They set out at the ancient theater, hoping to call on Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Once night fell, they pushed through Neo-ilka's maze of streets, evading corporate patrols and surveillance drones as they tumbled down into the underside-a place where neon signage yielded to shadow, and rust and decay filled the nostrils.
Inhospitable ruins, once open to the sky, lay hidden beneath layers of urban neglect: once-grand arches in vines and grime. And yet even within their ruinous periphery, there stood haunting beauty-an abandoned sanctuary of stone and silence, as if it were but waiting for the purpose it had lost long, long ago.
They met in the midst of the theater, beneath an open roof. Aegis laid down his gift: a small arrowhead, a steel blade with thin lengths of circuitry woven through it, nature and technology combined. It was an offering to Artemis, a haunting icon of the hunt by metal and machine.
Silas muttered the ancient incantation: words spoken down the ages, a blend of ancient Greek and computer code. His voice off the walls of the empty hall, it rang out over silence: " Lady of the hunt, protectress of the wild, we invoke your name. Give us guidance; quicken our sight; win our goodwill.".
Then, nothing. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the hum of the city above. Then, dim light flickered along the edge of the stage. A shadow stirred – the figure of a woman, vague as if she wove herself from moonlight. Her eyes were fierce, unyielding, fastened on Zypher and his companions.
"You desire my favor," she said her voice as soft as a whisper of wind through trees. "But know this; the hunt is not for the faint of heart. You will be tested, your will and resolve broken and thereafter reforged. If you fail, you will not live to leave this place.".
Zypher stepped forward, his gaze unyielding. "We do not desire power for ourselves. We are here to reclaim what is lost, to protect this world from the destruction that has consumed it. We need your leadership, Artemis."
Artemis met him expressionless. "Then prove it. A hunter needs to understand both the exhilaration of the hunt and the price of mercy. Choose one of you for the trial."
Kiera's hand shot into the air without hesitation. "I'll go."
Artemis smiled back, a glint of approval evident in her eyes. "Then come, iron and steel warrior. Face the shadows that dwell within."
Kiera is pulled into a trance, her consciousness transported to a forest filled with shadows and whispers. There, she meets a beast—a monstrous, metallic wolf, with eyes that glow with malice, each of its movements a perfect blend of nature and machine. The trial is clear: she's going to have to conquer this creature.
The fight was savage and primal. Power and skill clashed as she danced around the beast's lunges, her movement calculated with every precision. She didn't fight like a machine but with the ferocity of a woman who had something to protect.
Finally, after a long and stiff fight, she overthrew the beast, standing over it, full of reverence. She didn't give the fatal blow but decided to spare it. The beast got up, bent its head, and left, disappearing from the world, leaving her hand marked by the faint, silvery glow - the sign of Artemis's favor.
Kiera ran back into the theatre, panting with triumph. Artemis nodded, her body beginning to fade as she said, "You've proven yourself worthy of the hunt. Carry my favor with you, but remember—mercy is a strength, not a weakness."
And so, she was gone, leaving behind only the scent of pine and a determination that stiffened their spines.
From there, they walked to the ancient fountain square, the place of Poseidon. The square was deserted and the once great fountain dry and cracked. Silas moved forward, casting a small vial of water into the basin as an offering. The water spread across dry stone, infusing the fountain with shining, unnatural light.
Silas spoke into the silence. "Lord of the seas, protector of all waters, listen unto us. Give unto us strength to stand the tempest.".
A tremor scaped the ground as Poseidon's voice resounded in the square, "Mortals, you come to face the might of the sea. Only to those who understand the power of waves am I beholden to show my favor. Know this —strength without wisdom is a storm that destroys.".
Zypher steeled himself and took a deep breath, set to prove his respect and readiness. "We know the price of power, Lord Poseidon. Grant us your blessing and we will bear it with dignity."
Another brutal test later, they emerged victorious, with the power of Poseidon coursing through them. The fountain sprang to life again, water cascading in a brilliant display-a symbol of the god's approval.
Having won the favor of Artemis and Poseidon, they fixed their eyes on the final test: the statue of Zeus. As they drew near, the weight of their journey was harnessed. They had been accumulating power, strength, and endurance-and were now primed for something much greater.
With each divine favor, they drew closer; yet they knew that the true test lay ahead.