Twilight draped the sanctuary in a mantle of reddish shadows, the waning sunlight filtering through broken stained-glass windows and casting a mosaic of warm hues across the white stone walls. Renn stood before the central altar, his silhouette outlined against the pulsing glow of the amber crystal, which shone like a living heart at the building's core. The air thrummed with dense energy, a hum that made the ground tremble beneath his worn boots. Beside him, Lilith knelt, her hands clasped in prayer, her dark habit with golden embroidery catching the light in subtle glints. Her red eyes were fixed on the altar, gleaming with a mix of devotion and anticipation, her breath barely audible in the expectant silence.
Renn tapped his fingers on the hilt of his dagger, a nervous habit he hardly noticed anymore. The swirling vortex of light at the altar's center spun faster, and a figure began to take shape within it—tall and indistinct, cloaked in a radiance that obscured its features. The sound of wind echoed through the sanctuary, a supernatural resonance that seemed to rise from the walls themselves, as if the place held its breath for what was to come.
"This better be worth it," Renn muttered, his voice low but laced with curiosity. "If it's another goblin dressed as a nun, I'm having words with this system."
Lilith glanced up at him, a soft smile curving her lips. "Faith has brought us this far, my lord. Whatever comes will be a gift of your will."
Before he could reply, a resonant voice cut through the air, clear and commanding, echoing in his mind like distant thunder:
[System]: Special task assigned to Renn, Lord of the Sanctuary. Place a demonic hound feather on the altar as a spontaneous offering. Reward: The summoning will ascend directly to Abbess class, seventh tier of the Sacred Order.
Renn blinked, taken aback, and stepped back as if the message had physically struck him. "A feather, seriously? What's next, system, bring incense and sing psalms like an altar boy?" He turned to Lilith, raising an eyebrow with a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Did you hear that, or am I finally losing it?"
She tilted her head, her voice calm but tinged with reverence. "The system speaks, my lord. Its will is our guide."
"Sure, because a feather's going to change the world," Renn grumbled, though a crooked smile tugged at his face. He opened his bracer, sliding his fingers across the holographic interface until he found a demonic hound feather—a trophy he'd kept from an encounter with one of those corrupted beasts. It was black, streaked with golden veins that still seemed to pulse with an echo of contained dark energy. He pulled it from the inventory, holding it between his fingers as he eyed it skeptically. "Alright, here's your damn feather, system. Hope it's happy with this."
With a theatrical flourish, he placed the feather on the altar, letting it fall beside the amber crystal. The vortex of light reacted instantly, flaring into a blinding radiance that filled the sanctuary with a golden glow so bright Renn had to shield his eyes with his arm. The system spoke again, its voice ringing with a clarity that seemed to shake the walls:
[System]: Task completed. Summoning enhanced. Class ascended to Abbess.
The glow condensed, and a figure emerged from the vortex, imposing and majestic. She stood easily over six feet tall, her upright posture radiating an aura of order and grace that dominated the space. Her silver hair was tied into a practical bun, shimmering as if woven from threads of moonlight, and her golden eyes blazed like beacons in the dimness, locking onto Renn with an intensity that made him straighten instinctively. Her white habit, adorned with golden and red accents, flowed like a cascade of living fabric, each movement revealing an otherworldly elegance. A celestial energy enveloped her, a subtle glow that pushed back the sanctuary's shadows, as if her mere presence purified the air.
She inclined her head slightly, her deep, resonant voice filling the space with quiet but undeniable authority. "I am Seraphina, Abbess of the Sacred Order. My lord, I am at your service." With a grace that belied her imposing height, she knelt before Renn, her habit spreading across the floor like a mantle of light.
Renn stepped forward, his expression softening into a warmth he reserved only for his nuns. He bent quickly, taking her delicate yet firm hand with care, and helped her rise. "No need to kneel, Seraphina. You're part of this family now, not a servant. I'm glad you're here." His voice was genuine, free of the sarcasm he often aimed at others, a protective tone that reflected the affection he felt for those he considered his home.
Seraphina stood, her golden eyes meeting his, and a faint smile curved her lips, conveying gratitude and respect. "Your kindness honors me, my lord. I will serve with all that I am."
Lilith approached, her movement elegant and silent, bowing deeply before Seraphina. "It is an honor, elder sister. Your light strengthens our faith and elevates this sanctuary to new heights."
The system interjected once more, its voice ringing in Renn's mind with crystalline clarity:
[System]: Seraphina's profile updated: Aasimar Nun Abbess, Level 7. Abilities: Purifying Light, Divine Shield, Mass Healing. Special: Celestial Aura (Loyalty 100). Description: An Aasimar of divine lineage, blessed with the wisdom and power of the heavens. Summoned by Renn, she has ascended to Abbess, her ethereal beauty and magnificent authority accentuated by a white habit with golden and red accents. She serves with absolute devotion, guiding her sisters toward the light.
Renn let out a low chuckle, eyeing Seraphina with admiration. "Well, that sounds impressive. We're gonna need that light of yours, because this place isn't exactly a peaceful paradise."
The southern terrain stretched before them like a torn canvas—low hills covered in dry grass and deep ravines slicing the earth like open scars. The sun climbed toward its zenith, warming the stones and casting shadows that danced like specters across the dusty ground. Renn led the way, dagger in hand, its blade glinting in the light as his boots crunched over loose gravel. Lilith followed to his right, her prayer tome open in one hand, her red eyes scanning the horizon with a mix of curiosity and alertness. Seraphina, to his left, strode with steady steps, her towering figure casting a shadow that seemed to scare off the small creatures scurrying at her approach. The air carried a stench of ash and rot, a harbinger of what lurked beyond.
A sharp screech pierced the silence, followed by a chorus of rapid, chaotic footsteps. From a nearby ravine, a horde of goblins erupted like a frenzied swarm, their small, hunched bodies moving with manic energy. Archers with crooked bows nocked notched arrows, spearmen brandished makeshift weapons with sharpened stone tips, and at the rear, a taller, cunning figure loomed above them: a Supreme Goblin Shaman, its skin covered in dark tattoos that glowed with a sickly light, clutching a staff adorned with tiny skulls that pulsed with corrupt energy. Its eyes gleamed with cruel intelligence, its presence causing the lesser goblins to cluster around it, trembling with fear or reverence.
Renn twirled his dagger between his fingers, a warm smile crossing his face as he glanced at his nuns. "Well, girls, looks like we've got company. Let's give 'em a welcome they won't forget."
Lilith raised her hands, her voice soft but edged with a seductive bite as she summoned an Enhanced Shadow Barrier. "For you, my lord, no enemy will stand." The dark dome formed, shimmering with golden streaks, and the archers' arrows bounced off it like twigs against stone.
Renn lunged at a spearman, slashing its throat with a swift, precise strike. "One down! How many can you drive mad this time, Lilith?" His tone was light, almost playful, a clear affection in his voice as he trusted her skill.
She answered with a low laugh, her eyes glinting as she unleashed Mass Confusion. "For you, my lord, they'll all fall to chaos." The wave of dark energy struck the archers, and they turned their bows on each other, firing arrows that pierced their own comrades in a bloody frenzy.
Then the Supreme Goblin Shaman roared, raising its staff with a growl that shook the earth. A black cloud erupted from it, spreading like a storm that darkened the sky in an instant, the clouds swirling into a black vortex that seemed to swallow the sunlight. The lesser goblins fell back, forming a perimeter around their leader, their screeches turning into a guttural chant that echoed from the depths. The shaman traced a circle of dark runes in the air, and the ground cracked beneath its power, releasing shadows that rose like living serpents, twisting toward the trio with silent fury.
Renn cut down another goblin, its green blood splattering the ground, and glanced at Lilith with concern. "Lilith, keep that barrier up! This is getting ugly."
She nodded, her breath ragged but her voice steady. "Always for you, my lord." The barrier shuddered under the shadows' impact but held, shielding the group as Renn braced to push forward.
Seraphina stepped forward, her six-foot frame rising like a monolith of light amid the growing darkness. The lesser goblins retreated further, their screeches turning shrill and desperate as they sensed her celestial aura. Her voice rang out, deep and charged with power: "Domine meus, in tua luce pereant." A burst of Purifying Light erupted from her hands, a blast of golden radiance that incinerated several spearmen in an instant, their bodies dissolving into ash as the air filled with the acrid stench of burnt flesh. The remaining goblins shrieked, some dropping to their knees, their weapons trembling in their hands as she advanced, reciting, "Benedictus es tu, domine meus." Her tone was a prayer, a chant of devotion to Renn that resounded like a divine command, shaking the enemy.
"That's it, Seraphina! Show 'em who's boss!" Renn shouted, his voice brimming with pride as he sliced another goblin, its blood splattering his boots.
The Supreme Goblin Shaman, Level 10, roared with fury, its eyes blazing like embers in the gloom. The circle of dark runes expanded, and a torrent of corrupt energy surged toward Seraphina, a river of living shadows that tore through the earth in its path, kicking up dust and stones in a deadly vortex. Lilith reinforced the barrier, but the impact staggered her, dropping her to one knee as she gasped from the effort.
"Lilith!" Renn rushed toward her, but Seraphina raised a hand, her steady gaze stopping him cold.
"Stay with her, my lord. This foe is mine," she said, her voice calm but laden with unshakable authority. She strode toward the shaman, her figure cutting through the black cloud like a beacon in the storm. The vortex struck her, but she raised both hands, her white habit billowing like a flag in the tempest. "Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus." A Divine Shield formed before her, a luminous barrier that halted the vortex dead, dispersing it in a burst of golden sparks that lit the darkened sky.
The shaman recoiled, its eyes widening with a flicker of fear as its spell failed. "You're no human, cursed light!" it bellowed, its guttural voice echoing from the depths. It raised its staff again, and shadows solidified into chains that lashed toward Seraphina, wrapping her in a lethal embrace that sought to crush her.
She stood unmoving, her gaze fixed on the shaman, and her voice thundered: "Domine meus, in tua luce pereant." The chains tightened, but Seraphina raised a hand, and a spear of pure light materialized in her palm, blazing like a shard of the sun itself. With a fluid motion, she hurled it at the shaman, the spear slicing through the air with a deafening whistle, unraveling the chains into fragments of shadow that dissipated like smoke. The shaman conjured a corrupt beam, a crackling ray of black energy that surged toward her, but Seraphina spun the spear in her hands, deflecting it with a strike that lit the field in a blinding flash. The beam dissolved, and the shaman screamed in rage, summoning a circle of runes that unleashed a swarm of flying shadows—serpents of dark energy that lunged at her.
Seraphina advanced, her spear glowing with rising intensity, and recited an original prayer, her tone deep and resonant: "He who walks beneath the mantle of the Most High shall rest in the fortress of His might." With a sweep of her weapon, she cleaved the shadows apart, each strike sending waves of light that incinerated the lesser goblins daring to approach. "I will call upon my lord: Eternal refuge, sword of my soul; in Thy name, no evil shall prevail." The shaman stumbled back, its hands shaking as it raised its staff for one final assault—a torrent of dark energy that roared toward her like a wave of death.
She drove the spear into the ground, and the impact unleashed an explosion of light that shredded the torrent, dissolving it in a burst of golden sparks. The shaman, terrified, tried to flee, its eyes wide as it stumbled backward. Seraphina advanced, her voice rising in intensity: "Thou shalt not tremble before the shadows of night, nor the venom that stalks at dawn." She lifted the spear, and with a final motion, hurled it at the shaman. The weapon blazed like a shooting star, piercing its staff and chest in a single strike, igniting it from within with pure light that consumed it in an instant. The shaman let out a final scream, a wail that faded as its body crumbled to ash, the spear of light exploding in a radiance that lit the sky and purified the terrain in a wide radius.
The remaining goblins shrieked and fled, scattering across the landscape as Seraphina stood over the shaman's ashes, her white habit pristine despite the battle. Renn rushed to Lilith, helping her stand as the barrier faded. "That was… fucking epic," he said, his voice thick with pride as he looked at Seraphina. "My girls are the best damn thing this screwed-up world's ever seen."
Lilith leaned on him, her breath still labored but a warm smile on her lips. "All for you, my lord."
Seraphina turned to them, her expression serene but with a glint of satisfaction in her golden eyes. "The corruption is purged, my lord. But there is more work to be done."
[System]: Defeated Supreme Goblin Shaman, Level 10. Reward: 100 Holy Energy Crystals and Advanced Summoning Orb.
Renn plucked a glowing crystal from the ground, twirling it between his fingers. "Not bad for a southern stroll. Let's head home, girls. We've earned a break."
The sun hung at its zenith as they returned to the sanctuary, warming the white stones and casting long shadows from the Sacred Watchtower. The terrain was littered with goblin ash, a reminder of the recent battle, and the group paused in the clearing before the sanctuary to catch their breath. Renn pulled out the sack of sacred fruits, offering it to Lilith and Seraphina as they sat on smooth rocks, the sun's warmth easing the ache in their muscles.
Renn bit into a fruit, wincing slightly before grinning. "Sacred fruits again. Not a feast, but at least we're not like Kael, begging for scraps. How about you, Seraphina, you like this stale stuff?"
Seraphina took one, her tone dry but with a hint of humor. "Simplicity is virtue, my lord. It keeps us strong, though the taste is a sacrifice in itself."
Lilith laughed softly, taking a fruit and brushing Renn's fingers with a subtle gesture that made him linger on her a moment longer than necessary. "Faith sustains us, my lord. These fruits are a gift from the sanctuary, as we are to you."
Renn opened his bracer, checking the chat with a crooked smile.
[Lord_Kael]: "My water elementals won't fight. Say there's no food. I'm screwed."
[Lord_Soren]: "My skeletons are starving. How're they supposed to eat with no stomachs?"
[Lord_Torin]: "My dragon burned the camp again. Think it's pissed about no decent meat."
[Lord_Elara]: "Griffin caught a deer, but now it won't let me near. These things are a pain."
[Lord_Lira]: "Renn, you still alive with your nuns? Or they ditch you from boredom yet?"
Renn closed the interface, chuckling under his breath. "At least we don't have that problem, huh, Lilith? These fruits beat Torin's dragons or Soren's useless skeletons any day."
He decided to use the collected crystals to improve their home. Opening the bracer, he selected an option he'd eyed before.
[System]: Construction completed: Two-Room House. Cost: 30 Holy Energy Crystals. Remaining Resources: 70 Holy Energy Crystals.] A simple structure rose beside the sanctuary—white stone with a slanted roof and two small windows, a modest but cozy shelter.
Renn walked to the house, pushing the door open and peering inside. Two small rooms, each with a basic bed and table. He sighed, turning to Lilith and Seraphina. "Alright, we've got a decent place now. The rooms are yours. I'll find somewhere else to crash, maybe the usual bench."
Lilith stepped forward quickly, taking his hand with a warm, firm grip, her red eyes gleaming with a mix of devotion and something deeper. "My lord, it's no trouble for me to stay with you. I know my chastity's a challenge, but I don't wish you to sit alone." Her voice was seductive, an echo of her succubus nature that had been more restrained lately, but her loyalty was unshakable—a genuine offer that caught him off guard.
Renn looked at her, his expression softening as he squeezed her hand with gratitude. "Thanks, Lilith. I appreciate that more than words can say. I'll sleep with you, then." There was no sarcasm in his tone, just a sincere warmth that mirrored the special place she held in his heart.
Seraphina watched the exchange with a faint smile, nodding in approval. "It's a gesture worthy of a lord, my lord. This sanctuary is more than stone; it's the home we build together."
That night, Renn and Lilith settled into one of the rooms, the bed barely big enough for two. He lay down carefully, respecting her space, feeling her warmth beside him as she shifted closer, her soft breathing filling the silence. There was no pressure in her gesture, just a closeness that strengthened their bond, and Renn closed his eyes, grateful for her presence.
Dusk arrived with a sky painted in reds and oranges, the amber crystal glowing fiercely and the Sacred Watchtower casting a protective shadow over the sanctuary. Renn decided to use more crystals to fortify their home, selecting an upgrade in the bracer.
[System]: Construction completed: Reinforced Altar. Cost: 50 Holy Energy Crystals. Remaining Resources: 20 Holy Energy Crystals.] The altar rose higher, its edges now etched with golden runes pulsing with pure energy—a symbol of their growing power.
Renn tapped the altar with his fist, grinning as he looked at Lilith and Seraphina. "New altar, huh? This is starting to look like a proper place. I'm proud of you girls. Thanks for sticking with me as your lord, for making this pile of rocks something worth a damn."
Seraphina inclined her head, her tone firm yet warm. "That roar we heard to the east isn't random, my lord. Corruption grows, and we must prepare to seek the scroll reliquary soon."
Lilith stepped closer to Renn, her hand brushing his with a softness that comforted him. "With your leadership and elder sister's guidance, we're ready, my lord."
A distant roar echoed, deeper and closer than before, rattling the sanctuary's stained glass. Renn frowned, but a confident smile crossed his face. "Great, more trouble. Well, at least we've got an Abbess to scare 'em off with Latin and a crew no chat idiot could match."
[Lord_Torin]: "Dragon's hungry again. Anyone got a spare goblin?"
[Lord_Elara]: "Griffin won't let me sleep. Keeps bringing prey to camp."
[Lord_Gav]: "Golem smashed my tent. Need more stones."
[Lord_Lira]: "Renn, still playing with your nuns? Or they give up on you from boredom?"
[Lord_Renn]: "Keep crying, losers. My girls just wiped a goblin horde while you wrestle your pets."]
Seraphina nodded, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "The light will prevail, my lord. It always does."
The sanctuary settled into the twilight, the amber crystal's glow illuminating Renn and his nuns—a family bound by faith and struggle, ready to face whatever fate had in store.