Chapter 12: The Center of the Labyrinth
Damon moved with purpose, the oppressive atmosphere of the labyrinth pressing in on him from all sides. The corridors twisted and turned, but his determination never wavered. He felt the labyrinth pulling him toward its heart, and he knew that whatever awaited him there would be the key to his escape.
As he rounded a final corner, Damon found himself in a vast, open chamber—the center of the labyrinth. Torches flickered along the walls, casting eerie shadows across the stone floor. In the middle of the chamber, a fierce battle was raging with battle cries and the sounds of clashing swords.
A small group of demigods, including Brick, the son of Ares, and Naia, the daughter of Poseidon, were struggling against a horde of monstrous creatures. Brick wielded a large war hammer with brute force, while Naia used what looked like a trident to fend off the monsters. Despite their efforts, the creatures were overwhelming them along with the other demigods.
Damon watched his fellow demigods fight. However, he couldn't stand by and do nothing. Drawing his sword, he charged into the fray, his blade glowing with dark energy.
"Hold on!" Damon shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Brick turned at the sound of Damon's voice, a look of surprise flashing across his face. "You!"
Naia, struggling against a serpent-like monster, flipping around with grace as she avoided a whip attack from the monsters tail before she glanced at Damon with a mix of hope and suspicion. "We could use all the help we can get!"
Damon didn't waste any time. He activated his Shadow Manipulation ability, summoning tendrils of darkness to ensnare the closest monsters. The creatures roared in anger and confusion as the shadows wrapped around them, immobilizing their movements.
With his newfound speed, Damon darted between the monsters, his sword striking with precision. He slashed through a creature's tough hide, dark energy coursing through his blade and dealing devastating blows. One by one, the monsters fell, disintegrating into dust.
Brick, his eyes narrowed with jealousy, swung his war hammer with renewed vigour. "Don't think this makes us friends," he grunted, his tone filled with resentment before he crushed one of the monsters with his war hammer.
Naia, now free from her serpentine foe, raised her trident and managed to pierce another creature, driving her weapon into the creature's gut. She looked at Damon with a mix of surprise and admiration. "You're stronger than I thought you would be..."
Damon felt a surge of power as he fought alongside the other demigods. His reflexes were sharper, his movements more fluid, and his strikes more powerful. The dark energy within him pulsed with each victory, fuelling his determination.
+50 Souls
As the last monster fell, the chamber grew quiet. The demigods panted heavily, their weapons still at the ready, but the immediate threat was gone. Damon stood tall, his sword humming with dark energy, as he surveyed the scene and placed the blade over his shoulder.
Brick approached Damon, his expression a mixture of jealousy and grudging respect. "That was... something. But don't think you can just come in here and take charge." He said, looking Damon up and down, being able to feel that he had grown stronger somehow.
Naia nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with curiosity. "You have some impressive skills. What happened to you?" She asked, knowing it must have something to do with his trials.
"That's a long story..." Damon said, flashing her a charming smile before he turned his attention towards the others.
The other demigods gathered around, expressions of relief and respect on their faces. Damon quickly scanned the room, recognizing many of his peers—warriors and strategists, each with their own unique weapons.
"We need to find a way out of this labyrinth," Damon said, addressing the group.
The demigods tended to their wounds and caught their breath, before agreeing with him. Damon took a moment to check his soul count—90 souls. More than enough for a significant upgrade. He pondered his next move, knowing that they would need every advantage for the challenges ahead.
"Shadow Manipulation and Shadow Healing have served me well," Damon thought. "But I might need something more."
He opened the soul system and took a look at his options, seeing that he could upgrade his current abilities or boost his strength or speed.
"I guess I'll save my soul points for now." Damon said, knowing he could use them later depending on the situation.
As the group regrouped and caught their breath, Damon couldn't help but feel the tension in the air. Despite the temporary truce, there was an underlying sense of competition among the demigods. They were all vying for survival, and trust was in short supply. After all, these trials could quiet easily lead to them facing off against one another and no one wanted to give their powers away just yet.
Brick eyed Damon warily, clearly still grappling with his jealousy. "So, what's your deal, Damon? You show up out of nowhere with these powers and expect us to just follow your lead?"
Damon met Brick's gaze steadily. "I'm not asking you to follow me blindly. But we all have a common goal—to escape this labyrinth. And we stand a better chance if we work together."
Naia, though intrigued by Damon's abilities, remained cautious. "We don't know anything about you. How can we trust that you won't turn on us the moment it suits you?" She said, taking a look at the sword in Damon's hand.
Damon nodded, understanding their scepticism. "You're right. Trust has to be earned. But for now, let's focus on getting out of here alive. We can sort out the rest once we're safe."
A murmur of agreement passed through the group. The immediate threat of the monsters had forged a temporary alliance, but Damon knew that earning their trust would take more than just words. Not that he cared. All he wanted to do was get out of this labyrinth and grow stronger.
As they prepared to move deeper into the labyrinth, Damon took stock of their surroundings. The chamber they were in had several exits, each leading down a different path. The walls were adorned with ancient symbols and carvings, hinting at the labyrinth's long and storied history.
"We need to choose a path," Damon said, looking at the group. "We can't stay here forever."
Brick grunted, hefting his war hammer. "I've got a good feeling about that one," he said, pointing to a passage on the left.
Naia frowned, studying the symbols on the walls. "These markings... they look like they could be some sort of guide. Maybe they can help us decide."
Damon examined the carvings more closely. The symbols seemed to depict various trials and tribulations—tests of strength, intelligence, and resolve. One symbol in particular caught his eye—a pair of crossed swords surrounded by shadowy tendrils.
"This one," Damon said, pointing to the symbol. "It feels... significant."
The other demigods gathered around, studying the symbol. Brick crossed his arms, sceptical. "And what makes you so sure?"
Damon hesitated, unsure how to explain the pull he felt toward the symbol. "Call it intuition," he said finally. "Or maybe the shadows are guiding me."
Naia looked at Damon thoughtfully. "You've proven yourself in battle. We'll follow your lead—for now." Much to Brick's dismay.
"Whatever," Brick said.
The group set off down the passage marked by the crossed swords, their footsteps echoing through the narrow corridor. The air grew colder and more oppressive as they moved deeper into the labyrinth, and Damon could feel the weight of the darkness pressing in on them.
After what felt like hours of walking, they emerged into another chamber. This one was smaller than the last, but the air was thick with tension. At the centre of the room stood a pedestal, atop which rested a glowing orb.
"That must be the key," Naia whispered, feeling a sense of awe.
Brick stepped forward, eyeing the orb warily. "Looks too easy. What's the catch?"
As if in response, the shadows around the room began to writhe and twist, forming into dark, menacing shapes. The demigods readied their weapons, bracing for another battle.
Damon felt the dark energy within him respond to the threat, and he stepped forward, his sword at the ready.
The shadowy creatures lunged, and the demigods fought back with all their might. Damon moved with newfound agility, his sword slicing through the darkness with precision. He used his Shadow Manipulation to create barriers and strike from a distance, his confidence growing with each victory.
Brick fought with brute strength, his war hammer crushing any creature that came too close. Despite his earlier jealousy, he seemed to grudgingly respect Damon's abilities, fighting alongside him with a fierce determination as a fellow soldier.
Naia, though still cautious, moved with grace and skill, her trident finding its mark with every strike. She glanced at Damon occasionally, a look of surprise and approval on her face as he displayed his powerful abilities and control over the shadows.
The battle raged on, but the demigods held their ground. With each defeat, the shadowy creatures disintegrated into nothingness, until finally, the chamber was clear.
Panting and covered in sweat, the group approached the pedestal.
"Go on Damon, take it," Naia said, feeling it was only right for him to be the one to claim it.
Damon reached out and took the glowing orb, feeling a surge of power as it connected with his own energy before the orb burst into a bright light that radiated energy.
Suddenly the energy burst to life, knocking Damon and the others back onto the ground with great force.
"What in the!" Brick yelled, picking himself up.
"What did you do?" Naia yelled, also shocked at what had happened.
Damon sat up looking at the bright light that the orb was giving off.
"I didn't do anything!" Damon shouted, not sure what was happening.
The light grew brighter and brighter until it covered all of the demigods there, causing the ground to disappear from under with a blinding flash of light.