Chapter 45: Into the Unknown
The energy of the Celestial Garden still hummed around them, but the group's attention was already elsewhere. Azaymos could feel the power thrumming within the dagger, fully charged and ready to transport them to their next destination.
"Where do we go from here?" Rex asked, glancing at the dagger in Azaymos's hand. His body still crackled with leftover energy, Blitz's power merging with his own.
"We don't have a choice," Azaymos replied. "The dagger will take us where it wants—where the next step in our journey lies."
Darius sighed, flipping a knife lazily in his hand. "Here we go again. I hope the next place has something shiny."
Mara stepped forward, her eyes sharp. "We need to be ready. Wherever we're headed, it won't be safe."
Azaymos nodded. The others gathered close, the familiar tension settling over them. He held the dagger aloft, feeling the energy pulse within it. The words came easily now, their meaning clearer with every use.
"As long as we are alive," Azaymos began, his voice steady, "the curse of existence bonds us. For every bad event, there is a good side—you just need the right mindset to see it."
The dagger glowed brighter, the runes along its blade pulsing with light. The air around them warped, twisting as the energy surged. In an instant, the world around them began to fade, the Celestial Garden disappearing into the ether.
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When the world reformed around them, they were no longer in the serene, lush garden. Instead, they stood in a barren wasteland. The sky above was a deep, unnatural red, with swirling clouds of black smoke blotting out the sun. The land around them was cracked and dry, as though life had long since abandoned it.
"This... doesn't look promising," Darius muttered, surveying the landscape. "Not exactly a vacation spot."
Nox, who had been holding the egg close to her, glanced around, her eyes narrowing. "There's something wrong here. I don't feel any magic."
Azaymos frowned. "It's not like the other worlds. The energy here is... artificial."
Before anyone could respond, a message appeared in front of their eyes.
[System Error. User does not have access to system functions.]
"What the hell?" Rex growled, swiping at the message. "What's a 'system function'?"
Another notification appeared immediately after.
[Error corrected. Welcome to the system world. First Quest: Unlock System Access. Objective: Complete the Trial of the Forgotten Ones.]
"Another trial?" Nox muttered, her eyes flashing. "What is this place?"
Azaymos felt the familiar tension of a challenge building. The system had accepted them, but they were locked out of its full functions. They would need to fight for access again.
"We need to complete the quest," Azaymos said, his voice calm despite the growing uncertainty. "This world works on a system. We need to unlock access if we want to survive here."
[Quest: Trial of the Forgotten Ones. Objective: Defeat the Forgotten Ones to unlock system access. Reward: Full system functionality.]
As if in response to the system's prompt, the ground beneath them began to shake. From the cracks in the earth, shadowy figures began to rise—the Forgotten Ones. Their forms were twisted, barely human, and their hollow eyes glowed with a sickly light. They moved slowly at first, but their numbers were growing rapidly.
"We've got company," Rex said, his fists already sparking with electricity. Blitz flared to life, and Rex's grin grew wider. "Let's take these guys out."
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End of Chapter 45