NOVEL NEXT Chapter 59: ancient temple
The journey to the ancient temple began under a sky heavy with dark clouds, the air thick with the scent of impending rain. Julius—**The First Shadow**—stood at the edge of a dense forest, the map clutched tightly in his hand. The temple was deep within, hidden by layers of mist and myth.
His guide, the sharp-featured woman with green eyes, had left him at the forest's edge with a warning: "The temple does not welcome intruders. Whatever you find in there, remember—it was not meant for mortal hands."
Julius had merely nodded, his mind already focused on the task ahead. He didn't need warnings. He needed answers. And power.
As he stepped into the forest, the shadows seemed to **shift** around him, as if recognizing their master. The deeper he went, the quieter the world became. The usual sounds of wildlife—the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves—were absent. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
**"This place is wrong,"** Julius thought, his senses on high alert. The air was too still, the silence too heavy. Even the shadows here felt different—older, darker, more **alive.**
After hours of walking, he finally saw it.
The temple.
It was a massive structure, carved from black stone that seemed to absorb the light around it. Vines and moss clung to its walls, but the carvings beneath were still visible—strange symbols that pulsed faintly with a dark energy. The entrance was a gaping maw, flanked by statues of creatures that were neither human nor beast. Their eyes seemed to follow him as he approached.
Julius paused at the threshold, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at his side. He could feel the weight of the temple pressing down on him, as if it were alive and aware of his presence.
**"This is it,"** he whispered to himself. **"The first real test."**
He stepped inside.
The interior was even darker than the forest, the air thick with the scent of decay. The walls were lined with more carvings, depicting scenes of rituals and sacrifices. Julius's eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of the artifact he was supposed to retrieve.
Then, he saw it.
At the far end of the chamber, on a pedestal of black stone, sat a small, ornate box. It was no larger than his hand, but the energy radiating from it was palpable. The air around it seemed to shimmer, as if the very fabric of reality was bending to its presence.
Julius approached cautiously, his every sense on edge. He knew better than to think this would be easy.
As he reached for the box, the ground beneath him **shook.**
The carvings on the walls began to glow, the symbols twisting and shifting as if they were alive. The air grew colder, and a low, guttural growl echoed through the chamber.
Julius spun around, his dagger at the ready.
From the shadows emerged a creature—a twisted amalgamation of flesh and bone, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light. It moved unnaturally, its limbs jerking and twitching as it advanced toward him.
**"So much for a warm welcome,"** Julius muttered, tightening his grip on the dagger.
The creature lunged.
Julius sidestepped, his movements swift and precise. He slashed at the creature, but the blade passed through it as if it were made of smoke. The creature hissed, its form shifting and reforming.
**"Not physical,"** Julius realized. **"A shadow entity."**
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the energy within him. The shadows around him responded, coiling around his arms like living tendrils. When he opened his eyes, they glowed with a faint, golden light.
The creature lunged again, but this time, Julius was ready.
He raised his hand, and the shadows surged forward, wrapping around the creature and **pulling** it apart. The creature let out a final, ear-piercing shriek before disintegrating into nothingness.
Julius exhaled slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. That had been too close.
He turned back to the box, his hand trembling slightly as he reached for it. This time, there was no resistance. The box was cold to the touch, the energy within it humming softly.
As he lifted it from the pedestal, the ground beneath him shook again, more violently this time. The walls of the temple began to crumble, the carvings fading as if they had never existed.
**"Time to go,"** Julius thought, clutching the box tightly.
He ran, the temple collapsing around him. The entrance was still visible, a sliver of light in the darkness. He pushed himself harder, his lungs burning as he sprinted toward the exit.
Just as he reached the threshold, the temple let out a final, deafening roar, and the entrance collapsed behind him.
Julius stumbled forward, falling to his knees as the dust settled around him. He was alive. And he had the artifact.
But as he looked down at the box in his hands, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had just unleashed something far greater than he could comprehend.
The shadows around him seemed to pulse, as if in agreement.
**"The game has only just begun,"** he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the wind.
And with that, he rose to his feet and began the journey back.
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