The cold air seeped into their bones as they stepped into the Temple of Taryon. The massive stone doors closed behind them with a resounding thud, leaving the trio in near-total darkness. Eren's fragment glowed faintly at his side, casting eerie shadows across the walls, which were covered in ancient carvings. The air was heavy with the weight of something old—something alive.
"This place gives me the creeps," Kael muttered, his greatsword resting on his shoulder as his eyes darted around.
"Stay alert," Liora said, her bow at the ready. Her voice was calm, but her eyes betrayed her unease.
Eren stepped forward, his sword illuminating more of the chamber. The carvings depicted scenes of battle, chaos, and destruction—figures wielding fragments, their faces twisted with power. At the far end of the room, a massive door stood, covered in glowing runes that pulsed faintly.
"That must lead to the fragment," Eren said, his voice echoing in the chamber.
Liora approached the carvings, running her fingers over the ancient symbols. "These runes are a warning," she said. "It says, 'To take the crown is to take the curse. Only the unbroken shall pass.'"
"Unbroken?" Kael snorted. "What does that even mean?"
"Probably some kind of trial," Eren said, already moving toward the door.
Kael groaned. "Great. More tests. Because the last ones were so much fun."
---
The Chamber of Shadows
The door opened with a low rumble, revealing a staircase that spiraled downward into darkness. The hum of the fragment grew stronger, a low vibration that seemed to reverberate in their very bones. They descended in silence, their footsteps echoing in the confined space.
At the bottom, they entered a circular chamber with a raised platform in the center. Floating above it was the fragment, its crimson glow bathing the room in a sinister light. But the moment they stepped inside, the temperature dropped further, and the shadows around them began to shift.
"We're not alone," Liora said, her bow drawn.
From the shadows emerged figures, humanoid but twisted, their forms flickering like dying flames. They moved unnaturally, their glowing eyes fixed on the group.
"Guardians," Eren muttered, raising his sword.
The creatures attacked without warning, their movements fast and erratic. Eren met the first with a swift strike, his blade glowing brightly as it clashed against shadowy claws. Liora fired arrows with deadly precision, each shot dispelling a creature in a burst of light. Kael swung his greatsword in wide arcs, cutting down multiple attackers with each strike.
Despite their efforts, the shadows kept coming, reforming as quickly as they were destroyed.
"They're endless!" Kael shouted, his voice strained.
"There has to be a way to stop them!" Liora yelled, her back against Eren's.
Eren's gaze shifted to the fragment. The pulsing light seemed to intensify, as if it was watching, waiting. His grip tightened on his sword. "The fragment—it's controlling them! We need to reach it!"
Kael grimaced. "Easier said than done!"
---
The Trial of the Unbroken
Eren charged toward the platform, cutting through the shadows with a burst of light from his sword. The moment he stepped onto the platform, the shadows froze, their forms dissolving into mist. The room fell silent, save for the hum of the fragment.
But before Eren could grab it, the chamber shifted. The walls seemed to melt away, replaced by a vast void. Eren found himself alone, the fragment floating in front of him. A voice echoed in the emptiness, deep and resonant.
"Why do you seek me, bearer of the unformed crown?"
Eren hesitated, his hand hovering near the fragment. "To stop Malrik. To protect this world."
The voice laughed, a sound that sent shivers down Eren's spine. "Noble words. But are they true? Or do you seek power for yourself?"
"I don't want power!" Eren snapped. "I just want to stop him."
"Then prove it," the voice said. "Show me that you are unbroken."
Suddenly, the void shifted, and Eren was surrounded by images—visions of his past. His village, burning. His family, taken from him. The faces of those he had failed to save. The pain was overwhelming, the weight of his failures crushing him.
"You carry the burden of the lost," the voice said. "Will you break under its weight?"
Eren fell to his knees, his sword slipping from his grasp. The whispers of the fragment grew louder, urging him to take its power, to end his suffering. For a moment, he wavered, his resolve faltering.
But then he heard another voice—a faint echo of Liora's words. You're not alone, Eren. You don't have to carry this by yourself.
His eyes snapped open, and he pushed himself to his feet. "I won't break," he said, his voice steady. "Not now. Not ever."
The void shattered, and Eren found himself back in the chamber. The fragment hovered before him, its glow no longer sinister but warm. Carefully, he reached out and took it. The room filled with light, and the shadows disappeared completely.
---
The Cost of Victory
When the light faded, Eren stood holding the fragment. Liora and Kael rushed to his side, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.
"Are you okay?" Liora asked, her hand on his arm.
Eren nodded, though he felt drained. "I passed the trial."
Kael eyed the fragment warily. "Let's hope it was worth it."
Liora looked around the now-empty chamber. "We should leave. Malrik's forces could be on their way."
Eren glanced at the fragment in his hand, its glow pulsating faintly. He couldn't shake the feeling that their victory had come at a price. As they made their way back to the surface, the weight of the fragments—and their mission—felt heavier than ever.