The echo of their own footsteps resonated throughout the temple ruins as the group moved forward cautiously. The shadow trial had exhausted them, but the sense of danger remained.
Orpheus glanced at the hooded leader. "You said we're not the worst to ever arrive here. What does that mean?"
The leader walked slowly to one of the temple walls and ran his hand over a dust-covered inscription. With a whisper, the stone creaked and revealed a hidden chamber.
"Look for yourselves."
The group entered the chamber with suspicion. Inside, they saw something that chilled their blood: petrified corpses, human figures trapped in agony, with expressions of horror on their faces. Some seemed to have tried to escape; others were on their knees, as if pleading for their lives.
Kael swallowed. "Um... were they the ones who failed the test?"
The hooded man nodded. "Here lie those who tried to take what did not belong to them. This temple not only protects knowledge, but also punishes the unworthy."
Akihiko frowned. "So, if we've passed the test, what are we allowed to know?"
The leader observed him in silence for a moment before answering. "The Tree of Eden is not what you think. Its existence has been a cycle of destruction, a catalyst for the fall of empires and civilizations. But its greatest secret... is that it was never meant to be used."
Lost Truths
The chamber walls began to light up with ancient engravings, depicting scenes from an extinct civilization. In them, the Tree of Eden appeared in the center of a city, worshipped as a deity. But in the next image, the same city was in flames, with desperate figures fighting each other.
"Those who first discovered the Tree believed it was a divine gift, a gift granting absolute power. But they soon understood the truth: the Tree does not grant power without a price. Whoever uses it pays for it with their own humanity."
Isabella looked at the engravings with a grim expression. "So why have the mafias spent centuries fighting over it?"
The hooded leader let out a soft laugh. "Because power is always more seductive than truth. And the truth is that the Tree of Eden... only breeds more conflict."
Orpheus frowned. "So what's the purpose of The Key? If the Tree isn't meant to be used, why is there a way to reclaim it?"
The hooded figure turned slowly toward him. "Because it's not a means to reclaim the Tree. It's a means to seal it away forever."
The silence became sepulchral.
Akihiko felt his heart race. Everything they knew, everything they'd fought for... was it a lie?
Helena took a step forward, her voice tense. "If The Key is meant to seal the Tree... why has it never worked?"
The hooded man looked directly at Akihiko. "Because no one has been strong enough to complete it. Or perhaps... because The Key has yet to fully manifest."
Akihiko's eyes darkened. Something about those words sent a chill down his spine. Why did he have the feeling he was more involved in this fate than he realized?
Lurking Shadows
Before they could process the revelation, a rumble shook the temple structure. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling as the torches trembled with the vibration.
Kael quickly checked his device. "Something is causing a massive disturbance in the area's energy! We're not alone."
Isabella pulled out her resonant threads, her eyes sharp as razors. "Viktor..."
From the temple entrance, a tall figure emerged from the mist of dust. His silhouette was unmistakable.
Viktor had arrived.
With a cruel smile, he walked slowly toward the group, his dark aura radiating a suffocating power. "I knew you would lead me straight to the answer. But I didn't expect you to discover such an interesting secret."
Akihiko felt his body tense. But what disturbed him most wasn't Viktor's presence, but the sensation of something else moving in the darkness behind him. Something that wasn't human.
"If you think we'll let you take the Tree..."
Viktor burst out laughing. "Take it? No, Akihiko... I just discovered I don't need to take it. I just need to make sure you guys never seal it."
With a snap of his fingers, the temple shadows came to life once more, but this time, they weren't reflections of themselves. They were ancient figures, fallen warriors, manifestations of those who had been consumed by ambition.
The hooded leader took a step back, his voice for the first time showing a hint of alarm. "No... this isn't possible."
The spectral figures began to move, their eyes hollow and filled with rage. Some carried weapons imbued with dark energy, while others looked like mere shadows of their former selves. But they all had one thing in common.
They were the ones who had failed before.
Akihiko felt an unbearable pressure in his chest. "These are..."
"The cursed souls of the Tree," Orpheus murmured. "Those who tried to take its power and were devoured by it."
Viktor spread his arms with a wicked grin. "Isn't it fascinating? Everyone who's tried to control the Tree has been trapped in this limbo. And now... you're next."
Akihiko gripped his katana tightly, his muscles tense as his Void began to react to the threat.
The final battle for the truth was about to begin.