The Scythe hovered above the center of the chamber.
It didn't move.
It didn't need to.
The chains surrounding it swayed slowly, despite there being no wind.
Clink...
Clink...
Ethan stood several steps away, staring at it.
Something about the weapon bothered him.
Not because it looked dangerous.
Because it felt familiar.
He slowly raised his hand.
"Ethan."
Alex's voice stopped him.
Ethan glanced back.
"What?"
"Don't touch it."
Ethan lowered his hand.
"Yeah... probably smart."
Vile moved closer, studying the weapon.
"The energy isn't coming from the Scythe alone."
Kira looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"The chains."
He pointed toward the floor.
"They're carrying the energy."
Lyra knelt beside one of them.
Her fingers hovered just above the metal.
"I can feel memories."
Liam looked nervous.
"Memories?"
Lyra nodded.
"Pain. Fear. Anger."
Her expression softened.
"And determination."
Mya folded her arms.
"So this thing has a tragic backstory too?"
Ethan glanced at her.
"Everything in our lives seems to."
"Don't get philosophical on me."
"I'm not."
"You were about to."
Ethan smirked.
Mya looked away.
"Whatever."
Vile suddenly pointed toward the floor.
"Wait."
Everyone looked down.
A series of symbols had appeared between the chains.
Kira crouched beside him.
"They weren't there before."
"No."
Vile adjusted his glasses.
"They appeared when Ethan moved closer."
Everyone looked at Ethan.
He stared at the markings.
"...What?"
The symbols began glowing.
Then the chains moved.
One slid across the floor.
Another crossed over it.
A third followed.
Slowly, they formed a circular pattern around Ethan.
Ethan took a step backward.
The chains stopped.
He stepped forward.
They moved again.
Vile's eyes widened.
"It's responding to you."
Ethan looked at the Scythe.
"Why?"
Nobody answered.
The Scythe suddenly tilted slightly toward him.
Ethan's expression changed.
He could feel it.
That pull again.
Stronger than before.
Something inside his chest seemed to answer it.
He whispered:
"I know you."
Kira looked at him.
"You've never seen it before."
"I know."
Ethan stared at the weapon.
"But it feels like I've been looking for it."
The Scythe pulsed.
BOOM.
A shockwave swept through the chamber.
Everyone staggered.
Alex planted his sword into the ground to keep himself upright.
"Everyone stay together!"
The chains suddenly rose.
Dozens of them filled the chamber.
Liam ducked.
"Okay! I officially hate this place!"
Mya grabbed him by the collar and pulled him out of the path of a swinging chain.
"Watch where you're standing!"
"Thank you!"
"Don't make me do it again!"
Vile shouted over the noise.
"The chains are forming another pattern!"
Kira immediately began watching their movements.
"They're creating positions."
Alex understood.
"Then take them."
Everyone moved.
Kira guided the group toward the correct positions.
Vile studied the sequence.
Lyra illuminated hidden markings.
Kaelor examined the symbols.
Mya and Ethan physically redirected several chains.
Liam watched for changes and called out whenever something shifted.
"Left!"
Ethan ducked.
A chain passed over his head.
"Thanks!"
"You're welcome!"
The chains continued moving.
One mistake caused the entire pattern to collapse.
Vile quickly shouted:
"Again!"
They reset.
Mya groaned.
"You're kidding."
"We have to get it right!"
"Fine!"
They tried again.
This time, the pattern held.
The chamber fell silent.
The chains froze.
Then every symbol on the floor illuminated at once.
A massive circle formed beneath Ethan.
He stared down.
"What is this?"
Vile stepped forward.
"I think..."
He paused.
"This isn't testing all of us."
Alex looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Vile looked toward Ethan.
"The trial is choosing someone."
Ethan's eyes widened.
The Scythe slowly descended.
Everyone watched.
It stopped directly in front of Ethan.
The weapon hovered there.
Waiting.
Ethan reached toward it.
His fingers stopped just short.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the chains wrapped around the Scythe.
Not attacking.
Protecting it.
Ethan looked confused.
"What does it want me to do?"
Lyra smiled faintly.
"Maybe it isn't asking you to take it."
Ethan looked at her.
"Then what?"
She looked at the chains.
"Maybe it's asking you to understand it."
Ethan stared at the weapon.
His usual greed had disappeared.
For once, he wasn't thinking about gold.
He wasn't thinking about treasure.
He wasn't even thinking about winning.
He simply wanted to know why this weapon had called him here.
He slowly lowered his hand.
"I'll understand you."
The Scythe pulsed.
And somewhere beneath the ancient battlefield...
A chain snapped.
The chamber trembled.
Everyone looked around.
Alex tightened his grip on his sword.
"That wasn't part of the trial."
Ethan looked toward the darkness.
"No."
He could feel the pull again.
Only this time...
It wasn't coming from the Scythe.
Something else was waking up.
Something beneath them.
And whatever it was...
It knew Ethan's name.