Chapter 94: The Guardian of the Door

When the stone door finally opened, a cold draft of air rushed out from the darkness, enveloping the group. Rodrigo stood firm, his eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the door. He could sense that something ancient and powerful resided there, something that was about to manifest.

Slowly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was tall and wrapped in black robes that seemed to float in the air as if they were alive. Its eyes shone with an ethereal glow, and its presence carried with it a crushing weight. The silence in the hall was absolute, broken only by the sound of the soldiers' tense breathing.

The being, some sort of ancient guardian, raised its hand, and the stone door closed with a bang. Rodrigo felt the ground tremble slightly beneath his feet. He knew that they were trapped in this hall with the creature, with no chance of retreat.

"Who dares disturb the sanctuary?" The guardian's voice echoed like thunder, reverberating off the stone walls. It wasn't just a voice; it was a presence, a force that invaded the mind and body. Rodrigo took a step forward, never looking away. "We are travelers, warriors in search of answers to end the war that plagues our world. We seek not confrontation, only knowledge." The guardian tilted his head, studying Rodrigo with piercing eyes. "This place is not for mortals. The knowledge you seek is dangerous, more so than you can imagine. And the price for it is high." Sebastian gripped the hilt of his sword, feeling the tension in the air. "We are willing to pay the price. The war must end, and if this is the path, we will walk it." The guardian looked at Sebastian, then at Olavo, and finally back at Rodrigo. "You do not understand what you ask. The power sealed behind this door is a curse as much as a blessing. Those who seek it must be prepared for the consequences." Rodrigo knew there was no other choice. The fate of many depended on the decisions they made there. "We are prepared. If there is a price to be paid, let it be ours."

The guardian was silent for a moment, and then he extended his hand. A dense, brilliant energy flowed from his fingers, intertwining in the air until it formed a symbol on the ground in front of Rodrigo. "This is the seal that must be broken. But remember: once broken, there is no going back. The truth you seek will change you forever."

Rodrigo, with determination in his eyes, stepped forward and touched the symbol on the ground. He felt a rush of energy run through his body, as if an invisible door had been opened in his mind. The room around him began to spin, and reality seemed to distort around him.

The guardian stepped back, slowly dissolving into the darkness. "May the Gods have mercy on your souls."

The light on the symbol intensified, blinding everyone in the room. And then, in an instant, everything went silent. When the light finally dimmed, Rodrigo and his companions found themselves in a completely different place.

The underground hall had disappeared, and they now stood on a vast, desolate plain, beneath a red sky and violent storms in the distance. The power they had unleashed had transported them to a new dimension, where the true challenge awaited them.

Rodrigo lifted his head, looking toward the distant horizon. There, in this strange and dangerous land, they would find the answers they sought—but the price, as the guardian had warned, would be high.