Celestial Speed: Legacy-Chapter 76: Pact Failed

Henry stood up and opened the system’s inventory. He knew about the weapon display and already had a particular item in mind.

"Equip Caduceus," he muttered softly, summoning the great Herald staff, he had received from the system, a few days ago.

As the staff materialised in his hands, Henry was taken aback by it’s ancient but elegant appearance. The Caduceus was a majestic and awe-inspiring artifact that seemed to radiate an otherworldly energy. Its length was approximately six feet, with a slender, cylindrical body made of a mysterious, golden metal that seemed almost liquid in its appearance.

The staff’s surface was adorned with intricate, swirling patterns that resembled a mix of ancient runes and hieroglyphs.

At the top of the staff, two serpents were entwined, their bodies coiled around each other in a delicate, symmetrical balance, and their bodies seemed to be made of the same shimmering, gold metal as the staff itself. And a pair of white metallic wings sprouted from the sides, while a small round orb, sat at the tip of the staff itself.

The staff’s base was tipped with a sharp, crystalline point that seemed to be made of a glittering, diamond-like material.

When Henry grasped the staff, he could feel a great feeling of nothingness, literally. It was like there was a lot of power imbued into the staff, but something was blocking it from being manifested. Then a system notification appeared, snapping him out of his daze.

[Recognition failed]

[Pact failed]

[Error! Celestial energy required to make proper connection with Herald staff]

All of Henry’s excitement died as soon as he read the message. For the weapon to work, a recognition was required, and to get recognition, celestial energy was required, one that Henry didn’t possess at the moment. So basically, the legendary staff was useless.

Henry returned it back to his inventory and laid on the bed to think about how much the day wasn’t going well for him. "I can’t go hunting, which means i can’t level up. I can’t complete the event missions, i can’t use the portal and now, i can’t use the legendary weapon given to me. What a fucking irony!" he lamented and closed his eyes, awaiting his special treats.

******

In a vast, unknown planet, its orange sky glowing with an otherworldly light. The earth beneath was a deep, burning red, cracked and fissured from eons of drought and neglect. There was no sign of vegetation, no hint of green to break the monotony of the rust-colored landscape. Only the endless dunes of dry earth, stretching out to the horizon like a sea of crimson sand.

In the distance, a massive crater yawned open, its edges worn smooth by the constant winds that howled across the planet’s surface. And within that crater, a strange structure rose from the earth like a giant, metallic mushroom. It was a dome-shaped building, it glinted in the faint light, its surface etched with intricate patterns and symbols that seemed to dance across its surface.

Inside the building, a woman with short, dark hair walked purposefully through the deserted corridors, her footsteps echoing off the cold, metallic walls. She approached an elevator, its doors sliding open with a soft hiss as she stepped inside. The doors closed behind her, and the elevator lurched upward, carrying her to the highest floor of the structure.

As the doors opened, the woman stepped out into a dimly lit corridor, the only sound the soft hum of the building’s systems. She walked to the only office on the floor, her hand raised to knock on the door. But before she could make contact, the door slid open by itself, revealing a dark, cavernous space beyond.

"Come in, child," a low, gravelly voice called from within.

The woman sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly as she stepped across the threshold. The door closed behind her, plunging her into darkness. But as her eyes adjusted, she saw a figure standing by a large painting on the wall, the flames from a nearby brazier casting flickering shadows across the room.

The man was in his late 50s, his short white hair neatly trimmed, his grey facial hair carefully groomed to conceal the lines and wrinkles that etched his face. He stood with his back to her, a small tattoo visible on the back of his neck, one that seemed to be an eclipsed sun. His eyes were fixed on the painting, one which depicted a figure shrouded in a black hood.

As the woman approached, the man slowly turned to face her, his eyes glinting with a knowing light in the fire’s glow.

"Did you get it?" he asked sharply

"I did," the woman replied, her voice firm and confident. "It wasn’t easy, but I managed to retrieve it."

As she spoke, her ring began to glow with a soft, blue light. The woman raised her hand, and to her side, a large conch shell materialized out of thin air. She grasped it firmly and handed it over to the man.

The man’s eyes lit up with excitement as he took the shell from her. He scrutinized it carefully, his fingers tracing the intricate patterns etched into its surface. After a moment, he raised the shell up to the portrait on the wall, holding it up as if in offering.

The woman watched, her eyes fixed on the shell, as the man stood there, frozen in anticipation. But as the moments ticked by, his expression began to change. His eyebrows furrowed, and his lips pursed in disappointment.

Nothing was happening.

The woman was confused, she wondered if something was supposed to happen.

The man’s face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. He clenched his fist around the shell, and with a sudden, violent motion, he smashed it to pieces on the floor.

The sound of shattering shell echoed through the room, and the woman took a step back, her eyes widening in surprise. "What’s wrong?" she asked, her voice tentative.

The man’s face was twisted in a scowl, his eyes blazing with fury. "It’s a fake," he spat, his voice venomous. "Just like the others."