed him move—had it not been for Zephiron’s intervention, he might never have.

  The blistering heat singed his skin the moment it drew near. He had to withdraw at once, then enveloped himself in his light, soothing the searing pain.

  “Why do you stop me, Master?” Azrikal’s tone remained respectful, yet his intent was clear. “I was moments away from reducing him to ash.”

  Zephiron exhaled slowly, like a man observing a piece of art he wasn’t quite ready to part with. “Because brute force will not yield the answers I seek.”

  His eyes, deep pools of unwavering confidence, lingered on David. “And besides, I find this one… compelling.”

  He went on, "After all, he is the first to have brought you down—even if only for a brief moment."

  David tensed. "Compelling?" The word alone, spoken from Zephiron’s lips, made his stomach twist with disgust. He scoffed. "Spare me your pleasantries."

  Zephiron ignored his reaction and continued. "How about we make a deal?"

  David’s focus sharpened instantly, his body on edge. "A deal?"

  Zephiron nodded, inclining his head. "Since you refuse to tell me why you seek the Shard and insist on guarding your secrets, let us strike a bargain."

  David scoffed. "What makes you think I want the Shard?" He bluffed, feigning indifference.

  Zephiron studied him with a patience that felt unnerving. “A man’s intent is often betrayed by his own actions. Even as you fought, your gaze never strayed far from it. You recognized its significance the moment you laid eyes upon it. You reacted to it. That tells me only one thing—"

  He took a step forward, the weight of his presence pressing down on David like a silent storm.

  "You want it."

  David stood still, his mind calculating.

  “So,” Zephiron continued, “let us dispense with falsehoods. You desire the Shard. I desire knowledge.”

  David clenched his jaw. There was no bluffing his way out of this anymore. “Fine, just get to the point. What do you want to know?”

  Zephiron smirked slightly. "Now, that is the response I anticipated. I knew you were not one to abandon your pursuits so easily. But as you can see, when we converse with reason, we move forward."

  David’s patience snapped. "Enough with the games. Say what you mean."

  Zephiron finally set aside the pretense. "I will divulge the location of another Shard—one other than the Azurefrost Shard. In return, you will share everything you know about Azurefrost, including the source of your knowledge. After all, such secrets are not acquired by chance."

  David’s heart pounded. Another Shard. The thought alone sent a surge of possibilities through his mind.

  But he was no fool.

  “And if I refuse?”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Zephiron’s expression did not shift, yet the weight of his presence intensified. “Then I will let Azrikal finish what he started.”

  No hostility. No aggression. Just a simple, undeniable truth.

  As much as David wished to fight, he could no longer deny the truth—defeating them was beyond him. Their strength was simply out of his reach.

  Zephiron shifted his stance ever so slightly, aligning himself in the direction of the fallen Captain. Then, he pushed further.

  "I wonder… how long your friend has left?" His voice was calm, almost thoughtful. "You barely stand a chance against Azrikal. Against both of us?" He let the words linger, his smirk deepening. "Let’s just say… you won’t like the outcome."

  David clenched his jaw, forcing his breath to remain steady. His body screamed for action, but every path led to the same conclusion—he wasn’t walking out of this victorious.

  He also knew that saving lives had to take priority.

  He had to decide. Now.

  But even still, he hesitated.

  His mind screamed for the system—for a window, a prompt, a warning—anything. It was the system that wanted the Shards, not him. If it wanted them so badly, then where was it?

  Nothing appeared.

  No notifications. No guidance. No answers.

  He was on his own.

  He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to move. If the system wouldn’t give him an answer, he’d make one himself.

  "It was my master who told me about the Azurefrost Shard," David said, forcing the words out with careful control. A half-truth—just enough to guide the conversation. It wasn’t a lie—not to him. The system was his teacher, after all.

  Zephiron’s eyes flickered, his sharp amusement giving way to something else.

  "Master?" he repeated, his voice carrying genuine curiosity now, his brow furrowing for the first time.

  David pressed his advantage, telling him exactly what he wanted to hear. "Yeah. Master. Just like you’re a master to that beast," he said, tilting his chin slightly toward Azrikal.

  Zephiron studied him for a long moment, then let out a low chuckle.

  "Fascinating." He stepped closer, his amusement sharpening into something far more dangerous. "So that explains it. That’s how a nobody like you knows about the Shards' existence."

  David remained still, his pulse steady despite the weight pressing down on him.

  Zephiron’s gaze flickered with thought. "I’d very much like to know more about this 'master' of yours… but that can wait."

  His voice dipped, serious now.

  "For now, tell me what you know about the Azurefrost Shard."

  Silence.

  David’s mind raced. He knew nothing about the Shard—not its origins, not its properties. Even its name had only come to him through a system notification. Without that, he wouldn’t have known he would encounter it in this Rift.

  But now, Zephiron was watching him, waiting.

  David needed to think fast.

  Because the next words out of his mouth could decide whether he lived… or died.

  "Uh… the Shard, it might—"

  David faltered, unsure of what to say. But before he could stumble any further, a sudden surge of system windows flooded his vision, cutting him off mid-sentence.

  ? ? ? THE AZUREFROST SHARD CANNOT BE CLAIMED WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE. EVEN ITS SEEKERS ARE TESTED ? ? ?

  ? ? ? IT RESONATES WITH THOSE WHO HAVE TOUCHED THE VOID ? ? ?

  ? ? ? REACH LEVEL 10 TO UNLOCK FURTHER INFORMATION ? ? ?

  David hesitated for a fraction of a second, just long enough to internally thank the system. He had been about to say something absurd—something that might’ve cost him dearly.

  Zephiron, however, remained unbothered, his patience unnerving. He wasn’t in a hurry. He already knew David was stalling, carefully guarding his secrets.

  David exhaled, steadying himself, then cleared his throat. "My Master told me there are consequences for those who claim the Azurefrost Shard—that they are tested."

  He didn’t need the system to spell out the rest. He had already pieced it together himself.

  David’s gaze flicked toward Azrikal, his tone sharpening. "I assume that’s what happened to your disciple over here."

  Zephiron’s smirk didn’t fade, but something beneath it did. He inclined his head slightly, waiting.

  "And?"

  David didn’t break eye contact. "And… it resonates with those who have touched the Void."

  He repeated the system’s words exactly as they appeared, concealing the fact that he had no idea what any of it truly meant.

  The effect was immediate. The moment the words left his lips, something changed.

  Zephiron froze. Not in hesitation—this was something else. His body remained still, yet his presence expanded, like a storm gathering before the first strike of lightning.

  David felt the weight of it pressing down on him, a silent force thick with unspoken meaning. Whatever the system had just revealed… it mattered. Deeply.

  And judging by Zephiron’s reaction, David had just stepped onto dangerous ground.

  Zephiron’s gaze darkened, his thoughts a silent storm.

  "Is that why Azrikal lost control when he claimed the Shard?" His eyes flickered toward his disciple, then back to David.

  Zephiron's gaze darkened as he delved deeper into his thoughts. It rejected him… because he has never touched the Void.

  "Is that also why the Shard resonated with me—because I have touched the Void? I believed it was drawn to my power, yet even I was unaware of this connection. Just who is this man to know such things?"

  The realization settled in, a puzzle piece clicking into place.

  "But that would mean…"

  His gaze sharpened, fixating on David with quiet intensity.

  "Does he know? Does he realize that I have?"

  A careful pause. A shift in his stance. Then, in a measured tone, he spoke.

  "Do you know what the Void is?"

  David stiffened. There was no system prompt to save him this time, no hidden knowledge to pull from. His mind ran empty.

  For a moment, Zephiron simply watched. Waiting. Measuring.

  David exhaled, slow and steady.

  Then, with deliberate simplicity, he answered with a big—

  "No."

  Zephiron was poised to question him further about his master, but before he could speak, David cut in sharply.

  "That's enough. You've had your turn—now it's mine." His eyes locked onto Zephiron, unwavering.

  "Tell me—where can I find another Shard?"