The desert stretched endlessly before them, its harsh winds swirling the sand into waves that made it difficult to navigate. Despite the overwhelming heat and the strange, lingering sense of unease, Eryx's focus was sharp. His encounter with the figure, the trial that felt more like a warning, weighed heavily on him. There were answers out there—he could feel it—and they were buried in this vast desert.
Rona and Bastian exchanged glances as they followed behind him. Rona, usually quick to speak, was uncharacteristically silent, her eyes scanning the horizon. Bastian, too, seemed lost in thought, occasionally muttering under his breath as if to ground himself after the strange, disorienting experience.
"Are we sure this is the right way?" Bastian asked after a few moments of quiet. His voice was more cautious now, as if he, too, felt the weight of the desert pressing on them.
Eryx glanced back at him, his expression calm. "We don't have much choice. The trial didn't give us any directions. We need to keep moving forward." His gaze flickered briefly to the sky—no clouds, just the relentless sun glaring down at them. It felt almost oppressive now, like the desert was watching them.
Rona nodded, though her skepticism was evident. "We're supposed to find the artifact, but how do we even know what it looks like? Or if it's even real?"
Eryx's mind turned over the puzzle in his head. The sphere they had found, the one that had taken them to that strange realm, was a clue—he was sure of it. But the desert? It was an endless expanse, no markers, no signs. How could something so vital be hidden in this vast emptiness?
He paused for a moment, his gaze fixing on something ahead. A faint shimmer caught his eye, like heat rising from the sand, but it wasn't a mirage. He could sense it—magic. A pull, faint but undeniable, tugged at his senses.
"Look," Eryx said, pointing toward a cluster of rocks on the horizon. "There's something there."
Without waiting for a response, he started walking again, more determined this time. His senses were heightened, the earlier uncertainty replaced with a burning curiosity. Rona and Bastian quickly followed, their footsteps now in sync with his.
The closer they got, the more distinct the magic became. It was as if the land itself was resonating with an energy that only they could feel. Eryx's pulse quickened. Whatever was ahead, it was no coincidence.
As they reached the rocky outcrop, Eryx's eyes scanned the area, looking for any sign of what they had come for. The rocks were jagged, almost unnatural in their arrangement, as if they had been placed with purpose rather than formed by the natural erosion of time. A deep crack ran through the center of the formation, and from within, a faint light emanated, soft but constant.
"Is that…" Rona's voice trailed off as she stepped forward, a mix of awe and disbelief on her face.
Eryx nodded slowly. "It's the artifact."
He approached the crack cautiously, his hands steady as he reached out to touch the rock. The moment his fingers made contact, the ground beneath them trembled, the rocks shifting and groaning as though alive. The light within the crack flared brightly, and the air around them hummed with an intense energy.
"Eryx, what's happening?" Bastian's voice was thick with anxiety, but Eryx was focused. He couldn't back away now—not when they were so close.
He pressed his palm flat against the crack, concentrating. The magic here was different—more primal, more ancient than anything he had ever encountered. It was wild, untamed, and yet, there was a rhythm to it, something he could almost grasp if he focused hard enough.
The rocks shifted once more, and with a loud crack, the gap widened. A blinding light poured from within, forcing Eryx to shield his eyes. When the light finally dimmed, he blinked and looked into the now-exposed cavity within the rocks.
Inside, nestled among the dark stones, lay a large, crystalline object, glowing with an inner fire. It was clear but pulsing with a deep, blood-red hue, and there were intricate patterns etched into its surface—similar to the runes on the sphere. Eryx could feel its power radiating from it, almost suffocating in its intensity.
"It's beautiful," Rona whispered, stepping forward as if drawn to it. Her hand hovered just above the crystal, but she hesitated, as if sensing the danger.
Bastian, standing at Eryx's side, shook his head. "No. It's too dangerous."
But Eryx was already moving closer, his hand outstretched. He could feel it now—the pull of the artifact, like a magnet drawing him in. Despite Bastian's warning, he knew that there was no turning back.
Just as his fingers brushed the surface of the crystal, the ground trembled again, more violently this time. A low, guttural growl rumbled from beneath their feet, shaking the rocks around them. Eryx pulled his hand back instinctively, but it was too late.
From deep beneath the earth, something began to emerge. A dark shadow, large and formless, slithered its way through the sand, its presence suffocating, like the weight of an ancient, slumbering beast awakening.
Eryx's heart skipped a beat. They were not alone.
The shadow coalesced into a massive figure, its body composed of swirling dark energy and sand. Its eyes—glowing like molten lava—fixed on Eryx with a malevolent intensity.
"Who dares disturb my slumber?" the voice echoed, a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated the very air. The creature's form was monstrous, half-hidden by the shifting sands, but its sheer presence was undeniable. It radiated power—power far beyond anything Eryx had ever faced.
"This is my domain," it continued, its voice growing louder, more demanding. "You are unworthy to claim what you seek."
Eryx took a step back, his mind racing. The artifact—it had triggered something. This creature, whatever it was, had been guarding it. And now, they were caught in its fury.
Without thinking, Eryx drew on his magic, but as before, nothing responded. The desert had drained him of his power. He was powerless.
But he wouldn't give up. Not yet. He glanced at Rona and Bastian. They were just as frightened, but they were also determined.
"We need to fight back," Eryx said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "Do you have anything left?"
Rona's eyes were wide, but she nodded, her fingers already tracing symbols in the air, summoning what little magic she could muster. Bastian, his sword now drawn, looked ready to charge.
But it was clear to Eryx—this would not be a battle won by magic alone. This would require more than just power. It would require cunning, strategy, and unity.
Together, they would have to defeat this ancient guardian—if they stood any chance of claiming the artifact and surviving this trial.