As he settled in for the night, exhaustion weighing heavily on him, Argus drifted off into a restless sleep. In his dreams, he heard the familiar call of the shrine in Beloved Zofia, a voice that had haunted his dreams for so long.
-Well done, hateful one. You're approaching us. You're on the right path. You will take your revenge.
The voice no longer filled him with fear. Over time, he had grown accustomed to its presence, its words driving him forward on his quest.
As the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, Argus set off once more on his journey, a strange sensation pulling him towards the Crypt of The Unbroken. It was as if an invisible force was guiding him, urging him forward with an almost magnetic pull. Despite not being able to name this feeling, Argus pressed on, his curiosity piqued by what awaited him at the crypt.
The Crypt stood majestically against the backdrop of the snow-covered landscape, its ancient stones weathered by time. Argus felt a surge of curiosity and determination as he approached it. He quickened his pace, eager to uncover the secrets that lay within.
As he reached the entrance, he paused for a moment, taking in the grandeur of the structure before him. The Crypt seemed to beckon him inside, promising answers to the questions that had plagued him for so long. With a deep breath, Argus stepped through the entrance, ready to face whatever awaited him inside.
Upon entering the Crypt, Argus found himself surrounded by the eerie presence of the guardians. Their imposing figures, shrouded in crimson light and clad in formidable armor, seemed to exude an aura of ancient power. As they sprang into action, their movements synchronized and relentless, Argus knew he faced a formidable challenge.
With lightning reflexes, Argus dodged their initial onslaught, his focus unwavering as he assessed his opponents. As one of the guardians lunged towards him with a heavy weapon, Argus seized the opportunity, driving his rapier into the weak point of the armor with precision. To his surprise, the armor proved less resilient than expected, yielding to his blade with relative ease.
With one guardian down, Argus swiftly turned his attention to the remaining two, his movements fluid and decisive. Despite their imposing appearance, the guardians moved with a sluggishness that worked to Argus's advantage. He danced around them, his rapier finding its mark again and again, until finally, both guardians lay defeated at his feet.
Among the fallen, Argus noticed a peculiar rapier, its design unlike any he had seen before. Its hilt, adorned with miniature skulls, sent a chill down his spine, but he knew he needed to claim it. With a sense of determination, he reached out and grasped the rapier, feeling its strange energy coursing through him.
As he held the rapier aloft, the voices rose again.
-Don't ever let it go. Its name is Skullpiercer. We placed it there for you.
The voice echoing through the chamber with an otherworldly resonance. It was a voice of guidance, of affirmation, urging Argus onward. With the newfound weapon in hand.
As Argus continued his journey with Skullpiercer in hand, the crypt's depths revealed hidden chambers and corridors, each corner shrouded in shadows and mystery. The gems he found glittered in the dim light, a tempting reward for his efforts. With each step, the weight of his quest seemed to grow heavier, both physically and metaphorically, as he carried the burden of his past and the weight of his vengeance.