Panic surged through Crystal as she beheld Baron enveloped by the glow, disappearing into the slab.
Her heart jumped to her throat, a frantic mother fearing for her child.
"BARROONN!" she screamed, her face a canvas of horror and desperation.
She felt a pull at her legs and looked down to see Jade, tears pooling in her wide eyes, a silent plea reflecting in them.
Crystal's heart shattered, torn between the daughter and the son who had vanished before her eyes.
In the chaos, her mind swirled but landed on a singular focus: she needed to retrieve Baron.
Quickly and with shaking hands, she handed Jade over to Brandon.
Her voice trembled but determination cut through her words, sharp and unfaltering,
"Watch her, I'm going after Baron."
Brandon, though also struck with fear and worry, managed to hold a steady gaze, offering her a firm nod.
His voice carried a calming force as he tried to instill some confidence and hope, his hand tightly gripping Jade,
"Don't be too worried, by the looks of things, our rewards should be inside. We'll be right behind you. Stay by the entrance."
Crystal could only nod, her heart pounding in her chest like a frantic drum as she concentrated, gathering her own energy.
Her hands drew the same sigil, the intricate design that now felt seared into her memory.
The air hummed with power as the radiant symbol formed, resonating with a harmonious echo before it welcomed her, swallowing her into the cool, hard surface of the stone slab.
Left behind, Jade's small hands reached out, her voice breaking in a tender whimper,
"Mommy~."
Tears streamed down her soft cheeks, her small body shaking with the immensity of her emotions as she clung to Brandon, her face buried into his chest, showcasing a vulnerability that tugged at everyone's heartstrings.
Brandon's arms encircled her tender frame, bringing her close in a warm, secure hug, a bastion of safety in the midst of the swirling uncertainty.
He kissed the top of her head lightly, his voice gentle yet tinged with a fatherly authority, offering her the comfort of words,
"Don't worry, we will join Baron and mommy very soon. Do you remember how to draw that pattern?"
Jade bit her bottom lip hard, a brave nod coming after a moment of hesitation.
Her little hands mimicking the drawing in the air.
He turned to Asmo and Baph, his face set in a mask of determination.
With squared shoulders and fierce eyes, he voiced his plan, every word resounding with resolve,
"I'll go in first, make sure to come right after."
Gently, Brandon set Jade down.
His hands, warm and steady, rested on her small shoulders, a silent promise of protection and reassurance.
"Follow uncle Baph and Asmo, okay? Mommy and Daddy will make sure everything is safe and wait for you on the other side"
Then, he reached for his celestial pen, the god artifact that had aided him through countless endeavors.
The group watched with bated breath as Brandon started to draw the sigil, a tool of great power in his hand, known to craft wonders.
Yet, as he finished, the lines were jagged, the curves more akin to sharp angles, and the entire drawing looked more like a child's attempt at art rather than a gateway sigil drawn by a divine tool.
Silence befell them for a heartbeat, the anticipation hanging heavily in the air before it was abruptly shattered by Baph's booming laughter that echoed in the tense atmosphere.
"HAHAHA!!! Boss so there is something you're not good at afterall!"
Brandon froze, his head slowly raising, an incredulous look overtaking his features before it morphed into a glare directed at Baph, who was now holding his stomach, laughing unabashedly.
His glare held no real heat, and in the ridiculousness of the situation, even Brandon couldn't help but see the irony.
His God Artifact was some sort of Celestial Pen, yet he… sucked at drawing!
*Cough~* *Cough~*
Brandon cleared his throat, pretending as if nothing embarrassing had just unfolded before trying again.
Yet, the second attempt proved no better, the formless entity on the stone more of a blob than a sigil.
Finally, after a few trials and errors, the pen danced a successful tune on the stone, the sigil illuminating with a gentle glow that beckoned them.
Brandon let out a triumphant huff, his face showing a blend of relief and triumph, a light-hearted grin surfaced as his body was sucked into the sigil.
In a blink, Brandon found himself in a whole new space.
His eyes adjusted to the soft, ambient glow of the room as he materialized, his surroundings so wildly different from the library that for a moment, disorientation clouded his senses.
The chamber was vast, circular, and entirely made of stone.
The walls were adorned with hieroglyphs and carvings reminiscent of ancient Egyptian tales.
Each depiction told a story of gods and humans, cosmic events, and mythical creatures – the narrative of an older world, one full of secrets and tales yet to be uncovered.
The chamber felt as old as time itself, yet there was a modern, even futuristic essence that enveloped the surroundings.
The stone ground underfoot bore intricate designs, etched with pathways of golden inlays that formed a network of flowing lines, intertwining and leading towards various doorways.
In the very center stood an architectural marvel: a thin pyramid stretched vertically, its tip reaching skywards.
Its sides were embossed with more of the detailed hieroglyphs, glowing faintly under the room's mystical light. The sheen on the pyramid wasn't just from the carvings, though.
From its peak, a fluid of glittering gold descended, flowing gracefully down its sides, its mesmerizing dance captivating to behold.
The glittery liquid gold didn't just pool at the pyramid's base.
Instead, it branched out, dividing itself equally into ten small riverlets, each flowing with purpose and intent towards a specific direction.
The streams meandered, leading under ten stone doors, entrances to ten separate rooms.
But it wasn't just the architecture or the liquid gold that caught Brandon's attention.
Floating above the pyramid was a holographic display, ethereal and shimmering, with words that seemed to oscillate between the tangible and the intangible.
============
[ Singularity ]
—
[ SuperNova ]
—
[ Nebula ]
—
[ Aurora ]
—
[ Eclipse ]
============