As they stepped out of the chamber and back into the previous passage, a voice boomed, its echoes taking forever to fade as they chased after Jaeden and Liandra’s receding forms.

“Halt! You mustn’t-”

But Jaeden was having none of it.

The Orichalcum Sword hummed faintly at his side, its veins pulsating like a predator sensing prey. The Umbral blade felt colder, as though it were retreating in wary silence. The combined pressure of the two weapons coiled in Jaeden’s chest like a caged storm, urging him forward with single-minded fury.

Maybe it was the Orichalcum sword’s influence, or the combination of two overpowered and opinionated weapons, like a “good” angel “bad” angel arguing in his ears, but Jaeden was on edge, and he had no intention of letting it go.

“Hell no. Enough is enough,” he growled, his boots striking hard against the stone floor with each purposeful step.

“Jaeden…” Liandra tried to put a restraining hand on his shoulder, but decided better of it when she felt the maelstrom of energies radiating off of him. Her fingers brushed the edge of his aura -a crackling mix of chaos and defiance- and she withdrew her hand as if stung by a thunderstorm.

The voice tried again, this time from just in front of them, accompanied by an overpowering presence that made the air around them vibrate. “How dare you defy the might and will of-”

Liandra felt her knees buckle, the words pressing down like an avalanche of weight and command. She stumbled slightly, catching herself against the cold wall. But Jaeden swatted the words and presence away with a dismissive flick of his hand, as though shooing a particularly annoying fly.

“Yeah, whatever. I already told you, I’m done with this stupid side quest. Get some other sap to be your Balance, or whatever, because it ain’t me.”

His voice echoed through the chamber, louder than the oppressive presence itself, and he kept walking purposefully, reentering the room with the Genesis Chamber. The device remained inert, its once-majestic hum silent, having fulfilled its task. They passed through without challenge, Jaeden’s stride never faltering.

“But you mustn’t-” The voice was no longer booming; instead, it was starting to sound disgruntled, almost whiny as it tried again. And the less phenomenally cosmic it tried to sound, the more Jaeden was able to recognize it for who and what it was.

Jaeden’s laugh was low and sharp. “I know who you are, mostly. You’re the entity that tried to make sure I ‘chose wisely’ or some bull before I entered this grind. Well, like I said. I’m done playing this game. It’s over. Find another rat for your maze, because I’m outskie.”

He swiped away the system messages that began to appear, mentally hitting mute on their incessant glow and chatter. That is until they were halfway through the next passage, when a different sort of message sprang into view.

S.A.S.S.Y.,

New Quest Unlocked:

Quest Title: Trial of the Endless

Objective: Now that you have challenged the powers that be and proven you are not one to be pushed around, you must escape the Dungeon Trials.

Bonus Objectives:

* Escort Lady Liandra to safety.

* Choose between the path of order and chaos by destroying one of the weapons you now hold.

Quest Tier: Variable

Rewards: ???

Bonus Rewards: You’ll see…

Jaeden stopped in his tracks, his face twisting into a skeptical smirk. He read over the quest a few times, the words crawling through his mind like a challenge he wasn’t sure he wanted to accept.

Stolen story; please report.

“Is this for real? No more bull?” His voice was steady, almost too calm, but the tension radiating from him was unmistakable.

The voice was silent, but Jaeden could feel its presence lingering, coiled in the shadows like an unseen serpent.

“Jaeden, I’m not sure what…” Liandra’s voice trailed off as he held up a hand, silencing her without a glance. She stepped back, watching him warily. The fire that had consumed him earlier seemed to smolder now, controlled but no less dangerous.

“I need an answer, oh Dungeon whatever-the-hell you are. Either that, or I am out of here.” His hands flexed, gripping the hilts of both the Umbral and Orichalcum blades at his waist.

The silence stretched, oppressive and unrelenting. Liandra shifted uncomfortably, her shadow-threads curling protectively around her.

The volcano of Jaeden’s temper began to smolder again, his voice rising like the rumble before a storm. “If. You. Don’t. Confirm. The truth of this quest…” He bit off each word, his anger sharpening them into weapons.

Jaeden was not one to quickly get upset -he was usually rather laid back, and he’d often go along to get along. His friends would often comment on his Zen attitude. But everyone has a Rage Breaching Point.

Finally, the voice returned, its tone taunting and almost conversational. “You’ll what?”

Jaeden smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “I’ll be sure to end you. And I have just enough crazy in me to do it.”

For emphasis, he pulled the Dice of Chaos from his Null Gate and tossed them into the air, catching them with a flourish. The symbols on their surface flickered ominously, promising untold chaos with every turn.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure these things are broken as hell. I’m very curious to see just what they’ll do if I were to roll them in an attempt to, oh, I don’t know -bind you into a ship in a bottle. Dungeon style.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “Actually, never mind. That is a really good idea. So, on second thought, don’t answer. I’d rather see just how much chaos I can create with these things.”

He pulled his arm back, ready to roll.

“Wait. Alright. Yes.” The presence was nearly panicked as it responded, its cosmic bravado crumbling. “What is it you want to know?” Liandra wasn’t sure if she was more surprised by the pensive tone of voice, or Jaeden’s look of bored satisfaction.

Liandra’s gaze darted between Jaeden and the empty air where the voice emanated, her shadow-threads flickering in time with her heart’s nervous rhythm as she tried to discern the source of the voice.

She couldn’t help but admire Jaeden’s audacity. Whatever this entity was, it was a Power. But Jaeden was something else -and he had a way of tilting the balance just enough to make it blink first.

“It’s simple.” Jaeden’s tone was calculated, his every word deliberate. “Will the quest be honored?”

“Yes,” the being replied, its response quick and without hesitation.

“Good. Then I accept.” He made a shooing motion with his hands, flashing a cocky grin. “But I don’t appreciate being constantly spied on and manipulated. So, if we’re going to do this, I am going to do it on my terms. Which means -goodbye.”

“That is not-” The voice hesitated, then sighed with a weariness that seemed ancient. “So be it.”

After several heartbeats, the presence faded, leaving behind a silence that felt both oppressive and liberating.

Jaeden spent a good while running through every check he could think of to confirm they were truly alone. Except for the faint hum of S.A.S.S.Y. in the background of his mind, the dungeon entity’s oppressive weight was gone.

S.A.S.S.Y.,

Congratulations, hero. You’ve successfully bullied a Power that wannabe’s. +5 to badassery.

“Gee, thanks, Sassy. Glad you approve.” Jaeden chuckled, turning to Liandra. His grin had softened, the earlier fury dissipated into something closer to mischievous resolve. “So, are you ready to get out of here?”

Liandra nodded, the smile she returned tentative but genuine. For the first time, she felt a spark of hope. Maybe Jaeden wasn’t as insane as he pretended to be.

“Good. Then we’re off.” Jaeden set words to motion and began walking purposefully away, his steps no less determined for their new lightness, as he seemed almost jovial. “Let’s get this escort quest over with, shall we?”

“But,” Liandra was about to protest, but the look Jaeden shot her was enough to silence her. She would trust him, he had shown her no reason not to.