Beyond the Veil - 2

The Herald of the Abyss, the Mistress of the Crystal Peaks, and the Lord of the Phantom Plains did not retreat. Wounded but not broken, the Lord regained his strength, and the trio descended into the Underworld once more. This time, they were prepared.

The Herald studied the runes covering the walls of the Hall of Learning and discovered that they not only protected the crystal but also fueled it with energy. The Mistress, using her knowledge of crystals, realized that the crystal's pulsation was not just a chaotic fluctuation, but a kind of signal tuned to a specific frequency. The Lord, using his ability to sense energy flows, determined that the crystal not only received but also emitted energy, creating an invisible barrier around itself.

— We must retune the crystal, — said the Mistress. — Change its frequency so that it stops summoning the shadows.

— But how? — asked the Herald. — We don't have a device capable of that.

— We have me, — answered the Lord. — My power allows me to manipulate energy. I can change the crystal's frequency.

The plan was risky, but there was no other way. The Herald and the Mistress had to hold back the shadows while the Lord worked with the crystal.

As soon as they entered the Hall of Learning, the shadows reappeared, even more numerous and ferocious than before. But the trio was ready. The Herald created an impenetrable sphere of darkness around himself, deflecting enemy attacks. The Mistress erected a wall of razor-sharp ice, keeping the shadows away from the Lord.

The Lord himself, gathering all his will, approached the crystal. He reached out, and his fingers, woven from mist, touched the pulsating surface. A shiver ran through his body, the crystal's energy penetrated him, trying to subdue him.

Concentrate, — he whispered. — You must control it, not the other way around.

The Lord began to slowly, carefully change the crystal's frequency. The shadows around him howled, their movements became chaotic, uncoordinated. The crystal resisted, its pulsation intensified, but the Lord continued his work.

— Almost… — he rasped, feeling his strength leaving him. — Just… a little… more…

Suddenly, one of the shadows broke through the defenses of the Herald and the Mistress. It rushed towards the Lord, ready to tear him to pieces.

— No! — shouted the Mistress, but she didn't have time to create a new shield.

At the last moment, the Herald of the Abyss intercepted the shadow, enveloping it in a clot of darkness. But the shadow was stronger than he expected. It broke free from his grasp and lunged at the Lord again.

And then something unexpected happened. The crystal, as if sensing danger, flared with a blindingly bright light. A powerful pulse of energy erupted from it, sweeping away all the shadows in its path.

The Hall of Learning fell silent. The shadows disappeared. The crystal stopped pulsating and now glowed with a steady, calm light.

— What… what happened? — asked the Mistress, lowering the ice wall.

— I don't know, — answered the Herald, dispelling the darkness. — But it seems the crystal… protected us.

The Lord of the Phantom Plains stood leaning against the pedestal, breathing heavily. His body flickered more than ever.

— I… I did it, — he whispered. — I changed its frequency.

— Are you sure? — asked the Herald.

— Yes, — answered the Lord. — Now it won't summon the shadows. It's… ready.

— Ready for what? — asked the Mistress.

The Lord slowly raised his hand and pointed to the crystal.

— For transfer, — he answered. — It's tuned to the frequency of the Puppeteer's world.

Astonishment was reflected on the faces of the Herald and the Mistress. Had they finally reached their goal? Could they really get to the Puppeteer's world?

— But how do we use it? — asked the Herald.

— I don't know, — admitted the Lord. — But I feel that the answer… is somewhere nearby.

They searched the entire Hall of Learning, every corner, every rune, but found nothing that could tell them how to activate the crystal for transfer.

— Maybe we should return to the other places? — suggested the Mistress. — To the Crystal Peaks, to the Phantom Plains? Perhaps there we will find the missing parts of the device.

— Maybe, — agreed the Herald. — But I don't think it's that simple.

— What do you mean? — asked the Lord.

— I think the Puppeteer didn't just leave this crystal here, — answered the Herald. — I think it's… a test.

— A test? — the Mistress repeated. — But why?

— To test us, — said the Herald. — To make sure we are worthy to enter his world.

— Or to stop us, — added the Lord. — If he doesn't want us to find him.

— In any case, — concluded the Herald, — we must be prepared for anything.

They left the Underworld, leaving the crystal in the Hall of Learning. Ahead of them were new searches, new trials, new dangers. But now they knew they were on the right track. And that, perhaps, soon they would meet the one they had been looking for so long.

Meanwhile, in another world…

Choi Sung-Wook, having shed the guise of the all-powerful Puppeteer, returned to his modest apartment. He took off the contact lenses that hid his unusual gaze, changed into old, stretched sweatpants and a T-shirt with the image of his favorite anime character.

He was no longer the one who pulled the strings, controlling the fates of heroes and villains. He was once again an ordinary office worker, tired of routine and dreaming of only one thing – to relax.

Sung-Wook brewed himself a cup of cheap instant coffee, turned on the computer, and immersed himself in the world of online games. Here, in virtual reality, he could be anyone – a mighty warrior, a wise mage, a cunning rogue. Here he could fight monsters, complete quests, communicate with other players.

Here he could forget about his true essence. About his power. About his responsibility.

He played for several hours in a row, not noticing how time flew by. Then, when his eyes began to close, he turned off the computer and, without undressing, collapsed onto the bed.

Before falling asleep, he turned on the TV, where the next episode of his favorite anime was playing. Bright colors flashed on the screen, heroes fought against evil, delivered pompous speeches…

Sung-Wook smiled. At that moment, he was happy. He was home.

They are looking for me, — a thought flashed through his mind. — They are coming.

But now it didn't matter. Now he was not the Puppeteer, but Choi Sung-Wook, an ordinary guy who just wanted to relax after a hard day.

Let them search, — he thought, falling asleep. — I have time.

He knew that sooner or later he would have to return to his game. To his role as the Puppeteer. But not today.

Today he just wanted to sleep. Watch anime. Play games. Be an ordinary person.

Tomorrow, — he whispered, sinking into sleep. — Everything will be tomorrow.

And in a world where eternal twilight reigned, the three strongest continued their search. They did not yet know that their Puppeteer was not currently deciding the fate of worlds, but simply enjoying the life of an ordinary person.

They did not yet know that the most difficult game was just beginning. And that the rules in it would be set by him – Choi Sung-Wook, the man hiding under the mask of the Puppeteer.

For now, — he whispered in his sleep. — For now, I'll just rest.

And darkness thickened over the city, hiding him from prying eyes. The game continued, but the Puppeteer took a short break. To gather strength before a new, even more exciting round.