Called Upon

Chapter 22

      Once Sage entered an enormous isolated corridor, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The walls were adorned with majestic paintings of the elders and gods, depicting their heroic moments. As his eyes scanned through the images, he stumbled upon a portrait of himself during his days as an elder, before he succumbed to evil.

In that moment, a wave of unease washed over him. It felt as though something deep within him yearned to be liberated, as if he carried a burden that needed to be shed. Suddenly, a dark, smoking figure materialized before him. Its red glowing eyes pierced through the shadows, unsettling Sage even further. He hesitantly asked the creature who it was.

The figure's voice resonated with an eerie tone, "I am Sinful, a corrupter of the legions of shadow. We thrive in the dark realms, permeating corruption into everything and everyone we touch." Sage's heart raced as he tried to comprehend the situation unfolding before him.

Desperate for answers, Sage questioned the creature further, "What do you want from me?"

Sinful smirked, his voice oozing with arrogance, "I am the sole being who managed to escape Chaos' imprisonment within the time chamber. Realizing the consequences of my revelation, I used you as a fortress, a vessel to conceal my existence. It was our pride to rule the realms that tempted me to release the other corrupters, or what you may call the dark forces, to plunge the universe into an era of darkness. However, my ambitions were thwarted when I was banished from entering the crystal dimension again. It was there that I discovered the sacred stone, the only artifact capable of granting me passage."

Determination welled up within Sage. He couldn't bear the thought of such malevolence consuming the universe. "I won't let that happen," he declared defiantly.

The corrupter's laughter echoed through the corridor, sending shivers down Sage's spine. "As if," Sinful sneered, his dark essence enveloping Sage once more. Unable to resist, Sage felt himself being consumed by evil once again.

As Sage continued his journey through the isolated corridor, his footsteps echoed ominously through the mist-filled air. His eyes flashed with a dark ambition as he walked, his mind consumed by the evil that had taken hold of him. Suddenly, a large gate appeared up ahead, and Sage knew that it was the entryway to whatever lay beyond.

As he approached, the reflective floor beneath his feet began to shake violently. Sage hesitated for a moment, but his determination overcame his fear, and he stepped forward. The ground continued to tremble as he walked, and he could feel the weight of whatever laid ahead.

Suddenly, a creature appeared before him, its impenetrable armor glinting in the dim light. It carried a massive club in its hand, and Sage knew that he was in for a fight. He charged towards the creature, but to his surprise, he passed right through it.

The monster, however, was still able to inflict pain on Sage with its club. The blows landed with a sickening thud, and Sage felt a searing pain coursing through his body. But something inside of him began to stir. It was as if the evil that had taken hold of him was beginning to fight back.

Sage felt a dark smoke begin to rise from within him, engulfing him completely. The corrupter emerged from within him, its red glowing eyes fixed on the monster before them. It jumped impossibly and laid a flying fist on the monster shielded with metal which in turn left it totally vulnerable to pain. Afterwards, the corrupter took up a ring of smoke and encircled the monster's neck with it. It tightened the ring until it beheaded the monster with a loud cracking sound.

The monster dissipated into a smoke swirling up into the air as Sage watched in amazement. He had never felt such power before, and he knew that it was only the beginning of what laid ahead. As they entered through the gates, Sage felt a renewed sense of determination wash over him. He knew that there would be many more challenges ahead, but he was ready to face them head-on.

The corridor behind them faded away into darkness as they stepped forward into the unknown. The fate that lay ahead was uncertain, but Sage knew that he had the power within him to overcome whatever obstacles lay in his path. With each step he took, he felt his connection to the sacred stone deepen, and he knew that he was on the path towards enlightening the reign of darkness that was yet to consume the universe.