Adrian's grip on his sword tightened. "Who sealed her away? And why?"

The figure's eyes grew darker, the sorrow deepening in its hollow face. "The gods themselves feared her. Her power… her obsession became her downfall. She was… too dangerous."

Adrian frowned, trying to piece the puzzle together. The Shadow Court had been after the imprisoned goddess, but for what purpose?

Did they seek to control her power, or something more sinister? And why was this temple so deeply tied to obsession?

The ghost's form flickered again, more violently this time. "You… you cannot save her. If you do, you will fall, just like the others."

Adrian's jaw clenched. "I don't intend to fall."

With a sudden lurch, the ground beneath him trembled, as if the abyss itself was responding to his defiance. The ghost let out a wail, its form twisting and writhing in agony. "You cannot defy the abyss! You are already lost!"

Adrian stepped forward, his chains snapping to life around him, glowing with dark fire. "I've faced worse than this," he growled. "Now get out of my way."

With a burst of energy, Adrian lashed his chains at the ghostly figure. The dark fire swirled through the air, but the chains passed harmlessly through the specter, as though it were made of mist.

The ghost let out another mournful wail, its voice echoing in the cavern. "You will fall! Just like the others!"

Then, with a final flicker, the ghost vanished, dissolving into the darkness around him.

Adrian stood still in the darkness, catching his breath as the ghost's final wail faded into the void. His body trembled from the intensity of the encounter, but he forced himself to calm down.

The Abyss of Obsession was testing him, trying to break his will, and it wouldn't stop until he reached the sarcophagus—or fell.

Before he could collect himself fully, the ground beneath him shuddered violently.

Adrian's heart skipped a beat, and before he could react, the floor gave way entirely. He plunged downward again, falling into the endless darkness below.

He cursed under his breath, panic surging through him once more. His arms shot upward, chains flying toward the ceiling, but they found no purchase in the shifting void.

This wasn't like the last fall. Something was different.

As he fell, he squinted into the darkness and noticed something strange. There were shapes below him—no, above him.

Wait... above me?

Adrian's mind reeled. The rocks and jagged stalactites that had been part of the ceiling were now somehow beneath him.

His stomach lurched at the realization.

I haven't been falling this whole time... I've been spinning in midair.

A deep sense of disorientation washed over him.

The abyss had twisted his perception, made him believe he was falling endlessly when, in reality, he had likely been stuck in some strange gravitational loop, spinning in the void.

With a growl of frustration, Adrian shot his chains out again—this time, he aimed toward the rocky shapes below, which he now realized were above him.

The chains anchored themselves with a satisfying thunk into the jagged rock, halting his descent. He dangled in the air for a moment, taking a breath to steady himself.

He swung carefully, reorienting himself with the ceiling—or what had once been the ceiling. The chains held tight as he finally pulled himself upward—or downward, it was hard to tell anymore.

His muscles screamed from the effort, his body still weakened by the manticore's venom, but his determination pushed him forward.

After a few more calculated swings, Adrian reached solid ground once more—this time, it felt real.

He stood on the platform that surrounded the sarcophagus, the faint glow of ancient runes illuminating the stone surface beneath his boots.

The sarcophagus loomed before him. It was massive and intricately carved, the air around it thrumming with a dark, ancient power.

It was made of black stone, polished smooth and covered in swirling symbols that pulsed with a faint, otherworldly light.

Even from a distance, Adrian could feel the weight of its presence—the raw power contained within.

He approached cautiously, his chains still unfurled, ready for whatever might come next. Every step he took felt heavy, as though the air itself was thick with anticipation.

His breath came in short gasps, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

This was it. The prison of the goddess.

Adrian stopped just short of the sarcophagus, his heart hammering in his chest. He ran a hand over the surface, feeling the cool, smooth stone beneath his fingers.

There was an almost magnetic pull to it, as if the power inside was beckoning him closer.

Adrian took a deep breath, his fingers trailing over the engraved runes as he searched for a way to open the sarcophagus.

The symbols pulsed faintly under his touch, and with each one, a soft hum resonated through the chamber.

After a moment, his hand paused over a particular rune—a crescent moon, surrounded by swirling patterns. It felt different from the others, warmer somehow.

Instinctively, he pressed down on it.

The ground trembled slightly, and with a low, grinding sound, the lid of the sarcophagus began to shift.

Adrian stepped back, watching as the stone slid aside, revealing the figure inside.

A woman, dressed in nothing but her pale skin, lay still within. Her features were sharp and elegant, her skin as moonlight, and though she appeared to be sleeping, there was something undeniably powerful about her presence.

Even in slumber, she radiated a quiet, dangerous energy.

Adrian stared down at her, his heart pounding. This was the goddess, he realized.

But as Adrian looked closer, he noticed something else. Her eyes—though closed—seemed to twitch, as if she were aware of his presence.

And the more he watched, the more he felt her power stirring, growing stronger with each passing second.

Taking a deep breath, Adrian did the only thing he knew or felt was right at that moment. He reached out to touch the goddess' hand in an attempt to wake her.

His hand was just a few inches away from the goddess hand when her eyes shot op

en and she caught Adrian's hands instead.

"Hmmmm…"

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