Open

Erik, Liam, and Mia continued down the cold corridor, and they could feel the tension mounting. Every corner they turned and every door they passed seemed to hold more danger than the last. The urgency of their mission weighed heavily on them so they don't check anymore doors. They already knew what they will find. A preparation for huge attack.

Suddenly, the corridor widened, revealing a set of descending stairs leading into an underground place. The stairs were steep then it disappear into the darkness below. The trio paused, exchanging uncertain glances.

"Do we go down there?" Liam whispered with hesitant voice.

Before anyone could respond, a faint, blue text appeared in front of them.

[Objective: Descend the stairs. Your path lies below.]

Erik frowned, staring at the words that hovered in the air. "How does the System know we need to go down there? Can it see the future or something?"

Mia then replied softly after thinking for a few moments, "It might not see the future, but remember, the System has Heimdall's power in it. I suppose as fellow god Heimdall could sense the other gods. Maybe the System can sense Freya or Thor down there and is guiding us."

Erik and Liam exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. The explanation made sense, and at this point, they had no choice but to trust the guidance.

"Alright," Erik said, "Let's go."

They began their descent. The stairs were narrow and the air grew colder with each step they took. The stone walls seemed to close in around them and the only sound was the faint echo of their footsteps. Their weapons ready at hand to be used at any moment.

Minutes passed and the stairs seemed to go on forever winding deeper into the earth.

Finally, they reached the bottom where the stone walls turned into jagged rocks as if they were in some kind of cave. Then they found a large door blocked their path. The door was made of heavy stone and etched with intricate runes that glowed faintly purple in the darkness. There was no handle, no visible way to open it. The runes pulsed with a mysterious energy, warning them that any attempt to force the door open would likely end in disaster.

"These could be a powerful rune. We can't open this door the conventional way. And if we try to break it down, we'll probably set off alarms or worse," Mia said, observing the door with keen eyes.

Erik and Liam sighed, feeling lost. But then, the System once again displayed a message before them.

[Hint: The door can only be opened by the hand of the one who created the runes.]

Liam sighed again and running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Well, that's just great. How are we supposed to find the person who created these runes and convince them to open the door for us?"

Erik grimaced while staring at the door. "The System's hints are getting more cryptic. But there's gotta be a way…"

Mia's eyes lit up with a sudden idea. "Wait a minute," she said, turning to Erik and Liam. "I think I've got something that might work. I can create a Rune barrier to block any sound from escaping. We can try to break the door without alerting anyone. If it doesn't work, then we'll go back upstairs and figure something else out."

Erik raised an eyebrow. "You can do that? Where did you learn things like that?"

Mia gave a small, confident smirk. "Hmph! I picked it up while we were studying Runes before."

Erik and Liam exchanged glances, a mix of surprise and respect flashing in their eyes. They have understand the Rune to a certain degree but neither of them have that deeper undestanding of Runes yet to the point of creating one that intricate.

And yet here was Mia, casually pulling out a trick neither of them could have come up with.

Seeing their expressions, Mia couldn't help but tease them.

"I know, I know, I'm a genius. But let's not waste time admiring my brilliant talent. We've got a door to break down," Mia said.

Without further delay, Mia focused on the task at hand. She knelt few meter from their position then tracing intricate patterns in the air with her fingers. As she did, a faint glow began to spread around the area forming a shimmering barrier that enclosed the area. The barrier pulsed softly, creating a dome that would trap any sound within.

"There," Mia said, standing up and dusting off her hands. "That should keep things quiet. Let's see if we can force this door open."

Erik and Liam nodded, stepping forward to examine the door more closely. They drew their weapons, ready to strike.

---

Nox strode through the cold corridor with mind that ablaze with his degenerate and evil thoughts. He was heading toward the descending stairs driven by a dark desire.

His lips curled into a wild grin under his mask as he imagined what he would do once he got his hands on Freya. He remembered all too well how she had treated him before and it had fueled his hatred. Now, he would make sure she paid the price.

Freya was important, too valuable to kill. But that didn't mean she would be spared from suffering. Oh no, Nox had plans for her, plans that would break her spirit and bend her to his will. The thought of it made his blood race, his grin widening with every step he took toward the stairs.

Soon, very soon, he would have his revenge. And when he did, Freya would know true torment.

Nox's steps were deliberate as he walking down the stairs and made his way toward the door.

He was so lost in his fantasies that he didn't notice when he crossed an almost invisible and faint intricate barrier woven by Mia's hands. Mia didn't even realize how delicate her Rune was that even someone as powerful as Nox didn't detect it.

Nox finally reached the door. He didn't hesitate and immediately extended his hand, fingers splayed as they met the cold stone. The Runes reacted instantly to his touch. With a low rumble the Runes dimming as the barrier dropped.

The door swung open silently, revealing the chamber beyond. Nox stepped through, a twisted satisfaction bubbling up inside him. He was moments away from his prize, and nothing could stand in his way.

But as Nox passed through the doorway, three shadows emerged from behind the rocks near the entrance, moving swiftly and silently. Erik, Liam, and Mia, who had been hidden just out of sight, slipped into the chamber right behind him.

---