As Adrian ascended, he recollected Hestia's earlier statement that brute force was not necessary for everything.

And he decided to try out her method this time around.

He used the chains not just to swing but to block incoming arrows, twisting them in ways that threw off the mechanisms of the traps. The enchanted arrows bounced harmlessly off the chains, and Adrian avoided several near misses.

As soon as he saw him making progress, one of the assassins turned around and went back. A smoke bomb was thrown by the man in an effort to keep Adrian from seeing where he was going to.

"Cheap tricks won't work," Adrian growled.

He closed his eyes briefly, focusing on the faint sounds of the traps and the rushing wind in the chamber. He cleared the smoke with a single powerful swing and landed on the ledge where the assassin was standing.

The fight was over in a flash.

Suddenly, the assassin charged at Adrian while brandishing his daggers. However, Adrian skillfully blocked each attack. He deflected one blade and followed up with a strong kick, sending the assassin crashing into the spikes below.

At this point, there was only one assassin left, and he was perched near the top of the chamber.

Adrian didn't hesitate.

He grabbed a chain and climbed higher, using all his strength to close the distance. The final assassin launched a flurry of shurikens, the pointed weapons cutting through the air.

Adrian swung a chain in a wide arc, deflecting most of them, though one nicked his shoulder.

"Almost there," he muttered through gritted teeth, ignoring the pain.

The assassin jumped to a different ledge, but Adrian was prepared for attack.

He hurled one of his fiery chains, the glowing links wrapping around the assassin's leg. With a powerful tug, he yanked the man off the ledge.

The assassin managed to grab a chain at the last second, hanging precariously as Adrian climbed past him.

"Next time, stay home," Adrian said, slashing the chain. The assassin fell with a scream, disappearing into the shadows below.

At last, Adrian reached the top of the chamber.

He hauled himself onto the final ledge, his muscles burning from the effort. The golden staircase leading to the next part of the temple stretched before him, glowing faintly in the torchlight.

Adrian took deep breaths while standing tall, gripping his sword tightly and looking up at the staircase that twisted up to a doorway bathed in golden light.

His muscles ached, and his breaths came heavy, but he was determined. Taking one last glance at the darkness below, he began his ascent.

The staircase ended in front of an ornately carved doorway. The surface was decorated with symbols of Hera: lions, golden wings, and crowns, all woven together in detailed patterns. With a deep breath, Adrian pushed the door open, revealing a glowing maze beyond.

The light inside was bright, golden, and shining, bouncing off the gilded walls of the maze. At first glance, the maze seemed deceptively simple.

The paths stretched out before him in neat, winding corridors.

As Adrian entered, the door shut forcefully behind him with a loud bang, and the ground under his feet shook.

The maze shifted.

Adrian watched as the walls moved, sliding soundlessly as if alive. Corridors that had been clear moments ago vanished, replaced by dead ends or new paths.

He took a cautious step forward, gripping his sword tightly, but no sooner had he chosen a direction than the light grew brighter, forcing him to shield his eyes.

Then came the whispers.

"You've done so well, Adrian," a soft voice purred, echoing through the maze. It was soothing, almost seductive, filled with false warmth. "A true hero. A warrior unmatched. Surely, you deserve to rest. Why struggle any further?"

Adrian's grip on his sword tightened. "I don't have time for this," he muttered, pressing forward.

But the whispers followed him, growing louder with each step. "You are the strongest. The brightest. None of them could do what you've done. Stay here, bask in your glory."

The praise gnawed at him, feeding into the doubts he kept buried. Was he truly capable of saving everyone? Was he doing this for them, or for himself? He shook his head and kept moving, refusing to let the voices take hold.

Adrian turned a corner, only to see the corridor ahead dissolve into shimmering light. A new path opened to his right, but as he stepped toward it, the ground shifted beneath his feet.

He stumbled back just in time to avoid being trapped as the wall slid across the floor to block his way.

"Great," he muttered, glancing at the gilded walls as they continued to rearrange themselves.

He closed his eyes briefly, trying to block out the golden glow and the incessant whispers. "Focus," he told himself. He had to trust his instincts, not the illusions that surrounded him.

He took a deep breath and started forward again.

The whispers grew sharper, more insistent. "You've carried the burden long enough, Adrian. Let someone else lead. You deserve to rest."

"I deserve to finish this," Adrian snapped, his voice echoing against the walls. "I'm not stopping until it's done."

The maze responded as if provoked, shifting faster. The walls pressed closer, forcing him into narrower paths. Adrian gritted his teeth and pressed on, choosing his steps carefully.

His instincts told him to veer left when the path forked, though the corridor on the right appeared easier. He ignored the golden light that beckoned him toward false shortcuts, trusting the faint hum of energy that seemed to pulse in the correct direction.

At last, after what felt like an eternity, Adrian rounded a final corner and emerged from the maze. The whispers fell silent, and the light dimmed as he stepped into a massive chamber.

The chamber was breathtaking.

The ceiling stretched high above, open to the sky, where golden light poured in through a circular opening. In the center of the room, suspended mid-air, was what he had come here for.

A sarcophagus… Hera's sarcophagus.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.