Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

Adamanthi looked at the group, frightened by the sight of the raging sea, and showed a slightly amused expression.

"There is no need to be afraid," he said calmly.

With a snap of his fingers, the darkness of the corridor began to expand, forming a bridge of shadows that stretched across the stormy sea. The shadows danced and twisted, creating a steady but unsettling path over the incessant fury of the waves.

"Please follow me." Adamanthi began to cross the bridge.

So they began to follow the hunchbacked man, with Og'tharoz leading the group.

Xisrith, who was watching with a wary eye, approached Jayaa and whispered: "I still don't understand why Adamanthi is helping us. Is it all fear of Og'tharoz?"

Before Jayaa could answer, Adamanthi interrupted the conversation with his keen ears.

"I can hear you, you know. My ears pick up the slightest murmur in the fourth circle, so whispering won't do much good..." he said without turning around. "Now, to answer your question: I'm doing this because I'm more than an accountant, I'm someone who fulfills my primary role as guardian of the circle of greed. Continue your journey with m|v-l'e m,p y r

The least I can give you for resisting the temptations of the circle of greed is a reward. And the only thing you really want is to move on, isn't it?"

The revelation hung in the air, and the group fell silent for a moment.

Og'tharoz narrowed his eyes, but remained silent as he considered Adamanthi's words.

The Bridge of Shadows continued to form as they moved forward. With each step, the sound of the raging waves mixed with the noise of the lightning, creating an apocalyptic scene.

The path was somewhat narrow, and the feeling of instability was constant, so the group kept their concentration, knowing that any carelessness could be fatal.

"This sea," Adamanthi began, breaking the silence, "is not just water and fury. It is the embodiment of accumulated anger and hate. Every soul that finds itself here is trapped in an eternal cycle of pain and revenge. Crossing this sea will not be easy, but there was a voice that calmed her."

"I still remember that day." Og'tharoz replied.

Kaizen became curious. "What happened to make such a rough sea calm?"

"One individual, one soul, was once a warrior of war. He used anger to become unbeatable on the battlefield, but after the wars, he found peace. Nevertheless, when he died, the gods condemned him to eternal damnation here.

This individual was caught in the stormy sea when he arrived, but over the hundreds of years he discovered that when he was calm, the sea wasn't as angry, and when he released his anger, it got even worse. He then centered his thoughts and guided the other souls he met in the sea to do the same."

"Is that how the sea became calm?" Alina asked.

"Yes. It was impressive the level of organization this individual achieved. There are rare occasions when the damned overcome their sins."

Bloody Lily, standing a little further back, looked at the stormy horizon and changed the subject a bit. "And what awaits us in the next circle?"

Adamanthi shrugged. "Each circle has its own terrors. But you have already proven that you can withstand almost anything, and before you think about the next circles, you should focus on this one."

As they advanced, Kaizen felt the tension rise.

A flash of lightning briefly illuminated the raging sea, revealing distorted and desperate figures struggling in the waves.

They were damned souls, trapped in their own hatred, unable to escape the eternal storm.

The Bridge of Shadows flickered slightly with each step, but held firm. Og'tharoz, ever vigilant, kept his eyes on Adamanthi, ready to act at the slightest sign of treachery.

Adamanthi, for her part, seemed unconcerned, walking with the confidence of one who knew the terrain well.

"Have you ever thought," Adamanthi began, his voice cutting through the noise of the waves, "about what anger really means? It's not just anger. It's a powerful energy that can destroy as well as protect. Deep down we all carry a bit of it. The key is knowing how to control it."

Og'tharoz nodded, pondering Adamanthi's words. "What about you, Adamanthi? What drives you? What do you really want?"

Adamanthi smiled, an enigmatic smile. "My desire? Ah, I hope you're not asking me this to bribe me. You know there's nothing that could make me betray Surtr."

Og'tharoz smiled with the corner of his mouth. "Everyone has a price, even you."

"You are very clever indeed, Og'tharoz. It's almost a waste to have broken your word. Yes, I have a price, but it's far from what you can afford. So be content with my assistance in reaching the Eighth Circle."

Then the Bridge of Shadows finally led them to a stone platform rising from the stormy sea. The platform was large, with ancient demonic runes carved into its surface.

Adamanthi paused and turned to the group.

"We're almost there," he said. "From here we'll find our way to the Sixth Circle. But first, there's one last test."

"Test? But you said you'd give us a shortcut to the Eighth Circle." Kaizen said.

Adamanthi put her hand to her chin. "Did I say 'shortcut'? What a grotesque misunderstanding. Of course I don't have the power to simply open shortcuts between levels. The key I showed you was just a visual representation of my support, and I'll just help you pass through the circles more easily, just like I did just now."

"And what is the last test?" Og'tharoz asked, crossing his arms.

The last time he had been here, hundreds and hundreds of years ago, the challenge of the Fifth Circle had been only the sea.

At that moment, the platform began to tremble. The runes glowed brightly, and an imposing creature emerged from the sea, with a jaw the size of a dragon's, but the body and tentacles of a squid full of cyan scales.

"This is the Guardian of Wrath! Lovern," Adamanthi explained. "To advance, you must prove that you can control the rage within you."

"Lovern? What a cute name for such a creature..." Jayaa said.

"ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" Lovern roared.