The dim glow of lanterns flickered against the damp stone walls as Nihal sat hunched over his workbench, his fingers tracing the intricate metalwork of a new defensive tool. His mind, however, was elsewhere. Saria—where was she? It had been twelve days, and still, no sign of her. The world they now existed in was a twisted mystery, one where memories were wiped, but Nihal’s remained intact.
His new allies, the masked warriors, were just as determined to uncover the truth. Each of them possessed unique abilities, making them invaluable to their cause. Their leader, a woman with piercing eyes, had telekinetic powers she was still mastering. Another, a quiet girl who rarely spoke, had an ability no one knew—yet. Then there was the warrior with omniscient vision, able to see beyond walls, and a dark mage who could manipulate shadows themselves. A final member was a weapons master, his skill unparalleled, able to wield and master any weapon in moments.
For twelve days, Nihal had searched desperately for Saria, but to no avail. Then, one evening, he spotted a group of spies attempting to infiltrate the Supreme Temple. Their movements were precise, their purpose clear. Seeking answers, Nihal approached them, his face hidden behind a strange mask he had purchased from a street vendor. "Can I join you?" he asked.
The group was skeptical. “No way,” one of them replied. “Everyone here is risking their lives to uncover the truth of this world. Why should we trust you?”
“I want to know, too,” Nihal insisted.
Most refused him, but the leader, a sharp-eyed woman, studied him carefully. “Fine,” she said. “But if you slow us down, you’re on your own.”
He followed them blindly into a hidden tunnel, carved long ago by those who had tried and failed before them. As they advanced, the group encountered towering 12-foot bodyguards, their imposing figures casting eerie shadows in the dim torchlight. Fear gripped Nihal, but he forced it down, silently trailing behind the others. They navigated a narrow passage, barely wide enough to squeeze through, leading into an ancient chamber where remnants of past explorers lay scattered in the dust. There, they found an old map and tools left behind by those who had once sought the same answers.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
With their new supplies, they carefully escaped and scattered, never revealing their real faces to one another. Nihal took up a new purpose: crafting advanced tools to aid in their next attempt. The group divided their efforts—some deciphering the map, others honing their abilities. The leader trained fiercely to enhance her telekinetic control, while Nihal worked tirelessly to replicate the tools they had found, making them even more effective.
One night, as Nihal inspected a newly forged dagger, the quiet girl approached him. “You don’t trust this world, do you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He glanced up, surprised. “No. None of this makes sense.”
She hesitated before continuing. “They say we are created by gods. That we have no past. But I remember something… a voice, calling my name before I woke up here.”
His pulse quickened. “You remember?”
She nodded. “Not much. But enough to know that this world isn’t real.”
Before he could respond, the leader’s voice echoed through the chamber. “Gather up. We move at dawn.”
The team set out, guided by the omniscient warrior’s vision. They navigated a maze of underground tunnels, avoiding the towering sentinels that guarded the Supreme Temple. But as they neared the entrance, Nihal’s breath caught. Scattered across the ground were bones—hundreds of them. Skulls, shattered ribs, remnants of those who had come before them.
“Is this… hell?” he whispered.
“No,” the dark mage murmured. “This is what happens when you ask the wrong questions.”
A deep growl rumbled through the cavern. Something massive stirred beyond the shadows.
Then came the footsteps—heavy, deliberate. A towering twelve-foot creature emerged, its glowing red eyes scanning the darkness.
Nihal barely had time to react before the beast turned its gaze toward them.
They had been seen.
Chapter 2 Ends.