The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy of the forest, casting dappled patterns on the ground. JC, Alice, and Rex stood in a clearing, their marks glowing faintly as Orion paced in front of them, his cloak billowing in the breeze.
"You've unlocked the first branches of your system tree," Orion began, his piercing gray eyes scanning each of them. "But raw power means nothing without control. The marks you bear are not simply gifts—they are also curses, fragments of divine will that can overwhelm you if left unchecked. Your training begins now."
JC crossed his arms, his calm expression unyielding. "What's the first step?"
Orion smirked. "Survival."
He snapped his fingers, and the ground beneath them trembled. The clearing shifted, the trees around them twisting into towering walls of bark and vine. The forest became a labyrinth.
---
A Test of Shadows
"Stick together!" JC called, his voice cutting through the rising chaos. Chains materialized around his wrists, coiling like restless snakes.
Alice summoned her golden blades, her mark of Athena glowing brightly. "Orion didn't say we'd be fighting the forest," she muttered, glancing at Rex.
Rex activated his aura, its golden glow illuminating the twisting paths ahead. "Do you think this is another test like the sentinel?"
"Does it matter?" JC said. "We keep moving."
As they navigated the labyrinth, it became clear that the forest was alive. Roots snaked across the ground, vines lashed out like whips, and shadows darted in and out of their vision.
The first attack came without warning. A beast lunged from the shadows—a massive creature with bark-like skin and glowing red eyes. JC reacted instantly, his chains lashing out and wrapping around the creature's limbs.
"Alice!" he shouted.
She leaped into action, her blades slicing through the beast's bark with precision. Rex followed, his aura flaring as he delivered a devastating punch to its chest, shattering its core.
The beast dissolved into a cloud of black smoke, and the forest seemed to pause for a moment before shifting again.
---
The Curses Unveiled
As they pressed deeper into the labyrinth, the marks on their bodies began to pulse, each one growing warmer. With every battle they fought, their powers grew stronger—but so did the curses' hold on them.
JC's mark of Hades began to manifest in strange ways. Shadows clung to him, whispering in his ears, tempting him with power. His chains felt heavier, as if they carried the weight of the underworld itself.
"You're hesitating," Alice said as they paused to catch their breath after another fight.
"I'm fine," JC replied curtly, his voice as calm as ever. But Alice wasn't convinced. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the slight tremor in his hands.
Alice's own mark of Athena was affecting her differently. Her thoughts were sharper, her reflexes faster, but it came at a cost. She was beginning to hear voices—whispers of strategy and tactics, urging her to sacrifice everything for the greater good. It made her question her every decision, every move.
"Are you okay?" Rex asked, noticing the distant look in her eyes.
"I'm fine," Alice said quickly, forcing a smile. But inside, she felt like she was losing control.
Rex, meanwhile, was grappling with the physical toll of the curse of Hercules. His strength was growing, but so was his temper. He found himself snapping at JC and Alice more often, his patience wearing thin.
"We need to figure out what's happening to us," Rex said after another argument with JC over which path to take.
"We will," JC said, his voice steady. "But first, we finish this labyrinth."
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The System Tree's Guidance
After hours of navigating the labyrinth, they reached a clearing where a glowing tree stood—a smaller version of the one they had seen before.
"This is your first checkpoint," Orion's voice echoed around them, though he was nowhere to be seen. "The tree will reveal new paths in your system. Choose wisely."
JC approached the tree first. As he touched it, his system interface appeared before him, displaying new branches and abilities. He selected Phantom Chains, which allowed his chains to phase through solid objects, and Eternal Grasp, which extended the range of his attacks.
Alice went next, choosing Shield of Wisdom, a defensive ability that created a golden barrier, and Tactical Focus, which enhanced her decision-making under pressure.
Rex hesitated before choosing Titan's Leap, granting him incredible mobility, and Berserker's Fury, which increased his strength but at the risk of losing control.
As they activated their new abilities, the marks on their bodies glowed brighter, their power surging. But with that power came a deeper connection to their curses.
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The Labyrinth's Final Guardian
Just as they finished their upgrades, the ground beneath them shook violently. A massive creature emerged from the shadows—a towering golem made of stone and vines, its glowing eyes fixed on the trio.
"This must be the final test," JC said, stepping forward.
Alice nodded, her blades at the ready. "Let's end this."
Rex grinned despite himself, his aura flaring. "Time to see what these new abilities can do."
The battle was fierce. JC's chains wrapped around the golem's limbs, holding it in place while Alice's blades struck at its weak points. Rex used his newfound mobility to leap onto the creature's back, delivering powerful blows that cracked its stone armor.
But the golem was relentless, its attacks growing more ferocious with each passing moment. JC's calm demeanor began to waver as the whispers from his mark grew louder, urging him to unleash more power.
"JC, focus!" Alice shouted, noticing his hesitation.
He shook his head, forcing the whispers away. With a deep breath, he summoned every ounce of his strength, his chains glowing with dark energy as they tightened around the golem. "Now, Alice!"
Alice charged forward, her blades glowing brighter than ever. She leaped into the air, striking the golem's core with a single, decisive blow. The creature let out a deafening roar before collapsing into a heap of rubble.
---
A New Threat Revealed
As the dust settled, Orion appeared, his expression grim.
"You've passed the first trial," he said. "But this is only the beginning. The marks will continue to test you, to push you to your limits. And you are not the only ones who bear their power."
"What do you mean?" Rex asked, his aura dimming.
"There are others," Orion said. "Marked by gods who oppose your own. They will come for you, and they will not show mercy."
JC exchanged a glance with Alice and Rex, his calm facade hiding the storm brewing within. They had survived the labyrinth, but their journey was far from over.
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