The memory swirls around Li Wei like a vortex, pulling her deeper into the ancient scene. She stands before the ruler, the Orb glowing in his hands, its dark energy pulsing with an unrelenting power. His eyes lock with hers, and in them, she sees a coldness—an ambition that has consumed him entirely. He is no longer the ruler of a city, no longer the man who once commanded loyalty; he is something far more dangerous, something twisted by his desire for power.
Li Wei's breath hitches as the gravity of the moment settles on her. This is not a distant vision; this is her fate, intertwined with his. The ruler is no longer a stranger to her. His heart, his choices, they are written into the curse that has followed her for so long. And as she stands before him, she realizes with horror that she, too, is drawn to the Orb, its call irresistible.
A voice echoes in the chamber, but it's not her own. It's the ruler's, his words cutting through the air like a dagger.
"You understand, don't you?" he asks, his voice smooth and hypnotic. "The power of the Orb is not just mine to wield. It belongs to all who are worthy. And you, my ally, are worthy."
Li Wei recoils. Ally? She doesn't remember ever making an alliance with him. This isn't the ruler she saw in the vision before. This is a different time, a different place—but it feels just as real.
"You've been chosen," the ruler continues, his smile unsettling. "And together, we can reshape the world. But only if you take the Orb from me."
The words vibrate through her chest, and the temptation is almost overwhelming. The Orb hums in her hand, its energy calling to her. She can feel the power coursing through her veins, promising greatness, control—everything she's ever wanted.
For a moment, she hesitates. The temptation is real.
But then, she remembers the prophecy. She remembers the betrayal, the curse that will come, and the destruction that follows.
Li Wei clenches her fists. No. She will not fall prey to the same fate as the ruler. The Orb's power is not a gift; it's a poison. She has seen the price of ambition. She will not be its slave.
"You're wrong," Li Wei says, her voice steady, though her heart pounds in her chest. "The Orb doesn't belong to anyone. It doesn't control us."
The ruler's smile falters, his expression twisting with contempt. "Foolish. You don't understand. You think you can resist? The Orb chooses its master. You can't escape it."
Before she can react, a blast of dark energy erupts from the Orb, throwing her back. Li Wei crashes to the stone floor, pain exploding through her body, but she doesn't have time to recover. The world around her begins to collapse, the vision swirling faster, pulling her deeper into the heart of the curse.
Suddenly, the scene shifts again, and Li Wei finds herself standing in a different place—a vast chamber, dark and oppressive. The walls are lined with ancient symbols, and the air is thick with the scent of decay. In the center of the room, a shadowy figure stands—its face hidden in the darkness.
It's the same figure from the temple—the one who had warned them of the betrayal. But now, it seems different. More present. More real.
Li Wei takes a cautious step forward, her heart heavy with the knowledge that the curse is not just about the past. It is about the choices they make now, in this moment. And in this room, where the boundaries between past and present blur, she is forced to confront her own fears.
"You've come," the figure intones, its voice low and haunting. "But do you understand the consequences of your actions? The prophecy cannot be undone by defiance alone."
"I don't need to defy it," Li Wei says, her voice trembling but firm. "I need to break it."
The figure laughs, a sound filled with an eerie sadness. "Breaking the prophecy is not something you can do with simple willpower. The curse is a part of you now. It flows through your veins. You are bound to it, whether you accept it or not."
Li Wei swallows hard. The figure is right. The curse is part of her. But that doesn't mean she has to give in to it.
"If it's a part of me," Li Wei says, her eyes narrowing, "then I'll learn to control it. I'll choose my own fate."
The figure steps forward, its shadow stretching across the floor like a dark omen. "You think you can control what is beyond you? You cannot. The curse will find a way to break you."
Li Wei takes another step forward, standing tall despite the figure's ominous presence. "I'm not afraid of the curse."
The figure pauses for a moment, and for the first time, there is a flicker of something—something that might be hesitation. "You will be."
Suddenly, the world around Li Wei begins to distort. The walls of the chamber crack, and the shadows pulse, becoming alive with malevolent energy. The Orb appears again, this time hovering in mid-air, surrounded by a dark halo. Its energy seems to rip through the fabric of reality itself, warping everything around her.
"Everything you've seen, everything you've experienced," the figure says, its voice now distant and disembodied, "was to prepare you for this moment. The curse cannot be broken by will alone. You must make the ultimate choice."
Li Wei reaches for the Orb, her hands trembling as she feels its power surge. She can feel the darkness pressing in from all sides, the weight of the prophecy, the pull of the curse, and the uncertainty of what will happen if she chooses wrong.
But she knows one thing for certain: she cannot let the darkness win. She cannot let the cycle of betrayal continue. She has to be the one to end it.
She holds the Orb tightly in her hands, the decision now clear in her heart.