He knew the route by heart, and it didn’t take long to reach the spot. As he approached the bend where it had all gone down - or at least, where he thought it had - he slowed the bike and pulled off to the side of the road, making sure to park well out of the way of any traffic.
Leaving his hazards blinking, he walked toward the curve, his gaze sweeping the asphalt. It looked… normal. No dark silhouettes, no mysterious figures. He scoured the area for any sign of last night’s strange encounter. The road was clean and dry, nothing out of place save for some old tire marks. Nothing that looked like evidence of an accident.
The knot in his chest, one he hadn’t even realized was there, began to loosen as he finished inspecting the area. Then he made his way to the guardrail, where his bike would have crossed to go careening off the cliff’s edge.
At first, he felt a wave of relief. Everything looked normal - just a dusty, weathered strip of metal.
But as he drew closer, his heart skipped. There were scuff marks in the gravel on the shoulder. He traced them with his eyes, his gaze settling on a long, polished silver section of the rail, scraped clean and flecked with red and blue paint. Poppy’s red and blue. She was painted as a tribute to his favorite superhero - the wall-crawler himself.
But that’s impossible, he thought, staring in disbelief. For the paint to come off like that, Poppy would need a gash along her fairings or gas tank, something he would’ve noticed. He’d inspected her top to bottom, and she was flawless. Was she… too flawless? A pang of uncertainty gripped him. Did I miss something?
He hesitated, glancing over the rail toward the cliff’s edge. His stomach tightened. What if I’m down there? he thought, dread curling through him. Bracing himself, he climbed onto the rail, gripping it tightly as he leaned out to peer over.
Liam didn’t usually mind heights - in fact, he enjoyed them - but this time, fear clawed at him. He held his breath and leaned farther.
There was nothing below but brush and rocky coast. Letting out a long breath of relief, he pulled himself back over the rail.
“See anything interesting?”
The voice was soft, thick as leather, and somehow… hollow. It carried the dry, ancient scent of desert sands and tombs, filling the air with a chill. Liam whipped around, his eyes landing on the shadowy figure from the night before. The man - if he could even be called that - stood at the rail with a sardonic smile, his fine, dark features weathered and sharp, as though scorched by centuries of sunlight.
Liam’s heart lurched. He stumbled back, too startled to think, his foot slipping toward the cliff edge. Here we go again, he thought, bracing himself for another plunge into empty space.
But before he could fall, the figure - the Jackal, as he’d soon learn - reached out, grasping his arm with a firm grip. With a strength that felt effortless, he hauled Liam back from the brink, steadying him over the rail.
“No more of that, shall we?” the figure said, his voice dry as sand. He guided Liam to his feet, helping him over the rail until he collapsed onto the ground, his entire body trembling.
“Boy. I say, boy.” The voice came again, prodding at his senses, but Liam was too rattled to respond, the encounter leaving him shaken to his core.
“Liam!” The figure barked, the sharpness jolting him to attention. Liam blinked, looking up into eyes like polished obsidian, black and depthless.
“There we go. Much better,” the Jackal said, satisfied. “We have some things to discuss, you and I.”
Liam’s mind struggled to catch up. The figure - this “Jackal” - wasn’t what he’d expected. Not that he had any real expectations. But he seemed almost… normal, in a twisted way. Then again, maybe “normal” wasn’t quite right. This being wore a sense of timeless death like a cloak, a presence that was ancient and eerie. Liam shuddered, feeling the weight of something far beyond his understanding.
“Who… who are you?” His voice wavered, his mind still scrambling to make sense of what he was seeing.
“I’m the Jackal, but my friends call me Jack.” The man grinned, a sharp, wolfish smile that reminded Liam of Moggy’s smug look whenever he brought home a trophy from his latest hunt. “And I do hope we can be friends, Liam.”
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“How do you know my name?” Liam asked, his mouth moving faster than his still-dazed mind.
“I know all about you, my boy. You and your girl, Sarah.” The Jackal’s voice was blithe, almost amused. “In fact, I know more about you than you know about yourself. You and that brother of yours, Brett.”
“Leave them out of this,” Liam growled, surprised at the snarl in his own voice. What’s gotten into me? Part of his mind questioned, while the rest was still sluggishly piecing things together.
“There’s the fighter I know you to be.” The Jackal’s smile was sharp, almost victorious. “Don’t worry, my boy. Harming them is the last thing on my mind. You, on the other hand… you have a choice to make.”
“What sort of choice?” Liam’s thoughts flashed to Madame Maev’s cryptic warning about an ‘important choice.’
“An important one,” the Jackal echoed, his tone dropping ominously.
Liam pulled out the tarot card from his pocket, flipping it over to see the stark, familiar face of the Ace of Spades staring back.
“Ah, I see. So she’s already reached out to you, has she? No matter.” The Jackal’s expression soured, and he let out a derisive snort. “This is between you and me, not that witch.” He reached out, grasping Liam by the arm, and lifted him to his feet. “Walk with me.”
They moved toward his bike, and Liam followed, too stunned to resist.
“Your choice is simple, my child,” the Jackal said, his voice softening into something almost fatherly. “You can choose to live. Or you can choose to die.”
“That doesn’t seem like much of a choice,” Liam scoffed. “Of course, I choose life.”
“Not so fast,” the Jackal chided, waving a hand dismissively. “You mistake me. You’ve already died. But you may choose to move on, to the next life… or you may choose to give up the cycle and take your rightful place in the coming war.”
“Wait - I died? What do you mean?” Liam glanced over his shoulder, the night’s events replaying with eerie clarity. He looked back to see the Jackal nodding, confirming the truth of his words.
A chill settled over Liam. “You mean it wasn’t a dream.”
“Unfortunately, no, my boy. I apologize for that.” The Jackal’s face showed no trace of remorse.
“So what’s this choice exactly? What do you mean by ‘giving up on the cycle’? And what war?”
They stopped beside Poppy, and the Jackal leaned back, resting one arm casually on the bike’s seat as if this were the most natural conversation in the world.
“It’s like this, Liam - you are, and always have been, a warrior. A fighter, a stalwart defender against the tides of darkness.”
Liam shot him a skeptical look. There’s nothing darker than you, pal. But he held his tongue.
The Jackal waved away his doubts, unfazed. “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Do you want a chance to see your daughter grow up? Or do you want to move on to the next life?”
Liam’s heart skipped a beat. “I don’t have a daughter.”
“Oh, she hasn’t told you?” The Jackal’s grin widened. “My, my, this is awkward.”
“Who hasn’t told me…” His voice trailed off as realization struck. Sarah. The shock settled in, heavy and undeniable.
“It’s a deal. Whatever it is, I agree,” his mouth replied, almost without consulting him. His mind barely had time to process it, but he couldn’t find himself disagreeing.
“Ah, excellent,” the Jackal murmured with satisfaction. “I knew you’d make the right choice. Let us begin, shall we?”
And the world went black. Again.
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System Message:
Quest Accepted: Legacy of the Immortal
Welcome, Liam Walker.
Legacy Bloodline Detected: Heir of Gilgamesh.
Initializing Prismata Tier System…
You have entered the Prismata Circle System. Progression through this system unlocks access to power tiers, abilities, and your unique Legacy. The first Circle awaits.
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Liam’s vision was slow to return, as though he were surfacing from deep, dark water. Shapes blurred, then sharpened, and a strange, transparent interface flickered in front of him, suspended in the air.
Current Tier: 1st Circle - Initiate of the Legacy
Class Path: Warden-King
Current Quest: Prove Your Worth
Objective: Complete Trials within the Otherworld to gain access to Legacy abilities and unlock your full potential.
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Liam blinked, staring at the interface, his mind scrambling to make sense of the words before him.
Liam saw the System interface reappear, displaying a series of options and instructions with eerie clarity.
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System Prompt:
Prismata Tier System - Circle Initialization Complete
Welcome to the 1st Circle of the Prismata Tier system.
Choose your Starting Location:
* Stonehenge, England - An ancient stone circle where ley lines converge in powerful harmony, long rumored to enhance mystic abilities and connection to the divine.
* Mount Shasta, USA - Known as the Earth’s Root Chakra, this majestic mountain’s ley lines are said to radiate healing energy and awaken latent powers.
* Machu Picchu, Peru - Set high in the Andes, this Inca citadel resonates with electromagnetic energy, amplifying physical strength and resilience.
* Glastonbury Tor, England - Revered by Druids, this hill has served as a site of initiation; its intersecting ley lines foster spiritual growth and insights.
* Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt - The pyramids’ powerful alignments with the Earth’s energy grid amplify mental acuity and focus.
* Mount Kailash, Tibet - A sacred site and Earth’s Crown Chakra, where those who venture may experience profound vision and wisdom.
Select your Starting Location.
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Liam scanned the list, his mind swimming with possibilities. This can’t be real... he thought, though his heartbeat quickened at the possibilities. Taking a deep breath, he clicked on an option almost at random.
Selected Location: Stonehenge, England
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System Prompt:
Starting Location Confirmed - Stand by for teleportation.