Divine Ascendancy

Ascendance of the Old Gods

"Man, is anyone hungry?" he asked, letting his bag drop to the ground with a dull thud. "I know we're here to, you know, stop the gods from doing god stuff or whatever, but I feel like an empanada wouldn't hurt the cause."

Elena, crouched nearby and tracing her fingers over one of the ancient circles etched into the stone floor, snorted. "Miguel, if you brought food, you better have brought enough for all of us. We might be fighting off apocalyptic deities soon, and we need fuel." She straightened, casually twirling her sword like it was an extension of her arm. "If the gods want a snack, I say we give them you as an offering."

Miguel grinned, shrugging. "I'll take one for the team. I just hope they're into spicy."

The others weren't as lighthearted. Selene stood near the edge of the ruins, her arms crossed, staring up at the darkening sky where the eclipse was slowly beginning to form. She didn't share in the banter—her thoughts were focused on the heavy, unsettling energy she'd felt all day. The closer the moon came to covering the sun, the stronger her connection to Mayari became, and with it came a feeling of dread she couldn't shake.

Isagani, who had been inspecting the ancient circles, remained silent. He could feel the familiar stir of Apolaki's power inside him, like an ember waiting to ignite. He glanced at the circles beneath his feet, the faint glow emanating from them growing stronger as the eclipse neared. "It's coming," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. "Whatever this is... it's tied to the eclipse."

Salaguinto, standing at the center of the circles, traced his fingers over the carvings. The lines pulsed beneath his touch, humming with a power that felt ancient and dangerous. "The texts said the eclipse would trigger something," he said, his voice low and thoughtful. "These circles are linked to the gods' return... but they feel connected to Sidapa." His brow furrowed. "I can feel his influence, but it's more than that."

The group fell silent again, the weight of Salaguinto's words settling in. They had come to this mountain knowing the prophecy was about to unfold, but none of them were fully prepared for what that would mean.

As the moon began its slow journey across the sun, the light around them dimmed, casting the ruins in an ominous red hue. The temperature dropped sharply, and the wind, which had been a constant presence on the mountain, died. The world seemed to hold its breath.

Selene gasped, her hand flying to her chest as she felt a familiar pull in her soul. "They're getting closer," she whispered, her voice trembling. Her eyes began to glow faintly with silver light as Mayari's presence grew stronger. "The gods... they're waking up."

The circles beneath them responded to the eclipse, pulsing with energy. Lines of light connected the symbols etched into the ground, creating a web of divine power. Salaguinto narrowed his eyes as he studied the pattern. "This isn't just about the gods returning," he murmured, half to himself. "Sidapa's power... it's woven into this."

Miguel, who had been pacing back and forth, trying to shake off his growing unease, stopped and glanced at the glowing circles. "Okay, I don't love this. Rocks glowing? Bad sign." He shot a glance at Elena, who was still inspecting her surroundings with an almost casual air. "You getting that weird feeling too?"

Elena twirled her sword again, shrugging. "Weird feelings are kind of my thing. Let's just hope the gods appreciate the effort we're putting in here."

Isagani, his fists clenched, could feel the solar fire building inside him. He gritted his teeth, trying to contain it, but the pull of Apolaki's power was becoming too much. "The eclipse is triggering something. We need to be ready."