The glowing grass beneath Chen's fingers felt oddly soothing, a stark contrast to the battles and mental assaults he'd endured in the abyss. Fenrir lay beside him, tongue lolling out lazily, as though the wolf hadn't just helped him conquer his darker self.
Chen glanced up at the sky, the stars above sparkling in constellations he didn't recognize. A faint breeze rustled the grass, carrying a sense of calm that was almost unnerving.
"Well," Chen muttered, "if this is some kind of weird celestial vacation, I'll take it. What's the catch?"
Fenrir's ear twitched, the wolf letting out a low growl that seemed to say, Don't tempt fate.
Chen rose to his feet, brushing off the soft blades of grass from his armor. The field stretched endlessly, the horizon blurring into a hazy glow. In the distance, a faint flicker of light caught his eye—like a candle's flame struggling against the wind.
"Guess we're not staying here forever," he said, patting Fenrir. "Come on, buddy. Let's see what fresh nightmare this world has cooked up for us."
The wolf let out a resigned huff, standing and stretching before following Chen toward the distant light.
---
The walk was deceptively long, the terrain shifting subtly with every step. The grass grew taller, the air thicker, and the faint glow ahead wavered like a mirage.
"What are the odds this is some elaborate trap?" Chen asked, his voice light but his grip tightening on his Growth Sword.
Fenrir didn't respond, its focus locked on the light ahead.
As they drew closer, the glow resolved into a figure sitting cross-legged in the grass. It was an old man, his back bent and his hands clasped around a lantern that emitted a soft, golden light. His hair was a wild mane of silver, and his robes were tattered but somehow pristine, like they belonged to someone who had wandered through countless ages.
Chen stopped a few feet away, Fenrir bristling at his side.
"Hello?" Chen called cautiously.
The man looked up, his face weathered but his eyes sharp and clear. A smile tugged at his lips, revealing surprisingly white teeth.
"Ah, a traveler," the man said, his voice warm but carrying an undertone of something ancient. "And a companion, no less." He nodded toward Fenrir. "A fine guardian you have there."
Chen glanced at Fenrir, who seemed unimpressed by the compliment.
"I've been called a lot of things, but 'traveler' is a new one," Chen said. "Who are you, and what is this place?"
The man chuckled, the sound rich and full of life. "You stand on the Threshold of Renewal, young one. A place between endings and beginnings."
Chen frowned. "Sounds vague. Care to elaborate?"
The man's smile widened. "You have passed a great trial, faced the shadows of your soul. Few make it this far. Fewer still survive what comes next."
"Great," Chen said dryly. "More cryptic warnings. Just once, I'd like someone to hand me a map and a straightforward set of instructions."
The old man laughed, the sound echoing oddly in the still air. "Where would the fun be in that?"
Chen sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, fine. What's next? Another fight? A riddle? A test of character?"
The man's expression grew serious, the lantern's light dimming slightly. "What comes next is entirely up to you. But first, you must decide what you seek."
Chen blinked. "What I seek? Isn't it obvious? Strength. Survival. The power to keep moving forward."
The man tilted his head, his gaze piercing. "And what will you sacrifice to achieve that?"
The question hung in the air like a challenge, and for a moment, Chen couldn't find an answer.
"I've already lost a lot," he said finally. "More than I ever thought I could handle. But I can't stop now. If sacrifice is the price of progress, then so be it."
The old man studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "A fair answer. But remember this, young one: the greatest sacrifices are not always the ones we choose to make. They are the ones demanded of us."
Before Chen could respond, the lantern's light flared, engulfing the old man in a blaze of golden fire. When the light faded, the man was gone, leaving the lantern hovering in the air.
Fenrir barked softly, its ears flattening as the lantern floated toward Chen.
"Yeah, this is definitely a trap," Chen muttered, but he reached out anyway.
The moment his fingers touched the lantern, a surge of energy shot through him, searing and exhilarating all at once. His Growth Sword pulsed in response, its blade glowing faintly as if feeding off the lantern's power.
---
[New Ability Awakened: Infernal Lantern]
Harness the light of the abyss to illuminate or obliterate. Burn away shadows, or blind your enemies with unrelenting brilliance.
---
Chen staggered, his breath coming in ragged gasps as the lantern dissolved into a golden mist, sinking into his chest.
Fenrir barked again, this time sharper, and Chen turned to see the field dissolving around them. The grass faded into darkness, the stars above winking out one by one.
"Of course," Chen muttered. "Why would the nice field stick around?"
The ground gave way beneath him, and he fell, Fenrir leaping after him into the endless void.
---
Chen landed hard on a cold, metallic surface, the impact jarring but manageable. He groaned, pushing himself to his feet and taking in his new surroundings.
They were in a cavernous chamber, the walls lined with jagged, glowing crystals that pulsed with a deep red light. The air was thick with the tang of iron, and a low, rhythmic thrum reverberated through the space.
Fenrir landed gracefully beside him, shaking itself off before looking around warily.
"Another trial?" Chen guessed aloud.
The ground trembled beneath them, and a voice boomed from the shadows.
"WELCOME, BEARER OF THE LANTERN. SHOW ME THE FLAME OF YOUR WILL."
Chen sighed, raising his sword. "Here we go again."