Chapter Two: The Blood Peaks

The wind howled around them, carrying with it a biting chill that seeped through their worn clothes. Ryo and Aya had been walking for days, the distant peaks of the Blood Mountains slowly growing larger as they approached. The terrain was unforgiving—a mixture of jagged rocks, uneven paths, and thick underbrush that made every step a challenge. Yet neither of them spoke much; they were both focused on what lay ahead.

The Blood Peaks were infamous. They were said to be a place where the boundary between the mortal and the divine blurred, a land touched by the wrath of gods. Ryo knew it was dangerous. Tales of cursed wanderers and monstrous creatures filled the stories he'd heard as a child. But those tales had never deterred him; instead, they had become a twisted source of hope. For where else would he find the power he needed to face beings that called themselves gods?

"Ryo, look," Aya called, her voice cutting through his thoughts.

He paused, glancing back at her. She was pointing towards the horizon, where the rocky path dipped into a shadowy valley. Ryo followed her gaze and saw a faint flicker of light—orange and warm, like the glow of a campfire. He frowned.

"Someone's here," he said, narrowing his eyes.

Aya nodded, a concerned expression on her face. "Do you think it’s bandits? Or…"

Ryo shook his head. "It doesn’t matter. We should check it out, but stay on guard."

The two made their way down the path, careful to stay quiet. As they drew closer, the flickering light resolved itself into a fire, surrounded by several figures. They were huddled together, their faces illuminated by the flames. Ryo signaled to Aya to stay back, then crept closer, keeping to the shadows.

There were four of them, and they looked rough—clad in mismatched armor, with weapons strapped to their sides. They were armed, but not well-organized, more like scavengers than soldiers. One of them, a man with a scraggly beard, was talking loudly, his voice echoing in the quiet night.

“…tell you, there’s something in these mountains. I saw it with my own eyes,” he said, poking the fire with a stick.

Another, a woman with short-cropped hair, scoffed. “You’ve been talking about this ‘core’ for days, Feris. If it were real, don’t you think someone would’ve found it by now?”

Ryo’s breath caught at the mention of the word. Core. Could they be talking about the Ascendant Core?

Feris scowled. “I’m telling you, it’s real! The Ascendant Core—it’s up there, somewhere in the old shrine. I’ve heard stories from the traders who’ve made it out alive.”

The woman rolled her eyes. “And how many of those traders were sober when they told you this?”

Feris glared at her but didn’t answer. Instead, he turned back to the fire, muttering to himself. Ryo watched them for a moment longer, then crept back to where Aya was waiting, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“What did you hear?” she whispered.

“They know about the Ascendant Core,” Ryo replied. “They think it’s somewhere in the mountains, in an old shrine.”

Aya’s eyes widened. “Really? Do you think they’re telling the truth?”

Ryo nodded. “It’s the best lead we have. We’ll follow them, see where they go.”

Aya hesitated. “And if they’re lying? If it’s a trap?”

“Then we’ll deal with it,” Ryo said, his voice flat. He met her gaze, his eyes hard. “I’ve come too far to turn back now.”

Aya sighed but nodded. “Alright. Let’s go, then.”

They moved back, staying hidden as they followed the group of scavengers from a safe distance. The group seemed to be moving with a purpose now, heading towards a narrow path that wound its way up into the mountains. The air grew colder, the night deepening, and the weight of the journey settled heavily on Ryo’s shoulders.

Hours passed as they followed the winding path higher into the mountains, the landscape around them growing more desolate and foreboding. The wind picked up, carrying with it a sense of unease. Ryo felt it in his bones—a strange, oppressive energy that seemed to seep from the rocks themselves. He knew they were getting closer.

The group of scavengers stopped at a crumbling stone archway, its surface covered in ancient runes. Feris pointed towards the structure, his voice carrying on the wind. “See? I told you there was something here. This is it—the shrine.”

Ryo narrowed his eyes, watching as the scavengers moved towards the archway. He could feel something—an energy that seemed to pulse in the air, a resonance that called to the divine blood within him. He glanced at Aya, her face pale in the dim moonlight, her eyes filled with both fear and determination.

“Stay close,” he whispered, and she nodded.

They watched as the scavengers entered the shrine, their figures disappearing into the darkness beyond the archway. Ryo waited a few moments before stepping forward, his heart pounding in his chest. The air felt heavier, as if the mountain itself were watching them. He took a deep breath, then moved towards the archway, Aya close behind him.

Inside, the shrine was dark and cold, the stone walls covered in more runes that glowed faintly, casting eerie shadows. Ryo could hear the faint echoes of the scavengers' voices ahead, their footsteps reverberating off the stone. He moved cautiously, his eyes scanning the walls, the markings, looking for anything that could lead them to the Core.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the shrine, followed by a strangled scream. Ryo’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced back at Aya, her eyes wide with alarm, and then they both hurried forward, moving quickly through the winding corridors.

They entered a large chamber, the ceiling high above, lost in darkness. In the center of the room, the scavengers were gathered, their faces filled with fear. Feris lay on the ground, a pool of blood spreading around him, his eyes wide in terror. Above him stood a monstrous figure—a guardian, its body made of stone and metal, its eyes glowing a cold blue.

The guardian moved, its massive arm swinging down towards the remaining scavengers. They scattered, their shouts echoing through the chamber, weapons drawn but useless against the hulking creature. Ryo felt a surge of adrenaline—this was it, the first true test of his resolve.

Without hesitation, he drew the short blade strapped to his side and charged forward, his eyes locked on the guardian. The creature’s movements were slow but deliberate, its arm smashing into the ground where one of the scavengers had stood just moments before. Ryo leapt, his blade striking at the creature's joints, sparks flying as metal met stone.

“Ryo!” Aya’s voice called out, filled with fear.

The guardian turned, its eyes locking onto Ryo, and for a brief moment, he saw something behind those glowing eyes—an intelligence, a spark of something ancient. The creature swung at him, and Ryo barely managed to dodge, rolling across the ground as the air whooshed past him.

Aya rushed forward, her hands glowing with a faint light as she muttered a spell. A burst of energy struck the guardian, and for a moment, it hesitated, its movements faltering. Ryo seized the opportunity, his blade plunging into a weak spot between two plates of armor. The guardian shuddered, then fell, its body collapsing in a heap of stone and metal.

Silence filled the chamber, the echoes of the battle fading into nothingness. Ryo stood, breathing heavily, his eyes scanning the room. The scavengers were gone—either fled or dead. Aya approached him, her eyes filled with worry.

“Are you alright?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Ryo nodded, though his heart still pounded in his chest. “Yeah. But this isn’t over. The Core is here, I can feel it.”

He turned towards the far end of the chamber, where an ancient door stood, its surface covered in runes that glowed brighter than any they had seen so far. Beyond that door, Ryo knew, lay the power he sought—the power to challenge the gods.

Aya placed a hand on his arm, her eyes meeting his. “Ryo… are you sure about this?”

He looked at her, the determination in his eyes unwavering. “I have to be. For them, for us… I have to do this.”

Aya nodded, her expression softening. “Then let’s finish this.”

Together, they approached the door, the runes glowing brighter with each step. Ryo could feel the energy resonating with his own blood, the promise of power almost within reach. He reached out, his hand pressing against the cold stone, and with a deep breath, pushed the door open.

The chamber beyond was filled with light, a pulsing, dark crimson light that seemed to beat like a heartbeat. In the center of the room floated a crystal—a shard of something ancient, something powerful. The Ascendant Core.

Ryo stepped forward, his eyes locked on the crystal. This was it. The beginning of his path to vengeance, the first step towards killing the gods who had taken everything from him.

He reached out, his fingers brushing against the Core, and in that moment, everything changed.

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