Chapter 757 - 759
The voices overlapped, each one calling him in a different direction. Some were gentle, others urgent, some pleading, others commanding.
His pulse quickened. He clenched his fists.
"This is a trick," he muttered under his breath.
He had faced illusions before. This was no different. If he let the whispers sway him, he would never find his way out. He closed his eyes, shutting out the voices, the pulsing light, the twisting paths. He took a slow, deep breath.
And then he stepped forward.
The moment his foot touched the ground, the whispers stopped. The mist pulled back, revealing a single path stretching ahead. Jude’s eyes snapped open, and for the first time since entering this cursed forest, he saw something in the distance. A structure.
It was massive, its shape obscured by the lingering fog, but he could see the faint glow of torches lining its exterior. A fortress? A temple? He couldn’t tell. But whatever it was, he knew that was where he needed to go.
He quickened his pace.
As he approached, the details became clearer. The structure was ancient, built from stone that was cracked and weathered with age. Towering pillars framed its entrance, each one etched with symbols he couldn’t decipher. The torches lining the walls flickered with an unnatural light, their flames moving against the wind rather than with it.
Jude reached the base of the steps leading up to the entrance and hesitated. The air here was heavy, charged with something unseen. He could feel it pressing against his skin, seeping into his bones.
A test awaited him inside. He knew it.