Elias' heart pounded hard as he glanced down at the small dagger he had found earlier. Though tiny compared to the Gatekeeper's massive sword, it was his only weapon. "System, what about this dagger? Can I use it?" The response came immediately:
[ You do not meet the requirements to wield the Dagger of Chains. ]
Panic ensued as clutched the dagger anyway. He had nothing else to use. Desperately, he hurled the dagger towards the Gatekeeper, hoping it might buy him even a moment's chance. The blade spun through the cold air and struck the Gatekeeper. But he barely flinched. The dagger bounced off of his armored shoulder and embedded itself in the ice nearby.
The Gatekeeper's gaze temporarily shifted to the dagger. Taking advantage of this, Elias came out hiding and with all his might, rushed towards the passageway in hopes of ascending from the Ninth Circle without having to fight. However, the Gatekeeper grabbed his long sword and with a powerful swipe, came after Elias.
Elias' muscles tensed, his heart beating out of his chest and his feet slipping across the ice. The Gatekeeper's heavy footsteps thundered behind him. Elias took a look back and his stomach dropped. The Gatekeeper was gaining on him. The frozen ground beneath Elias was slick and treacherous, sending him skidding with every step. He narrowly dodged the Gatekeeper's sword as it came crashing down with a force, shattering the ice, which sent shards and fragments flying in all directions. One sharp edge of the ice cut across Elias' cheek.
"Faster… just… FASTER!" he urged himself. He zigzagged between pillars of ice in a desperate attempt to stay out of the Gatekeeper's line of sight. Each swing missed Elias by mere inches, breaking through ice structures with ease. He slipped again and stumbled, falling head-first onto the icy cold ground. Before he could even attempt to get up, a strike came down – a savage, unforgiving slice. Elias gasped. He stared in horror as his own blood spattered across the frozen ground, staining icy ground in deep crimson red. His hand was gone.
The searing pain tore through him. He was barely able to understand the sight of his severed hand. The Gatekeeper advanced forward as each of his steps felt like the rumble of thunder. Fighting through the pain, Elias stumbled and sprinted. His legs faltering and muscles screaming in agony as slid down an icy incline. The Gatekeeper's monstrous growl echoed behind him as he got closed with every passing second. Just as Elias felt his strength failing, a shadow appeared in the distance. It was a tall cloaked figure shrouded in mist and standing on a ledge as if it was waiting for him. His vision blurred and for a moment, he wondered if it was an illusion. But the figure held firm, watching him from afar.
Desperation gave him one final surge of strength as he stumbled forward. Yet, just as he was within reach, the figure vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. Elias felt a searing pain as the Gatekeeper's sword grazed his shoulder, tearing into the thin fabric and cutting through his skin. He clutched his wounded arms as he stumbled forward. His body was on the edge of collapse as blood continued trickling down from his severed wound. Elias braced himself for what seemed like the inevitable end.
"Pitiful"
A dark voice echoed through the icy wasteland that sent chills down his spine. In an instant, blinding light enveloped him, and he felt himself being pulled away from the Gatekeeper's reach. The cold, the pain, the pounding of his heart – all of it faded in a whirl of sensation. He was wrenched away, dropping to the ground as the light disappeared. He found himself in a cave, sprawled on the ground, gasping hard for breath and feeling dizzy from the blood loss.
As he struggled to gather his sentence, he looked up. Before him stood the same cloaked figure, this time closer, and its silhouette more distinct than before. It was tall and elegant, draped in robes. A faint flow surrounded it revealing glimpses of intricate and ancient designs stitched into the fabric. But no face was visible – only darkness under the hood with two piercing white eyes.
"You must gain strength. Drink this elixir, and your wounds shall be healed," the figure exclaimed. Without another word, the figure tossed a vial filled with a mysterious green potion towards him. It was warm to touch in contrast to the freezing cold he had endured. He hesitated as he was unsure whether he could trust a stranger who had appeared so mysteriously. Before he could ask anything, the figure disappeared.
As he stared at his severed shoulder and felt the unrelenting sting of his injuries, he knew he had no other choice. Gritting his teeth, Elias lifted the vial to his lips and drank. It burned like fire as it slid down his throat, filling him with a mixture of bitterness and warmth. His vision blurred and dizziness overtook him as he fell unconscious. The last thought in his mind was a bitter murmur: "I knew it… I shouldn't have…"
In the depths of unconsciousness, fragmented images flickered through Elias' mind. He found himself standing in the midst of a vast, desolate ocean of blood. Shadows stretched across the whole area beneath a storm-ridden sky. Elias' graze dropped to his hand and he saw them gripping the hilt of a sword stuck into something deep in the ocean. As he pulled the sword out, the body a girl with a pale face and half-closed eyes came out along with it. She looked familiar. A flicker of memory stirred, but as he reached for it, it eluded him, like a locked door he couldn't open.
The girl's lips moved, forming words meant just for him, but couldn't hear, drowned out by a dull, oppressive silence. Her gaze lingered on him for one last moment, before her expression tuned cold and unrecognizable. With a sudden grip, she seized him by the neck and pulled him down into the blood-red depths. Elias choked as the crimson waves closed over him – until he awoke, gasping for air and his heart pounding in his chest.
"What… was that?" he whispered to himself. Was it a memory? A vision? Shaken, Elias clutched his head and moved his arm instinctively before realizing that his hand was there – whole and unblemished. He froze in awe. He felt no pain from the wounds that had nearly claimed his life. He sat up, checking his body in disbelief.
Just as he was trying to make sense of what had happened, the System flared to life before him, filling the dim cave with its light.
[ System upgraded to Level 2!
New capability unlocked: Celestial Sigils
"It is recommended that you venture out to strengthen your newly unlocked capability. Combat and exploration will allow you to grow in power." ]
Elias clenched his fists. He remembered the mysterious figure's words – the way it had called him "pitiful" and the way his memories seemed tangled. His mind was swirling with unanswered questions.
"System", he asked quietly, "Why am I here? And why do I only remember fragments of my life?" The System's response was cold and cryptic:
[ The truth lies above. Ascend, and perhaps, you will understand… eventually. ]
Frustrated, he asked "What was that dream? Why can't I remember anything?"
After a pause, the System's voice returned.
[ Your memories are tied to this place. As you rise, so shall the answers… if you are worthy. ]
The response filled him with a hollow sense of dread. He remembered the way the Gatekeeper had looked at him – like he had been here before.
Gritting his teeth, Elias asked: "How do I get back to Earth?"
The System's answer echoed through the cave:
[ The way forward lies upward. Ascend through the trials of Hell, and you may earn your freedom. ]
"And what are these Sigils? Potion… I don't understand!?"
[ Sigils embody celestial power, forged through your personal growth and perseverance. Their true nature is revealed through trial and hardship. As you face challenges, new sigils will awaken, granting you strength and guiding you on your path. The potion bestowed upon you the Sigil of Vitality, aiding in your recovery. However, since this Sigil was forcefully integrated into your body, it has a high risk of corruption, which can potentially cause a loss of your identity and memories. ]
Elias' eyes narrowed in frustration. "What the hell is happening to me? How do I stop this?" he asked, but the System remained eerily silent. He pressed on, "And… what of the mysterious figure?" Still, there was no answer. The System's response came, but it was not what he expected.
[ Remember, only through conquest and ascension will your memories and the answers to your questions be revealed. ]
The System, now closed off to his inquiries, left Elias with no choice but to act. With a weary resolve, Elias made a decision. If the answers he sought were buried in this forsaken land, then he would uncover them. Coming out of the cave, his gaze swept over the desolate landscape stretching endlessly before him. Whatever lay hidden in the depths of the hellish wasteland, Elias was determined to face it. He would explore its darkest corners, endure its trials, and survive – whatever it took.