CHAPTER 14 THE STRANGER’S REVELATION

The fire crackled as the cool mountain breeze swept through the camp. Dodo, Kyra, and Tiv sat on edge, watching the hooded stranger who had approached them in the darkness.

"I mean you no harm," the man said, lowering his hood to reveal a weathered face. His eyes shone with wisdom beyond his years. "My name is Alaren, and I have spent my life studying the Omega helmet and its history."

Dodo's hand instinctively rested on the helmet by his side. "How do you know about the helmet?"

Alaren smiled faintly. "That helmet is no ordinary artifact, boy. Its origin is tied to one of the most pivotal moments in this world's history. You deserve to know the truth."

Kyra crossed her arms. "What truth? What are you talking about?"

Alaren sat by the fire, gesturing for them to do the same. "Many centuries ago, this world was attacked by a race of beings from another dimension—the Dark Eff. They were led by their fearsome king, Gakkok, a tyrant who sought to subjugate all life. The Eff used their advanced knowledge of dimensional rifts to open four massive portals into our world, unleashing destruction upon the land."

Tiv frowned. "I've heard stories about the Eff, but most people say they're just myths."

Alaren shook his head. "They are no myth. The Eff were real, and their invasion nearly destroyed this world. None of the kingdoms, tribes, or armies of that time could stand against them. Cities fell, and entire nations were brought to their knees."

Kyra leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper. "So what stopped them?"

"Zuru," Alaren said with reverence. "The first Omega."

Dodo's eyes widened. He had heard tales of Zuru as a child, but they were always vague and shrouded in mystery. "What did Zuru do?"

"Zuru was a warrior unlike any other," Alaren explained. "When the Dark Eff began their conquest, he vowed to stop them. He was brave, but even he knew he couldn't defeat them alone. So, he made a choice that no one else dared to make: he entered one of the portals to the Eff's dimension."

Tiv's jaw dropped. "He went into their world? How did he survive?"

"No one knows for certain," Alaren admitted. "When Zuru emerged from the portal weeks later, he was... changed. He carried with him a helmet of extraordinary power—the Omega helmet. With it, he gained abilities that no mortal had ever possessed. Some say he struck a bargain with a being from another dimension, while others believe he was chosen by the gods themselves. Only Zuru knew the truth, and he took that secret to his grave."

Dodo looked down at the helmet in his hands, its surface gleaming faintly in the firelight. "And he used this to defeat the Eff?"

Alaren nodded. "With the helmet, Zuru turned the tide of the war. He closed the portals one by one, defeating the Eff forces and banishing King Gakkok back to their dimension. Peace was restored, but the helmet remained—a powerful artifact that would forever mark its wearer as both a savior and a target."

Kyra's expression darkened. "Why would Zuru keep the helmet's origin a secret? If it's so powerful, wouldn't people need to know where it came from?"

"Perhaps he feared what might happen if the truth were revealed," Alaren said. "Or perhaps the being who gave him the helmet demanded his silence. Whatever the reason, Zuru chose to bear the burden alone. And now, young Omega, that burden has passed to you."

Dodo's grip tightened on the helmet. "Why are you telling me this? What do you want from me?"

Alaren's gaze was steady. "Because you need to understand what you carry—and what you're up against. The Eff may be gone, but the forces that covet the helmet's power are not. Prince Xalor is only the beginning. Others will come, drawn by the power of the Omega."

Kyra's voice trembled with concern. "What do we do?"

"There is a place," Alaren said. "A place where Zuru himself went to master the helmet's power—the Temple of the Shaper, hidden deep in the Forgotten Wastes. It is said that the temple contains trials left by Zuru to test the worthiness of future wearers. If you are to survive, Dodo, you must face those trials and unlock the helmet's full potential."

Dodo looked into the fire, the weight of Alaren's words sinking in. Finally, he nodded. "If this is what I have to do to protect my friends and stop Xalor, then I'll do it."

Alaren reached into his cloak and pulled out a small, glowing shard. "Take this. It is a fragment of the dimensional energy that powers the helmet. It will guide you to the temple when the time comes."

Dodo accepted the shard, feeling its warmth pulse in his hand. "Thank you, Alaren. I won't let you down."

As Alaren disappeared into the shadows, Kyra placed a hand on Dodo's shoulder. "We're with you, Dodo. No matter what."

Tiv grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah, I mean, how hard can these trials be? We've already fought bandits, right?"

Dodo smiled faintly, but his thoughts were heavy. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the legacy of Zuru and the Omega helmet was now his to carry.