Alden felt the change in the air before he saw it. As he limped through the hidden passage revealed by the shifting obsidian pillar, the electrically charged ambiance of the chamber behind him began to recede, replaced by a cool draft that smelled faintly of moss and wet stone. His breath still came in ragged bursts, and every wound on his body clamored for attention. Yet his mind, sharpened by Adaptive Will, refused to yield to exhaustion.
He had earned this reprieve, or whatever passed for a reprieve in the Maze of Ymir's Labyrinth. The swirling arcs of violet electricity that had once bound him now crackled in gentle pulses around his arms, a sign of the new Arc Surge ability etched into his being. Despite the lingering pain, Alden felt more alive than he ever had before.
The corridor soon opened into a winding tunnel lit by faint patches of luminescent moss clinging to the walls. Their soft green glow contrasted starkly with the swirling violet of Alden's newly awakened power, casting his shadow in strange, flickering shapes across the floor. At intervals, ancient murals were carved into the stone, scenes of towering beasts locked in combat with robed figures, runes spiraling between them like coiled serpents.
He paused at one such mural. A stylized figure stood at the center, arms raised as arcs of lightning encircled it. It reminded him uncomfortably of his own predicament. Whatever ancient secrets this Maze safeguarded, he had barely scratched the surface.
DING!
A new prompt ghosted into view:
Stage Four: Fork of Devotions
Objective: Choose Your Path
Failure Condition: None
Alden's brow furrowed. No failure condition? Every Trial so far had threatened him with dire consequences, death, confinement, rejection. But this stage offered a choice? The pit of his stomach tightened with apprehension. Sometimes, the absence of a clear threat was itself the greatest danger.
He moved on, following the tunnel's gentle slope downward. The air grew cooler, and he sensed moisture dripping from above. Soon, the space widened into a cavern lit by a softly glowing pool at its center. The water seemed to shimmer with an inner luminescence, dancing across the jagged walls in rippling waves of silver light.
On either side of the cavern, two arched gateways stood. One was made of smooth marble, inscribed with gentle, swirling patterns that evoked wind and waves. The other was wrought from dark iron, jagged angles twisting into shapes that hinted at destructive power, a raw, unbridled force. Both gateways stood silent and unmoving.
DING!
More System text appeared:
Fork of Devotions
Path of Aegis — "Harness your power to protect and endure."
Path of Ruin — "Wield your strength to conquer and destroy."
Alden's throat went dry. This was no simple puzzle or forced confrontation. It was a choice that would define how his newfound abilities would continue to evolve. A swirl of conflicting emotions flooded his chest: the memory of illusions feeding on his fears, the sweet rush of triumph after defeating the Guardian, the humbling terror of almost being crushed by the Maze's judgment.
He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling his earliest vow to break the chains that shackled both himself and anyone else who suffered beneath the world's harsh limitations. He wasn't so naive as to believe unyielding kindness alone could stand against the horrors of this Trial, but he also couldn't imagine embracing raw destruction for its own sake.
Stepping closer to the marble archway, he ran his fingertips over the gentle carvings. The swirling lines reminded him of cleansing rains, healing breezes, and the quiet promise that strength could be used to safeguard, not just to conquer. A memory tugged at him, his younger brother's voice, asking for help on a night Alden had been too weak to provide it.