As soon as Elena and Ren crossed the threshold, into the city, they were not met with the breathtaking paradise they envisioned, but with a sight that filled them with unease.
The legendary city. once rumored to be a place of eternal beauty and tranquility, lay before them as a shadow of its former self, a crumbling ruin, abandoned and forgotten by time.
The spires that once reached toward the heavens were now ragged, broken remnants, the tops shattered and leaning precariously.
The lush gardens that were once vibrant and overflowing with life and lush green had withered into dry, tangled masses of thorny vines and brittle branches.
The streets, once paved with smooth, gleaming stone, were cracked and uneven, strewn with debris, and choked with dust.
The air was heavy with a sense of decay. The sky above them was dull, oppressive gray. The sunlight was weak and struggling to penetrate the thick clouds that loomed overhead. A haunting silence hung over the city, broken only by the occasional creak of collapsing creak of collapsing structures and distant echoes of falling stones.
"This isn't what I imagined", Ren whispered, his voice trembling as he took in the desolate scene. "What happened here?"
Elena shook her head, her heart sinking as she gazed upon the city that was abandoned long ago, left to crumble into nothing".
As they ventured deeper into the city, the full extent of the city's decay became apparent . Buildings that had once stood as majestic monuments to forgotten civilization were now hollow shells, their walls crumbling and their roofs caved in.
The once grand temples were little more than piles of rubble, their intricate carving worn smooth by centuries of neglect.
The eerie silence that pervaded the city was unnerving. There was no evidence that anyone had walked these streets in centuries. The city with all its grand history now felt like a graveyard, a place where dreams had been buried and burned by the flames of time.
In the heart of the Ruin, they came upon a grand dome-shaped structure that seemed unaffected by the decay surrounding the city. The dome-shaped structure was pitch black with bold carving and inscriptions that glowed, seemingly reacting to their presence.
As they came near the entrance of the dome the ground beneath them trembled, followed by a huge rumble. The gate of the dome opened releasing a warm air with an ominous aura. As the dust settled, revealed a stony pathway.
On entered the pathway which led them toward a huge platform carved from stone with inscriptions that seemed to pulse faintly with a hidden energy. Unlike the the glowing symbols they had ever seen, these inscriptions were closed their meaning locked away, waiting to be revealed.
"What do you think this is?"Ren asked, his voice hushed, as they approached the altar.
Elena examined the altar closely, her fingers lightly brushing over the carvings. "It looks like some kind of key or seal...Something that's meant to be opened. But how?"
As they pondered the mystery of the altar, their attention was drawn towards a figure draped in robes, its face serene and wise. The figures held a staff in one hand, while the other was outstretched, as if the other was offering a blessing or perhaps a warning.
The statue's eyes were in deep contemplation. This must be some kind of guardian ''It feels like it's watching over this place, even with its eyes closed''.
"It's almost as if waiting for someone .. or something." Ren expressed.
Intrigued, they began to explore the platform more thoroughly, searching for any clues that might help them unlock the secrets of the altar.
But as they moved closer to the statue, a low rumble sound filled the air. They brought their hands together and exchanged worried glances, but before even they could react, the platform suddenly shifted, and a series of ancient mechanisms roared to life.
The inscriptions on the altar began to glow with a fierce, golden light, and the statue's eyes snapped open. revealing orbs that burned with an intense, otherworldly energy.
The serene expression on the statue's face twisted into a crazed, menacing smile as if that of a frenzy wolf looking at its prey. The air grew heavy with an ancient, malevolent energy.
"Foolish beings'' an old deep rusty voice echoed through the whole platform
"Ye foolish mortals!.... hehe...Know ye not the folly of thine actions? Ye shall pay dearly for thy heedlessness.Behold the might of my own creation!
hehehe....hahahahahahaha." (You foolish mortals! ...Hehehe... Do you not realize the foolishness of your actions? You will pay dearly for your recklessness. Behold the power of my creation! ...Hehehe... Hahahahahaha!")
A crazed laughter filled with malice vibrated throughout the city.
The statue's hand, once outstretched in a gesture of peace, clenched into fist, and the ground around the altar cracked open, revealing a dark chasm beneath.
"Run!" Elena yelled, grabbing Ren's hand. The chasm began to absorb the energy supplied by the altar. The room was filled with mechanical humming. The chasm released a beam of energy in their direction.
Elena sensed this choose to push Ren away, sacrificing herself. The beam blasted of Elena leaving only her hand which was gripping a part of Ren's clothes.
Due to the burst of energy, Ren was sent flying towards the walls.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ren's pov)
'NO!NO!NO!.....NOOOOO! , How did this happen!.... This was not supposed to happen... We were on a discovery that would change the world.
-coughs
I stood up from the debris, with as much as strength I could muster. Blood flowing covered my body, taste of Iron lingered in my mouth.
-spit
"Well, well, it seemeth we have a hardy vermin here. What wilt thou do-weep?
Plead beforemeand mayhap in mine magnanimity, shall grant thee a swift death, unlike the wretched girl who came before thee."("Well, well, it seems we have a tough little pest here. What will you do—cry? Beg for mercy, and maybe in my generosity, I'll grant you a quick death, unlike the poor girl who came before you.)
I stared the altar that loomed ominously in front of me , its ancient description glowed with sickening light seemed to pulse with life of its own. This place supposed to be like a legendary civilization seemed like a joke.
This place was a trap, a place where dreams came to die. This altar-this cursed thing -was the source of our suffering. I had to destroy it .I had to,if it only makes sense for this madness.
My hands tightened I felt a energy swirling around me. It entered my body flowing through my veins. I felt stronger than I ever was. This energy gathered around my navel forming a core like thing.
My vision became clear .A faint glow covered my hands. As the glow faded, an old sword came into view, its blade marked by the remnants of countless battles.
Seeing the Sword, Altar's arrogance disappeared, his face twisted.
"How shall thou possess a ? Who are Thee?.... That not may matter Thou shall perish by the will of Ancient one..."("How do you intend to possess a ? Who are you? … It matters not. You shall perish by the will of the Ancient One.")he roared, rushing towards me
My hands tightened around the hilt of my sword battered sword is the reflection of my soul. I could feel the darkness pressing down on me, trying to crush what little hope I had left .But I couldn't let it.
I wouldn't.
Now the battle has just began.
-to be continued.