Kaelen landed on the main promenade leading to the Sanctum. The gravity here was flickering—heavy one second, light the next.
A siren blared. [System Alert: Anomaly Detected. Deploying Seraph Unit.]
From the Sanctum gates, five figures launched into the air. They wore winged armor made of white gold. They wielded spears of pure light. The Silver Seraphs. The Church's execution squad. [Level: 50]
"Target locked," the Lead Seraph announced. "Purge."
They dove. Light spears rained down, exploding the pavement. Kaelen ran, sliding under debris. "I can't fight five Level 50s," Kaelen realized. "I need cover."
He saw a massive billboard displaying the High Priest's face. He sprinted behind it. A spear pierced the billboard inches from his head.
"Come out, rat," the Seraph commanded.
Kaelen looked at his inventory. He had the Black Box. He had the Key. And he had the Myconid Heart (Spore Aspect).
He crushed the Myconid Heart in his hand. He didn't release a cloud. He infused the spores into his own blood. [Warning: Toxicity High. Mutation Imminent.]
Kaelen's veins turned green. He jumped out from cover. The Seraphs fired. Kaelen took the hits. The light spears pierced his chest.
But he didn't die. His body exploded into a cloud of toxic, corrosive mist. [Skill: Body Dispersal (Glitch Variant).]
The mist enveloped the Seraphs. "My armor!" one screamed. "It's melting!" The acidic spores ate through the gold plating. The Seraphs fell from the sky, their wings dissolving.
Kaelen reformed on the steps of the Sanctum. He was naked (his phantom suit destroyed), shivering, and missing 90% of his HP. But he was alive.