Chapter Two: The Awakening of the Emperor
Griffin's eyelids flickered open. His mind felt hazy, as though he'd just awoken from a deep sleep. But something was wrong—this wasn't the cramped, one-room apartment he'd spent the last few years in.
His hands were cold. The ground beneath him was rough, stone, and unfamiliar. A faint smell of dust and fire lingered in the air. He rose to his knees, dizzy from the disorienting sensation that flooded his senses. Where… am I?
Before he could get a proper grip on his surroundings, a harsh, metallic voice pierced the air.
"Your Majesty, we must move!"
Griffin's head snapped toward the sound. A woman in battle armor stood in front of him, holding a bloodied sword. Her gaze was frantic, desperate. Her face, though marked with exhaustion and fear, was unwavering.
"Your Majesty," she repeated, her voice shaking slightly. "The banquet… it's under attack. We're being hunted."
Griffin felt a rush of confusion. Hunted? What?
"Banquet? Hunted? I—" His words stumbled over each other as his mind scrambled for answers.
But the warrior didn't wait. She grabbed his arm with surprising strength, pulling him upright.
"You've been unconscious for too long. There's no time. We need to leave now."
Before Griffin could say another word, the ground beneath them shook. The air became thick with an almost tangible energy. A low growl rumbled in the distance. It was coming closer.
He barely had time to react. The warrior yanked him into motion, dragging him through narrow, crumbling streets lined with stone walls. Through the haze of confusion, Griffin could see wreckage—splintered wood, overturned carts, and the bodies of warriors sprawled across the ground, many of them unmoving.
"Stay close," the warrior barked, her tone sharp with urgency. "We can't afford to lose you."
Griffin had no choice but to follow, the sound of his feet slapping against the rough stone ground echoing in his ears. But the sight before him—destruction on a scale he couldn't understand—made his heart pound.
Then, he saw them.
A massive beast emerged from the shadows. It was a towering creature, more monstrous than any nightmare Griffin had ever imagined. Its red eyes glowed with malice, its long claws scraping against the stone as it approached. Its body was covered in thick scales, its maw dripping with hunger.
The warrior didn't hesitate. She pushed Griffin toward a nearby building for cover and sprinted toward the beast, her sword raised high.
"Stay back, Your Majesty! We will protect you!"
Griffin barely had time to process her words before the ground shook violently again. The beast, with terrifying speed, charged toward them, its roar filling the air with dread.
Trial Quest: Change Fate of Virenna Dimension
Time Remaining: [100 Days: 3 hrs: 59 sec]
Failure to complete quest will result in death.
Griffin's vision blurred for a moment, the flashing words in his mind like a distant echo. What? What is this?
"Your Majesty, protect yourself!" the warrior shouted, her voice laced with fear. "The beast is too strong for us all to survive!"
She swung her sword at the creature, but it was like striking a mountain—her attack did nothing. The beast retaliated with one swift movement, knocking her to the ground. Griffin's stomach churned as he watched her fall, blood staining the ground beneath her.
"No!" he cried out, his voice breaking.
But the warrior didn't have time to respond. The beast was already on her, its claws slashing through the air, aiming for her vulnerable form.
Griffin stood frozen for a moment, the horrifying reality of the situation sinking in. He couldn't just stand there. He had to do something.
His instincts kicked in. He reached for the sword that appeared by his side, its weight unfamiliar but solid in his grasp. But when he tried to raise it, his muscles refused to cooperate. The sword felt heavy, clumsy in his hands.
The beast, its hunger unsatisfied, turned its attention toward Griffin.
Griffin barely had time to react. The creature lunged at him with a vicious swipe. He raised the sword to block, but the sheer force of the attack knocked him back. He crashed against the stone wall, the breath knocked from his lungs.
As the beast closed in on him, Griffin's mind raced. I'm going to die here…
But then, something inside him clicked. The sword in his hand pulsed with energy, its weight shifting in his grasp. A surge of power flowed through him, and with a deep breath, he swung the blade with all his strength.
The beast staggered back, caught off guard by the force of the blow. It screeched in pain, its monstrous form retreating for a moment. But it wasn't defeated—not yet.
Griffin barely had time to catch his breath before the creature roared and charged again.
Trial Quest:
Change Fate of Virenna Dimension
Time Remaining: [99 Days: 23 hrs: 59 min]
Failure to complete quest will result in death.
The words flashed in his mind, clear and urgent. Failure was not an option. The sword in his hand thrummed with energy, and his body, still aching, moved on instinct.
He wasn't just some powerless bystander anymore. He was the Emperor Candidate. And his survival—his success in this trial—was his responsibility.
The beast roared again, and this time, Griffin was ready.