Chapter 3: Descent into the Realm of Death
As the monstrous guardian advanced, its towering frame casting a shadow over us, Noctis acted swiftly. He whispered an incantation, and suddenly, our bodies faded into the darkness—untouchable, unseen. His black magic had rendered us like ghosts, phasing through the world, much like the legendary ability of Obito from the tales of old. We held our breath as the beast sniffed the air, confused, before stomping away.
Taking the opportunity, we sprinted toward the nearest tunnel, only to find ourselves at a crossroads. Three paths stretched before us, each leading into the unknown. Without hesitation, we divided into three teams.
* First Tunnel: Myself, Nihal, alongside Veyron.
* Second Tunnel: Lyra and Raiken.
* Third Tunnel: Sylva and Noctis.
Our leader, ever vigilant, connected with each of us through her telepathic abilities, ensuring we remained in contact no matter what lay ahead.
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THE REALM OF DEATH (NIHAL & VEYRON’S PATH)
As Veyron and I stepped into the darkness, an eerie chill crept over my skin. A faint glow emanated from a colossal stone wall ahead of us, covered in strange inscriptions. It was a map—but in an unknown language.
I turned to Veyron, exasperated. “We can’t even read this. How do we—”
He laughed, a smirk forming on his lips. “Did you forget my ability?”
Realization hit me. “Right… your omniscient vision.”
With a wave of his hand, his eyes shimmered with an unnatural glow, decoding the ancient text instantly. “Follow me,” he instructed. And so, I did—blindly.
The deeper we ventured, the darker it became. A suffocating presence wrapped around us like invisible chains. Veyron paused, his breathing uneven.
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“Something’s wrong.”
He covered his eyes with his hand. “Negative energy is clouding my vision.” Then, in an urgent whisper, “Crouch. Now.”
I dropped to my knees, hiding behind a jagged stone. A shadowy figure emerged, gliding soundlessly through the corridor. It was humanoid, yet not. It wielded a menacing, crescent-shaped weapon—resembling the scythe of death itself. A shiver ran down my spine.
We waited in silence until it passed before pressing on. That’s when we hit a new obstacle—
A maze.
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THE ENDLESS MAZE
The labyrinth twisted and turned, leading us to nothing but dead ends. The walls seemed to shift when we weren’t looking, changing the path before our eyes.
Then, amidst the confusion, we stumbled upon an ancient box resting on a pedestal.
Veyron stepped forward. “Don’t open it.”
But curiosity clawed at me. Ignoring his warning, I lifted the lid—
A surge of black energy exploded from within, engulfing me in an inescapable void.
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TRAPPED IN A NIGHTMARE
I awoke in a world that was both familiar and hauntingly wrong. Saria stood before me, her face twisted in sorrow. “You promised to protect me… but where are you?”
Before I could speak, a familiar presence emerged from the darkness—the same scythe-wielding entity from the maze. Its hollow voice echoed, “I will not let your promise be fulfilled.”
A surge of fury ignited within me. My rage consumed everything, crackling like an unseen storm. The air around me darkened, and before I knew it, I was absorbing the very essence of the maze itself. The walls trembled. Darkness funnelled into me like a vortex, and when I opened my palm, an unknown symbol burned into my skin.
A voice rang in my ears. “What are you? You’re not like the others.”
I gasped for breath, feeling an unsettling emptiness. The suffocating energy that once enveloped this realm was now… gone.
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A STRANGE DISCOVERY
Veyron pulled me out of the illusion, his eyes wide with shock. “The entire energy of this realm—it's vanished. Where did it go?”
I looked at my hands, the strange symbol glowing faintly. I clenched my fist. “I think… I absorbed it.”
His gaze darkened. “That’s not normal, Nihal. Your power isn’t just unique—it’s terrifying.”
Shaking off the unease, we pressed forward. At the end of the tunnel, an ominous glow awaited us. As we stepped into the clearing, we found ourselves standing before a massive crystal, pulsating with raw energy.
Twelve-foot-tall guardians encircled it, their soulless eyes locking onto us.
The real challenge was just beginning.
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End of Chapter 3.