Chapter 33:The crossroads of the marked
The shifting terrain of the infinite veil coalesced where four distinct paths stretched into the unknown. Each path radiated a unique, foreboding energy, but it was the figure's gathered at the center that caught Leon's attention.
Other marked one's .
Each individual stood scattered , each radiating an aura of power and wariness. Their appearance was varied as the mark they bore. A tall man clad in silver armor leaned on a massive spear, his sharp blue eye's scanning the area. A hooded woman with daggers at her hips crouched low, her gaze darting between the paths.
To Leon's right, a younger boy with fiery red hairs stood nervously crutching a glowing staff, while a woman dressed in robes adorned with mystical symbol's floated a few inches above the ground, her eye's closed in concentration.
The last figure stood apart from the rest -a towering man with a scar running down his face. His arms was crossed, and his presence alone exuded danger.
Leon approached cautiously, his his hand brushing the hilt of his weapon . "So, I guess we are all in this hellhole together ."
The armored man was the first to respond, his voice deep but calm. "For now. But don't mistake this for camaraderie. The veil doesn't reward kindness.
Leon smirked. " Good to know. What do we know about this paths ?"
The hooded woman spoke up, her voice sharp and to the point. " Each road leads to trail. The system called them the four roads of Ascension. We can pick whichever one we want, but only one path leads to the Core of Eternity . The others ..."
She trailed off, and the boy with the staff finished her sentence, his voice trembling . "The other's are death traps."
Leon's gaze swept over the group. He could already see the cracks forming between them- fear, distrust, and the faintest glimmers of hope. "What's stopping us from working together?"
The scared man finally spoke, his tone icy and lased with disdain. "Naive, you think teamwork can save you here. This isn't a playground, only the strongest survive.
Leon's jaw tightened. " I wasn't talking about holding hand's, I was talking about strategy.
The floating woman Opened her eyes, her voice soft but firm. "Enough. We don't have time for this, the longer we stand here, the closer we are to death.
The group hesitated but eventually began moving, each taking cautious steps towards the first road. As they walked , the path jagged expanse of obsidian cliffs , the air growing colder with every step.
It didn't take long for the first beast to appear.
A massive four - legged creature with razor - sharp claws and a mouth filled with jagged teeth leapt from the shadows. It's eyes burned with a primal rage , and it's roars sent chills down Leon's spine.
The beast didn't wait, it lunged at the fiery - haired boy, it's claw's tearing into his chest before anyone could react . Blood sprayed across the ground as the boy's screams echoed into silence.
"Focus!" The armored man shouted , raising his spear, he charged the creature. His weapon glowing with energy as he struck .
The battle was chaotic, brutal and unforgiving , the beast's strength was overwhelming but the marked one's fought with everything they had .
When the creature fell, it's body dissolving into fragments , the group was left standing , in stunned silence. The boys body was gone , but the memory of the death lingered.
Leon whipped blood from his face, his hand trembling . " This is just the beginning , isn't it ?"
The hooded woman nodded, her expression grim. " Welcome to the veil."
The second road was worse.
The bests were no longer mindless - they were cunning , calculating . They attacked from the shadows, aiming for vital points with chilling precision.
One by one , the marked one's began to fall. The floating woman was the next to be unalived, her body torn apart by a creature that moved faster than the eye could see. The scared man used her death as a distraction , sticking the beast down with ruthless efficiency.
Leon watched in horror as the survivors grew more desperate , Their tactics becoming more brutal. The armored man sacrificed his arm to land a killing blow , while the hooded used the bodies of the dead as shields .
Leon himself was immune to the shift , he found himself using the other's as bait's , luring the beast's into trap and sticking when their guard was down . Each kill came with a sickening sense of triumph - and a growing numbness to the carnage around him.
By the time they reached the third road, only three remained: Leon, the scarred man and the hooded lady.
The third path was a nightmare, the beast here was intelligent. Their eye's gleaming with malice as they toyed with their prey. They spoke in guttural voices , taunting the marked one's and exploring their weakness.
Leon's resolve hardened as he fought , his mind racing with strategies. He learned to predict the creatures' movements , to exploit their over confidence.
But the cost was high the scarred man was impaled by a creature that laughed as he crushed his skull. The hooded lady met her end in a trap , her screams echoing long after her body was gone.
Leon stood alone at the end of the third road, his body battered and his mind reeling.
The system's voice echoed softly.
"You have reached the final gate , leon. The Core of Eternity awaits . But know this: you are no longer who you were. You have shed your humanity to survive. Whether that makes you stronger or weaker is for you to decide."
Leon clenched his fist's, his eyes burning with a cold, determined light . "I will decide once am out of here."
Ahead, the final gate loomed a - a door way to the unknown , and the culmination of everything he had endured.