The glowing trail beckoned Vero deeper into the ruin, winding like a river of light through the labyrinthine halls. The walls around him shimmered faintly, their surfaces etched with runes that pulsed softly, as though breathing. Each step he took seemed to echo endlessly, amplifying the oppressive silence that filled the air.
The trail's glow intensified as Vero pressed on, illuminating his path but casting strange shadows on the walls. The air here was different—charged, alive with an energy that made his skin prickle. He could feel the Echo's presence growing stronger, an invisible weight pressing against his chest.
As he rounded a corner, the hallway opened into a vast chamber. The ceiling stretched high above him, lost in shadow, and the floor was a mosaic of glowing tiles that pulsed faintly with light. At the center of the room stood an enormous structure—a monolith of black stone, its surface smooth and unblemished save for a single crack that ran down its center.
The moment Vero stepped into the chamber, the air seemed to shift. The whispers returned, soft and distant at first, but growing louder with each passing second. He froze, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his blade.
"You shouldn't be here."
The voice was low and resonant, reverberating through the chamber. Vero spun around, his eyes darting across the room. A figure emerged from the shadows—a man clad in a long, dark coat, his face obscured by a hood.
Vero's grip on his blade tightened. "Who are you?"
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped closer, his movements deliberate and unhurried. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm but laced with an edge of warning. "A traveler, like you. But unlike you, I understand the cost of wandering too far."
Vero narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
The man gestured toward the monolith. "This place is a nexus, a fracture point where the Echo bleeds into our reality. It's dangerous to linger here—more dangerous to seek what lies beyond."
"I don't have a choice," Vero said, his voice firm. "I need answers."
The man tilted his head, as if studying him. "Answers come at a price. Are you prepared to pay it?"
Vero didn't hesitate. "Yes."
The man was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. But know this: the path you've chosen is not one you can walk lightly. If you wish to proceed, you must prove yourself."
"Prove myself how?" Vero asked.
The man raised a hand, and the chamber seemed to ripple. The monolith began to hum softly, the crack in its surface glowing faintly. Shadows emerged from the edges of the room, coalescing into humanoid forms with jagged, shifting features.
"Face them," the man said simply.
The shadows moved quickly, their forms twisting and contorting as they charged toward Vero. He drew his blade, the weight of it familiar in his hands, and stepped into a defensive stance.
The first shadow lunged, its movements erratic but swift. Vero dodged to the side, his blade slicing through the air. The shadow dissolved on contact, its form dispersing into wisps of smoke.
Another followed, then another. The chamber was a whirlwind of motion as Vero fought to keep up. Each strike of his blade met its mark, but the shadows seemed endless, their numbers multiplying with each one he defeated.
His breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles burning with exertion. The whispers grew louder, blending into a cacophony that threatened to overwhelm him. But Vero refused to falter.
"Focus," he told himself, his grip on his blade tightening. "Stay focused."
The shadows began to change, their forms becoming more distinct. They moved with purpose now, their attacks coordinated. Vero parried a blow, then countered with a swift strike that sent another shadow dissipating into smoke.
As the battle raged on, Vero felt something shift within him. The fragments of memory he carried—the silver-haired woman, the strange city, the Echo itself—seemed to sharpen, their edges becoming clearer.
The last shadow lunged at him, its form flickering. Vero stepped forward, driving his blade through its core. The shadow let out a guttural hiss before dissolving, its remnants fading into the air.
The chamber fell silent. The whispers ceased, leaving only the soft hum of the monolith. Vero stood in the center of the room, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.
"Impressive," the man said, his voice cutting through the silence. "But your journey is far from over."
Vero turned to face him. "What now?"
The man gestured toward the monolith. "The fracture has chosen you. Step forward, and it will reveal what you seek."
Vero hesitated, his gaze shifting to the monolith. The crack in its surface pulsed faintly, the light within it beckoning him.
"You said there's a price," Vero said, his voice steady.
"There is," the man replied. "And it's one only you can decide if you're willing to pay."
Taking a deep breath, Vero sheathed his blade and stepped toward the monolith. The light within the crack grew brighter with each step, until it consumed his vision entirely.
For a moment, there was nothing but light—a blinding, all-encompassing radiance that seemed to pierce through him.
Then, the visions returned