the mythos of Salvation

the-7'8-final

**Chapter 7: The Descent Into Darkness**

Elijah entered the *Cave of Immortality* with a sense of purpose, yet as the days stretched into weeks and then months, time became a distant memory. The air within the cave was thick with an ancient darkness, as if every step he took brought him deeper into the belly of some forgotten beast. The divine sword glowed faintly at his side, casting eerie shadows on the jagged walls, but it did little to protect him from the oppressive atmosphere that seemed to pull at his very soul.

The settlers had long since fled the island, their ships cutting through the dark waters as they escaped the inevitable collapse. But Elijah remained. The island's fate-and the fate of those who had once lived there-was in his hands.

Two months had passed, or at least that's how it felt. Within the cave, time had no meaning. It stretched, twisted, and distorted, just like the unnatural landscape that surrounded him. He had lost track of how long he had wandered through its endless tunnels, following the faint traces of the map that Athena had given him.

It was during one such wandering that Elijah encountered the three kings.

They appeared before him without warning, their forms cloaked in shadow, their eyes gleaming with a malevolent intelligence. Each one stood tall and regal, yet their presence carried the weight of something far darker.

"We are the Three Kings of the Depths," the first one said, his voice echoing unnaturally within the chamber. "Friends to the Five Princes of the Underground-of Hell and the Underworld. You have come seeking power, have you not?"

Elijah nodded, uncertain of what was happening but unwilling to back down. His journey had brought him too far, and now, in the depths of the cave, he could feel the darkness pressing in on him from all sides. He was desperate for anything that might help him complete his mission.

The second king stepped forward, a sly smile curling his lips. "We can teach you what you seek. The dark arts, the forbidden magic that even the gods dare not touch. We know the secrets of the Beast, the Devils, the very essence of what lies beyond the mortal world. Power such as this comes at a price, though."

Elijah hesitated, knowing the danger but feeling the pull of the promise they offered. He had come here to stop the island's decay, to save the souls of the planet, to right the wrongs the seven ancient beings had caused. But what was the cost of that salvation?

"I'll pay the price," Elijah said finally, his voice steady.

The third king, the tallest and most imposing of the three, stepped forward and placed a crown of fire upon Elijah's head. The flames licked at his skin, yet he felt no pain-only power. "This crown will allow you to control the element of fire. It will bend to your will, consume your enemies, and burn away the obstacles in your path."

The second king, still smiling, placed a bracelet of fire around Elijah's wrist. "This is your protection. Should you face death, it will activate, burning your enemies from the inside out. But remember, this magic is not without consequence."

The first king raised his hand, a warning gleam in his eyes. "The deeper you go, the darker it becomes. There are things within this cave that no mortal-nor demigod-should face. And at the heart of it all lies the truth."

Elijah accepted their gifts, feeling the darkness swirl within him, and descended deeper into the cave.

---

**The Temple of Maraha, Santine**

The deeper Elijah ventured, the more twisted and surreal the cave became. The walls seemed to breathe, pulsing with a rhythm that was neither natural nor divine. He saw creatures lurking in the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malice, their forms too grotesque to fully comprehend. Yet, they kept their distance, perhaps sensing the power of the crown and bracelet that now adorned him.