In ancient times, there was an advanced civilization known as the "Rune Civilization," which gained its power from magical stones. The stones were first discovered in a temple buried underground and also appeared many times in dungeons, but it was considered impossible for anyone to obtain them from the dungeons. Each stone possessed a unique and distinctive power. The legends say that these stones were a gift from the gods to the people of Runic as part of an ancient covenant. But over time, the Rune Civilization disappeared, and the stones remained part of the legends.
In the year 825, according to the solar calendar, the mysterious Rune Stones were discovered. No one knew their source or how they were made, but everyone realized their immense power to influence reality. The five kingdoms sought to acquire those stones, and each kingdom obtained one stone.
The Kingdom of Arno: The Stone of Lightning, with immense power to destroy mountains.
The Kingdom of Darkon: The Stone of Chaos, enabling its bearer to spread diseases or kill anyone with just a command.
The Kingdom of Newglom: The Stone of Life, accelerating crop growth, healing diseases—even those caused by the Stone of Chaos—and granting its bearer eternal youth.
The Kingdom of Solaris: The Stone of Wisdom, revealing the secrets of the future and granting knowledge of everything.
The Kingdom of Eldora: The Stone of Space, controlling meteors and temporarily distorting reality.
In the Kingdom of Darkon, where darkness prevailed, the prisoner Serrano, chained, was being dragged to an iron room.
In the room, stood a man with a white beard and cold blue eyes like ice.
The man began speaking to the prison warden: "Are you sure this man can accomplish the mission?"
The warden replied, "Don't be deceived by his appearance; this man has killed more than fifty soldiers."
The man smiled and said, "So, you are Serrano..."
Serrano replied with a voice mixed with pride and wounds: "I am Serrano Darkrave, yes."
The man continued, "Serrano, I will give you a second chance instead of execution. You will be sent to the Trial Dungeon to retrieve a stone carved with the symbol of a clock. Prepare for this tomorrow."
Serrano asked sarcastically, "Why don't you go to the dungeon yourself?"
The man with the white beard replied with a smile carrying deep pain and regret: "A curse controls that dungeon, an ancient curse that no one survives except by great luck or extraordinary power. I tried before and failed, leaving a part of my soul there. That's why I'm sending you because you possess some royal blood."
Serrano, angry, said: "Do you think I'm crazy to accept this?"
The man looked at the guard. Suddenly, the guard drew his sword and placed it on Serrano's neck, threatening, "This is not a request; it's an order, you rat. What are you waiting for?"
Serrano looked at the guard angrily, then sighed.
Serrano replied with a smile: "Alright, I'll go. But what reward will I get?"
The man answered, "You will be free, and I will restore your family's honor that was taken from you. I am the royal court magician, Casilius Valcor, and I swear I will restore all your family's titles that the former king stripped from you."
Serrano's eyes showed sadness, and he was also uncomfortable with the person before him.
Serrano replied: "I agree, I will go." Though Serrano stood firm, in his heart he did not desire titles or fame; he only wanted to restore his family's honor at least.
The Trial Dungeon
The next day, Serrano was taken to the Trial Dungeon.
It was a dark and cold place, full of dampness and the stench of mold. But the door was not real; it was a magical gate glowing with a cold blue light.
As Serrano approached, the gate swallowed him, leaving him in complete darkness.
Serrano began moving slowly, trying to feel his way in the darkness. Suddenly, he heard a whispering voice: "Welcome to the Trial Dungeon, Serrano."
Serrano froze in his place, trying to locate the source of the voice. "Who are you?" Serrano asked.
The voice replied, "I am the shadow of the past, the guardian of this dungeon. You have come to face your test."
Serrano: "What is this test?"
The shadow: "You will face many challenges, and a piece of advice for you, sometimes what appears to be is not real."
The First Challenge: The Dark Maze
The walls of the dungeon began to change around him, forming a dark maze with narrow passages.
Serrano had to rely on his senses and courage to navigate it.
At every corner, hidden traps and frightening sounds awaited him, trying to distract him.
The hidden traps: Blades suddenly emerging from the walls, a pit filled with snakes, and poisoned arrows shooting from invisible holes.The frightening sounds: Screams of torture, threatening whispers, and the echoes of invisible footsteps approaching quickly.
Serrano spent long hours wandering through the maze, trying to avoid the traps and find the right path.
It was easy for him as he had worked as an adventurer, and traps were familiar to him. Finally, he reached a small room dimly lit. In the center of the room was a stone carved with the symbol of a clock.
The Second Challenge: The Black Shadow
As Serrano approached the stone, the black shadow appeared and said: "Congratulations, you have reached the stone, but you must defeat me first."
The black shadow turned into a version of Serrano and said: "It seems the old man has sent a strong person this time."
Serrano replied: "How did you know about the old man?"
The shadow sneered: "Did you forget that this dungeon takes your soul or half of it? That magician with blue eyes, he lost to me, and we made a deal that I would take half of his soul in exchange for possessing someone else's body."
Serrano drew his sword and attacked the shadow.
It was an epic battle, where Serrano fought as if his opponent were a mirror of him; every strike Serrano made, the shadow mirrored in the same way.
Over time, Serrano noticed that his opponent mimicked his moves without thinking. A crazy idea crossed his mind: to thrust the sword into his own chest.
Serrano raised his sword, noticed the shadow was anxious mimicking him, and thrust the sword into his chest. Both he and the shadow screamed in pain simultaneously.
The shadow said: "You fool, are you crazy? Killing yourself?"
Serrano replied with a pained smile: "Even if I die, you'll come with me to hell!"
Back to the Past
Serrano awoke from the illusion created by the shadow and said: "Damn that cursed being!"
The shadow appeared before him and said: "Did you miss me?" The shadow continued: "Congratulations on passing the second trial. You can now take the stone."
Serrano stood exhausted, feeling as if the stab was real. As he approached the stone, he felt his mouth bleeding and his chest bleeding too.
The shadow reappeared, laughing and said: "It seems the illusion became reality. Go ahead, take the stone if you want it! Ha ha ha ha!"
Blood exploded in the room, and a drop of it reached the stone. The stone began to emit light, which scared the shadow, who said: "Impossible! I'm sure you didn't make a pact with the stone."
Serrano laughed from the ground and said: "I saw your terrified face before I died!"
The light intensified, covering the view.
Then Serrano opened his eyes to find himself in his old room in the palace of Duke Gerald Darkrave.
The black shadow appeared out of nowhere and said: "Shock, isn't it? You have returned to the past as always. The Time Stone doesn't allow its bearer to die unless they die naturally on their bed. So now you are my master, what do you want to start with?"
Serrano looked at his hand, focusing on the clock tattoo carved into it.
Serrano said, with eyes filled with sparks of revenge: "So, let's start the game!"