"Well, that was a neat trick," Adrian muttered to himself, his voice echoing slightly in the stillness. "Let's see what else this place has in store."

With that, he stepped inside the temple, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword.

Adrian's heart pounded as he walked into the temple, the air around him feeling oppressive, pressing down on him from all sides. The door behind him slammed shut with a resounding crash, sealing him inside.

The sudden darkness was disorienting, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim light that barely illuminated the space.

The interior was dimly lit, the walls lined with ancient carvings depicting battles and rituals from a long-forgotten era. The air was cool, almost cold, and carried the faint scent of something metallic—blood, perhaps, or rust.

As Adrian went further into the temple, the light dimmed, the shadows growing longer as if they were trying to envelop him. His footsteps echoed off the stone walls, the only sound in the heavy silence.

The more he walked, the more the carvings on the walls seemed to change. The once motionless figures now looked like they were moving, almost as though they were watching him, judging him.

Suddenly, a low, deep voice echoed through the darkness, its tone dripping with disdain. "You should not have come here, mortal."

Adrian froze, his hand tightening instinctively around the hilt of his sword.

He scanned the darkness, searching for the source of the voice. "Who's there?" he called out in a steady voice despite the unease gnawing at him.

"I am the guardian of this temple," the voice responded, the words echoing through the stone halls. "And you are trespassing in a place where no living being is welcome."

Adrian's grip on his sword remained firm, but he did not draw it. Instead, he took a deep breath, standing tall as he replied. "I seek the goddess who's imprisoned here."

The voice responded with a note of contempt. "The goddess you seek is not to be disturbed. She does not take kindly to intruders."

Adrian's resolve hardened, taking a step forward as he spoke. "I'm not leaving until I speak with her."

There was a moment of silence, the darkness around him thickening as if considering his words. Then, without warning, a narrow path appeared before him, leading deeper into the temple.

The air around him grew colder, the shadows more oppressive, as the voice whispered, "Follow, if you dare."

Adrian hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward, his senses on high alert. The path twisted and turned, winding through the depths of the temple, its narrow confines pressing in on him from all sides.

The walls seemed to close in, their ancient carvings watching him with unblinking eyes.

As he moved deeper, the light grew dimmer until it was little more than a faint glow, casting long, eerie shadows that danced on the walls.

Finally, he reached a massive door, its surface engraved with ancient symbols that pulsed with a faint, red light. At the door's centre stood a stone pedestal, and upon it rested a small, glowing orb that radiated a soft, ominous glow.

"That's the way in," the voice said, its tone filled with warning. "What happens next is between you and the goddess."

Adrian approached the pedestal cautiously, his eyes never leaving the glowing orb. The light from the orb seemed to draw him in, its warmth contrasting the cold, oppressive air that surrounded him.

He reached out, his fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the orb.

The massive door before him creaked open, revealing a blinding light that spilled into the chamber, bathing everything in its brilliance. Adrian shielded his eyes against the harsh glare as he stepped through the doorway.

The moment he crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind him, sealing him inside.

When the light dimmed, Adrian found himself standing in the middle of a vast labyrinth. The walls were high and made of cold, grey stone that seemed to absorb the light, casting the labyrinth into near darkness.

The heavy, musty smell of damp earth and decay filled the air, creating a suffocating atmosphere all around him. Adrian's breath came in shallow gasps as he took in his surroundings.

The labyrinth stretched out in every direction, the twisting passages and high walls creating a maze that was as disorienting as it was unnerving. The sense of being watched returned, stronger now, and Adrian felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

He took a cautious step forward, the sound of his footfalls muffled by the thick air. The walls seemed to close in on him, the shadows deepening as he ventured deeper into the maze.

The sound of scraping and scuttling echoed through the halls, the noise coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.

Adrian paused, his heart pounding in his chest.

He strained his ears, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound, but it was impossible. The echoes bounced off the stone walls, distorting and amplifying the noise until it was a combination of unsettling sounds.

Suddenly, a low growl reverberated through the labyrinth, a sound that sent a chill down Adrian's spine. He spun around, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement.

But the shadows were too thick, the darkness too complete.

He continued forward, every sense on high alert. The growling grew louder, closer, as if whatever was making the sound was stalking him, hunting him through the maze. Adrian's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, the weight of the weapon a small comfort in the oppressive darkness.

As he turned a corner, he caught a glimpse of something large and menacing lurking in the shadows. The creature's eyes shone with a malevolent red light, its massive form obscured by the darkness.

Then the next instance, there was nothing.

The scraping grew louder, the sound of claws dragging against a stone. Adrian's pulse quickened as he realised that whatever was hunting him was closing in.

He hastened through the maze; the walls shifting around him, creating new paths and closing off old ones. It was as if the labyrinth was alive, constantly changing, constantly shifting.

The sound of the creature's growl echoed through the halls, growing louder with each passing moment. Adrian could feel its presence behind him, its breath hot on the back of his neck.

Suddenly, the growling stopped, replaced by an eerie silence.

Adrian froze, his breath catching in his throat as he strained to listen. The silence was almost worse than the growling—it was thick, oppressive, and filled with an almost tangible sense of dread.

Then, out of the darkness, a creature lunged at him.

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