As Ryder descended the creaky stairs, his eyes widened in shock. "This is insane," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Rumors about the magician's collection had circulated the kingdom, but nothing could have prepared him for the sheer magnitude of it. The room was crammed with ancient artifacts from the era of gods.

Every child on the continent grew up hearing horror stories about meddling with such powerful relics. The gods' power was not to be trifled with.

"Indeed, Ryder, I perceive that you are... impressed," Eriol said, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light as he surveyed the room filled with ancient artifacts . "These relics represent the culmination of my lifelong studies in the mystic arts.’’

Ryder turned to the magician, his eyes narrowing. "Impressed?" he repeated, his tone as flat as the blade of his sword. "You're playing with fire, magician. These artifacts are not toys for the likes of you. You're tempting fate... and the consequences will be bloody." His gaze lingered on the magician, his expression a mask of detached curiosity, but his eyes betrayed a hint of warning ryder knew he shouldn't be surprised – mages were infamous for their eccentricities – but this was reckless even by their standards.

"Fear not, Ryder," said, his soothing,. "A dimensional shield encases the artifacts, safeguarding them from misuse. we are secure, for the time being."

Ryder wasn't convinced. He could feel the power emanating from the artifacts, a palpable, living energy that seemed to watch and wait for him to make a mistake.

‘’Dimensional shield?" Ryder asked his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at the mage "You expect me to believe a simple barrier can contain the power of the gods? I've seen what happens when mortals try to wield forces beyond their control. The results are... unpleasant."

The mages eyes glinted with amusement. "Forgive me, Ryder, but your skepticism is... quaint. You would do well to remember that I am a supreme mage, not some mortal. The shield I have erected is a formidable barrier, one that will safeguard us against the artifacts' influence."

Before ryder could press the issue further, Eriol extended his hand, a small, greenish-hued pill resting in his palm. "We do not have the luxury of debate, Ryder. Time is a finite resource, and we must utilize it wisely. Take this," he instructed, Ryder eyed the pill warily, his brow furrowing in skepticism

"What's the meaning of this?" Ryder asked dryly.

"Your caution is unwarranted, Ryder," Eriol replied "This... preparation will shield you from the impending unpleasantness. I assure you, it is a necessary precaution’’

Ryder’s gaze lingered on the pill in Eriol’s hand. "I've faced my share of darkness, mage. I think I can handle whatever unpleasantness comes our way.".

He wasn't being cautious; he was pragmatic. He knew better than to trust mages, especially ones who toyed with artifacts from that era.

The mage’s expression remained serene. "We shall see, . We s hall see. But I warn you, the realms we are about to enter are not to be trifled with it would make these artifacts seem like a child play”

His gaze flicked to the king, and with a deep breath, he took the pill from Eriol's outstretched hand.. Eriol might be unpredictable, but ryder knew the king wouldn't let any harm come to him - not when the fate of his kingdom hung in the balance. Ryder's eyes narrowed as he turned the pill over, studying it carefully. Its unassuming appearance can be deceiving

"Let us proceed," Eriol said, striding into a strange, circular machine in the center of the room. Ryder took a deep breath, his gaze meeting Ana's. She was taking a similar pill, and he pushed aside his doubts,

He popped the pill into his mouth, swallowing it with a grimace. The taste was vile – like something had crawled into his mouth and died. He forced it down, his face twisted in distaste "Let's get this over with," he muttered, his voice betraying no hint of the unease that gnawed at his gut.

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The king's voice was firm "I am counting on you, Ryder. The fate of the world may depend on this" Ryder gave him a curt nod, his eyes narrowing slightly. He would see this through, no matter the cost, no matter the blood that needed to be spilled.

Ana's gaze lingered on him, but Ryder ignored it, his eyes fixed on the device. His mind was on the task ahead, his thoughts consumed by the potential dangers that lay in wait. His wariness of Ana remained, a constant hum of caution that kept his guard firmly in place.

"What is the plan, Doctor Strange?" Ryder asked, in a low voice, his impatience kept in check by his discipline.

“Remain still, the machine will handle the rest," Eriol replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "But be warned, our destination is a hostile territory. The creatures that inhabit it are unforgiving the moment we arrive, they will sense our presence."

Ryder’s gaze turned grave, "We may not arrive in this realm together, so remain vigilant and watch your backs. "

Ana raised her head, her eyes mirroring the same thought that crossed Ryder's mind: Can we just get this over with?

The mage’s expression turned stern. "The pills I gave you will mask your auras for a short time, but once their effects wear off, you will be on your own. You will need to rely on your skills to survive until I can retrieve you."

Ryder steeled himself for what was to come. How bad would it be? The description was similar to the Rifts, a place he had survived countless times. But he knew that this realm would be different, for Eriol would not have warned them so gravely if it were not

The mage’s hands moved with deliberate precision, and the device erupted into a maelstrom of light and energy. The room was bathed in a soft, ethereal blue glow, as Eriol’s fingers danced with intricate patterns, leaving trails of glittering silver dust in their wake.

His voice cut through the chaos, calm and detached, yet laced with an undercurrent of excitement. "We are breaching the dimensional veil. Hold on, guy its going to be unpleasant for a while"

And then, pandemonium erupted. The world around Ryder dissolved into a maelstrom of colors and sounds that threatened to consume him whole. His stomach churned like a tempest-tossed sea, his head spinning like a madman's top.

He'd faced raging storms, battled monsters that would freeze his blood solid, but this... this was something entirely different. It was as if reality itself was tearing him apart, thread by thread.

The chaos ceased abruptly, leaving his senses reeling. Completely disoriented, he stumbled forward, desperate to regain his bearings in a world that seemed to have been turned upside down.

He stood there, his eyes scanning the desolate landscape before him. The wasteland stretched out, barren and devoid of life or color. The ground beneath his feet felt dry and cracked, like the earth had been drained of its moisture.

The gray skies above were a deep, foreboding hue, with ten suns hanging low and menacing. Twisted, serpentine creatures made of mist and shadow slithered across the sky, casting an eerie gloom over the landscape. This was a realm where the laws of nature didn't apply, where the very fabric of reality seemed twisted and distorted.

Ryder's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword. He knew that in this unforgiving environment, he had to be ready for anything. The dangers that lurked here were unknown, but he was certain that complacency would be a fatal mistake. He'd faced monsters and beasts before, and had always emerged victorious. This time would be no different. He just needed to keep his wits about him and watch his back.

As he gazed out into the gloom, a serpentine creature emerged from the mist, its ethereal form coalescing into something solid, something deadly. The air seemed to vibrate with malevolent energy as it slithered towards him.

"What in the name of the Elder gods is happening?" Geralt muttered, his mind racing with questions. Was the pill's protection already failing? He had no time for doubts. With a deep breath, he narrowed his eyes, his grip on his sword tightening as he assumed a defensive stance.

He'd faced down legendary beasts – griffins, wyverns, vampires, and night wanderers. A mere serpent, no matter how twisted, wouldn't intimidate him. His sword flashed in the faint light, poised to strike. He'd show this creature that he wasn't to be underestimated.

ryder stood firm, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. He was ready to defend himself he could feel its gaze like a cold wind on his skin, but the nagging thought lingered – he couldn't take on all these creatures alone if they all decided to attack.

After an eternity of waiting for the creature to strike, he noticed it wasn't attacking; instead, it shambled towards him with a strange, aimless gait. what was going on here? Something was off. his curiosity got the better of him, he needed to understand what this thing was.

With caution, he approached the creature, sword at the ready. he noticed its face was blank, empty, devoid of any signs of life or consciousness. The eyes seemed dull and lifeless, like two dull marbles.

What was this creature? Was it some kind of undead abomination? A golem, perhaps? He needed to be careful; he had no idea what he was dealing with. One misstep could prove disastrous.

Ryder eyes narrowed as he carefully reached out with the tip of his sword, poking the creature gently. The creature didn't flinch, didn't react at all. It simply stood there, its empty eyes staring into nothingness.

And then, in an instant, it disintegrated. The creature's body crumbled to dust, its limbs dissolving into nothingness as if they had never existed at all. his sword slid through the empty air, meeting no resistance.