The temple stood like a monolith in the void, its towering columns reaching into the oppressive darkness above. Its stone walls were worn and cracked, etched with the scars of millennia, yet it still exuded an aura of power that made Aiden’s heart race. This was no ordinary structure—it was a relic from a time when gods ruled the world with an iron fist.

Selene led them forward, her footsteps echoing off the stone pathway as they approached the entrance. The temple doors were enormous, carved from black stone and inlaid with symbols Aiden couldn’t decipher. As they neared, the ground beneath them rumbled slightly, as though the temple itself could sense their presence.

“This is it,” Selene said softly, her gaze fixed on the doors. “Inside lies the knowledge we need, but be on guard. The gods didn’t leave this place unprotected.”

Aiden exchanged a glance with Lila and Elias. None of them spoke, but the tension was palpable. They had come too far to turn back now, yet the danger ahead felt more real than ever. Taking a deep breath, Aiden stepped forward, his hand brushing against the cold surface of the door.

To his surprise, the door didn’t resist. Instead, it groaned as it slowly creaked open, revealing a dark corridor lined with statues of forgotten gods and creatures that made Aiden’s skin crawl. The air inside was thick and stale, and every step they took echoed ominously through the vast space.

“Stay close,” Selene whispered. “This temple is a maze. It’s designed to trap those who aren’t worthy.”

They moved cautiously, the shadows flickering around them as they ventured deeper into the temple. The walls were covered in murals, ancient scenes of battles between gods and titans, of wars that had shaped the world long before mortals had even existed. Aiden couldn’t tear his eyes away from the images. Each one seemed to tell a story, a warning of the consequences of power unchecked.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached a massive chamber at the heart of the temple. In the center stood a stone pedestal, upon which rested an ornate, ancient book, its pages glowing faintly with a soft, golden light.

“This is it,” Selene breathed, her eyes fixed on the book. “The Codex of the Gods. Everything we need to know is in there.”

Aiden stepped forward, his heart pounding. The power radiating from the book was overwhelming, and the air around it seemed to hum with energy. He reached out slowly, but before his fingers could touch the pages, a voice echoed through the chamber, low and haunting.

“Who dares disturb the sanctum of the gods?”

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Aiden froze, his hand hovering over the book. The voice was ancient, filled with an authority that sent chills down his spine. He looked around, but there was no one else in the chamber—just the statues, watching silently.

“We seek answers,” Selene said, stepping forward. Her voice was steady, but Aiden could hear the edge of tension beneath her calm. “We seek the truth.”

The air grew heavier, and the shadows in the room seemed to shift and move. From the darkness, a figure emerged—a tall, imposing man draped in tattered robes, his face obscured by a hood. His eyes glowed faintly, like embers in the dark.

“The truth,” the figure repeated, his voice echoing like a distant thunder. “The truth comes with a price. Are you willing to pay it?”

Aiden swallowed hard, his pulse racing. He didn’t know what this figure was—a spirit, a god, or something else entirely—but it radiated an undeniable sense of danger.

“What kind of price?” Lila asked, her hand gripping her dagger tightly.

The figure’s glowing eyes shifted toward her. “The knowledge you seek is not for the faint of heart. It will change you, shape you, and bind you to the will of the gods. Once you know the truth, there is no going back. Are you ready to face the consequences?”

Aiden felt a cold chill run down his spine. He had come this far, determined to find the answers about his father, about the powers inside him, but now that he was standing on the brink of discovery, he hesitated. Could he really handle the truth? And what kind of burden would it place on him?

He looked at Selene, who met his gaze with a firm nod. “We’ve come too far to turn back now, Aiden. This is the only way.”

Aiden nodded, steeling himself. He turned to the figure, his voice steady. “We’re ready.”

The figure extended a bony hand toward the book, and as his fingers touched the pages, the chamber was filled with a blinding light. Aiden shielded his eyes, but when the light faded, the figure was gone. The book lay open on the pedestal, its pages glowing softly once more.

“Take it,” Selene urged.

Aiden hesitated for only a moment before reaching for the book. As his fingers brushed the pages, a surge of energy shot through him, and images flooded his mind—visions of gods and monsters, of ancient battles and forgotten realms. The power of the gods, the very essence of the storm within him, was woven into the fabric of the world itself. And he was part of that tapestry.

He gasped, pulling his hand away, his mind reeling from the sudden influx of knowledge. The truth was overwhelming, more than he could process all at once. But one thing was clear: the gods had plans for him. Plans that extended far beyond the battles with the Harbingers.

“We have what we need,” Selene said, her voice breaking through Aiden’s thoughts. “But we need to move quickly. The longer we stay here, the more dangerous it becomes.”

Aiden nodded, still trying to make sense of the visions he had seen. He closed the book, the weight of its knowledge heavy in his hands.

As they turned to leave the chamber, the shadows around them began to shift again, but this time, something felt different. A sense of foreboding crept over Aiden, and he instinctively reached for the sword at his side.

“We’re not alone,” Elias said, his voice tense.

From the darkness, a figure stepped forward, cloaked in shadows, its eyes burning with a fiery intensity.

“Aiden Blackwood,” the figure hissed. “You are not meant to leave this place.”

Aiden’s heart skipped a beat. The Harbingers had found them.

And now, there was no escaping the reckoning that awaited.