The gates of the labyrinth had been left behind, and now I was in the heart of the maze. The walls towered over me, seemingly endless, and I had no idea which way to go. I began walking, my spear in hand, ready to fight off any creature that dared cross my path.
As I journeyed deeper into the labyrinth, I encountered strange earth spirits. They were mischievous creatures, not particularly dangerous, but they did try to impede my progress. I fought them off with my spear, using it to channel my magic and crush them underfoot.
Despite my victories, the maze seemed endless, and my journey began to take its toll on me. My legs ached and my stomach growled, reminding me of how long it had been since I'd eaten. I tried to push on, but I could feel my strength waning.
Eventually, I was forced to rest. I sat down on the ground, leaning against the cold stone wall, and closed my eyes. I needed to recharge my energy, but the darkness around me made it impossible to tell how long I had slept. It felt like hours, but it could have been minutes.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a white wolf sitting in front of me. I was startled at first, but then I recognized him. It was the wolf that had accompanied me when I first entered Tartarus. His wounds had healed, and he was twice as big as before.
From his facial expressions, I could tell that he wanted to accompany me once again. I didn't particularly want the company, but I didn't have the heart to shoo him away. So, I simply nodded and continued on my journey, the wolf trailing behind me.
The walls of the maze continued to pass me by, and I quickened my pace. I encountered more earth spirits, but they were no match for me and my spear. I fought them off with ease, clearing my path forward.
After what felt like hours of walking, I saw a goal in front of me. But in front of it was the most annoying creature you could ever wish for - a sphinx. The creature was as large as a house and had the body of a lion and the head of a human. It stared at me with its sharp eyes, its wings flapping restlessly.
I knew what I had to do. The sphinx was known to be a riddle-master, and if I could answer its riddles, it would let me pass. But if I failed, it would kill me on the spot. I gripped my spear tightly, ready for whatever was to come.
I hated riddles, but what could I do. I needed to get out of this maze and this was the only way
As I approached the sphinx, she blocked my path and spoke with a voice that sounded like thunder.
"Answer my riddle and I will let you pass. Fail, and you will be doomed to wander this maze forever. Here it is: I am not alive, but I grow; I don't have lungs, but I need air; I don't have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?"
I wracked my brain, but couldn't come up with an answer. The sphinx's expression turned from one of amusement to one of annoyance.
"You disappoint me," she said. "But perhaps this one will be more to your liking. I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost every person. What am I?"
I thought for a moment and then replied confidently, "The answer to your second riddle is a pencil."
The sphinx seemed impressed and stepped aside to allow me to pass. But before I could move, she spoke again.
"You seek revenge against the gods, but have you considered the consequences of your actions? You could bring chaos and destruction to the world. Are you willing to bear that burden?"
I glared at the sphinx and replied, "I will do what I must to avenge my father's banishment. I will not let anyone stand in my way."
The sphinx nodded solemnly and let me pass through the gate. As I walked through the maze,
I couldn't shake the feeling that the sphinx's words had struck a nerve within me. But I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on my goal.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I reached the end of the maze. Before me stood the gateway to the human world. As I approached, I could feel the power emanating from the gate.