I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 169: Quest Completed

Jack stood at the edge of the cavern, staring down at the wounded titan one last time. His mind was still reeling from what he’d experienced, from the impossible connection between a dream and reality.

Jack couldn’t help but stare at the wound.

’I need to leave,’ Jack thought, forcing himself to turn away. ’Before I lose my mind trying to figure out what the fuck just happened.’

He took one step toward the tunnel entrance when the notification appeared.

[DING!]

[Quest Complete: Uncover the Truth]

[Objective: Discover the true reason for the clan war]

[Status: Complete]

Jack stopped mid-stride, his eyes widening as more text flooded his vision.

[Analysis: War instigated by Pho to monopolize the Aethrium mining operation built above the dying titan]

[Root Cause: Titan’s energy feeds Aethrium crystal growth. Pho discovered the source, manipulated both clans to maintain control]

[Reward Granted: Astrapon’s Reign (Skill)]

A new window opened, displaying information that made Jack’s breath catch.

[Astrapon’s Reign (Active)]

[Rank: Legendary]

[Description: Channel the authority of storms, calling forth lightning to rain down upon all enemies within range. The sky itself becomes your weapon, striking without mercy or distinction]

[Effect: Call forth lightning to rain down around yourself for 60 seconds]

[Cooldown: 20 minutes]

[Mana Cost: 50% of maximum mana]

[Damage Per Strike: Magic Talent × Magic stat]

[Area of Effect: 30-meter radius]

[Number of Strikes: Random. Based on Luck]

[Note: Cannot be interrupted once activated. User maintains full mobility during the duration, and the spell will follow wherever the user goes]

Jack read the skill description three times, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing.

Fifty percent of his mana was steep, but the damage potential was insane.

His Magic stat was 180 after equipment bonuses. His Magic Talent multiplied damage based on his mastery of lightning.

’If each strike does over 5,000 damage with my buffs,’ Jack calculated, ’and there are potentially thirty strikes over a minute, two, or even a hundred.’

The numbers made his head spin. This wasn’t just a strong skill. This was a clearing ability that could turn entire fights in his favor.

”My lord?” Kyren’s hollow voice broke through Jack’s thoughts. ”Is something wrong?”

Jack dismissed the notification, his hands still trembling slightly. ”No. We’re leaving. Now.”

They made their way back through the tunnels, ascending from the depths where the titan lay dying.

Jack’s mind was already racing ahead, planning his next moves. He needed to process everything that had happened.

The titan. The dream. The memory of being someone named Sarin who could combine fire and lightning into something devastating.

And most importantly, he needed to figure out what to do about Dreknar’s task.

The journey back through the mine took hours. Jack avoided the areas where miners worked, not wanting to deal with any more of Pho’s employees.

Kyren followed silently.

When they finally emerged from the mine entrance, the evening air felt like a blessing.

Jack had finally found an entrance, and it was hidden behind an illusionary wall.

Jack took a deep breath, letting the cool wind wash over his face. The cavern’s oppressive atmosphere had been weighing on him more than he’d realized.

”Lead the way back to where S set up camp,” Jack told Kyren. ”I need to talk to him.”

They walked through the valley, past the scorched battlefield where Jack had killed Vel’thor and dozens of other demons.

Only the blackened earth remained as evidence of the violence that had occurred.

S’s camp was exactly where he said it would be. A simple tent with a fire.

Fluffy, S’s massive mount, was nowhere to be seen, probably roaming the area or resting somewhere nearby.

S himself sat outside the tent, peeling a tangerine with methodical precision. He looked up as Jack approached, a knowing smile playing across his perfect features.

”Welcome back,” S said, popping a segment of tangerine into his mouth. ”You look like someone who’s seen something interesting.”

Jack dropped onto a log near the fire pit, exhaustion suddenly hitting him all at once. ”That’s one way to put it.”

”Tell me,” S said, his tone casual but his red eyes sharp with interest.

Jack did. He explained the mine, the titan, the dream where he’d been someone named Sarin.

He described the impossible wound, the way his attack from a vision had left a real mark on a creature that existed in the present.

He left out some details, the memory orb, the specific abilities he’d witnessed, but gave S enough to understand the situation.

When Jack finished, S was quiet for a long moment. Then he laughed, genuine amusement coloring his voice.

”A dying titan feeding Aethrium growth,” S said, shaking his head. ”That’s actually brilliant. Pho must have stumbled onto it decades ago and realized the potential. No wonder he’s been so protective of this operation.”

”That’s all you have to say?” Jack asked. ”I just told you I lived through someone else’s memory and left a real mark on a titan in the present.”

”Memory echoes,” S said with a dismissive wave. ”Unusual, but not unheard of in places with strong divine energy. The titan’s presence probably triggered something in you.” He peeled another tangerine segment. ”What matters is what you do next.”

Jack leaned back, staring at the darkening sky. ”Dreknar gave me a task. Kill either Seryth or Vok’thar, and bring him their heart. Then he’ll help me control my demonic transformation.”

”And you’re conflicted about it,” S observed.

”I just ended a ceasefire between two clans,” Jack said. ”Killing one of their leaders would reignite the war I was trying to stop.”

”Would it?” S’s smile widened. ”Or would it end the war entirely?”

Jack’s eyes narrowed. ”What do you mean?”

S set down his tangerine and leaned forward, his red eyes gleaming in the firelight.

”Think about it strategically. You’ve made contact with the Aurion. Seryth trusts you enough to bring you into her city, to let you meet their smith. You’ve demonstrated your power by killing their champion and driving off Pho’s assassins.”

”Your point?”

”Kill Vok’thar,” S said simply. ”Take his heart to Dreknar. The Thal’Gorin will lose their leader, and without leadership, they’ll fragment. The Aurion, seeing you’ve eliminated their enemy’s war chief, will view you as an ally. Maybe even a savior.”

Jack processed this. It made cold, brutal sense. ”You’re saying I should pick a side.”

”I’m saying you should pick the winning side,” S corrected. ”The Aurion are already inclined to trust you. The Thal’Gorin see you as an unknown variable who killed Cho. One of those relationships is worth cultivating. The other is expendable.”

”And after I kill Vok’thar?” Jack asked. ”What then? The war just... ends?”

”Not immediately,” S admitted. ”The Thal’Gorin will probably launch a revenge assault. But without their war chief, without proper leadership, they’ll be disorganized. That’s when you strike. Kill their champion. Slaughter enough of their forces that the rest surrender or flee.” He smiled. ”The Aurion will love you for it. You’ll have earned their loyalty through blood and victory.”

Jack’s jaw tightened. ”You want me to commit genocide.”

”I want you to be practical,” S said, his tone sharpening. ”You’re already on a path toward becoming something inhuman. The demonic essence is changing you whether you accept it or not. Dreknar’s blessing is your best chance at controlling that transformation instead of being consumed by it.”