CH 14: Side quest Complete

"Finally we can get what we came for," Sheldon said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ace approached, his ethereal eye scanning the crystals. "We've earned these," he said, reaching out and taking the red one. The moment he touched it, a surge of power flowed through him, healing his wounds.

Troy and Sheldon followed suit, each of them feeling the crystals' energy bond to their very cores.

"This was worth it," Troy said, his arrogance still lingering.

Sheldon smiled weakly. "Let's just hope there's nothing else waiting for us on the way out."

Ace chuckled. "With these, we can get really strong weapons that can help us in the future, not just against the churches."

The trio stood still in the empty chamber, the calm before the storm. Ace's ethereal eye burned brightly, casting faint blue light across the room, while Sheldon's breathing was ragged, his reserves nearly spent. Troy, still engulfed in Pride's dark aura, stood tall and stoic, his daggers resting in his hands as if they weighed nothing.

The passage ahead trembled as an overwhelming presence began to make itself known. A low, guttural growl filled the room, growing louder with every passing second. From the shadows emerged the labyrinth's final guardian: a massive, otherworldly creature that radiated malevolence. Its form was twisted and unnatural, a shifting mass of blackened flesh and crimson veins. Six glowing eyes sat in rows across its jagged face, and its elongated arms ended in claws sharp enough to slice stone. The creature's mouth split open to reveal rows of razor-like teeth, a sinister growl echoing from its throat.

The boys readied themselves, each gripping their weapons tightly.

"Sheldon," Ace said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air, "you got anything left in the tank?"

Sheldon shook his head. "Not much... but I'll give you what I've got."

Troy, his expression calm and arrogant, rolled his shoulders. "Doesn't matter. I'll end this thing myself. You two just stay out of my way."

Ace shot him a glare. "Focus Troy no time to act like a dumbass."

Troy smirked, stepping forward with an air of unshakable confidence. "It's always time for my ego."

The guardian roared, the force of its cry shaking the walls of the chamber. It charged with surprising speed for its massive size, its claws swiping in wide arcs.

Troy stood his ground, daggers raised. As the claws came down, he parried them with ease, his movements precise and deliberate. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, but Troy didn't flinch. Instead, he countered with a single, devastating slash that sent the creature staggering back.

The guardian snarled, lunging again, but Troy intercepted its attack with a powerful block. He twisted his daggers, sending the creature sprawling to the ground. Without hesitation, he slammed his foot down on its chest, driving it deeper into the ground with an air of superiority.

"You're going to have to try harder than that," Troy said, his voice dripping with pride.

The guardian roared in frustration, black tendrils erupting from its body and lashing out. Troy raised his arms to block, but the sheer force of the attack sent him sliding back.

"That's more like it," he muttered, his smirk returning.

Ace took the opening, rushing forward with his sword raised. He inhaled deeply, blue flames swirling around his mouth before he unleashed a torrent of fire directly into the guardian's face. The creature howled, its flesh bubbling and burning under the intense heat.

"Sheldon, now!" Ace shouted.

Sheldon raised his hands, summoning an amalgamation in the form of a massive wolf-like creature. The amalgamation lunged at the guardian, sinking its ethereal fangs into its shoulder. The guardian thrashed wildly, trying to shake the wolf off, but Sheldon's creation held firm.

"Keep it pinned!" Sheldon yelled, sweat pouring down his face.

Troy stepped forward, his aura of Pride intensifying. He raised one of his daggers, now engulfed in black fire. "Let me show you what true power looks like," he said, slamming the dagger into the ground.

A massive sphere of black fire began to form above him, growing larger and larger until it dwarfed the guardian. The room was bathed in darkness as the sphere absorbed all light, its surface flickering with violent energy.

"Solar Eclipse," Troy said, his voice calm and unwavering. He thrust his hand forward, and the sphere shot toward the guardian.

The impact was catastrophic. The explosion shook the entire labyrinth, the force of the blast sending chunks of stone flying. The guardian let out an ear-splitting roar as its body was engulfed in the black flames, its form barely visible within the inferno.

When the flames subsided, the guardian emerged, heavily damaged but still standing. Its six eyes burned brighter, and its movements became more erratic and aggressive.

The guardian slammed its claws into the ground, creating shockwaves that knocked the boys off their feet. Tendrils of dark energy erupted from the ground, targeting each of them.

Ace rolled to his feet, his eye glowing brighter than ever. "We're not done yet!" he roared, coating his sword in blue flames. He charged at the guardian, dodging the tendrils with agile movements. As he closed the distance, he swung his sword with all his strength, unleashing a massive, flaming slash.

"Severance!"

The slash tore through the guardian's torso, leaving a deep, burning gash. The creature howled in pain, staggering back.

Sheldon, now on his last reserves, raised his hands one final time. "I don't know if I'll actually be able to pull this off," he muttered, "but let's see what happens."

He summoned an amalgamation unlike any he'd created before—a man with a violent but also laid back aura that had long patchy red hair . It was Lancelot, a fragment of a memory brought to life.

"Incomplete technique Memory Conjuration: Lancelot," Sheldon whispered, his voice trembling.

The knight charged at the guardian, its hollow eyes glowing with crimson energy. It unleashed a devastating attack, "Fracture Red: Scatter," a series of rapid red orbs that tore through the guardian's body.

But the effort was too much for Sheldon. As the attack ended, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious making the summoning disappear.

With the guardian severely weakened, Ace and Troy stood as the last line of defense.

Troy stepped forward, his aura flaring one last time. "Stay back, Ace. This is my fight now."

Ace hesitated but nodded, stepping aside.

Troy walked toward the guardian with an air of absolute confidence. The creature lunged at him, but Troy didn't flinch. He parried its claws with ease, each block sending shockwaves through the room.

With one final, powerful strike, Troy drove his daggers into the guardian's core. The creature let out one last, agonized roar before collapsing into a heap of ash and smoke.

The room fell silent, the oppressive energy dissipating. In the center of the chamber, a glowing orb floated, its light soft and inviting.

Ace picked it up, his hands trembling. "We did it," he said, his voice filled with relief.

Troy smirked, sheathing his daggers. "Of course we did. Was there ever any doubt?"

Ace glanced at Sheldon, who was still unconscious. "Let's get out of here. He needs rest."

The trio emerged from the labyrinth battered and bruised, but victorious. The oppressive air of the place lifted the moment they stepped back into the open, and the cool breeze of the outside world washed over them like a balm. Each step they took felt heavier, the weight of their ordeal pressing down on their weary bodies. Ace carried the Ego's Heart in a small pouch slung over his shoulder, its faint glow visible even through the fabric, a constant reminder of what they had endured to claim it.

Troy stretched, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the remnants of the labyrinth's dark grip. "Finally out of that damned place," he muttered, his voice tinged with both relief and arrogance. "About time. I thought we'd never see daylight again."

Ace glanced over at Sheldon, who leaned heavily on him for support, his unconscious form slack but his breathing steady. "We need to get him back to the village," Ace said, his tone laced with concern. "He's completely drained. That last attack took everything out of him."

Troy smirked, his prideful aura still lingering faintly around him. "That guy's tougher than he looks. He'll bounce back. You'll see." Despite his words, there was a flicker of unease in his eyes as he glanced at Sheldon.

The walk back to the village felt far longer than it actually was. Every step was a struggle, their bodies screaming for rest. The sun was beginning to set by the time they reached the outskirts of the village, casting the landscape in hues of gold and orange. The sight of Bjorn's forge, its familiar chimney puffing out trails of smoke, was a welcome relief.

Bjorn was outside, tending to the roaring furnace, his burly figure silhouetted against the firelight. When he spotted them, his sharp eyes immediately took in their condition. "By the gods," he exclaimed, striding over. "You look like you've been to hell and back. Did you get it?"

Ace nodded, pulling the glowing Ego's Heart from the pouch and holding it up. Its light flickered softly, a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic rhythm. "We got it."

Bjorn let out a low whistle, his expression a mixture of awe and respect. "You actually did it. And you're still breathing. That's something." He motioned for them to follow him into the forge. "Come on, let's get you patched up and your weapons forged."

Bjorn set up a small cot for Sheldon in the corner of the forge, where he could rest peacefully. Meanwhile, Ace and Troy cleaned up and tended to their wounds. Bjorn provided them with bandages, salves, and a hearty stew, which they devoured in silence, the weight of their ordeal still hanging heavily in the air.

The blacksmith wasted no time, setting to work on the forging process. He examined the Ego's Heart carefully, his experienced hands turning it over, testing its weight, and observing its strange, pulsating glow. "This isn't going to be quick," Bjorn explained, setting the Heart down on his anvil. "It's powerful, but temperamental. Forging it into weapons that won't tear themselves—or you—apart is delicate work. It'll take me a full day, maybe more."

Ace nodded, his exhaustion evident in his voice. "Do whatever you have to do. We'll rest here until it's done."

Troy leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he watched Bjorn work. "Just make sure it's worth the wait. After all we've been through, these weapons better be something special."

Bjorn chuckled, shaking his head as he began gathering materials. "Trust me, kid. You'll see."

The rhythmic clang of Bjorn's hammer against the anvil became a lullaby of sorts as the boys settled in. Exhaustion quickly overtook them, and one by one, they drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Inside Troy's mind, the tension was palpable. He stood at the center of the swirling chaos, face-to-face with the Seven Deadly Sins. Pride's black-flamed eyes burned with disdain as the rest of the Sins loomed, each radiating their overwhelming presence. The remnants of the shattered cage still dissipated into the ether, a symbol of the freedom Troy had granted them.

Troy straightened his back, his expression unwavering. "Alright, old man," he said, fixing his gaze on Pride. "I kept my promise. You gave me the power when I needed it, and I held up my end of the deal."

Pride's lips curled into a smirk, but before he could respond, the conjoined twins, Greed and Gluttony, advanced with malicious grins. "Oh, how noble," Greed sneered. "Thanks for the freedom, kid. Now tell us, what's stopping us from killing you and taking over your body entirely?"

Troy didn't flinch. "If I die, you all disappear with me. So go ahead and try—you'd only be destroying yourselves."

Gluttony's grotesque tongue flicked out, dripping with black venom. "Maybe we'd rather be gone than stuck inside your pathetic little mind," she hissed.

Suddenly, the ground beneath Troy shifted, and the oppressive energy of the Sins surged. In a flash, Greed and Gluttony lunged, pinning him to the ground. Lust and Envy followed, their combined power immobilizing him. Sloth loomed in the background, his massive form radiating apathy, while Pride simply watched with a calculated smirk.

Just as Troy struggled to break free, the air in the mindscape shifted. A deep, resonant hum filled the void, and all the Sins froze. Their predatory smiles faltered as they turned toward the source of the disturbance.

From the shadows emerged a figure wreathed in fire and smoke. The temperature of the mindscape seemed to rise, and the sheer presence of the newcomer caused even the Sins to falter. As the figure stepped closer, the fire and smoke peeled away, revealing a man of towering stature with crimson eyes burning like molten lava. His broad shoulders and heavily muscled frame exuded authority, and his dark hair was streaked with streaks of fiery red. His aura wasn't just power—it was dominance.

It was Wrath.

"It can't be…" Lust whispered, her confidence evaporating. "How are you here?"

Wrath's voice cut through the air like a blade. "What do you think you're doing?"

Greed and Gluttony recoiled, releasing Troy and retreating as Wrath advanced. Even Pride, who rarely bowed to anyone, stepped back, his cocky grin replaced with unease.

"Wrath," Pride said, his tone cautious. "You… you're supposed to be the strongest of us. If you're here, does that mean you've—"

"Died?" Wrath interrupted, his voice like rolling thunder. "No. I haven't died. This boy's vessel is unlike anything we've ever encountered. It's so powerful that it's drawn a fragment of my spirit here, allowing my consciousness to manifest alongside yours."

Troy got to his feet, brushing himself off and glaring at the group. "So what's the deal, huh? You want to kill me too, or are you here to babysit them?"

Wrath's burning eyes locked onto Troy's, and for a moment, the sheer intensity made him falter. But then Wrath's expression softened—just slightly. "You've got guts, kid," he said. "But you're playing a dangerous game. These fools don't understand what they've been given. You freed them, yes, but that doesn't mean they're your allies."

Troy crossed his arms. "Yeah, I'm starting to get that."

Wrath turned his attention back to the other Sins, his voice sharp and commanding. "Listen carefully. Killing this boy is not an option. Without him, you don't exist. Instead of wasting your time trying to destroy him, you should be lending him your strength. Help him grow. Use him as a vessel to achieve our goals."

Lust stepped forward hesitantly. "And why should we listen to you? What do you stand to gain from this, Wrath?"

Wrath's aura flared, and the sheer pressure of his power forced Lust to her knees. "Because I know what's at stake. This boy is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. With his power and our guidance, we can reclaim what we've lost—and more."

The Sins exchanged uneasy glances. Greed's lips twisted into a scowl. "Fine. We'll play along. For now."

Pride stepped forward, his gaze locked onto Troy. "You're lucky, brat. Wrath's convinced me to give you a chance. But don't think for a second that you're in control."

Troy smirked, meeting Pride's gaze head-on. "Oh, I never thought that. But don't forget—I'm the one keeping all of you alive."

Wrath placed a heavy hand on Troy's shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Remember this, boy. Power is meaningless without control. Learn to balance the two, or you'll fall—and if you fall, you take us all with you."

As Wrath's fiery form began to dissolve back into the shadows, the other Sins followed suit, their presence retreating into the recesses of Troy's mind. For the first time since the fight began, the mindscape grew calm, the swirling chaos replaced with an eerie stillness.

Troy exhaled deeply, his fists unclenching. He glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting Wrath to reappear. But the mindscape was silent.

"Great," he muttered to himself. "Now I've got a team of lunatics living rent-free in my head. What could possibly go wrong?"

While the boys rested, Bjorn worked tirelessly through the night. The Ego's Heart was unlike anything he had ever worked with before, its power volatile and unpredictable. Each strike of his hammer sent ripples of energy through the forge, causing the very air to hum with power. He combined the Heart's essence with rare metals he had collected over the years, carefully crafting the weapons to suit the unique fighting styles of their future wielders.

By the time dawn broke, the forge was filled with an otherworldly glow, the weapons resting on the anvil as if they were alive. Bjorn stepped back, wiping the sweat from his brow. He looked at his handiwork with a mix of pride and exhaustion. "They're ready," he murmured to himself.

When the boys awoke, the sun was already high in the sky. Sheldon groaned, sitting up and rubbing his head. "What happened?" he asked groggily.

"You passed out," Ace said, handing him a cup of water. "We made it out of the labyrinth. Bjorn's been working on the weapons all night."

As if on cue, Bjorn entered the room, his face smudged with soot but his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "You're just in time," he said with a grin. "They're done."

The boys followed Bjorn into the forge, where three gleaming weapons rested on a sturdy table. Each weapon seemed to radiate its own unique aura, their surfaces shimmering faintly with the power of the Ego's Heart.

Bjorn pointed to the first weapon. "Ace, this one's yours." He picked up a long, curved dagger with a sleek, serrated edge. The blade was blackened steel, and blue veins of flame flickered faintly along its surface. "Light, fast, and deadly. Perfect for someone like you."

Ace took the weapon reverently, feeling its weight in his hand. It felt almost alive, as if it were responding to his touch, eager to be wielded.

"Sheldon," Bjorn continued, lifting a slender black rapier with an intricate guard. The blade was thin and elegant, a faint red glow running along its edge. "Precision and finesse—this suits you."

Sheldon took the rapier, his fingers brushing the hilt. It felt natural in his grip, as if it had always been a part of him.

"And for you, Troy." Bjorn handed him a pair of gauntlets, their surfaces rugged and spiked. The dark metal gleamed faintly with black fire that pulsed like a heartbeat. "These will amplify your strength and channel your destructive energy."

Troy slipped the gauntlets on, flexing his fingers. They fit perfectly, the spikes glinting dangerously in the forge's light. "Not bad," he said, his smirk betraying his satisfaction. "These'll do."

Bjorn's expression turned serious as he leaned against the workbench. "Now, listen up. These aren't ordinary weapons. They've been forged with the Ego's Heart, which means they need to bond with you. To do that, you have to pour your endo into them—your life force. It's not going to be easy, and it's going to hurt. But once the bond is made, these weapons will be an extension of you, more powerful than anything you've ever wielded."

Ace nodded, gripping his dagger tightly. "What do we need to do?"

Bjorn gestured to the weapons. "Focus on them. Channel your energy into the weapon—your anger, your will, your purpose. It'll feel like the weapon is fighting back, but don't let go."

The boys stood in a line, each holding their weapon. They closed their eyes, concentrating.

Ace felt the dagger grow searingly hot in his hand, its flames flaring wildly as it pushed against his control. Gritting his teeth, he forced his energy into the blade, his determination overwhelming the weapon's resistance. The flames began to stabilize, flowing in sync with his own rhythm.

Sheldon's rapier pulsed with red light, trembling in his grip as he struggled to match its frequency. His mind raced, but he focused on his memories—his drive to protect his friends. Slowly, the rapier calmed, its glow steady and harmonious.

Troy, meanwhile, felt the gauntlets surge with raw power, the black fire roaring like a storm. But he stood firm, his pride unshakable. With a defiant grin, he poured his energy into the gauntlets, taming the wild flames with sheer willpower.

When the process was complete, the weapons seemed to hum with life, their power now fully integrated with their wielders.

Bjorn clapped his hands, a proud grin on his face. "Congratulations, boys. You've just forged a bond with weapons that'll put legends to shame."

Ace looked at his dagger, the blue flames dancing along its edge. "We're ready for whatever comes next."

Troy cracked his knuckles, the spikes on his gauntlets glinting. "Let's hope the next challenge doesn't disappoint."

Sheldon twirled his rapier, its red glow reflecting in his eyes. "Together, we can handle anything."