Chapter 18: Darkness Inside the Temple
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Entering the Hidden Temple
The massive temple door opened with a rumble that shook the ground. A damp, dusty scent filled the air, like a place long abandoned. Kano led the group inside, followed by Reina, Lyra, and Dorian. The light from Kano's Rune illuminated the dark corridor ahead.
"This place feels strange," Lyra whispered, squinting as she tried to make sense of the carvings decorating the temple walls. "These symbols aren't just ancient. There's a trace of Voidus's energy here."
Dorian glanced nervously around. "I hope there aren't any more guardians inside. That battle outside almost broke my arm."
Reina touched one of the carvings. "Look at this," she said, drawing their attention. "It looks like a map of the temple. The fragment we're looking for might be in the main chamber."
Lyra inspected the symbols more carefully. "The main chamber... but we'll have to pass through three layers of protection first. This isn't just an ordinary temple. It's like a labyrinth."
Kano nodded slowly. "Whatever the obstacles, we must get through. The power of this Rune cannot fall into Voidus's hands."
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First Layer: Shadow Traces
Their steps led them to a large hall filled with tall mirrors at every corner. The walls were made of black stone, reflecting the faint light from Kano's Rune. Suddenly, a faint sound filled the air, like the whispers of thousands of people surrounding them.
"These mirrors… they're not just decoration," Lyra said. "Be careful, this might be a trap."
Dorian stepped closer to one of the mirrors, but before he could touch it, a dark shadow emerged from within. The shadow took the shape of him—except with red eyes and an expression full of hatred.
"Hey, what is this?" Dorian shouted, backing away.
Soon, shadows resembling each of them appeared from every mirror. The figures immediately attacked without warning.
Kano drew his sword, facing the shadow of himself. "They're mimicking us, including our powers!" he yelled.
Reina shot an arrow at her shadow, but the figure easily caught it and counterattacked with the same shot. "They know every move we make!"
Lyra began chanting a spell, creating a magic circle beneath their feet. "We need to work together. Fight the shadows in a way they wouldn't expect!"
Kano shifted his focus. Instead of attacking with his sword, he used the Rune on his body to create a wave of energy that shattered the surrounding mirrors. The shadows weakened and then vanished along with the mirrors.
"Attack the mirrors, not the shadows!" Kano shouted.
With that strategy, they successfully destroyed all the mirrors, restoring silence to the hall.
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Second Layer: Illusion Traps
The next corridor was filled with a thin mist that obscured their vision. The air felt heavy, making their breaths shallow. Suddenly, the corridor shifted. They were no longer together, but separated into different rooms.
Kano found himself back in his old world—the modern world he left behind when he died. He stood in the middle of a large city with tall buildings and fast-moving vehicles. But something felt wrong. The city was empty, and the echoing sound of footsteps came from behind him.
"Kano…" a voice he recognized called out. He turned around to see someone he had missed for so long—his mother.
"Mom?" His voice trembled, but he quickly realized this wasn't real. "This is an illusion."
His mother's figure began to change, her face fading into a terrifying shadow that lunged at him. He quickly used the Rune's power to destroy the illusion, bringing himself back to the real corridor.
Meanwhile, Reina, Lyra, and Dorian faced their own illusions. With strong determination, they each overcame the trap one by one, finally reuniting at the end of the corridor.
"These traps are trying to exploit our weaknesses," Lyra said, catching her breath. "But we've overcome them."
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Third Layer: The Guardian of Time
At the end of the corridor, they arrived in a chamber with a massive floating hourglass in the center. The sand inside moved up and down, creating a disorienting effect.
Suddenly, from within the hourglass, a humanoid figure made entirely of sparkling sand emerged. A deep voice echoed through the room.
"Anyone who wishes to go further must prove themselves. Time is your test."
The guardian raised its hand, and time around them slowed. Every movement felt like it was happening underwater. Even Kano's Rune seemed to react more sluggishly.
"How do we fight this?" Dorian tried to speak, but his voice was slow and distorted.
Lyra focused her mind, trying to counter the time-altering effect. She realized something. "Use the Rune to speed up the flow of time around us!" she shouted at Kano.
Kano concentrated the Rune's energy, creating a blue aura that counteracted the time slow-down. Slowly, the group began to move at normal speed, while the time guardian appeared to be confused.
With newfound speed, they attacked the guardian together. Kano swung his sword, Reina fired an arrow, and Dorian shattered the remaining sand making up the guardian's body.
The massive hourglass shattered, and the door to the main chamber opened.
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The Main Chamber
They entered the main chamber, which was vast and adorned with tall pillars and ancient carvings glowing with blue light. In the center of the room stood an altar, and on it rested the second Rune fragment—a soft glowing pink crystal.
Kano stepped forward, but his steps faltered. "There's something here," he said cautiously.
From the shadows between the pillars, a figure cloaked in black emerged. Its face was concealed, but its glowing red eyes revealed it as a follower of Voidus.
"You are indeed strong," the figure said coldly. "But this Rune is not for you."
Before Kano could respond, the figure raised its hand, releasing a wave of dark energy that destroyed part of the room.
The real battle was only just beginning.