Ryan glanced downwards, his eyes meeting the ghastly sight of a sword he knew all too well. It was ablaze, its white flame so intense it seemed to singe his retinas.
The weapon, its fire as pure as the driven snow, had managed to penetrate the protective armor strapped to his body, plunging through his back, piercing his heart, and protruding from his chest.
Ryan recognized the sword so much because it was the same weapon he'd given to Noah not so long ago.
*Thwack*
The chilling, unmistakable sound of the sword being withdrawn echoed within the confines of the cave, reverberating off the stone walls.
The strength drained from Ryan's body, causing him to drop to his knees in a weakened state.
He grappled with gravity, his body pushing against the cave's cold floor, but his effort was in vain. He fell flat, his face pressing against the cold, unforgiving stone.
The poison from the earlier arrow wound had begun its malicious spread throughout his system. It conspired with the grievous injury from the sword, a terrible alliance that left him growing weaker and weaker with every passing moment.
But Ryan, despite his condition, refused to yield. He continually tried to push himself up, driven by a combination of confusion and a desperate need for answers. Why had Noah betrayed him in such a gruesome manner? The question fueled his determination, and after an excruciating struggle, he managed to drag his battered body to face Noah.
Turning in Noah's direction, he found him holding the sword that had inflicted his mortal wound. The once blazing white flames were extinguished, revealing a pale silver blade, slick with Ryan's blood.
Noah's gaze was locked on the floor, avoiding Ryan's eyes. His expression was one of regret, a dejected look that suggested remorse for his actions.
"Why?" Ryan managed to croak out, his voice trembling with the weight of his confusion.
Noah remained silent, his gaze stubbornly fixed on the stone beneath his feet, refusing to meet Ryan's eyes. This silent refusal ignited a spark of fury within Ryan.
"Look at me and tell me why!" Ryan's voice echoed through the cave, his anger aimed squarely at Noah.
But Noah continued to avoid his gaze, shaking his head in a silent refusal, muttering "I'm sorry" over and over again.
"You're sorry," Ryan echoed weakly, his voice tinged with a fury that was fast becoming all-consuming.
"I trusted you, Noah. Like a brother. I protected you, shielded you from harm, and this is how you repay me? With betrayal? And all you have to say for yourself is 'I'm sorry!'?" Ryan's words were fueled by rising anger with each syllable he spat out.
Noah shuddered at the accusation, his voice barely above a whisper as he stuttered out his reply, "I... I'm... sorry... I... had... no... choice."
Ryan's eyes turned bloodshot with rage at the words. "There's always a choice. You just took the easy way out."
"Pray there's no afterlife, Noah. Because if there is, I'll be waiting for you there," Ryan whispered faintly before his body fell to the ground, completely drained of strength.
The life force within him was ebbing away, rapidly drained by his grievous injury.
A great volume of his blood had already spilled, staining the earth beneath him a deep, ominous red.
Insidiously the poison coursed through his veins laying waste to him from the inside out. As it advanced, he was compelled to spew a mouthful of blood.
His consciousness began to flicker and fade, like a candle fighting against an encroaching darkness.
His world was blurring at the edges, the details of his surroundings becoming indistinct and hazy.
Through the veil of his waning awareness, he discerned the deep, gravelly voice of the burly man. He was making promises to Noah, assuring him of rewards yet to come.
The words pierced through Ryan's foggy mind, igniting a spark of rage that made him clench his teeth in impotent fury.
"If there's an afterlife, I'm coming for you…" Ryan vowed silently, his resolve echoing in the cavernous silence of his mind.
Gradually, the world around him dimmed, his consciousness vanishing like a wisp of smoke in the wind. The final vestiges of life within him faltered and finally extinguished as he succumbed to the quiet, relentless pull of death.
*****
"Is this... the afterlife?" Ryan muttered to himself, his senses awash with confusion as he awoke to find himself amid a cityscape consumed by decay, its once vibrant structures now skeletal remains, ravaged by the cruel hands of time.
"Have I grown taller? And why is my skin so... refined?" Ryan pondered aloud, his eyes tracing the smooth texture of his hand with a mix of awe and dismay.
His hands migrated upwards, tenderly exploring the contours of his face. His fingertips traced the sleek line of a newly pronounced nose and the delicate curvature of well-defined lips.
"Is this a perk of the afterlife? A cosmetic upgrade?" Ryan mused, his voice echoing his astonishment.
Without warning, a mechanized female voice echoed in his mind, and a holographic screen materialized before his eyes.
._._._._._.
[DING! DING!!]
YOU HAVE FINALLY MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GREAT DIVINITY SYSTEM.
DO YOU ACCEPT THE GREAT DIVINITY SYSTEM?
[YES] / [NO]
._._._._._.
"What in the...?" Ryan stammered, taken aback by the surreal sight of the holographic interface.
"Great Divinity System? What the hell does that mean?" Ryan's voice quivered with bewilderment. He shook his head, hoping to dispel the hallucination, but the holographic screen remained, unperturbed.
._._._._._.
ANSWER DETECTED
._._._._._.
"Answer? I didn't choose anything!" Ryan exclaimed, his voice rising in panic, but his protest fell on deaf ears. Instead of cessation, the screen continued to display more messages.
._._._._._.
DOWNLOADING THE GREAT DIVINITY SYSTEM [10%... 20%.....
._._._._._.
"What are you doing?! I told you, I didn't make a choice!" Ryan's pleas fell on deaf ears as the download continued unabated.
In no time, the download was completed, and the screen flashed with a new message.
._._._._._.
DOWNLOAD COMPLETED
PROCEEDING WITH CONSCIOUSNESS TRANSFER IN 3....2....1
CONSCIOUSNESS TRANSFER ACTIVATED
._._._._._.
"Wait, consciousness transfer?" Ryan tried to voice his confusion, but his body didn't comply. He felt disconnected, a mere observer, paralyzed and helpless.
"Damn it all!" Ryan cursed inwardly as the process of consciousness transfer took hold, accompanied by a debilitating headache.
An aggressive roar cut through his turmoil, causing him to shudder. He desperately tried to move, but his body refused to respond, leaving him feeling like a ghost trapped inside a lifeless shell.
"Damn it all!" Ryan cursed again, frustration mounting.
The source of the roar emerged into view - a monstrous, wolf-like creature, its three bloodshot eyes glinting menacingly beneath a thick black pelt.
"Damn it all!" Ryan cursed yet again, recognizing the beast – a three-eyed wolf.
The three-eyed wolf bared its teeth, issuing another terrifying roar as it locked eyes with Ryan. It charged, closing the distance between them with alarming speed.
"Damn it all!" Ryan spat, his gaze darting back to the holographic screen to check the progress of the consciousness transfer.
The screen read 92%
"Damn it!" Ryan exclaimed, his attention returning to the three-eyed wolf steadily advancing toward him.
He watched anxiously as the progress of the consciousness transfer ticked higher: 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%...
"Damn it!" Ryan cursed again, feeling the three-eyed wolf draw dangerously near for an attack. But in that critical moment, the consciousness transfer reached its completion, hitting 100% and restoring Ryan's control over his body.