Rubble lay scattered around Aiden and Elora, the remnants of the shattered statues forming jagged piles of stone at their feet. Dust hung in the air, slowly settling as they both caught their breath, the aftermath of the battle still fresh. Chunks of stone crumbled as Elora brushed them aside, while Aiden stood amidst the wreckage, his hands still gripping his sword.
"You guys actually pulled it off," Jett said with a smirk, his footsteps now echoing across the room as he was finally able to approach them.
Elora shot him a sharp look. "You really shouldn't look down on us."
"I guess I was worried for nothing," Jett chuckled, though his mind raced with a silent thought, 'Good, one step at a time, I'll be changing the plot.'
Just as the tension began to fade, a faint glow emanated from beneath the rubble. The subtle light grew brighter, flickering beneath the stone fragments, catching all their attention.
"Now what?" Aiden groaned, clearly not eager for another challenge. He knelt down, digging through the debris with a resigned sigh. Slowly but surely, they uncovered the source of the glow: three swords, the very ones the statues had once wielded, lying on the floor, now pulsing with a faint, mystical light.
But as Aiden pulled the last of the rubble away, his face twisted with disappointment. "Stone swords?" he muttered, frowning at the rough, unimpressive weapons. The glowing aura did nothing to mask the fact that these swords were still made of plain stone. "This can't be it, right?" he scoffed, disbelief written all over his face.
Jett's grin widened, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Those are exactly what we came here for."
Aiden scuffed, rolling his eyes. Before he could argue further, Elora was already grabbing him by the shoulder and bending him forward. "Just pick up the damn sword, you moron," she growled, forcing him down toward the glowing weapons.
"Alright, alright!" Aiden squealed, swatting her hands away. "Which one?"
"Just pick any," Elora snapped, clearly out of patience.
Aiden reached out without much thought, trying to grab the sword that once belonged to the statue with two blades. But the moment his fingers touched it, they passed right through the glowing stone as if it were made of air. He blinked, confused, and tried again. His hand slipped through it once more, the weapon intangible.
"What the hell?" Aiden muttered, trying several more times, each attempt ending the same way. His frustration grew as he glanced at Jett. "This is some kind of prank, right?" Explore hidden tales at mvl
Jett's smirk remained, and with a knowing glint in his eye, he gestured toward the other sword: the one that had been held by the single-sword statue. "Try the one that's on its own."
Aiden gave him a wary look but complied, reaching for the lone sword. Jett's thoughts raced, 'Just like with Finn...' he mused silently, a hint of satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.
Aiden approached the second sword, eyeing it warily. This time, his fingers wrapped around the hilt without resistance. He grinned, giving it a few experimental swings. "This one isn't a dud," he declared with satisfaction, watching the blade cut through the air.
Jett smirked, turning to Elora. "You can take the other two. Don't worry, they're tangible." His tone was confident, but Elora hesitated, glancing skeptically at the swords still lying on the ground.
She crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "After what I just saw? Yeah, sure..." She exhaled, her eyes narrowing as she studied the swords, knowing one had passed right through Aiden's hand earlier.
But curiosity got the better of her. "What do I have to lose?" she muttered under her breath before bending down. With a cautious hand, she grabbed both swords. They didn't slip through her grasp, this time, they felt solid and real.
Just then, all three swords began to vibrate in their hands. The stone that encased them started cracking, small fragments of rock breaking off and crumbling to the ground. Light seeped through the cracks, revealing the weapons' true forms. The stone continued to fall away, disintegrating until the blades gleamed brightly in their hands, finally free from their earthen shells.
*****
Aiden's weapon, [Ignis Magna], burned with a fierce crimson glow, the blade pulsing as though alive with molten fire. Runes were etched along the hilt, and the edge seemed to shimmer with heat, as if it could ignite anything it touched.
[Ignis Magna]
[One of the Fourteen Divine Weapons, this sword was forged in the heart of a dying star and blessed by the Fire God himself. It is said to contain the fury of a thousand suns, granting its wielder unmatched destructive power. Only those strong enough to tame the flames within can wield this blade.]
[Stats:]
- +60 Strength, +40 Agility
- Fire attribute attacks deal 30% more damage
- Attacks have a 15% chance to ignite enemies, causing continuous burn damage
- Molten Edge: The blade radiates extreme heat, allowing it to slice through even the toughest armor with ease
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[You are have been BOUND to this weapon and therefore no one else can wield it.]
[This weapon shall continue to grow as it accompanies you.]
[Quests:]
[Special Quest: Find the Lost Blacksmith God]
[Unique Quest: Unveil the Darkness Cathedral – Locate the Cathedral of Darkness, claim the God of Shadows' blessing and Break the curse.]
*****
Aiden grinned widely, his earlier doubts replaced by excitement. "I take it back. This thing is awesome." He admired the fiery blade in his hand, feeling its raw power.
Elora, still processing the shock, looked at the two swords she wielded with awe. "And I have two of them? Is this even legal?"
Jett chuckled, giving her a knowing glance. "It's definitely legal. The capital should've gotten the memo by now," he replied casually, scanning the room as if expecting something else to happen.
At the center of the hall, a faint glow appeared beneath their feet. The ground lit up, revealing an intricate magic circle etched into the floor. The runes within the circle pulsed with a soft, otherworldly light, gradually intensifying until it enveloped all three of them.
*****
Without warning, the magic activated. In a flash, the world around them blurred, and they were pulled into the circle's teleportation spell.
When Jett opened his eyes again, his breath caught in his throat.
He found himself floating in mid-air, surrounded by a vast, barren landscape unlike anything he had seen before. Below him, two lands stretched endlessly in opposite directions. One side was consumed by raging flames, an inferno that burned without mercy.
The other side was frozen solid, the ground covered in thick layers of ice, gleaming under the light of an unknown sky. The fire and ice lands met at a jagged, unnatural border, yet there was no sign of life. No sound but the crackle of flames and the eerie silence of the frozen wasteland.
Jett was suspended far above it all, with no land or structure to tether himself to. The unsettling vastness of the world stretched beneath him, leaving him with only one thought: What now?
Jett froze for a moment, his ears straining to catch the source of the menacing voice that echoed around him. His eyes darted across the desolate landscape of fire and ice, but there was no one, nothing but emptiness.
"Who are you?" the voice demanded, cold and sharp, growing more hostile with every word. "Why do you carry that scent? What connection do you have with HIM?!"
Jett's brow furrowed. He spun around again, half-expecting to find someone lurking behind him. Nothing.
"Answer me, child!" The voice thundered, dripping with venom.
Despite the ominous presence, Jett found himself strangely calm, as though his mind refused to register the danger. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he replied, his tone unnervingly casual. "You know, the weirdest part of all this is how calm I am right now."
The voice was joined by another, this one lower and even more sinister. "You do not fear us? Boy who reeks of the Forsaken One..."
Jett blinked, the phrase "Forsaken One" sending a jolt of realization through him. "Wait, 'Forsaken One'... You mean that crazy old geezer who tried to kill me?" His lips curled into a half-smirk as he pieced it together. "You know him?"
The air crackled with an unseen tension as the voices hissed in unison, but Jett stood firm, unfazed by their threats.
*
*
*
Any idea why he's not scared?