Free Web NovelChapter 116: First Quest: Blade Of Shadows (3)
"Tell me this is a joke..." freeweɓnovel.cøm
Shinon stood before the mysterious portal, its ethereal black glow beckoning him forward. It was his first time encountering a dungeon entrance in this new world. As a result, curiosity and dread washed over him.
Memories of his traumatic experience in a previous dungeon resurfaced, threatening to consume him in fear. He took a deep breath, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts.
"Get a hold of yourself, Shinon," he muttered, attempting to calm his racing heart. "This is not the same as before. You’ve grown stronger, and this time, you’re prepared... and if you fuck up... there’s no one to save you."
With newfound determination, he stepped closer to the portal and entered without hesitation.
As he crossed the threshold, the world around him shifted, and he found himself standing in a vast underground chamber, its walls adorned with ancient inscriptions and faded murals depicting long-forgotten tales.
The air was heavy with dust and a faint decay scent hinting at the long-forgotten secrets within.
"It’s a labyrinth, isn’t it?" Shinon mumbled.
Shinon’s eyes scanned the chamber, taking in the remnants of what was once a grand structure. Crumbling pillars, shattered statues, and piles of debris littered the area. It was evident that time had taken its toll on this forgotten place.
Suddenly, a holographic display materialised before him, presenting a list of tasks he needed to complete to close the dungeon.
Shinon’s brows furrowed as he read through the objectives, realising this would take work. The tasks ranged from retrieving sacred artefacts to vanquishing powerful monsters that lurked within the depths of the ruins.
"Locate and defeat the Stone Guardians to obtain one piece of the five pieces of Shadowsteel," Shinon repeated the first task. "Sounds easy enough, but it sure as hell isn’t going to be easy."
~~~
The ruins stretched out before Shinon, an eerie silence settling over the crumbling structures. The air hung heavy with the scent of decay and forgotten dreams.
Although Shinon couldn’t understand the writings on the walls, he could realise what the paintings associated with them depicted. For example, there was an image of a person beating a material into a desirable shape after heating it up.
It didn’t take a genius to know what the image meant as it clearly depicted the oldest form of smithing known to man.
Shinon was surprised to see the images, but little did he know the surprises would get bigger, much bigger.
As Shinon cautiously stepped forward, his footsteps echoed through the desolate chamber. His eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any signs of danger. Turning a corner, he stumbled upon a vast section dimly lit by flickering torches.
His eyes widened in awe as they landed upon two massive stone statues that stood tall and imposing at the centre of the chamber. They were adorned with intricate carvings and held an air of ancient power. The sheer size of them sent a chill down Shinon’s spine.
A moment later, a notification appeared before him, confirming his fears. He had located the Stone Guardians.
"Why aren’t they moving?" Shinon quizzed before walking inside the room.
He approached the statues cautiously, his hand reaching out to trace the lines of the carvings. As his fingers brushed against the cold stone, he could almost sense a dormant energy emanating from within.
"What secrets do you hold, guardians of the labyrinth?" Shinon murmured, his voice barely audible in the cavernous chamber.
He studied the statues, searching for clues or hidden mechanisms that might reveal their purpose. His gaze lingered on the stony faces, their expressions frozen in solemnity and menace.
The torchlight cast eerie shadows upon them, giving the illusion of movement. Shinon couldn’t help but feel as if the statues were watching him, their silent presence imposing and enigmatic.
A gust of wind whistled through the chamber, causing the torches to flicker and dance. Shadows danced along the walls, casting an ethereal aura over the statues. Shinon’s heart quickened as he felt an inexplicable connection, a whispered invitation to unravel the mysteries that lay within.
"Well, it’d be rude to not take advantage of this situation," Shinon said, retrieving the Blade of Chaos. "Now, keep still as you have been all this time."
Shinon stood before the towering statues, his grip tight on the hilt of his Blade of Chaos. The System had tasked him with destroying these ancient guardians, but as he swung his weapon with all his might, it merely glanced off the stone surface, leaving no more than a faint scratch.
Frustration welled up within Shinon as he attempted blow after blow, each one met with the unyielding resistance of the statues. His strikes echoed through the chamber, reverberating off the walls, but the figures remained unmoved, their stoic expressions mocking his efforts.
"What kind of formidable guardians are you?" Shinon muttered through gritted teeth.
He circled around the statues, searching for any weaknesses, any chinks in their stone armour. But to his dismay, there seemed to be none.
A thought crossed Shinon’s mind. If brute force wouldn’t work, perhaps he needed to approach the situation differently. He took a step back, his mind racing as he considered his options.
The statues were guardians and protectors of the labyrinth, so if he harmed the place, the figures would awaken, and then he would be able to destroy them.
"What am I even thinking..." Shinon shook the barbaric thoughts out of his head. "There has to be something around here to help me..."
Shinon’s gaze shifted to the surroundings, scanning the chamber for any clues or hints that could shed light on the statues’ vulnerabilities. His eyes fell upon a faint inscription carved into the floor, partially obscured by dust and debris.
Kneeling down, Shinon carefully brushed away the dirt, revealing a series of ancient symbols. As he studied the inscription, his eyes widened with realisation.
It was a riddle, a test of wit rather than strength. The only problem was that Shinon didn’t know the language in which the thing was written.
"I’ll be stuck here for a long time... won’t I?"
