Ethan wiped the blood from the side of his mouth. He stood up, walking to the place where the ghoul had dissipated, turning into dust. He clutched his ribs. Yep, definitely fractured, he thought. At the spot where the ghoul had died, an emblem lay. Its golden, pristine color contrasted with the dull brown of the surroundings. He knelt down, grabbed it, and twirled it in his fingers. What's this? he wondered.
The emblem was gold in color, its surface bearing the image of an eye—one that eerily resembled the one from earlier. Is this place somehow connected to it? Ethan wondered. But he had no time to dwell on that. A sense of dread crept up on him. He didn't know why, but he felt like he was running out of time.
He continued walking forward. The walls, though still aged, now appeared better kept, losing their previously ruined look. Murals lined them now, depicting battles. He stopped at one that grabbed his attention—a giant figure fighting an army. It had a lower body composed entirely of tentacles, its upper body chiseled, with a head that resembled a squid. It wielded a massive axe raised high above its head, poised to cleave the army in two.
Ethan's eyes widened. He had a feeling he knew that thing, but he couldn't recall where he had seen it before. He sighed. If I can't remember, it might not be important. But as he turned to leave, the monster's eyes in the mural began glowing red—so brightly that the light spilled into the hallway.
Ethan kept moving forward until the hallway led to a huge, dimly lit room. At its end stood towering double doors that seemed to be the entrance to another world. As he looked up at their imposing height, the ancient stone carved with elaborate designs pulsed with a subtle, unearthly glow. His breath caught in his throat.
An angel dominated the scene at the center of the door, her presence both majestic and terrifying. Clad in divine plate armor, she stood with forgotten sigils etched into every curve of her battle-worn gear, glimmering as though illuminated by starlight. Her face was hidden beneath a thick hood, lending her an air of mystery, but Ethan could practically feel her sharp eyes observing, judging. In her grasp, a massive sword stood erect, its blade radiating a soft, golden light that cast long, shifting shadows across the stone.
The doorway was bathed in an ethereal brilliance as a radiant halo blazed above her like a captured sun, its luminous rays extending outward in all directions. Ten enormous wings spread from her back—some arched protectively, others outstretched as if ready for flight.
At the edges of the door, grotesque demons shrieked in fear, their figures frozen mid-scream as they desperately clawed at the borders of the gateway.
"Raviel," Ethan murmured, placing his hand on the door.
In the game, she was the Goddess of War, one of the strongest characters. A deity players could roll as their patron, she granted immense strength. Ethan had always wanted her as his patron, but despite countless attempts, he had never been lucky enough to summon her. Why is her mural here? he wondered.
Her temples were usually grand colosseums where warriors fought to earn her favor—not some sorry excuse for a dungeon. That's when he saw it. At the very bottom of the gate was a small, perfectly circular dent. A sharp, burning pain flared in his thigh. Wincing, he reached down and grabbed the emblem he had tucked there earlier.
It was glowing faintly, a thin tether of golden energy forming between it and the dent in the gateway. Swallowing hard, Ethan stepped forward and placed the emblem into the dent.
The entire cave began to shake as the gate rumbled open. Ethan took a deep breath. He could feel it—something, or someone, was drawing him into that chamber. Gripping his dagger tightly, he stepped inside.