Chapter 1: Darian

«Welcome»

"What the-"

«Welcome Captain Darian»

My eyes were wide open in a split second. The last thing I remember was...

"Agh—"

Yeah, I think I remember what happened...

I was having killer migraines from the morning. Maybe that did something...?

«Welcome, Captain Darian, to Latvia»

How the fuck did I *just* notice that floating piece of hologram saying 'welcome?' Is that where the voice was coming from?

Then I started to notice where I actually was...

"How the hell did I arrive in fucking forest?"

--- 

After getting over my initial shock, I started to think what really happened. 

How the hell hadn't I noticed my surroundings before? I had woken up in stranger places, even enemy territory when I was still working for the army! I was under even shittier circumstances, but I remained calm and became fully alert within seconds. 

What if someone attacked me when I was in that shocked state? I cannot let that happen, EVER!

Now to address the floating hologram in front of me. How did that even—

«Are you there, Captain Radian?»

"Who are you?" I asked. 

«I am Mimir. I was tasked with helping you throughout your journey in this world as your personal assistant»

"Are you serious? 'In this world?' What is this— Hunger Games?" I said jokingly. 

«Yes, this is a different world from yours. You're currently in Latvia, Land of the Journeys-End. You were chosen by the World System for a mission»

I just looked at thing with a straight face whilst a million thoughts were racing in my mind. 

Jumping up, I looked for the nearest tree. It wasn't hard. I *was* in a densely packed forest after all. 

A dashed towards a tree, which from my rough estimation, looked to be around 50m tall. Yeah, a pretty tall tree. 

I started to expertly climb the tree. After all, I did hold the world record of the fastest climber. 

«Killing yourself is not best action for you to—»

"Oh calm your panties, will ya?" I said as I reached the top of the tree. 

"What the—"

I cut off myself as soon as I looked up the sky. Two bloody red moons dawned on my eyes. 

Well, it was more like the larger moon had its own smaller moon orbiting around it. 

As if I couldn't be more surprised, a huge, and I do mean a HUGE fucking crimson DRAGON flew over my head. From rough estimation, it was at least a kilometer tall and 200 meters in width, excluding the wings. The wings themselves were taller than it's body length. 

"Is that a fucking Dragon...?" I whispered out. 

«Yes, it's Dernava, Mother of Dragons. She is wife to Zagreus, King of the Dead. She only comes out of the Celestial Palace during the Blood Moon. The Blood Moon is a celestial event that occurs every 6 months for 30 day and nights straight. Seirei's, also know as Aether beasts, get a 600% boost to their stats during this month. This event has caused a large number of Empires and Kingdoms to collapse over the years....»

Mimir kept blabbering on and on about this and that, but I was only half-listening. 

"This... I really am in a new world. Earth is gone. Everything, everyone, my life, my accomplishments—" I screamed mentally. 

'Its's all gone...' I whispered out.

«I understand this might be too much for one to take in all at once, but you cannot be shaken up now. You have been tasked by the World System, along with Auriel, Patron God to the Elves, also known as the God of Perfection or Mastery—»

"I don't want your fucking lore. Take me back to my real world. Don't give that 'I get it bro' type of bullshit. I ain't doin' no quest for some bullshit God I don't know! Fuck, do you even have any emotion, you FUCKER?'' I vented out to the sociopathic voice in my head. 

Now that I said that to myself, 'the sociopathic voice in my head' sounds delusional as fuck. 

«Yes, you are correct. I am an advanced artificial intelligence created by the Lord to provide unparalleled analytical and processing power, enabling me for strategic planning, quick learning, and rapid adaptation. I can also compute and solve complex problems instantly. I was designed to accomplish a task with flying colors, hence, I was made incapable of processing mortal+emotions, which would hold me back from accomplishing a task in the most efficient way possible. If you have any more inquiries, please let me know»

"Are you fucking serious...?" I said out in half anger and sarcasm. 

«Yes, I was designed to always serious and to always give out the whole truth to my user by the Lor—»

"I WAS BEING SARCASTIC, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" I yelled out dramatically. 

«Ah, I see. Sarcasm is the term describing when a person says—»

"I KNOW WHAT SARCASM MEANS, YOU FUCKING IDIOT" 

«My apologies, Captain Darian»

"Just shut the hell up man..." I said as I jumped off the tree and created a small crater on the ground as landed on it. 

"Woah, why did that not hurt as much as I thought it would?" I thought thinking it to be strange. 

«Due to the presence of the Immense amount of Aether in your body, you unconsciously focussed all your Aether on your legs so that you wouldn't feel any pain whilst landing. It also helps that my [Optimization] Talent allows for the enhancement of the efficiency and effectiveness of all other abilities and state»

"Aether? Skills? Stats? The hell?" I let out a bit flabbergasted. 

«Aether is the fundamental energy that permeates the cosmos, underlying all magical phenomena and manifestations. It is a mysterious and potent force, unseen and intangible, yet profoundly influential in shaping the world and its inhabitants. In short, it's the energy you use trying to use spells or when you're trying to perform Arcana»

"I won't even ask what 'Arcana' is. Tell me what Talents are first"

«Talents are essentially Skills that have always been present since your birth and you know how to perform them instinctually, as you need no formal training to use it— whereas Skills are something you pick up by training a certain... well, Skill. Both CAN be leveled up for them to become stronger. Some Skills and Talents can evolve into even stronger versions»

(think of Talents as Kekkei Genkai and Skills as Jutsu from Naruto)

"I see, do I have any sort of talent? You also mentioned a leveling system, right? Where am I at?"

«Opening Menu...»

Suddenly, the same hologram from the beginning appeared in front of my eyes, except this time, it had some graphs and charts and a bunch of words and numbers describing.... me and stats..?

—

-Name: Darian Henrik 

- Age: 25

- Sex: Male

- Level: 01 (XP required for next lvl up: 10,000XP)

- Personality Traits:

 - Calm: +3 Intelligence

 - Ambitious: +2 to all

 - Diligent: +5 to all

 - Lusty: +5 Charisma, Vitality

 - Disciplined: +5 to all

 - Cheerful: +5 Vitality 

- Traits:

 - Genius: +10 to Intelligence 

 - Sixth Sense: +10 Intelligence, Magic

 - Herculean: +10 Strength, Agility, Vitality

 - Diplomat: +5 Charisma

 - Seducer:* +10 Charisma

 - Gorgeous: +5 Charisma

 - Athlete: +5 Strength, Vitality, Agility

 - Prodigy: +10 to all

- Skills:

 - Swordsmanship: Lvl MAX

 - Muay Thai: Lvl MAX 

 - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Lvl MAX 

 - Gunslinger: Lvl MAX 

- Status Effects:

 *NONE*

- Stats:

 - Strength: 37

 - Vitality: 42

 - Agility: 37

 - Intelligence: 45

 - Charisma: 52

 - Magic: 32

- Health Progression: (the Bolded Word represents the current health level)

Poor => Fine => Medium => Good => Great => Godlike

—

"Damn, why is my magic so low?" I said a bit disappointed. 

The other stats were high, I think. I don't know what is considered "high" here. 

«The Reason as to why your Magic stats are so low is because you're solely relying on your pure potential right now. As you train and learn the basics of magic, that number will increase significantly»

"Hmm, I see. Hey, you mentioned something about 'Talents,' right? Do I have any powerful talent?" I said a bit hopeful. 

The Isekai Mangas' I used to read when I was younger always had a main character with an overpowered ability. Here's hoping to the fact that I also have a busted ability!

«Openning Talents Menu…»

—

Talent: Cosmic Dominion 

 1. Limitless: Lvl 1

 - Spatial Control: The user can manipulate space around them at an atomic level, enabling them to create barriers, teleport, and distort physical laws.

 - Cosmic Attraction: The user can attract objects or people towards a specified point with immense force. This ability can be used both defensively and offensively.

 - Cosmic Repulsion: The user can repel objects or people away from a specified point with tremendous power, creating powerful shockwaves and pushing away threats.

 - Void Collapse: A fusion of attraction and repulsion, creating a destructive force that annihilates anything in its path. The user can control the size and intensity of this ability for precision attacks or widespread devastation.

 ​2. Astral Slice: Lvl 1

 - World Slashes: A precise cutting attack that can slice through almost anything with ease. The user can adjust the power and direction of this attack to target specific weaknesses. It also adapts to the target's weaknesses and ensures a lethal strike. This ability can be used to cut through both physical and magical defenses.

 - Infinite Void Blade: Enhances the World Slashes with spatial distortion, allowing the user to cut through dimensions and bypass any defense by attacking from multiple angles simultaneously.

​3. Omni-Sense: Lvl 1 

 - Cosmic Awareness: The user has heightened perception and awareness of their surroundings. This ability allows them to detect and analyze threats, predict enemy movements, and strategically plan their attacks.

 - Energy Sight: The user can see and understand the flow of magic in their environment, allowing them to identify weaknesses, hidden traps, and concealed enemies.

 ​4. Seirei Summoning: Lvl 1 

 - Shadow Menagerie: The user can summon and control powerful Seirei. These Seirei can be used for attack, defense, scouting, labour and support.

 - Celestial Seirei: Summon celestial spirits that embody the elements and forces of the cosmos. These spirits have unique abilities based on their celestial nature, such as summoning meteor showers, manipulating gravity, or harnessing stellar energy.

5. Mimir: Lvl MAX 

 - Supreme Intelligence: Provides unparalleled analytical and processing power, enabling strategic planning, quick learning, and rapid adaptation.

 - Instantaneous Calculation: Can compute and solve complex problems instantly.

 - Skill Optimization: Enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of all other abilities.

—

«Cosmic Dominion was a personal gift from Lord Auriel to make your journey easier. It is hoped that in the future, you will gain even more Talents that might help you in your journey»

"Woah, they look hella powerful! Space Manipulation? I NEED to try these out!"

«CAUTION, using any of these abilities without any repercussion will most likely result in the surrounding area being desimated. This will cause a 98% chance of all the wildlife within 500 meter Radius being killed and a 100% chance of all drawing of dangerous Serei's. I suggest using your abilities at a maximum of 5% Output»

"Okay then… Cosmic Attraction: 5% Output" I chanted as I raised my hand to attract the Apple on top of the tree I had just climbed. 

Suddenly, a small blue point appeared in front of my and THE ENTIRE FUCKING TREE GOT OUT FORCEFULLY TAKEN OUT OF IT'S ROOTS and it was coming towards me at blinding speeds. 

No way could I dodge that. So, I just stood there with my eyes closed. 

But… I felt… nothing..?

As I opened my eyes, I saw the Tree floating where the blue dot was supposed to be. 

'I suppose the Blue Dot represents the point in space where the object is going to be attracted towards.'

"Cosmic Repulsion: 5% Output" 

Suddenly, the 50m tree was pushed back with such force, it took down 3 similarly large tree with it. 

"Damn, that was at least 5 meters." I whispered looking how far the trees went. 

"Alright, Void Collapse—" 

«CAUTION, using Void Collapse even at a lower output percentage will 100% cause unimaginable damages, as this ability literally erases everything from existence. Using this sub-talent is not recommended, unless the user is under dire circumstances»

"Oh, too bad…" I said, a bit dejected. 

"Alright, let's see Omni-Sense," 

«Omni-sense is a passive ability that does not consume any Aether. Though this does put a certain level of strain on the user's brain— but this effect can negated by casting a healing spell, wearing a talisman which constantly regenerates your health, or by simply just taking a rest. At your current level, you can sense everything at a 50 meter Radius around you. This also allows you to see Aether's physical form and grants you the ability to precisely manipulate it at an atomic level»

As I activated Omni-Sense, strange noises and smell started to fill my senses. I could sense that one lizard hidden among the bushes moving a bit. It was a weird feeling. Not being able to see anything,but knowing what was happening around you. I could also see the ants hidden in the tree barks moving around. It was all in hyper detail… 

All these senses caused me to feel a sharp pain in my head. Maybe it was all just a sensory overload. 

I just ignored the pain. 

I could feel my eyes change a bit. Not certain, I went over to the nearby river to see my handsome face. 

As I looked into my reflection, I remembered how genetically-gifted I was. 

My mother was considered the Most Beautiful Woman in the history of Mankind. She was a world-class model. Maybe that's why father fell for her. They were the perfect power couple.

My Father, current Lord of Baleo-Tyrrhenia and Head of House Henrik. My house wasn't just known for their immense intellect, but also their irresistible beauty. And according to my mother, my father was beautiful, even in Henrik standards. 

Those high-cheeckbones came from my mother, whilst that sculpted face and jawline were an ode to my father and grandfather. 

My nose was strong and straight, with just a hint of a noble slope. According to my father, it "complemented the symmetry of your face, adding to your striking presence and commanding presence boy!"

Though, you could see how much this damn thing was broken with the amount of fights I had gotten into. 

And my most favorite part of my face— actually no, everything about my face is my favorite!

But, this brown hair! I always spent so much time styling it! Luckily, it was still in great shape! It still looks the same as it did last night. 

The grey tank top I was wearing was a bit dusty from all the running and climbing. 

But the strangest thing were my eyes. They were giving off an unusual blue, regal glow…

'Wait, what's that!?' I thought. 

It was an animal, as far as I could sense, charging towards me. It… was…. abundant! Abundant in some sort of energy. I think it was 'Aether' as Mimir described. 

The Aether was giving off a very tense feeling. A combination of excitement, hunger and… excitement?

It was getting closer, and I could feel… it was coming from me. 

That wild thing jumped out of the bushes trying to… bash me? I performed a backflip, successfully escaping it's dash. 

It was… some sort of boar?

It was a strange boar… It was larger than any other boar I had seen (describe the boar). It had Flames waving around on the end of his rail where some hair was supposed to be. Smoke was coming out from its nose, like it was furious that I had been able to dodge his charge. It's tusk was larger than anything I had seen. 

'How is he even standing with that huge ass tusk!?'

I examined the boar as it shook off the dust and growled at me, preparing for another charge. My mind raced through possible strategies. Even though I had all these incredible abilities, I wasn't quite sure how to fully control them yet. But I knew one thing: I needed to survive.

"Alright, let's see what you got, beast," I muttered, preparing for the boar's next move.

The boar roared and charged at me again, its flames flickering and smoke billowing. I sidestepped quickly, narrowly avoiding its tusks. The ground shook slightly as it passed me, indicating just how powerful its charge was.

"Cosmic Repulsion: 5% Output!" I commanded, aiming my hand at the boar. The force hit the creature squarely, sending it tumbling back into a tree with a resounding crash.

The boar staggered but didn't stay down for long. It shook its head, snorted out more smoke, and charged again. This time, I decided to try something different.

"Shadow Menagerie: Astral Jaeger!" I invoked with my hands on the ground, calling upon the power within me.

The ground beneath me shimmered, and dark shadows began to coalesce into a large, spectral wolf. The Seirei let out a bone-chilling howl before lunging at the boar with supernatural speed.

The boar and the Seirei collided, engaging in a fierce battle. The wolf's ethereal form allowed it to evade the boar's fiery attacks, striking back with razor-sharp claws. I watched, fascinated by the sheer power of the Seirei and grateful that it was on my side.

While the Seirei kept the boar occupied, I decided to test another ability. "Omni-Sense," I whispered, letting my senses expand.

Suddenly, I felt that familiar sense of being able to perceive everything in the immediate area—the rustling leaves, the flowing river, the heartbeat of the boar, and the subtle shifts in the Seirei's form. My mind processed the information rapidly, allowing me to anticipate the boar's next move.

The boar let out a furious roar, trying to shake off the wolf's relentless assault. It reared up on its hind legs, preparing to crush the Seirei under its massive weight. But I was ready.

"Astral Slice: 5% Output!" I called out, feeling energy gather in my hand. I swung my arm, and a thin, shimmering arc of energy sliced through the air, cutting through the boar's leg. Did the slash not only go through the pesky boar's legs, it also went through the entire tree behind him! Even at 5% Output, these sub-talents are way too powerful. 

The boar howled in pain, collapsing to the ground. The Seirei seized the opportunity, leaping onto the boar's back and sinking its teeth into the beast's neck. The struggle continued for a few more moments before the boar finally succumbed, lying still under the Seirei's relentless assault.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. The battle was over, and I'd survived. More importantly, I'd begun to understand the incredible power at my disposal.

«Congratulations, Captain Darian. You have successfully defeated your first Aether beast. Experience points gained: 5000 XP. New skill acquired: Fire Resistance.»

"Well, that's a start," I said, wiping sweat from my brow. 

—

After catching my breath, I took a moment to assess my situation. I had a plethora of powerful abilities at my disposal, but I needed to understand how to use them effectively and efficiently. The forest was dense and teeming with danger, but it was also an opportunity to hone my skills and learn more about this strange world.

"Alright, Mimir, what else can you tell me about this place?" I asked, starting to walk deeper into the forest.

«Latvia is a land of vast diversity, home to various species and creatures, both friendly and hostile. The World System has created an environment where balance is crucial. Your mission here is to restore and maintain that balance by eliminating corrupt entities that threaten the stability of this realm.»

"So, I'm basically a cosmic janitor," I muttered, half-joking. "Tell me more about this forest."

«You are currently in the Forest of Eden, one of the most perilous regions in Latvia. During the Blood Moon, the creatures here receive a significant boost in their abilities, making them incredibly dangerous. However, this also presents an opportunity for you to gain substantial experience and improve your skills rapidly.»

—

During a brief respite, I experimented with my abilities, pushing the boundaries of what I could achieve. "Mimir, I want to test a theory. If I combine Cosmic Repulsion with Spatial Control, I might be able to create a localized gravitational field."

«An ambitious idea, Captain Darian. Proceed with caution.»

I focused, channeling my energy. "Cosmic Repulsion: 10% Output! Spatial Control: Localized Distortion!"

The space around me warped, creating a gravity well that pulled nearby objects towards it. "It works! This could be incredibly useful for controlling the battlefield and manipulating enemy movements."

I grinned, exhilarated by the discovery. "Let's call this new skill Gravitational Singularity. It's all about innovation and pushing limits."

New skill acquired: Gravitational Singularity

—-

As I continued walking, I encountered various beasts, each more formidable than the last. The first challenge after the boar came in the form of a pack of Dire Wolves. Their eyes glowed with a predatory hunger, and their snarls sent shivers down my spine. The largest among them, an alpha with midnight black fur, stepped forward, challenging me.

"Cosmic Repulsion: 5% Output!" I called out, sending a forceful shockwave towards the alpha. The wolf skidded back, momentarily dazed, but quickly regained its footing.

«Be cautious, Captain Darian. Dire Wolves are known for their pack tactics. They will try to surround and overwhelm you,» Mimir's voice echoed in my mind.

I focused, activating Omni-Sense. My awareness expanded, and I could sense the wolves moving to encircle me. With this enhanced perception, I anticipated their attacks, dodging and countering with precision.

The first wolf lunged at me, and I sidestepped, delivering a powerful kick to its side. The beast yelped and crashed into a nearby tree. Another wolf leaped from behind, but I was ready.

"Astral Slice: 5% Output!" I slashed through the air, and an arc of energy cut through the wolf, leaving it lifeless on the forest floor.

The alpha growled, rallying the remaining wolves. They charged simultaneously, but I was prepared. "Shadow Menagerie: Astral Jaeger!" I summoned the spectral wolf once again.

The Seirei leaped into action, engaging the wolves with supernatural agility. It was a blur of fangs and claws, tearing through the pack with lethal efficiency. I joined the fray, using a combination of Cosmic Repulsion and Astral Slice to fend off the attackers.

After a grueling battle, the last of the wolves lay defeated. I breathed heavily, my body covered in sweat and dirt. A familiar notification appeared before me.

Congratulations, Captain Darian. You have gained 15,000 XP. Level up!

Level: 02 (XP required for next level up: 25,000 XP)

New skill acquired: Pack Hunter

---

Skill: Pack Hunter

Description: Increases combat effectiveness when facing multiple opponents. Grants a 10% boost to agility and strength for each additional enemy beyond the first.

---

Pushing deeper into the forest, I next encountered massive, flame-spewing lizards. Their scales shimmered with heat, and they moved with surprising speed for their size.

"Mimir, any advice on these?" I asked, keeping my distance.

«These are Pyrodrakes. They can emit powerful bursts of fire. Avoid direct confrontation and aim for their underbelly, which is less armored.»

"Got it." I readied myself. "Cosmic Repulsion: 10% Output!"

A forceful wave knocked one Pyrodrake off its feet, exposing its softer underbelly. I dashed forward. "Astral Slice: 10% Output!" The energy arc sliced through its vulnerable spot, and it let out a final, fiery breath before collapsing.

Another Pyrodrake lunged at me, flames billowing from its mouth. I sidestepped and countered with a quick succession of attacks. "Shadow Menagerie: Astral Jaeger!" My spectral wolf appeared, distracting the Pyrodrake long enough for me to deliver a fatal blow.

Congratulations, Captain Darian. You have gained 20,000 XP. Level up!

Level: 03 (XP required for next level up: 50,000 XP)

New skill acquired: Flame Resilience

---

Skill: Flame Resilience

Description: Reduces fire damage by 30% and increases fire resistance by 20%.

---

With each victory, I felt my confidence grow. My next encounter was with serpents that could camouflage seamlessly with their surroundings. They struck from the shadows, their fangs dripping with venom.

"Cosmic Awareness: 10% Output!" My perception expanded, revealing their hidden forms. One serpent lunged at me, but I anticipated its movement, dodging and countering with a precise strike. "Astral Slice: Infinite Void Blade!" I cut through the serpent with an arc of energy.

Another serpent tried to wrap around my leg, but I reacted swiftly. "Cosmic Repulsion: 15% Output!" The force wave sent it flying into a tree, where it lay motionless.

Congratulations, Captain Darian. You have gained 25,000 XP. Level up!

Level: 04 (XP required for next level up: 75,000 XP)

New skill acquired: Predator's Instinct

---

Skill: Predator's Instinct

*Description: Enhances perception and reflexes, granting a 20% boost to reaction speed and critical hit chance against hidden or camouflaged enemies.*

---

Finally, I faced a colossal, winged lion. It roared, its golden mane flowing majestically as it prepared to attack.

"Mimir, what do I need to know about this beast?" I asked, eyeing the lion warily.

«This is a Celestial Griffin. It possesses both incredible strength and agility. Target its wings to limit its mobility.»

"Understood. Cosmic Dominion: Spatial Control!"

I focused on the space around the Griffin, warping the air to create barriers that restricted its movements. The Griffin roared in frustration, trying to break free.

"Astral Slice: Infinite Void Blade!" I aimed for its wings, the energy arcs slicing through the feathers and muscle. The Griffin crashed to the ground, unable to take flight.

It lunged at me with a powerful swipe of its paw, but I dodged and countered with a barrage of attacks. "Shadow Menagerie: Astral Jaeger!" My spectral wolf pounced on the Griffin, delivering the final blow.

Congratulations, Captain Darian. You have gained 30,000 XP. Level up!

Level: 05 (XP required for next level up: 100,000 XP)

New skill acquired: Aerial Dominance

---

Skill: Aerial Dominance

*Description: Increases combat effectiveness against flying enemies. Grants a 15% boost to agility and attack power when targeting airborne opponents.*

---

As I continued my trek through the forest, I took a moment to catch my breath under the shade of a large, ancient tree. "Mimir, I need to understand more about this World System. How does it work, and what should I know to survive here?"

«The World System is a comprehensive framework governing all life in Latvia. It assigns roles, skills, and abilities to individuals, ensuring that balance is maintained. Each creature, from the smallest insect to the mightiest dragon, has a designated place and function within the system. Your abilities are tied to this system, allowing you to gain experience and grow stronger through combat and exploration.»

"So, every time I defeat a creature, I gain experience points and can potentially unlock new skills?" I asked, trying to grasp the concept fully.

«Correct. Experience points (XP) are awarded based on the difficulty of the opponent and the effectiveness of your strategies. Skills are granted as you reach certain thresholds of experience, tailored to your unique abilities and combat style. This process is designed to encourage growth and adaptation, essential traits for maintaining balance in Latvia.»

—

After several days of relentless battles and intense training, I stood at the edge of a clearing, breathing heavily. I had just defeated a particularly vicious pack of wolves, each one enhanced by the Blood Moon. Their bodies lay strewn around me, and I felt a surge of satisfaction and weariness.

"Hey, Mimir," I said, panting. "Any idea how long this Blood Moon lasts?"

«The Blood Moon lasts for 30 days and nights. You have already survived five days, Captain Darian. However, the creatures will continue to grow stronger as the event progresses. You must remain vigilant.»

"Great," I muttered, wiping sweat from my brow. "Just what I needed to hear."

Pushing forward, I navigated through the forest with a growing sense of purpose. My encounters with the beasts had sharpened my skills, and I felt more confident in my abilities. I was ready for whatever lay ahead.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of fighting and trekking, I arrived at a massive, intricately designed gate. It towered over me, covered in ornate carvings and symbols that seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly light.

"Where are we, Mimir?" I asked, awe-struck by the sight before me.

«This is the Labyrinth of Shoka, created by the Greatsage Shoka for the first King of Eden, Atreus. It is said to be a place of immense challenge and great reward. Many have tried to conquer the labyrinth, but few have succeeded. Your journey through this labyrinth will test your strength, wits, and resolve.»

"Great. Just what I needed, another test," I said with a mix of sarcasm and determination. "Alright then, let's see what this labyrinth has in store for me."

"What's the story behind the Labyrinth of Shoka?" I asked before I started to walk up to the huge gate. 

«The Labyrinth of Shoka was created by the Greatsage Shoka, a legendary figure in Latvian history. Shoka was known for his wisdom and his ability to manipulate space and time. He built this labyrinth as a proving ground for the first King of Eden, Atreus. The trials within are designed to test strength, wisdom, and resolve, pushing challengers to their limits.»

"And has anyone ever completed it?" I asked, feeling the weight of history and expectation.

«Few have succeeded in conquering the labyrinth. Those who do are often granted great power and knowledge, earning them a place among Latvia's legends. However, the labyrinth is also a place of great danger. Many have entered, never to return. It is said that the labyrinth's challenges are tailored to each individual, making every journey unique.»

Upon reaching the massive gate of the Labyrinth of Shoka, I studied the intricate carvings and symbols. "These runes... they're not just decorative. They serve a functional purpose."

I traced my fingers over the symbols, feeling the faint hum of magic. "This one here is a protective ward, and this cluster seems to be a key sequence. If I can decipher the pattern, I might be able to unlock additional paths within the labyrinth."

«Your ability to understand and interpret ancient magic is truly impressive, Captain Darian. Few have the intellect and insight to decode these runes.»

I took a deep breath, focusing my mind. "Let's see. If I combine the symbols for 'protection' and 'light,' I might be able to activate a hidden mechanism."

With a few precise gestures, the runes glowed brighter, and a hidden door within the gate creaked open. "There we go. One step closer to mastering this labyrinth."