After leaving the Sage Raven, the Sage Rat embarked on a journey toward the majestic mountain range it had seen in its vision. The landscape gradually transformed, shifting from dense forests to rocky hills and narrow ravines, where the air grew thinner and silence enveloped everything. With each step along the winding path, Sage Rat couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Something in the atmosphere warned that this was not just a journey of discovery but a trial of survival.
As it approached the mountain range, the sky darkened, and distant thunder heralded unstable weather. Large birds circled overhead, as if guarding the ascent to the peak. Sage Rat understood that each step brought it closer to the first trial to claim the Mark of Eternity, yet also faced it with dangers it had never encountered before.
Upon reaching the foothills, Sage Rat stumbled upon an abandoned village, its crumbling roofs and walls overtaken by creeping vines. This village had clearly been forgotten for centuries, but the heavy silence hinted that something still lingered in the shadows. Sage Rat decided to rest here, preparing for the journey to the mountain summit the following day.
As night fell, a chilling sound echoed from the dilapidated houses. Sage Rat quickly realized it was not alone. An invisible entity, perhaps once a resident of this village, began to approach. Ghostly figures from the past glided through the mist, whispers filling the air and unseen eyes glinting in the darkness. With a strong survival instinct, Sage Rat recognized that this presence was the first trial it must face.
One of the ghosts suddenly materialized, tall and muscular, with pale eyes fixated on Sage Rat. "You dare come here seeking the Mark of Eternity? Do you not know this place is sealed? You are unworthy," the voice resonated coldly.
Sage Rat stood firm. "I seek immortality not only for myself but for understanding and knowledge. I will face any challenge," it declared, voice filled with resolve.
The ghost laughed, its mirth echoing throughout the village like a haunting refrain. "If so, you must overcome our trial. This is a place that tests intellect and perseverance. Souls like us have failed in seeking the first Mark. If you can solve our riddles and navigate the traps of this village, we will allow you to pass."
A battle of wits ensued between Sage Rat and the spirits. Complex riddles were posed, involving time, space, and ancient knowledge. Sage Rat had to draw on all its wisdom and intelligence to tackle each question. With every success, the surroundings shifted, as if it were traversing through different dimensions.
The final challenge in the village required Sage Rat to confront its own ghosts of the past—the mistakes and decisions it had once regretted. This was not merely about intellect, but about courage and acceptance. After facing its true self, Sage Rat finally earned the spirits' approval.
"You have proven your worth," the spirit said before dissolving into nothingness. A secret doorway leading to the mountain's summit appeared before Sage Rat, opening the path to the first Mark.
The journey continued with many dangers and challenges ahead, but now Sage Rat understood that to achieve the Peach of Immortality, it must overcome not only external foes but also the trials within its mind and soul.
After overcoming the challenge in the haunted village and finding the First Mark, the Sage Rat continued its journey to collect the two remaining marks. Though its body was weary, its will remained unshaken. The lessons learned from the first mark had taught Sage Rat that the journey required not only intellect but also courage and determination.
Following the guidance of the Sage Raven, Sage Rat knew that the Second Mark was hidden deep within a dark abyss, where no living creature dared to venture. The path to it led through dense, shadowy forests where sunlight never touched the ground. Strange creatures lurked in the darkness, watching every step Sage Rat took.
The abyss appeared as a colossal mouth, swallowing all light and sound. The atmosphere here was heavy, as if each breath contained despair and fear. Sage Rat understood that this mark would challenge not only its physical strength but also the strength of its soul.
As Sage Rat approached the edge of the abyss, a voice echoed from within the shadows: "Do you dare to enter the Abyss of the Soul? There is no turning back here, only truths you must face."
With no choice left, Sage Rat leaped down. As it fell, the surroundings transformed, no longer an abyss of darkness but an endless maze of memories and illusions. It was pulled into distant memories, forced to confront its deepest fears.
Here, Sage Rat encountered different versions of itself—parts that were once doubtful, once weak. These images mocked and jeered, trying to break Sage Rat's spirit. But it did not falter; it refused to let these phantoms shake its resolve. Sage Rat understood that this mark was not just a challenge of fear but a lesson in self-acceptance.
After facing all the fears and memories, the abyss gradually faded, revealing the Second Mark—a glowing stone that radiated with the essence of understanding the soul and bravery. Sage Rat grasped the mark, feeling new power from it, and continued its journey.
The Third Mark—the final mark, according to legend, was guarded at the Peak of the Final Mountain, where time and space were distorted. To reach the peak, Sage Rat had to traverse a region filled with whirlpools of time, where past, present, and future intertwined, making the space feel torn apart.
With each step, Sage Rat felt as if it was walking against the current of time. It caught glimpses of fleeting images from the past and future—victories, failures, and the loneliness of immortality. But it did not stop, knowing that steadfastness would be the key to overcoming the final challenge.
At the mountain peak, an ancient stone door appeared, engraved with symbols of time. Sage Rat approached, but as soon as it touched the door, a voice resonated from deep within: "You have reached here, but the final mark is not easily attained. You must prove that you can face the eternity of time and endure the loneliness of immortality."
As the voice faded, Sage Rat was pulled into an infinite space, where time seemed to stand still. It became trapped for hundreds of years, with no change, no resting place, and no companions. The loneliness of centuries began to erode Sage Rat's spirit. It felt itself losing awareness of its own identity.
But amid the abyss of despair, Sage Rat remembered its goal—immortality was not an escape, but a journey to gather infinite knowledge. With a powerful will, it overcame the loneliness and torment of time. As Sage Rat's resolve soared stronger than ever, the space around it suddenly exploded into millions of fragments.
The stone door at the mountain peak opened, and inside was the Third Mark—a brilliant crystal representing the unchanging and eternal nature of time. Sage Rat knew that now, with all three marks in hand, it had completed the first part of its journey toward immortality.
With all three Marks of Eternity in hand, Sage Rat felt an immense power awakening within. However, it also knew that the journey was not over. The Peach of Immortality was still hidden somewhere deep within the mysteries of the world.
Sage Rat continued on, stronger and wiser than ever before, ready to face any other challenges that lay ahead.