Ethan's chest heaved as he staggered backward, his eyes never leaving the altar that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. The symbols on its surface glowed faintly, their edges shifting and warping as if mocking his confusion. He had no idea what was happening or how he had gotten here, but one thing was certain: nothing in his life had ever felt more real.
The chill of the air wrapped around him, biting at his skin, and the silence was suffocating. For a long moment, Ethan stood motionless, as though the world itself had frozen in time. The only sound was the steady beat of his heart, pounding in his ears.
His mind raced. This can't be happening. It's just a dream. A hallucination. He tried to pinch himself, but his fingers met only the cold air. The mist that surrounded him had an almost tangible presence, swirling around his feet like it had a mind of its own. The statues loomed over him, towering figures that felt like sentinels of some ancient world.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to step closer to the altar, his boots crunching on the dry earth. Each step felt heavy, as if something was pushing him forward. The riddle carved into the stone still lingered in his mind, its meaning just out of reach.
"In the hand of Leviathan, the sea shall bow; in the hand of Asmodeus, darkness will rise. Only the one who answers the riddle shall wield their might. Fail, and the world shall fall."
Ethan stared at the riddle, his mind whirling. Leviathan... Asmodeus? The names rang a distant bell, but he couldn't place them. Mythology? Legends? He'd heard them before, but nothing that made sense in the context of... this place.
He reached out cautiously, brushing his fingers against the surface of the altar. The moment he touched it, a strange energy surged through him, like electricity, making his hair stand on end. The symbols flickered, and the riddle rearranged itself before his eyes, now clearer than before:
"To claim the spear of Leviathan, one must summon the depths of the sea. To wield the blade of Asmodeus, one must embrace the shadows of the soul. Choose, and the path shall reveal itself."
The words hung in the air, as if waiting for his response. Ethan's heart pounded in his chest. His thoughts swirled—The sea? Shadows? He had no idea what he was supposed to do, but it was clear that the decision ahead of him wasn't a simple one.
Turning slowly, his eyes landed once more on the two statues. The Leviathan Spear gleamed under the faint moonlight, its massive form almost menacing, while the Blade of Asmodeus exuded a dark, magnetic pull. Ethan couldn't explain it, but something about the blade felt... wrong. It seemed to call to him in a way the spear didn't.
But he wasn't sure if he could trust that feeling. The voice of caution in his head told him to stay away from the blade. Leviathan's spear, with its calm power, seemed like the safer choice. But what if this was a test? What if he was supposed to choose the one that felt wrong?
He swallowed hard, stepping back toward the altar. His eyes flicked to the right, where the silhouette of a narrow path stretched out into the mist. The world around him was so quiet, it was as if the entire realm was holding its breath.
A soft rustling broke the silence. Ethan turned sharply, his heart leaping into his throat. The shadows by the statues shifted, and a figure stepped out, cloaked in darkness. He couldn't make out the features, but the presence was unmistakable.
A voice, low and gravelly, cut through the silence. "Choose wisely, traveler. The weapons you seek are not mere relics—they are keys to powers that can either save or destroy this world. Fail to solve the riddle, and the consequences will be far beyond your understanding."
Ethan's breath caught in his throat. The figure's words sent a chill down his spine, and he realized, perhaps for the first time, that he was no longer in control. This was no dream, no mere fantasy. He had been pulled into something far larger than he could comprehend.
"What... what is this place?" Ethan stammered, still reeling from the appearance of the mysterious figure.
The figure stepped closer, his form still shrouded in darkness. "You stand in the land of the forgotten, a place where worlds converge. The choices you make here will echo across time and space, shaping not only this realm but every reality that touches it."
Ethan's mind struggled to make sense of the words. "I don't understand. I... I was just in my dorm room. How did I end up here? What is all of this?"
The figure gave a small, almost imperceptible laugh. "You are here because you asked. You asked for more. And now, you will face the unknown. The question is, will you be the one to wield the powers of the Leviathan and Asmodeus, or will you be consumed by them?"
Ethan felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him. He had no answers, no clue about the true meaning of the riddle or the significance of the two legendary weapons. But one thing was certain: he had no choice but to keep moving forward.
As the figure disappeared into the mist, Ethan turned back toward the altar. The riddle seemed to echo in his mind, each word a hammer striking his thoughts. The world he had once known was gone, and the only way forward was through the mysteries of this strange and dangerous realm.
He reached for the symbols once more, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead. The path had been laid out, and his journey had only just begun.
Would he be the hero this world needed? Or would he, too, become a forgotten legend?
With one last deep breath, Ethan made his choice. The journey for the Leviathan Spear and the Blade of Asmodeus would begin, and he would not walk it alone.