Mortals," she spoke, her voice carrying through the chamber, "you stand before the soul of Athena, goddess of wisdom and war. If you desire this power, you must prove your worth. This temple does not open its gates to one who comes with merely greed or conquest.".
Zypher stepped forward, their eyes locking. "We are not here to gain power to ourselves, but to make this world equal once more. The gods abandoned this world, and now the world is in disarray. We're here to mend it.".
Her eyes softened, and she bowed her head. "If that is indeed the purpose you seek, then know this—what you seek will break every limit you have. You will be tempted, torn, and broken. This path demands sacrifice. Are you prepared? "
Silas nodded, as bold as ever. "We're ready for anything. We've come too far to turn back now.".
The ghostly form smiled, and the sphere on the pedestal began to grow in brightness. "Then take the fragment, and may it serve you well. But remember-each fragment has a price. It will reveal both the best and the worst of you."
And with one final nod, the ghostly form of Athena was gone, leaving the chamber silent once again.
Zypher reached out and his fingers brushed the fragment. Suddenly, from the moment he touched it, all those memories and feelings came pouring in like a flood of ancient battles, swords clashing, and the roaring of gods at war. And with this sight, all these flashes of Athena herself stand tall on the battlefield like a fierce protector of knowledge and justice.
Trembling, he let go of the fragment and the weight of Athena's memories still thundered in his head. Kiera reached to his shoulder, steadying him. "Okay?" she asked.
He nodded, but his voice cracked. "I'm fine. Only this is just the beginning. This is just getting started, and we're going to need every ounce of strength we have in us."
As they stood to leave, the temple seemed to shift itself once more, this time around them, as if remodeling its pattern to the end. Corridors aligned themselves, making a straight path back to the exit; they followed, steps buoyant with confidence.
The Forsaken cyborgs watched them silently as they came out. Wasteland stretched out before them, and beyond the wasteland, Neo-ilka's neon skyline shone in the distance.
In his hand, he held the fragment of Athena, with this, a new resolve fell upon him, having seen the power of the gods, and knowing what it would take to complete their mission. They stood at the edge of a divided world, drawing with every fragment closer to bridging between gods and mortals, technology and myth.
But they knew that from here on, challenges would only be growing and, by and large, the stakes only rising.
United, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever lay in their path.
The air in Neo-ilka was different on their return-a heavy, oppressive tension from the unknown. Zypher felt it like a weight bearing down on his chest as they re-entered the city-Athena's fragment safely nestled within his satchel. It pulsed faintly, and with every beat, he felt a strange, calming presence in his mind-that was Athena's wisdom whispering to him, guiding him forward.
Yet the search was far from over. Although he was powerful, the fragment still was merely a small part of what was needed. For the gods to be made whole again, they would require actual blessings of the divine: not shards of their power, but blessings.
Sitting in the dim light of an old hideout, Orion leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Okay, we got one, but that's all it is for this God-bloke scheme to be revived. We don't know where the rest are or how we're supposed to get 'em.".
Silas looked up from his own contemplation, his eyes thoughtful. "We just need the pieces. We need the blessings of the gods. They alone can give us the strength to hold their power within us.".
Athena gave us hers," Zypher said, dropping his gaze down to his satchel. "But we can't rely on fragments alone. If we're going to succeed, we'll need more than relics—we'll need to actually reach out to the gods themselves."
Orion snorted. "You're telling me we need to call down deities who've been in hiding for centuries? Not exactly a stroll in the park.
Aegis, silent till now, nodded thoughtfully. "There might be. I have been running through data from ancient mythological catalogues – those links between places of power in Neo-ilka and the slumbering realms, where the gods themselves hid. If the gods are waiting for one to prove themselves, then we might be the ones to awaken them, performing certain rites.".
"Rites?" Kiera furrowed her brow. "Offerings? Prayers? I thought the gods left this world."
Zypher shook his head. "Though they may have retired, the ancient traditions were never totally eliminated. Neo-ilka has pockets—temples dedicated to the gods, places where their power still resided. If we locate those temples, do the proper rituals, and genuinely call on them… perhaps they'll answer."
Silas brightened at the words. "The gods no longer answer prayer as in their time of old," he said, "but they value sacrifice and dare doings. It would take something very bold to draw their eye.something worthy of their notice.".
Leontios, seasoned mercenary, nodded his head, his face set in a serious mold. "The gods respect strength. If we go to them as warriors, not as supplicants, and show them that we will stop at nothing to be granted their favor, they may feel bound to hear us out.".
With records and maps that Aegis had been compiling, they located three spots at Neo-ilka, which they could perform their rituals: an ancient hidden theater deep within the city, an abandoned fountain square used for ritual offerings ages ago, and a great, towering statue of Zeus along the edge of the city. The sites matched up to a different god: Artemis, Poseidon, and Zeus. These gods, if pleased, could grant them valuable powers for their quest.