Incubus Ascension

The golden skeletons advanced in eerie silence, their bony forms glowing with elemental auras that cast shifting lights across the ancient tomb walls. Liam’s stomach twisted as the glowing system window hovered before his eyes, the words burning into his mind.

**Heroes of the Golden Age**

**Level 2500**

"Fuck," Liam muttered, his voice cracking. The gap was insane—two thousand levels. A chasm so vast it might as well have been an ocean between him and certain death. His legs shook despite himself, knees threatening to buckle. ’How the hell are we supposed to fight these things? One swing and I’m paste.’

Each skeleton bore a distinct hue: crimson for fire, sapphire for water, emerald for nature, obsidian for shadow. They moved with unnatural grace, surrounding the group but stopping short of attack. Their hollow eye sockets fixed first on the princess, then swept over the rest of them—Medusa, the others, and finally Liam himself.

The central skeleton, its bones gleaming with pure gold, stepped forward. It raised a spectral sword, the blade humming with ancient power, and pointed it directly at the princess.

"This trial is meant for the carrier of her bloodline alone," it intoned, its voice like wind through dry bones.

Then the golden skull turned toward Liam. "You are not allowed here."

Liam’s heart hammered, but he forced himself to stand straighter. These things hadn’t struck yet. No mindless aggression—just cold judgment. He swallowed hard. "Would you kill her if she fails?"

The golden skeleton shook its head slowly. "We would never kill one of our own descendants. The goal is to pass our legacy to the worthy. If she fails, we will simply expel her."

Liam glanced at the terrified princess, then back. "And if she succeeds?"

"She will receive the legacy."

Liam pressed, his mind racing for any advantage. "Can we leave the tomb afterward?"

The skeleton nodded once. "Yes. She may exit with her group if she wishes."

Relief flickered through Liam, sharp and desperate. He turned and crossed to the princess in two strides, gripping her shoulder firmly but gently. Her wide eyes met his, full of doubt that hit him like a punch to the chest. She’d already lost so much—her family slaughtered protecting her. He couldn’t let her crumble now, not when freedom was this close.

"You heard that, Princess," he said, voice low and steady. "For everything we’ve been through together... you have to claim their legacy. It’s the only way we get out of here alive."

She trembled under his hand. "What? I... I don’t think I can do that."

Liam tightened his grip just enough to ground her, then shook her shoulders lightly, forcing her to really look at him. "Believe in yourself, Princess. Because I believe in you." His words came out raw, laced with the weight of their shared struggles—the narrow escapes, the losses, the quiet moments where she’d shown quiet strength even when the world tried to break her. ’She’s not just some fragile royal. She’s fought beside us. She can do this.’

For a heartbeat, her eyes shimmered with something new—hope cutting through the fear. She remembered the screams of her dying family, the weight of their sacrifice. She couldn’t keep running forever. Not anymore.

The princess drew a shaky breath, then stepped toward the golden skeleton. "Alright," she said, voice gaining strength. "I accept the trial."

The leader’s bony jaw shifted in what might have been approval. "That is the spirit." It turned its gaze to Liam. "Boy, you have our gratitude."

Liam offered a tired nod, rubbing the back of his neck. "It’s alright. I’m doing this because I just want us all to leave this place."

The princess approached the golden figure. Its skeletal hand reached out and clasped hers. In a flash of brilliant light, both vanished.

---

She reappeared in a vast, ethereal field under a golden sky. Before her stood a radiant woman with flowing golden hair, her presence warm yet commanding.

"Relax, child. This is the trial," the woman said softly, gesturing behind her. "It is simple. You must cross this field while resisting the whispers of worldly desire. Do not fall to their pull."

The princess gulped, staring at the endless expanse. The moment her foot touched the ground, her legs grew impossibly heavy, as if weighed down by chains of pure gold. Whispers slithered into her mind—promises of endless wealth, immortality, power... and strangely, the warmth of Liam’s smile, the thought of his "chocolate" gaze that always seemed to steady her.

She remembered his words. *I believe in you.* And her family’s final, desperate stand. "No!" she shouted, forcing one foot forward. The whispers dulled slightly. Each step grew easier, her resistance building like a muscle finally waking up.

Near the far end, a new whisper struck harder than the rest—pure strength, the kind that could end all her fear forever. Her legs nearly gave out. She wanted nothing more than to lie down and let it wash over her. ’This is what I’ve always needed...’

But then she thought of true strength. The kind earned through sweat and risk, not borrowed power. She pictured Liam—how he grew stronger every time he stared death in the face, pushing forward no matter the odds. ’If he can do it, so can I.’

With a final, determined cry, she crossed the threshold.

The golden-haired woman waited on the other side, smiling warmly. "You truly passed. I had faith in you." She pulled the princess into a gentle hug and whispered, "Make sure the hero bloodline stays strong—with that boy’s help."

The princess flushed bright red. "N-no, it’s not like that! We don’t have that kind of relationship."

The woman chuckled, eyes twinkling with knowing amusement. "You cannot lie to me, child. Your reactions when I mention his name tell me everything I need to know."

"Whatever," the princess muttered, cheeks burning. "What is the legacy?"

The woman reached behind her flowing dress and produced a beautiful necklace adorned with five gleaming jewels. She placed it around the princess’s neck, fastening it carefully. "This is your legacy—and the key to your true potential. Each jewel holds the power of one of us, the five heroes. Only the hero bloodline can awaken them fully."

Power surged through the princess as the necklace settled against her skin, warm and alive. She looked at the vanishing figure of the golden lady. "What are you going to do now?"

The woman smiled one last time and pointed to the central golden jewel. "Do not worry, Princess. If you need me, you can always find me here, with you." With those words, she faded away.

---

Back in the main chamber, the remaining four skeletons dissolved into dust. Sections of the wall shimmered and vanished, revealing a bright opening that led to a roaring waterfall.

Liam stepped forward as the princess reappeared, the necklace glowing softly against her chest. "You finally did it," he said, a genuine smile breaking through his exhaustion.

She returned the smile, eyes bright. "It’s thanks to you. And the girls."

Together, they leaped through the opening. Cool water crashed around them as they plunged into the pool below, swimming hard until they dragged themselves onto solid ground. Dripping and breathless, they took in their surroundings. No clear path. No safety.

Liam ran a hand through his wet hair, mind already turning. ’We can’t go back toward Hydra City. Scorpion’s forces will be hunting us.’ He turned to Medusa. "Do you know where your sister Nyx is?"

Medusa tilted her head, her serpentine hair shifting slightly. "I can feel her approximate location. Pinpointing her precisely would require significant energy."

"Where is she?" Liam asked, urgency threading through his voice. Questions about his own dark energy burned in his chest—he needed answers, and Nyx might hold them.

She met his gaze steadily. "Valhalla region."

Liam nodded, the weight of their next move settling on his shoulders. They had the legacy. They had each other. Now they just had to survive long enough to use it.