The air around them seemed to get heavier with each passing second. The ragged figure before them trembled like a leaf in the wind, his words resounding like an echo of despair and madness. The fallen priest looked like a living portrait of eternal suffering in this circle of heresy, a grim testimony of what awaited those who dared to defy the gods.
Adamanthi, with a resolute, cold gaze, stepped forward after the priest's scream had dissipated into thin air. His eyes flashed with a decision that he seemed to have made the moment the priest appeared. The sound of Adamanthi's snapping fingers was like thunder in the deadly silence that reigned around them.
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Suddenly, a black wooden coffin fell from the sky like a guillotine, opening with a dry snap as it hit the ground. The priest let out a shrill scream, his eyes wide with terror as the coffin closed around him with a macabre sound. Before anyone could react, the ground beneath the priest's feet opened up, swallowing the coffin into a deep pit, sealing it with an invisible force.
Adamanthi sighed and started walking again. "Follow me, let's get out of here."
Kaizen and the others took one last look at the place where the coffin had disappeared. A shadow of doubt crossed their eyes, but they knew there was no time to question the decisions they had made.
Andrew closed his eyes for a moment, muttering a silent prayer to the priest's spirit, while Bloody Lily remained silent, observing the scene with an expression of disdain.
The other members of the group, following Adamanthi's command, began to move, their footsteps echoing in the desolate landscape.
They advanced along a winding path, surrounded by rocky hills and dead trees. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to devour any trace of light.
The sound of crows croaking echoed in the distance, a constant reminder that they were in a place where hope was an illusion.
As they walked, Kaizen couldn't help but get lost in thought. The priest's words echoed in his mind, a cry of despair that seemed to find resonance somewhere deep in his soul. He knew that the world of Rise Online was full of injustice, and that the gods they worshipped were often indifferent to the pleas of mortals. However, the idea of killing gods was a concept that went beyond all rationality.
"Kaizen," Alina's soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "Are you all right?"
The scenery around them gradually began to change. The rocky hills gave way to a flatter terrain, but just as covered in gravestones. Dead trees, their forms twisted and lifeless, dotted the landscape like sentinels of a forgotten kingdom. The air was impregnated with the smell of rot.
"We're almost there," said Adamanthi, looking around with watchful eyes. "Stay alert."
They continued forward, the silence oppressive. The tension in the group was palpable, each of them aware of the imminent danger. Finally, they reached a vast plain. On the horizon, they could see dark and gloomy stone structures, fortifications that seemed straight out of a nightmare. In the center of this hellish landscape, a black tower stood, imposing and threatening.
"There it is," said Adamanthi, pointing at the tower. "The entrance to the next circle. This time, it's not a door, but a staircase, a descent."
With no time to hesitate, they made their way to the tower and entered. The place was simple, with just one chamber and a staircase that went down as well as up.
"Let's go..." Adamanthi started down the staircase.
Jayaa looked up the steps and asked:
"What would happen if we chose to go up instead of down?"
This time, it wasn't Adamanthi who answered, but Og'tharoz. "It's a trap. The spirits think that by going up the stairs they will get somewhere, but the stairs up are infinite and so the souls are trapped in a cycle. If they decide to go down, as the next circle is one of violence, this is what they will find."
"That means we too will encounter violence." Xisrith said.
"Exactly, and the worst thing is that, in order not to be condemned, you won't be able to fight back with violence."
"What?!" Most people in the group asked.