The ground trembled beneath Jason's feet as the monstrous shadow grew closer. The creature was colossal, its towering form shrouded in a haze of dust and heat. Its many limbs twisted unnaturally, each one tipped with jagged claws that glinted in the sickly orange light. Its eyes—if they could be called that—glowed like molten embers, locked onto Jason with an unrelenting intensity.
Jason's legs threatened to give out, but he forced himself to stand his ground. The glowing symbols on his hands pulsed faster, their warmth spreading through his arms and into his chest. He didn't understand what they were or how they worked, but a strange sense of power was building inside him.
The voice echoed in his mind once more, calm yet commanding: "Focus. The marks will guide you. Trust them, or perish."
Jason clenched his fists, the energy within him crackling like static. "Guide me how?" he muttered, panic creeping into his voice.
The creature roared, a deafening sound that sent shockwaves through the air. Jason barely had time to react as it lunged, one of its massive claws slamming into the ground where he had been standing moments before.
He rolled to the side, adrenaline taking over. The heat radiating from the creature was suffocating, and the ground beneath its limbs sizzled and cracked.
"Focus!" the voice repeated, sharper this time.
Jason's breathing was ragged as he dodged another swipe. The glowing lines on his hands began to shift, forming new patterns that seemed to burn into his skin. A sudden surge of clarity washed over him, and instinctively, he raised his hands toward the creature.
The symbols flared, and a burst of energy shot forward, a blinding arc of light that struck the creature square in the chest. It howled in pain, staggering back as smoke rose from the impact.
Jason stared at his hands in disbelief. "Did I just... do that?"
The creature recovered quickly, its molten eyes burning brighter with rage. It charged again, faster this time, its limbs striking out with terrifying precision. Jason scrambled to evade, the energy in his hands flickering erratically.
I don't know how to control this! he thought, panic surging.
The voice returned, softer now but unwavering: "It is not control you need. It is trust. Stop fighting the marks—let them flow."
Jason gritted his teeth, frustration boiling over. "Easier said than done!" he shouted, narrowly avoiding a swipe that left a jagged trench in the ground.
The creature loomed over him, its massive frame blocking out the sky. Jason's instincts screamed at him to flee, but something inside him pushed back—an unfamiliar resolve. He planted his feet, raised his glowing hands, and let go of his fear.
The energy surged again, stronger this time. A swirling vortex of light formed between his palms, growing brighter and hotter with each passing second. The creature hesitated, its molten eyes narrowing as it sensed the shift.
Jason unleashed the blast with a primal roar. The vortex erupted, engulfing the creature in a searing wave of light and heat. Its howls filled the air, and the ground shook violently as it collapsed.
When the dust settled, Jason stood amidst the wreckage, his chest heaving and his hands still glowing faintly. The creature's massive form lay crumpled, its molten eyes dim and lifeless.
Jason staggered, his body trembling from exhaustion. The voice echoed once more, its tone almost approving: "You have passed the first trial. But this is only the beginning."
Jason collapsed to his knees, the weight of the ordeal crashing down on him. The marks on his hands faded slightly, their glow dimming but not disappearing. He stared at the creature's remains, the reality of his situation sinking in.
What have I gotten myself into?