The lingering effects of the shadows' touch still clung to your skin, a ghostly reminder of what had just transpired. The room was silent now, save for the faint hum of Mammon's presence, his gaze fixed on you with an intensity that sent a shiver down your spine. You could feel the weight of his attention, as heavy and palpable as the riches surrounding you, and it took every ounce of your strength to push yourself to your feet, your legs still trembling from the ordeal.
Mammon's eyes followed your every movement, a smug smile playing at the edges of his lips. He seemed almost amused by your struggle, his arms crossed lazily over his chest as though he had all the time in the world to watch you stumble through his domain. The golden light in the room flickered slightly, casting long shadows across the floor, and you could feel the weight of the box still clutched in your hands, its presence a constant reminder of the game you were now a part of.
"You didn't think it would be easy, did you?" Mammon's voice broke the silence, smooth and mocking, his words laced with a dark amusement that sent a chill through you. "Everything worth having comes with a price. And you've only just begun to pay it."
You swallowed hard, your throat dry, as you forced yourself to meet his gaze. "What do you want from me?" The question came out sharper than you intended, but you couldn't help it. The tension in the room was suffocating, and the weight of what had just happened was still pressing down on you, leaving you disoriented and unsure of what lay ahead.
Mammon's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous hunger. "What doIwant?" he repeated, his voice dripping with arrogance. "The better question is: what doyouwant? You came here for a reason, mortal. Power, wealth, desire... you crave it all, don't you? And I can give it to you. But first, you must prove that you're worthy of it."
He took a step forward, his presence towering over you, the air thick with the scent of molten gold and burning riches. "You've passed the first test. But now, the real challenge begins."
With a flick of his wrist, the room shifted again, the walls melting away as though they were made of liquid gold. You blinked, disoriented for a moment, as the ground beneath you seemed to ripple, the floor turning into a sea of shifting shadows and glittering coins. The palace walls disappeared, replaced by a vast, endless expanse of shimmering wealth, stretching out as far as the eye could see. Piles of gold, towering mountains of jewels, and treasures beyond imagination surrounded you, their glittering surfaces reflecting the faint light that flickered from above.
But there was something else in the room, something darker and more foreboding. In the distance, you could see a massive doorway—tall and imposing, carved from obsidian and inlaid with shimmering, otherworldly symbols that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. The door loomed before you like a monolith, its presence ominous and heavy, and you could feel the weight of whatever lay beyond it pressing down on you, like a force you could barely comprehend.
Mammon stepped to your side, his eyes fixed on the door. "Beyond that door lies your next test," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "But beware, mortal. What you face inside will be unlike anything you've experienced before. It will test your resolve, your ambition, and your will to survive. Fail, and you will be consumed. Succeed, and the rewards will be unimaginable."
He paused, his eyes flicking toward you with a knowing smile. "Of course, there's always a cost."
You took a deep breath, your fingers tightening around the box as you stared at the door. Every instinct in your body was screaming at you to turn back, to walk away before it was too late, but you couldn't. Not now. You had already come too far. The whispers of power and wealth had taken root in your mind, and no matter how dangerous the path ahead seemed, you knew there was no turning back.
Without another word, you stepped forward, your heart pounding in your chest as you approached the massive doorway. The air grew colder the closer you got, a chill that seeped into your bones, and you could feel the weight of Mammon's gaze on your back, watching your every move with a mixture of amusement and anticipation.
As you reached the door, you hesitated for just a moment, your hand hovering over the obsidian surface. The symbols carved into the stone seemed to pulse beneath your fingers, their energy humming faintly as though they were alive, waiting for you to take the next step. You swallowed hard, steeling yourself for whatever lay ahead, before pressing your hand firmly against the door.
The moment your palm touched the cold stone, the door groaned, the symbols flaring to life with a brilliant light that blinded you for a moment. The ground beneath your feet shook, the air around you crackling with energy, and with a deep, ominous creak, the door slowly began to open.
A gust of cold air rushed out from the darkness beyond, carrying with it the scent of something ancient and dangerous. You could feel the power radiating from within, a dark, oppressive force that seemed to wrap around you like a vice, squeezing the breath from your lungs. But you didn't back down. You couldn't.
The darkness beyond the doorway swallowed you whole, so thick and impenetrable that it was as if you had stepped into a void. The cold air bit at your skin, and the silence was absolute. For a moment, you were disoriented, unsure of which direction to move or even if you could move at all. The oppressive weight of whatever lay in this space pressed down on you like a heavy shroud, making each breath feel labored.
Then, slowly, the world around you began to take shape. Faint, flickering lights appeared in the distance, like stars winking in and out of existence. The ground beneath your feet solidified, cold and smooth like polished stone. You squinted into the gloom, trying to make out your surroundings, but the shadows clung to everything, refusing to yield their secrets.
As you took a cautious step forward, a low rumble echoed through the space, vibrating through the floor and up your legs. It wasn't just a sound—it was a feeling, a deep, primal tremor that set your nerves on edge. You froze, every instinct in your body screaming at you to be wary. Something was coming. Something big.
The lights ahead flickered again, and this time, you could see movement. Shapes, large and indistinct, shifting through the shadows. They were massive, their outlines blurred by the darkness, but you could sense their presence, feel the raw power they radiated. The air grew heavier, the pressure in the room intensifying as the shapes drew closer, their approach slow and deliberate.
A voice—low, deep, and ancient—boomed through the darkness, sending a shockwave of sound rippling through the room. It was a voice that resonated with authority, one that demanded attention and submission. "You enter the realm of the forgotten," it said, each word reverberating in your chest. "You seek power, but power is not given. It is earned. Prove your worth, or be consumed."
The voice fell silent, leaving the room in an oppressive stillness once again. Your heart raced, your body tense as you scanned the shadows for any sign of movement. The shapes had stopped their advance, but you could still feel their presence, waiting, watching.
And then, without warning, the darkness surged forward.
The shapes that had lingered at the edges of your vision now rushed toward you, their forms solidifying as they approached. They were massive beasts, towering over you with bodies made of shadow and flame, their eyes glowing like molten embers. Their mouths gaped open, revealing rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth, and their claws scraped against the ground with a sound like nails on stone.
Panic shot through you, your instincts screaming for you to run, but you held your ground. You had no choice. This was the test Mammon had warned you about, and there was no turning back now.
The first beast lunged at you, its massive form crashing toward you with terrifying speed. You barely had time to react, dodging to the side just as its claws sliced through the air where you had stood moments before. The force of its attack sent a shockwave through the room, the ground trembling beneath your feet.
You stumbled, regaining your balance just as another beast charged from the opposite side. This time, you were ready, ducking low and rolling out of its path. The air around you crackled with heat as the beasts circled, their eyes locked on you with an almost predatory focus.
Your mind raced, trying to figure out how to fight back. You didn't have a weapon, and these creatures were far too large and powerful to defeat with sheer force. But then you remembered the box—the small, unassuming box still clutched in your hands.
Without hesitation, you held the box out in front of you, its smooth surface cool against your skin. The beasts slowed their advance, their glowing eyes narrowing as they focused on the object in your grasp. For a moment, you wondered if the box would offer any protection at all. But as the shadows around you shifted, you felt a pulse of energy radiate from the box, faint at first but growing stronger with each passing second.
The beasts hesitated, their movements becoming slower, more cautious. The power in the box grew, its pulse matching the rhythm of your heartbeat, and for the first time, you could feel the raw potential within it—dark, ancient, and impossibly powerful.
One of the beasts, bolder than the rest, lunged at you again, but this time, you didn't move. You stood your ground, the box held firmly in your hands, its energy thrumming through you like a living thing. As the beast closed in, the box flared with light, blinding and brilliant, and the creature recoiled with a deafening roar, its shadowy form dissipating into the air like smoke.
You blinked, momentarily stunned by the sudden burst of light, but the box pulsed again, the energy coursing through you like a wave. The other beasts hesitated, their glowing eyes flicking between you and the now-dormant box in your hands. They knew now that you had power—power that could destroy them.
The ground beneath your feet trembled again, but this time, it wasn't the beasts that caused it. The very air around you seemed to ripple with energy, the pulse of the box growing stronger, more insistent. You could feel it now—the pull of the power within, calling to you, urging you to use it.
With a deep breath, you focused on the box, letting its energy flow through you. The beasts circled warily, but they no longer moved to attack. Instead, they watched, waiting for your next move.
The voice from earlier echoed through the chamber once more, though this time, it seemed closer, more intimate. "You have power now," it said, its tone rich with approval. "But power alone is not enough. You must learn to control it. Master it, and the riches of this realm will be yours. Fail, and you will be consumed by it."
You swallowed hard, the weight of the box in your hands suddenly feeling heavier than before. This wasn't just about defeating the beasts—it was about mastering the power that Mammon had put in your hands. And the cost of failure was far more than death.
The beasts growled lowly, the sound reverberating through the space as they took a cautious step back, their eyes never leaving you. You had earned their respect, but the test was far from over.
With the power of the box thrumming through your veins, you steeled yourself for what came next. You could feel the pull of something deeper, something darker within the box, and as you reached for that power, you knew that this was only the beginning of your journey into Mammon's world.
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Mammon spread his arms, gesturing to the hall with a wide grin. "Welcome, mortal, to my Hall of Greed. Here, I keep my most treasured possessions—and those who serve me are treated to the pleasures of wealth, power, and indulgence in all forms."
As if on cue, the Fizzarolli bots turned their attention toward you and Mammon, their glowing eyes flickering with a knowing glint. They moved with an eerie grace, their bodies bending and twisting as they descended from the platform, their steps almost predatory as they approached.
Mammon chuckled, his eyes never leaving yours as he leaned in close, his voice a low purr. "You're about to experience the kind of pleasure only I can offer. A reward, if you will, for passing your first test. And I must say… I do enjoy watching."
