The Lost Artifact

A deep silence enveloped Mount Sambo after the shadow creature vanished. However, despite the stillness, Anya could still feel the surge of energy pulsating within her. Her right hand, which had been glowing earlier, now felt hot, as though a power was trying to break free from inside her. Something vast was awakening within her.

Kaelan stood, his body slightly swaying. He gazed toward the mountain, now looming ominously. "The power you just unleashed is not something you can control easily. That is pure energy from Mount Sambo, flowing through your blood," Kaelan said, his voice firm but also filled with warning.

"So, I really have a connection with this mountain?" Anya asked, her eyes still full of confusion. "What does this mean? Why am I being involved in all of this?"

Kaelan sighed, his gaze drifting upward, staring at the peak of the mountain shrouded in thick mist. "It's your destiny, Anya. Mount Sambo is not just a mountain. It is an entity that maintains the balance of two worlds—ours and the parallel world. But right now, that mountain is under threat. The artifact you seek is the key to saving both worlds."

"And who is threatening it?" Anya asked, her voice now tinged with deep fear. "Who wants to destroy this balance?"

"Rheskhar," Kaelan answered firmly. "A being from another dimension who has been trying to disrupt the balance between our world and the parallel world. He's been seeking that artifact for a long time, and now, he's closer than ever."

Anya bit her lip, reflecting on Kaelan's words. "And the artifact is hidden in this mountain?"

Kaelan nodded, but his expression grew even more serious. "But there's something much darker behind this. The artifact you're seeking is not just an object to be easily found. There are dark secrets buried within this mountain—secrets that even I don't fully understand."

Anya felt the growing tension. She knew this journey would take them far deeper into danger. But on the other hand, her heart was filled with a rising curiosity. "What is the mountain hiding?" she asked, more to herself than to Kaelan.

Kaelan looked at Anya with a warning expression. "You'll find out, but you have to be ready for whatever comes next."

They continued their journey into the mountain, crossing thick forests and steep slopes leading to a large cave at the foot of the mountain. As they entered the cave, the atmosphere became heavier, as if the air around them was pressing down on their chests. Inside the cave, the stones embedded in the walls shimmered, emitting an eerie light. Some of them bore strange symbols that Anya had never seen before.

"This might be a clue," Anya said, approaching the wall and inspecting the symbols. Kaelan nodded, though his face remained anxious.

"We're getting closer," he said softly. "But be careful, Anya. This isn't just a clue. This is a trap."

Suddenly, the floor of the cave rumbled, and a voice echoed through the cave, shattering the silence. "Who dares disturb the peace of Mount Sambo?" The voice was deep and full of power, as if it came from the very earth itself.

Anya gasped, and Kaelan quickly formed an energy shield in front of them. "There's no turning back now," he whispered.

From the darkness, a massive shadow appeared, darker than anything they had encountered before. The creature resembled a dragon, but its body was made of shadows that shimmered with glowing red eyes. Anya held her breath, realizing that this creature was far stronger than anything they had faced before.

"Rheskhar…" Kaelan murmured, his voice trembling. "He's been waiting for us."

Without warning, the creature lunged forward, attacking them with incredible force. Kaelan quickly raised his hand to form a shield, but the strike was so powerful that it shattered their defense in an instant. Anya felt the power within her surge, as if it wanted to explode. Her right hand began to glow brightly, and without realizing it, she extended her arm, creating a wave of energy that struck the creature.

However, as the creature was hit, something unexpected happened. The creature did not just stumble back—it vanished in an instant, transforming into black mist that then disappeared into a crack in the cave wall.

"This can't be…" Kaelan muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief. "That wasn't Rheskhar himself."

"Then who was that?" Anya asked, bewildered.

Kaelan fell silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. "That was an illusion. Rheskhar is testing us, manipulating us to make us slip up. We're getting closer, Anya. But…"

Suddenly, Kaelan staggered, as though some unseen force was pulling him to the ground. Anya ran toward him, but she immediately tripped over a large rock that had fallen from the cave ceiling. As the rock rolled, a small box was revealed beneath it. The box appeared ancient, covered with the same symbols as the ones on the cave walls.

Anya carefully opened the box, and inside was a glowing crystal stone. "This… is this the artifact we've been looking for?" she asked, her voice full of confusion.

Kaelan stepped closer, his face pale. "That… is not just an ordinary artifact. It is the core of Mount Sambo. It holds the power that has been maintaining the balance of this world for centuries."

However, as they both touched the artifact, a booming voice echoed throughout the cave. "You're too late," the voice said, more menacing than before. "That artifact is mine."

Anya felt her body stagger, and before she could understand what was happening, a shadowy figure snatched the artifact from their hands. In an instant, a portal opened before them, and the shadow disappeared into it.

With a deafening rumble, the cave began to collapse, and Anya and Kaelan were forced to flee, chasing after the shadow in desperation. But in the chaos, Anya felt something much greater lurking—a threat far bigger than they had imagined. And in that chase, they were getting closer to a truth that was far more unexpected.

Rheskhar was closer than they had ever realized.