I halt my sword in mid-swing and take a moment to read the message. A side quest? This was an unexpected development, but it could be advantageous. If I managed to defeat Theseus within the allotted time, perhaps I would learn more about him and his supposed knowledge of my life at college. However, I also can't help but wonder about the potential rewards for defeating him.
Without hesitation, I accept the side quest. Time was now of the essence, and I couldn't afford to waste a single second. Theseus, sensing my renewed focus, attacks with renewed ferocity, his strikes coming faster and harder.
I dodge and parry his blows, my mind racing as I try to come up with a strategy. If Theseus truly knew about my college life, then he must have some connection to the real world outside the game. But how? And why was he so fixated on bringing up my past? These thoughts linger in the back of my mind as adrenaline surges through my veins.
With each clash of our swords, the castle walls shake around us. Debris falls from above, adding an extra layer of danger to our already intense battle. But I remain focused, my eyes locked onto Theseus.
Time is slipping away, and I can feel the seconds ticking down as we continue our deadly dance. Theseus seems unbothered, does this mean each player will have a different quest? So this means he may not be killing me, but rather to stale me.
I shake my head, I can't think about what his missions are, I need to defeat him. I swing my blade again and again, our swords clashing with a mighty beat. I can't keep swinging and hoping I can hit him, I touch the dragon emblem on the blade and active dragons breathe once again.
The blade erupts into flames catching Theseus off guard. Good thing I only used it once since I came back, I haven't learned much about the upgrade of my sword.
The flames lick at Theseus' armor, scorching the metal and causing him to stagger back. His eyes widen in disbelief as he watches the fire consume his defenses. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I press forward, my strikes becoming faster and more precise.
With each swing of my sword, the flames grow hotter and more intense, wrapping around Theseus like a vengeful embrace. He tries to defend himself, but it is futile. The power of the dragon's breath skill proves to be too much for him to handle.
I can see the fear in Theseus' eyes now, his bravado replaced by desperation. He stumbles backward, blood pouring from a deep gash on his arm. But even in his weakened state, he refuses to surrender.
"Theseus," I say through clenched teeth, my voice laced with a mixture of exhaustion and triumph. "It's over." With one final swing, I slash his chest.
Theseus falls to the ground, his eyes meeting mine with a smile on his face. "You're just like Hades, Phoenix," he says. "Did it ever occur to you that if I died in this game, I might die in real life too?" His breath becomes ragged and then stops altogether.
I stand there, my heart pounding in my chest as I process Theseus' words. What did he mean by dying in the game? Could it have consequences in the real world? The realization hits me like a tidal wave, leaving me stunned and breathless.
As I stare at Theseus's lifeless body on the ground, a mix of confusion and fear consumes me. How could I have been so blind to the potential dangers of this game? Was it possible that death within the realm of the game meant death in reality too?
My mind races with a thousand questions. Panic starts to bubble within me, threatening to engulf my thoughts. What if I had just killed a real person? What if Theseus was right, and our lives were at stake with every move we made in this virtual world?
I drop to my knees beside Theseus, my hands trembling as I reach out to touch his forehead. It's cold, unnaturally so. The color has drained from his face, and I feel sick to my stomach.
Success! The notification pops up in front of my view, reminding me of the completed side quest and the rewards waiting for me in my inventory. It's almost as if it's mocking me, a reminder that I'm capable of killing in this virtual world just as easily as in real life.
This why I prefer to stay under the radar, living a quiet life on the sidelines. I don't want to be the center of attention or the main player in this game. As I stand up and take one last look at Theseus, I exhale deeply and survey the destruction around me.
There's a twinge of regret inside me for the battle I just fought, but I know I have to keep moving forward. If dying here means dying in the real world, then I have to stay alive and fight for it.
But I won't engage in unnecessary conflicts. Right now, my main focus is finding Pirithous, and ultimately finding Persephone.
I make my way through the ruins of the castle, my footsteps echoing in the silence. The weight of Theseus' final words still lingers in my mind, haunting me like a chilling melody. Was he telling the truth? Could our lives truly be at risk?
As I navigate through the wreckage, I can't help but feel a growing sense of unease. The once majestic halls are now reduced to rubble, and the air is heavy with an otherworldly stillness. Every corner I turn, I expect to encounter another foe, but all I find are remnants of a battle long fought.
I come to a halt, suddenly remembering the rewards I earned from defeating Theseus. Opening up my inventory, I see that I now have a new armor set called 'Blood of a Demon'. There are also some smaller rewards that I can use to upgrade my armor and swords. But what catches my eye is a new weapon: a scythe. A reaper's weapon, just like the one used by Thanatos. Thanatos was considered a God of death, acting as a guide to the souls of the deceased on their journey to the Underworld, so it makes sense why he gets one. But it seems Hades is able to wield one as well.
I can't help but feel a shiver run down my spine as I examine the scythe. Its blade gleams with an ethereal light, and an ominous energy emanates from it. This weapon is not to be taken lightly, and it only serves to deepen my unease about the nature of this game.
With a heavy sigh, I tuck the scythe away in my inventory, choosing to stick with my sword for now. The Blood of a Demon armor set, on the other hand, catches my attention once again. Its description boasts increased strength, agility, and resistance to dark magic—a perfect fit for the dangers that lie ahead.
As I put on my new armor, I make my way through the castle. The sound of swords clashing catches my attention and I break into a sprint.
Turning a corner, I see Thanatos locked in combat with Pirithous.
Without hesitation, I draw my sword and join the fight. My strike surprises Pirithous and he jumps back.
"You're still alive!" He exclaims, his face contorting with fear and anger.
"What happened to the poison? And what about Theseus? Zeus said that poisoning you would ensure an easy victory for me." He backs away from me.
His words hit me like a ton of bricks. How could Zeus have been involved in this too? I should have known not to trust him.
I narrow my eyes at Pirithous, my grip tightening on my sword. "Zeus played us both," I say, my voice laced with anger and betrayal. "He wanted chaos, not a fair fight."
Pirthous sneers at me, his eyes filled with malice. "I will end you now," he declares as he charges towards me, swinging his sword at my armor. I swiftly evade his attack and activate Dragon's Breath, slashing him with a burst of flames from my weapon. His armor begins to melt under the intense heat and he collapses to the ground with a loud thud.
I stand over Pirithous, my chest heaving with exhaustion. The flames from my sword flicker and fade, leaving behind a trail of smoke that slowly dissipates in the air. As I catch my breath, I glance at Thanatos, who stands motionless, his scythe clutched tightly in his hand.
I remain silent, unsure of what to say to Thanatos. The weight of my actions weighs heavily on my mind - I've killed two players now, and the question remains: do they truly die in reality?
"Thanatos, Persephone isn't here. Pirithous never abducted her. I believe Zeus orchestrated this entire game and she is still safe at Olympus."
With a sharp whistle, I summon my dragon who immediately swoops down and lands with an echoing thud. I swiftly climb onto its back and turn to Thanatos, "Let's go to Olympus."
A warning message from the game is still visible in front of me; it had popped up right after I defeated Pirithous. It must have sensed my focus or read my thoughts.
The warning message flashes in bold red letters, demanding my attention. "Caution: Proceeding to Olympus may have irreversible consequences in the real world. Are you sure you want to continue?"
My hand hovers over the button, shaking with uncertainty as I consider the consequences of my choice. Should I gamble everything for the possibility of finding Persephone?
A sudden realization strikes me: what is this game truly about, and who is the mastermind behind it all? Why was it created in the first place? But despite these doubts, I click on the option without hesitation. I am going to Olympus.