The air inside the cave was thick and oppressive, as though the weight of history itself clung to the stone walls. Eryx followed Lorian deeper into the darkened passage, each step echoing softly. The soft glow of the moonlight quickly faded as they descended, replaced by the flicker of a torch Lorian had brought with him. Shadows danced on the walls, twisting and stretching like ancient spirits watching their every move.
As they ventured further, Eryx's heart pounded in his chest. His mind raced with the elder's words, the idea that he was somehow connected to the gods and the power they once wielded. The notion terrified him, yet a strange sense of anticipation gnawed at him, too. It was as though his body knew something was coming—something inevitable.
"Where are we going?" Eryx finally asked, his voice unnaturally loud in the stillness.
"To the source," Lorian replied without looking back. "The place where the gods first bestowed their gifts upon mortals. You need to understand what you are before you can choose who you'll become."
The passage widened suddenly, opening into a vast chamber. Eryx's breath caught in his throat. The ceiling arched high above them, disappearing into the gloom, and the walls were etched with symbols he couldn't understand. In the center of the chamber was a raised platform, carved from black stone, and around it were the remains of what looked like ancient altars, now crumbling with age.
At the heart of it all was something else—something that sent a chill down Eryx's spine. A pedestal stood at the far end of the chamber, upon which rested a small, glowing crystal. The light it emitted was faint but constant, like the steady pulse of a heartbeat.
Lorian moved toward it, his torch casting eerie shadows across the chamber. "This is what the gods left behind," he said softly, gesturing to the crystal. "The last remnant of their power in our world."
Eryx stared at the glowing crystal, transfixed. He could feel the energy radiating from it, like a magnet pulling at his very soul. The hum inside him responded to it, growing louder with every step he took toward the pedestal. "What does it do?"
Lorian's expression darkened. "It amplifies what is already inside you. But it is not without its dangers. If you are not ready, it could destroy you."
Eryx hesitated, but the pull of the crystal was too strong to ignore. As he reached out, the power within him surged, and his hand trembled as it hovered above the glowing stone. The energy crackled between his fingers, and the moment his skin brushed the surface of the crystal, everything exploded into light.
The chamber vanished, replaced by a blinding white void. Eryx felt as though he were floating, weightless and untethered from the world. The power inside him roared to life, overwhelming his senses. It was more than he had ever felt before—more than he thought he could handle. His body burned with it, his vision swam, and for a moment, he thought he might be consumed by the sheer force of it.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the light dimmed. Eryx found himself standing in the chamber again, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. The crystal's glow had faded to a soft pulse, and he felt an immense pressure in his mind, like a door had been opened and something vast and ancient was now watching him.
But it wasn't just the power that had awakened.
A sound echoed through the chamber—a low, menacing growl that sent a shiver down Eryx's spine. He turned to see Lorian standing near the entrance, his torch flickering wildly as a shadow moved along the walls.
"We are not alone," Lorian said, his voice tense. "Something has been drawn to the power."
The ground trembled beneath their feet, and from the darkness at the far end of the chamber, a figure emerged. At first, it was little more than a shifting mass of shadow, but as it drew closer, Eryx could make out the shape of a man—tall, cloaked in dark armor, with eyes that glowed a sickly green.
"Who—what is that?" Eryx whispered, stepping back instinctively.
Lorian's expression was grim. "An ancient one. A fallen god, cursed to wander the earth in search of the power they once lost. The crystal's energy must have awoken it."
The figure stopped just a few paces from them, the air around it warping with dark energy. Its voice was a harsh rasp, barely human. "You… dare to touch the gods' legacy, boy?"
Eryx's heart pounded in his chest. The power inside him surged again, responding to the threat, but he could feel his control slipping. It was as if the energy had a mind of its own, and it was pushing him toward confrontation.
Lorian stepped forward, placing himself between Eryx and the fallen god. "Leave now, before it's too late. The boy is not your enemy."
The fallen god laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "The boy is everything. He is the key to what I seek."
With a sudden burst of speed, the fallen god lunged toward them, his hand raised, crackling with dark energy. Lorian reacted quickly, raising his own hand as a shield of light appeared before him, deflecting the attack. The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, causing the ground to tremble and dust to rain down from the ceiling.
Eryx stumbled back, his heart racing. He had never seen power like this—raw, unrestrained, and ancient. The fallen god was relentless, attacking again and again, each strike more powerful than the last. Lorian struggled to hold the shield, but Eryx could see the strain on his face.
"I can't hold him off forever!" Lorian shouted, his voice strained.
Eryx clenched his fists, feeling the power inside him swirl and surge, begging to be unleashed. He didn't know how to control it, didn't know if he was even capable of using it properly. But he couldn't just stand by and watch Lorian fall.
Taking a deep breath, Eryx stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the fallen god. He raised his hands, feeling the energy pulse through his veins, and with a shout, he released it.
A beam of pure light shot from his hands, slamming into the fallen god and sending him skidding back across the chamber. The force of it left Eryx breathless, but the momentary victory was short-lived. The fallen god rose to his feet, unfazed, his glowing eyes now locked on Eryx.
"So… the boy does have power," the fallen god hissed. "But it will not be enough."
He charged again, faster this time, and Eryx barely had time to react. He summoned another wave of energy, but the fallen god was ready. With a sweep of his hand, he deflected Eryx's attack and closed the distance between them in a blink.
Before Eryx could react, the fallen god's hand was around his throat, lifting him off the ground with terrifying ease. The dark energy coursed through him, searing his skin and draining his strength.
"You will fall, boy," the fallen god snarled, his voice dripping with malice. "And with your power, I will rise once more."
Eryx struggled, the air in his lungs quickly fading. The world around him blurred, and for a moment, he thought it was over. But deep within, the power surged again—stronger this time, more desperate, more primal. It roared to life, filling every corner of his body.
With a final, desperate cry, Eryx unleashed everything.
A shockwave of pure light exploded from him, tearing the fallen god's grip from his throat and sending the ancient being flying across the chamber. Eryx collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, his vision swimming.
The fallen god crashed against the far wall, his dark form flickering with energy as he slowly stood, his eyes burning brighter than before.
"This isn't over," the fallen god hissed.
Lorian rushed to Eryx's side, helping him to his feet. "You did well, Eryx, but he won't stop. This is only the beginning."
The fallen god's form shifted, growing larger, darker, as the chamber trembled with his power.
Eryx's heart raced. The fight wasn't over—far from it.