Chronicles of the Hidden Crown: The System's Gentle Tyrant-Chapter 78: The Forest’s Curse: Unravelling the Past, Facing the Future

The altar's pulsing energy intensified, and Kieran's heart beat in sync with its rhythm. The cavern around them seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for the moment to come when the truth would be revealed. He could feel the weight of his decision, but there was no turning back now. The ancient forest had already spoken, and the path forward had been set.

As the glow of the runes on the altar brightened, an eerie silence filled the chamber. The whispers that had surrounded them, the voices from the past, grew louder, becoming more coherent. The ancient words echoed in their minds, faintly at first, but soon they became clearer, distinct:

"Beneath the roots of the forest, the seed of destruction lies dormant. It waits to awaken, and with it, the cycle shall repeat."

Kieran's eyes flickered over the runes, and a surge of power coursed through him. His fingers trembled, the connection to the stone altar deepening with each passing second. There was something ancient about this place, something older than even the forest itself. He knew that whatever secret the altar was guarding, it was connected to the very foundation of this world—its origins, its wars, and its forgotten gods.

"Stay alert," Kieran whispered to his companions, his voice carrying an edge of caution. "Whatever comes next, we face it together."

Elira's hand rested on her bow, her eyes scanning the shadows that seemed to grow darker around them. Rhea stood close, her stance ready, but her gaze lingered on the runes with growing unease. "The air feels thick... like something is about to break."

Before Kieran could respond, the ground beneath their feet trembled, sending a shockwave through the cavern. The stone altar groaned, and a deep rumbling sound filled the air. The whispers grew louder, more frantic, until they were almost deafening.

"The curse... the curse will awaken. The godslayer... He rises."

A sudden crack appeared in the stone altar, and from within the fissure, a faint light began to glow, casting a sickly green hue across the chamber. The runes on the walls flickered, as if reacting to the force from within the altar, their once faint glow now burning brighter.

Kieran took a step back, his mind racing. This was not just a trial—it was a key to something far darker, something that had been sealed away for reasons unknown. The words "godslayer" echoed in his mind, and the implications of the ancient voice became clearer. A weapon, a being capable of slaying gods, was awakening. And they were right in its path.

Suddenly, the stone cracked open completely, revealing a hollow chamber inside the altar. There, nestled within the heart of the stone, was a small book—its cover blackened and etched with symbols Kieran did not recognize. The eerie aura emanating from it was undeniable, and his instincts screamed at him to be cautious. This book was tied to whatever curse was being unleashed.

"Elira, Rhea," Kieran murmured, his eyes locked on the book. "Do not touch it."

But as the words left his mouth, a low growl reverberated through the cavern, and a figure emerged from the shadows.

It was a man—or something that resembled one. He wore ancient armor, tarnished by time, and his eyes glowed a faint, sickly green. His body was covered in scars, and his presence was overwhelming, radiating an aura of immense power. But there was something unsettling about him—his movements were too fluid, too unnatural, as if he were not entirely human.

He stepped forward, his voice deep and echoing in the chamber. "You have awakened me. You have disturbed the slumber of the godslayer."

Kieran's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The being that had been sealed away, bound within the altar for untold centuries, had finally been set free. The godslayer.

"Who are you?" Kieran demanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The atmosphere in the cavern was thick with tension, and he could feel the oppressive power of the figure before him. The whispers in the air grew louder, and the ground trembled again.

The figure's eyes fixed on Kieran, his expression unreadable. "I am the curse of this land, the weapon forged to end the gods. I am the godslayer, and now I walk once more."

Elira raised her bow, her voice steady despite the danger. "You speak of gods, but who are you really? What is your purpose here?"

The figure's lips curled into a cruel smile. "My purpose is to destroy. To end the reign of the gods and bring about the true end of this world. You stand in my path, but your fate is already sealed."

The air grew colder, and the cavern seemed to close in around them. The shadows deepened, twisting into monstrous shapes that lurked just beyond the edges of their vision. The godslayer's presence was suffocating, and Kieran could feel his power pressing down on them like a vice.

"We've faced worse," Rhea muttered, her eyes flashing with determination as she drew her sword. "We'll handle this."

But Kieran raised his hand, signaling for them to wait. There was something more to this, something that didn't add up. The godslayer was powerful, yes, but there was a deeper darkness at play here—something that had been hidden for a long time.

"We need to understand the truth," Kieran said, his voice firm. "There's more to this curse, more to this weapon, than meets the eye."

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on freёwebnoѵel.com.

The godslayer laughed, a low, guttural sound that echoed through the cavern. "You think you can comprehend what lies before you? You are mere mortals, and I am the end of all things."

The cavern seemed to respond to his words, the walls pulsing with a malevolent energy. But as the godslayer took a step forward, something unexpected happened.

The book in the altar began to glow brighter, and a soft, melodic hum filled the air. The shadows flickered and twisted, and suddenly, the stone beneath their feet cracked open, revealing a hidden passage leading deeper into the earth.

The godslayer's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with fury. "No... you cannot escape."

But Kieran, with a quick motion, signaled to his companions. "We're not escaping. We're uncovering the truth."

As the godslayer advanced, Kieran turned toward the passage, his mind already calculating their next move. The forest, the trial, the curse—it was all connected. And the truth, whatever it was, lay deeper within.

"We're not done yet," Kieran muttered. "We'll face whatever comes next—together."

With that, the three of them stepped into the hidden passage, the weight of the godslayer's curse pressing down on them, but their resolve unwavering. The trial had only just begun, and the forest had more to reveal than they had ever imagined.