Chapter-26 Weeping Stone

Kofi and Mia were making their way back through the castle hallway, heading towards its core, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly against the cold stone walls. Each step sent reverberations through the corridors.

The air was heavy around them with the scent of dampness and decay, a lingering reminder of the castle's age and neglect. The musty odor clung to the walls like a shroud.

Occasionally, a gust of wind would sweep through the corridors, sending dust swirling in its wake. The sound of it rustling through the ancient tapestries that lined the walls added an eerie quality to the already oppressive atmosphere.

Suddenly Kofi suddenly heard a strange noise. Reacting quickly, he swung his sword towards Mia, intercepting whatever threat was hurtling towards her.

Mia gasped in surprise, her eyes wide with shock as she followed Kofi's gaze to the demonic creature now lying lifeless on the ground. "What just happened?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Kofi observed the demonic creature he now killed an also examined i with the system. Venomous Viperlings are small, snake-like beings that seem to be made up of rotting flesh and decaying plants. Their scales are dull and spotted, colored in sickly shades of green, brown, and black, resembling mold and decay. Their skin is marked with sores and wounds that ooze toxic fluids. They have long, slender bodies with several pairs of thin legs sticking out, making them look like grotesque spiders. Their heads are oddly large, with bulging, white eyes that shine with evil intelligence. Instead of regular fangs, their mouths are filled with sharp, needle-like teeth stained with the blood of their prey. Their tails end in serrated spikes coated with a venom that shines with a sickly green color.

"It was a Venomous Viperling," Kofi replied calmly, position himself in front of Mia. "Be careful."

In the dim light, Kofi noticed more movement he considered it might be more Venomous Viperlings, as he mostly heard them. "There are over ten Venomous Viperlings heading our way. Be prepared, they're fast," Kofi cautioned Mia.

Mia nodded and drew her silver sword, though she was shaking more than usual due to her lack of confidence in her strength. As a venomous Viperling leaped off the wall towards Kofi backpedaled and sliced through its body, then dealt with another on the ground. However, when Mia swung her silver sword at one, it didn't die but was merely knocked away toward Kofi back, causing panic for Mia. But to her surprise, Kofi already swiftly killed it swinging his sword behind his back, as his perception warned him of an impending threat.

Than again sensing something else approaching, Kofi swiftly moved to protect Mia, grabbing her shoulder and dodging out of the way. Though not without consequences as the venom from the Viperling touched his back, however it couldn't harm him or his armor due to his immunity, strength, and gear. Realizing the danger Mia was in, Kofi decided to swiftly end all the viperling. He pushed Mia back and dashed down the hallway, the sound of his sword cutting through the air and his footsteps was the only thing Mia heard echoing.

"Let's go," Kofi's voice echoed from the hallway.

"You took care of all of them?" Mia asked as she walked slowly down the hallway.

"Yeah," Kofi replied walking also down the hallway

"Do you think those Venomous Viperlings were sent here to slow us down?" Mia inquired.

"Hmm...I don't think so." Kofi replied. 'They might have just been hiding since we arrived. I never even heard or saw them until now,' he thought.

As they made their way back through the heart of the castle, Ryan and Isaiah tried to stop Mia again, but she walked off with Kofi, knowing their priority was finding a way to escape. There would be no telling if there will make it out without doing the riddle first.

As Kofi and Mia walked across the heart of the castle into another hallway, they encountered a Venomous Viperling, easily dispatching it. After a few minutes, they found themselves in another room, where multiple hourglasses caught Mia's attention.

"Time seems to move slowly in this room," Mia observed, smiling as she looked around.

Kofi scanned the room and noticed five hourglasses, each with sand slowly trickling down. In the center was a larger hourglass, its sand flowing at a consistent rate and flipping every ten seconds. Using his intelligence, Kofi deduced that he needed to synchronize the other hourglasses with the one in the middle every ten seconds.

Suddenly, A demonic creature insect called Plague Wisps materialized around them, appearing as delicate orbs of sickly green light. They hovered ominously, resembling swirling clouds of toxic gas rather than solid beings. Within their misty forms, faint outlines of twisted, skeletal figures could be seen, suggesting tormented souls trapped within. Sickly tendrils of greenish-black energy extended from their core, writhing like tentacles. Their eerie glow cast unsettling shadows across the room, accompanied by a faint, otherworldly hum that sent shivers down the spine.

"Mia, you have to handle the hourglasses while I fend off these creatures," Kofi urged, his focus divided between the Wisps and protecting Mia.

Mia eye widen as she shook her head "I don't think I can do that," she said in panic and shock.

"You can, or we'll both be in trouble. You saw how I did it. I'll count down and guide you," Kofi shouted, dodging another Wisp's attack."

"Okay, okay," Mia managed to calm herself, as she slowly approached the second hourglass, with Kofi covering her. 'What if I fail now you really want me to do this' she thought.

"Come on, Mia, you've got this," Kofi encouraged her.

Trembling, Mia stood near the hourglass, preparing herself. "I'm ready," she said, her voice quivering.

"No pressure, right?" Kofi joked, trying to ease the tension.

"What do you mean, no__" Mia shot back.

"Flip!" Kofi's shout pierced through the chaos cutting her off, and Mia, despite her panic, managed to hear and flip the hourglass just in time, breathing a sigh of relief as it balanced precariously but remained upright.

"Quickly, onto the next one," Kofi instructed, clearing the way for Mia as she moved to the next hourglass.

As Mia moved towards the next hourglass, she couldn't help but question Kofi's lack of countdown. "What happened to counting down?" she asked, her heart racing.

"Why count?" Kofi replied quickly, as Mia was about to answer back. "Flip!"

Surprised by Kofi's timing once again, Mia managed to place down the hourglass, her focus sharpening as she moved to synchronize the remaining hourglasses. With Kofi's skill in fending off the Wisps, Mia felt more at ease, successfully flipping the last hourglass as the Wisps disappeared into thin air.

Suddenly, a soft chime filled the air as a single small hourglass began to glow with a radiant light, its sands shimmering with energy. Feeling compelled, Mia reached out and grasped the hourglass, sensing its power coursing through her veins.

After collecting the hourglass, Kofi and Mia proceeded with the trial for the Weeping Stone.

The Weeping Stone appeared as a smooth, polished stone, roughly the size of a clenched fist, with a translucent surface that shimmered with an otherworldly glow. Despite its innocuous appearance, the stone emitted a haunting aura that unsettled those who gazed upon it.

Upon examining it with the system, Kofi discovered its properties:

- Emotional Resonance: The Weeping Stone could attune itself to the emotions of its holder, amplifying feelings of sadness, grief, or despair. Some runners found solace in its empathic presence, using it to process their emotions amidst the maze's chaos.

- Spiritual Guidance: In times of uncertainty, runners sought guidance from the Weeping Stone, believing it harbored the wisdom of those who came before them. By meditating with it, they hoped to receive insights for their journey.

- Commemoration: Some runners carried the Weeping Stone as a tribute to fallen comrades, inscribing names upon it or offering prayers for their souls.

Though intrigued as the a legend has it that the Weeping Stone is imbued with the lingering memories and emotions of those who have perished within the maze. It is said to absorb the anguish and despair of lost souls, preserving their energy within its crystalline matrix., Kofi liked it however knew he couldn't keep the stone, as it was necessary to pass the Pit of Despair. As they made their way back to the castle heart, dispatching demon creatures along the way, Kofi finally leveled up.