[Chapter 3]
The battle was over. The massive beast Gorehowl, a monstrous creature from the depths of the forest, had fallen. Its massive body crumpled to the ground, leaving behind nothing but the remnants of its once ferocious power. Castiel stood amid the remains, panting heavily, his body aching from the intense fight.
His thoughts, however, weren't on the blood and destruction that lay at his feet. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the glowing system prompt that floated in front of him. The words were still there, lingering like an open invitation.
Bonus Quest Unlocked: The First Pact
A hidden force has taken interest in you.
Do you accept the Pact of the Moon's Eye?
[Yes] / [No]
Castiel stared at the text, his brow furrowing as he considered his options. The idea of accepting a mysterious pact from an unknown force made his heart race. He wasn't exactly the cautious type, but even this felt… different. He had no idea what the Pact would entail, what price it might demand, or what consequences might follow.
His mind flashed back to the strange sensation he'd felt earlier—the feeling of something beyond his control watching, observing his every move. That sensation wasn't something he'd been imagining. It was real, and now, here was a chance to explore what lay beyond that.
"What do you think?" Castiel muttered to himself, his eyes flickering between the glowing prompt and the wreckage around him.
Mu Qinglan, standing nearby, had been silently observing him, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, ever watchful. Her eyes landed on the prompt in front of Castiel. She immediately approached him, her movements deliberate and cautious.
"What is that?" she asked, her voice quiet but filled with concern. "A new quest? Or some kind of trap?"
"I don't know," Castiel replied, his fingers hovering over the [Yes] button. He met her gaze, his expression a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. "It's like some kind of pact, but I don't understand it fully. It feels… important."
Mu Qinglan's lips tightened into a line as she stepped closer. Her posture remained defensive, as if she were ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. "Don't jump into things you don't understand. This might be the kind of trap that doesn't let you escape once you're in."
"I get it, but…" Castiel paused, his thoughts racing. "I need more power. You've seen what's out there. I can't keep relying on luck or skill alone. This could be my chance to level up, to gain something more than just fighting."
Mu Qinglan's eyes softened slightly, but she still seemed unconvinced. "Be careful. You don't know what you're dealing with."
Castiel nodded, but his resolve was unwavering. He had faced countless challenges so far, and each time, he had risen to meet them. This was just another trial—albeit one with an unknown outcome.
He tapped the [Yes] button.
The moment his finger made contact with the glowing text, the world around him seemed to shift. The earth trembled beneath his feet, and the wind began to howl, picking up intensity as if the very atmosphere was reacting to the decision he had made. The air turned cold, and a sense of foreboding filled the space around him.
Mu Qinglan instinctively reached for her sword, her body tensing as she readied herself for whatever might come. "Castiel—what did you do?"
Before he could respond, the ground cracked open beneath their feet, and from the rift, a strange force surged upwards, enveloping him.
A voice echoed in his mind—clear and resonant, like a distant melody.
"You have chosen wisely, Castiel. You are worthy of the Moon's Eye. But know this: the path you walk now will not be an easy one. The Moon's Eye sees all, and with its gaze, you will see what others cannot."
The voice seemed to come from everywhere, yet nowhere. It was calming, yet unnerving.
"The Pact has been sealed. Prepare yourself for the trial of the Moon."
Castiel's heart skipped a beat. A trial? What did that mean?
The world around him twisted, and the strange energy continued to pulse from the rift below. The silver light of the Blood Moon—still faintly glowing on the horizon—flickered in the atmosphere, casting eerie shadows that danced like specters in the distance.
Mu Qinglan, her eyes wide, turned to Castiel. "What's happening? What did you just do?"
Before Castiel could answer, a massive figure emerged from the rift. The ground shook violently as an enormous portal, black as the void and rimmed with silver light, expanded in front of them. A figure cloaked in darkness materialized from the portal, his presence so overwhelming that the air seemed to freeze around them.
The figure's appearance was unsettling. Cloaked in long, flowing robes that shimmered like the night sky, he was tall and imposing, with silver hair cascading like a river of light. But it was his eyes that truly caught Castiel's attention—his eyes glowed with a supernatural brilliance, like two perfect moons, suspended in a boundless expanse of darkness.
The figure stepped forward, his voice a low hum that seemed to reverberate through Castiel's very bones.
"You have taken the first step, Castiel," the figure said, his voice both ancient and knowing. "I am Eldrin, the Moon's Eye, the one who watches over those who are chosen by the Pact."
Castiel swallowed hard, his instincts screaming that this was not an ordinary encounter. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"
Eldrin's lips curled into a slight, enigmatic smile. "I am not here to take anything from you. I am here to offer you a trial. The Pact you have sealed with the Moon's Eye demands your strength, your will. Only through this trial will you prove yourself worthy of the power it bestows."
Mu Qinglan stepped forward, her hand still gripping her sword. "A trial?" she asked, her voice skeptical. "What kind of trial?"
Eldrin turned his gaze to her, his eyes almost seeming to pierce through her very soul. "The Moon's Eye sees all, warrior. But the Eye will also judge those who seek its power. It is not a gift given lightly."
Castiel's gaze snapped back to the figure, the weight of his words sinking in. "What happens if I fail?" he asked, his voice steady despite the tension rising in his chest.
Eldrin's expression remained unreadable. "Failure will result in the forfeiture of your power, your eyes, and your future. You will be cast into oblivion, forgotten by the very forces that brought you here."
Castiel's blood ran cold, but his resolve only hardened. If he was to survive in this world, if he was to rise to the top, he had no choice but to accept whatever came next.
"I'm ready," he declared.
Eldrin nodded slowly, the corners of his mouth lifting in what could almost be called approval. "Very well. The trial begins now."
-----------------------------------------
The air grew still, and the world around Castiel seemed to shift as if the very fabric of reality was being altered. His heart pounded in his chest as he stood before Eldrin, the enigmatic figure who had appeared out of the rift. The silence stretched for what felt like an eternity, and the gravity of the moment pressed down on him, the weight of his decision settling heavily on his shoulders.
Castiel clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on Eldrin. "What's the trial?"
Eldrin's eyes glowed with a celestial light as he lifted a hand, and the darkness around them rippled like water disturbed by a stone. The ground beneath their feet trembled once more, and a dark mist began to swirl around them, forming into intricate symbols that floated in the air like ancient runes. Castiel's breath caught in his throat as the mist thickened, obscuring everything except for the cold, silver glow of the Moon's Eye above.
"The trial will test your resolve, Castiel. It will not be a simple battle, nor will it be something that can be solved by brute force alone. You will be tested in every aspect—your mind, your heart, and your spirit," Eldrin explained, his voice resonating in the thickening fog.
Castiel stood tall, trying to steady his racing thoughts. "I'm not afraid. I've faced challenges before."
The Moon's Eye above seemed to pulse in response to his words, its radiance flickering as though it were listening. Eldrin nodded slowly, his expression unreadable.
"Very well," he said, and with a flick of his wrist, the mist around them coalesced into a new form—an enormous, sprawling labyrinth made of black stone. The path before them twisted and turned, stretching far into the distance, its walls covered in strange, glowing symbols that seemed to shift and change with every blink.
"This is the first part of the trial," Eldrin continued. "You must navigate the Labyrinth of Fate. Each step you take will be a decision that will shape your future. You will encounter illusions, temptations, and trials that will test your very nature. The further you go, the greater the challenges will become. But remember, Castiel, this labyrinth is not just a physical trial—it is a test of your heart and mind."
A sudden gust of wind blew through the labyrinth, swirling around Castiel and Mu Qinglan. The sound of distant whispers filled the air, voices both soothing and sinister.
"Do not falter," Eldrin's voice echoed, more distant now. "Your success or failure is up to you."
Before Castiel could respond, the mist surrounding them dissipated, and he found himself standing at the entrance of the labyrinth. The walls were high, black, and imposing, their surfaces covered in symbols that seemed to shift and change, reacting to his presence. The path ahead was unclear, but there was no turning back.
Mu Qinglan stepped beside him, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "You can do this, Castiel," she said softly, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "Just be careful. I don't like the feeling of this place."
"I know," Castiel replied, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "But I have no choice. This is the only way forward."
Without another word, he took his first step into the labyrinth.
The air was thick with tension as Castiel and Mu Qinglan ventured deeper into the labyrinth. The walls seemed to close in around them, the faint glow of the symbols casting an eerie light across the path. The deeper they went, the more the labyrinth seemed to shift, as if it were alive, constantly adjusting to their movements.
Castiel's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the maze. The twists and turns felt endless, and every time he thought he saw an exit, it turned into another dead end. His senses were on high alert, but it was the whispers that unnerved him the most. The voices in the air weren't just distant sounds—they were speaking to him, calling to him, tempting him with promises of power, of wealth, of victory. They were trying to lead him astray.
"Castiel…" a voice whispered, its tone seductive. "You don't need to follow this path. You could take the power for yourself, right now. No more trials, no more hardships. Just accept what's offered."
Castiel shook his head, the voice fading as quickly as it had appeared. "I'm not falling for that," he muttered under his breath, steeling himself against the temptation.
As they continued, the walls of the labyrinth began to change. The symbols that adorned them started to glow brighter, casting shifting shadows across the ground. The whispers grew louder, more persistent, urging Castiel to turn back, to give up the trial and take the shortcut that lay before him.
But Castiel pressed on, his heart steady and his resolve unshaken.
After what felt like hours of navigating the maze, they reached a large, open chamber. In the center of the room was a pedestal, atop which rested a single, glowing crystal. It pulsed with a strange energy, and Castiel could feel its pull deep in his chest. The temptation was overwhelming.
"This is it," Castiel murmured, stepping forward. He could feel the weight of the crystal's power, beckoning him closer. It was so close. All he had to do was reach out and take it. No more trials, no more suffering. The power would be his.
But then, as he stepped closer, the ground beneath his feet cracked open, and a dark figure emerged from the shadows. The figure was tall and cloaked in darkness, with eyes that gleamed with malicious intent. The figure's voice echoed in the chamber, cold and mocking.
"You think this is the path to power?" the figure sneered. "This is a test, Castiel. And you failed."
Castiel's heart pounded as the figure's words rang in his ears. The crystal, now glowing brighter, seemed to mock him, its allure a cruel joke.
The figure raised a hand, and the crystal's glow intensified, blinding Castiel for a moment. The figure laughed, the sound chilling to the bone.
"Do you think you can just take power without consequences? There is no easy path here. Not for you, not for anyone."
Castiel's mind raced. He realized the truth just as the figure lunged toward him. The crystal wasn't the prize—it was the temptation, the distraction. The real trial wasn't the maze or the illusions. It was the test of his will, his determination.
With a roar, Castiel summoned all his strength and pushed back against the figure, using every ounce of his will to resist the pull of the crystal. The figure's attack faltered, and Castiel, with a newfound clarity, smashed the crystal on the ground. The moment it shattered, the labyrinth trembled, the walls cracking and shifting as if the entire structure was reacting to the destruction of the illusion.
The dark figure let out a scream, but before Castiel could react, the labyrinth began to collapse, the walls crumbling into nothingness.
The world around him spun violently, and Castiel felt himself being pulled through the darkness, his body weightless, as if falling through an endless void. The sensation was overwhelming, and for a moment, he thought he might lose consciousness. But then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the spinning stopped.
Castiel opened his eyes, and he found himself standing back in the clearing where the rift had first appeared. The blood moon still hung in the sky, but the eerie glow had faded, and the darkness seemed less oppressive.
Mu Qinglan stood beside him, her face filled with concern, but also something else—relief.
"You did it," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Castiel nodded, his breathing heavy but steady. He had passed the trial—not because of brute strength or skill, but because he had resisted the greatest temptation of all: the easy path. It was a test not just of his physical strength, but of his will, his resolve.
The glowing prompt reappeared before him, but this time, it was different.
Trial of the Moon's Eye Complete
You have proven your worth.
Power Granted: Moon's Blessing
New Skill: Moon's Gaze (Lv. 1)
The power surged through him, and Castiel [Ch 3 : The Pact of the Moon's Eye]
felt his body hum with energy, his senses sharper, his strength greater. He had passed the first trial, but this was only the beginning.
He had accepted the Pact of the Moon's Eye, and now, he would learn what that truly meant.