Max took a deep breath as his senses flared to life. The walls of the ravine felt alive, humming with a strange energy that thrummed through the air, charging his skin with a subtle static. The artifact around his neck pulsed once again, a gentle but insistent rhythm, as if it were alive itself.
The Forgotten Vault. The words echoed in his mind as he moved through the darkened cave, trying to make sense of what he'd just discovered.
The bandit was dead. The fight had ended abruptly, but Max felt no relief. His heart raced, his mind already fixated on the strange symbol he'd seen carved into the wall. It had matched the etching that adorned the keystone fragment around his neck. His breath quickened as he realized the connection.
The artifact... it wasn't just a tool—it was a key.
Max took another cautious step, his boots barely making a sound on the jagged ground. His eyes scanned the cavern ahead of him, the flickering light from his mana lantern casting long shadows against the stone. The path ahead was narrow, winding deeper into the mountain, and it smelled faintly of sulfur, moss, and something ancient. Forgotten.
What was hidden here?
Suddenly, a crackling voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Max! You good?" It was Tam's voice, filtering through the comm-link. "We saw you go over the edge. Are you alive?"
Max held his wrist, activating the comm. "Yeah. I'm fine. Something's down here. It's—" He hesitated. "It's important."
"What do you mean it's 'important'?" Caren's voice cut through, skeptical. "We need to pull you out of there. Now. You're on your own, Max. You've got no backup."
Max shook his head, though he knew they couldn't see him. "No. You don't understand. The artifact… it's responding to something down here. I need to check it out."
There was a pause on the other end, and then Leo's voice came through, calm and knowing. "Max... I know what you're feeling. But don't be reckless. Whatever you're sensing, it's bigger than you think. This vault—whatever it is—could be dangerous."
Max's fingers clenched around the comm. "I'm already here. I'm going in."
He didn't wait for a response.
Max's heart thundered as he continued into the depths of the cavern. The further he walked, the stronger the pull of the artifact became, as though something were calling him, leading him deeper into the earth. The walls seemed to pulse with ancient magic, a low hum resonating through the air that sent a shiver down his spine.
There was a heavy stillness in the air, broken only by the soft echo of his footsteps. His eyes darted from side to side as he moved cautiously down the winding passage, a sense of foreboding sinking in with every step. This place, it wasn't just forgotten—it was hidden for a reason.
At last, after what felt like an eternity of walking, Max reached the end of the narrow corridor. In front of him stood an enormous stone door, inscribed with intricate symbols that seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim light. The symbols were ancient, beyond any language he had encountered, yet they seemed oddly familiar.
He stepped forward, the keystone fragment around his neck pulsing once again, stronger this time, as if reacting to the door. Max placed a hand on the stone, feeling the vibrations pulse through his fingertips. The energy was intoxicating—raw, primal magic that made his heart race.
Without thinking, he pressed forward.
The door groaned in protest as it slowly began to open, revealing a cavernous chamber beyond. Max's breath caught in his throat.
Inside was an altar, surrounded by strange, otherworldly lights that flickered like stars. The room was massive, and at its center stood a pedestal, a gleaming stone that radiated with an energy unlike anything Max had ever felt. It was the source of the magic. The source of the pull.
Max stepped into the room, his breath shallow as he moved toward the pedestal. The artifact around his neck vibrated, nearly pulling him off his feet. He placed a trembling hand on the stone, feeling its cold surface.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.
"You have come."
Max's heart skipped a beat as he jerked back, looking around the chamber, trying to locate the source of the voice. But there was no one there. The room was empty.
"I have waited for you."
The voice was deep, ancient, and unearthly. It was as though the very walls of the vault were speaking to him, resonating with a power that was both alien and familiar. Max swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"I am the keeper of the Vault."
Max's eyes narrowed. "The Vault... this is where the artifact was kept?"
"The artifact is but a fragment. You will learn the truth soon enough."
The voice was a haunting whisper in his mind, but the meaning behind its words resonated deeply with him. Fragment. The piece of the artifact... it wasn't the whole thing. There was more to it.
"You are not ready. But you will be, in time. The world is not what it seems. The secrets of the Vault must not be uncovered yet. Not until the one who holds the key is prepared."
Max's pulse quickened. "What do you mean? What's waiting for me?"
"The storm is coming."
Before Max could react, the chamber shuddered. The ground beneath his feet trembled, and the altar began to glow with a fierce, blinding light. The voice was gone, but its words still echoed in Max's mind.
The artifact around his neck burned hot against his skin.
And then, just as quickly as it began, the energy dissipated. The light dimmed, the chamber growing still again. The voice had faded, but its warning lingered, gnawing at the edges of his consciousness.
Max staggered backward, his body feeling weak, the overwhelming sensation of the magic finally taking its toll on him.
"I—what—?" He gasped for air, clutching his chest as his knees buckled. His mind reeled.
The storm is coming.
Max's vision blurred. His strength faltered.
But he couldn't pass out—not now. Not here.
The voice was right about one thing: He wasn't ready. But he was closer than he realized. And there was no turning back now.
The world had changed, and Max's place in it had been sealed.