Seven Beautiful Goddesses Want Me, But I Just Want My Revenge

Chapter 199: Another step... and another.


The voice was unmistakable, like silk wrapped in thorns, its tone was filled with amusement and mockery. It echoed within Adrian's mind, filling the chamber with an eerie, oppressive aura.

"If purpose is truly all you seek, Adrian," Eris's voice whispered, chilling and seductive, "why do you hesitate? Perhaps some part of you… longs for more?"

The words were filled with mockery and uncertainty, and for a moment, Adrian found himself completely still. His gaze swept over the illusions of his younger self, of his mentor, his father, and Cyrus—all taunting him with every ambition he'd left behind.

The sand swirled around his legs, thickening as he paused, his boots sinking deeper as though the temple itself sensed his hesitation.

Eris's laughter echoed through the hall. "I see it within you," she continued, her voice lingering in the dark corners of his mind. "That longing to be revered, to be cherished, like those who came before you. You need only to let go of this foolish path."

Adrian clenched his jaw, feeling the sands twist and pulse underfoot, pulling him further in, almost as though they were alive. He struggled, his legs feeling as if they were bound by stone, each step harder to take than the last.

"No!" he snapped in defiance. "I'm not here to serve myself or anyone's twisted desires." He gritted his teeth, trying to break free, but the sand responded by shifting, locking tighter around him.

The harder he fought, the deeper he sank.

A cold sweat broke out across his brow as he tried to lift his legs, feeling the sand coil around his calves, binding him with every step.

"Think, Adrian," he muttered to himself, realizing that force alone wouldn't free him. He glanced around, looking for something—anything—that might offer an anchor.

His fiery chains pulsed to life from his back, their spear-tipped ends gleaming as he aimed them toward the ceiling. But there was nothing solid above, no beams or ledges for his chains to grasp.

Only a vast, empty darkness loomed above him, mocking his attempts to escape.

He tried another approach, shooting his chains across the hall toward the platform at the other end, but his reach fell short. The chains clattered back, dragging in the sand beside him as he let out a frustrated growl.

The illusions surged forward, faces taunting him with voices he had once trusted.

His younger self's voice cut through the chaos, dripping with scorn. "Look at you, drowning in quicksand, grasping at nothing. This is where chasing a 'greater purpose' leads—to ruin."

The sand climbed higher, up to his knees now, wrapping around him like a relentless grip. The panic grew more intense, a biting fear that he felt he couldn't get away from. He shut his eyes, forcing his thoughts to settle, to overcome the dread clawing at his mind.

He could still feel Eris's presence, a dark, waiting sensation hanging heavily in the air.

"Is this how you define strength, Adrian?" Eris whispered,. "Fighting a battle you'll never win? Let go. Stop resisting. You can have what others have. You might think you don't deserve it but if you want it, you can get it. Embrace the comfort of power and glory."

A vision rippled before him in the sand—a life of glory, where he was admired by everyone, a bright figure in armor, enjoying the praise. In this illusion, there was no struggle, no danger.

Only the ease of acceptance and fame, the freedom from the burdens that had weighed on him.

Adrian's breath caught.

The image was so vivid he could feel the warmth of the sun, the cheers of admiration.

For an instant, he found himself leaning into it, drawn by the quiet allure of its promise. The sand surged around his thighs, thickening, trapping him further as his momentary lapse allowed it to pull him deeper.

"No!" He screamed firmly to himself. He turned his face away from the vision. "Not like this."

The illusions flickered, their taunts twisting into anger. Eris's voice sharpened, losing some of its mocking edge. "You truly think you're different? That denying your own desires makes you noble? Foolish boy."

Adrian steadied his breathing, choosing to ignore the voices, the visions, and even the tightening sand. He locked his gaze on the far end of the chamber, refusing to let the illusions sway him. "I don't need any of this," he muttered.

The sand clawed at him harder, reacting to his defiance, but this time, he pushed through, forcing one leg forward.

The resistance was painful, and every step felt like a struggle, but he pushed himself forward, tuning out the negative thoughts and doubts.

Another step.

And another.

His foot sank and slid, but he kept moving. The sand tugged relentlessly, and his legs burned, yet he persisted, focusing solely on reaching the far end of the chamber.

Eris's voice grew louder, her mocking laughter filling the air. "You're nothing, Adrian. Just a man struggling for worth in a world that's forgotten him."

He clenched his fists, tuning her out, his breath steadying as he fought his way forward. His mind cleared, each taunt fading as he resisted with a steady resolve. With each step, he forced himself to ignore the illusions, to shut out their taunts and focus solely on his mission.

The sand fought back, harder than ever, rising past his waist, but he kept his gaze fixed on his goal. His mind sharpened, finding strength in the silence he forged against Eris's ceaseless whispers. The illusions flickered, their forms wavering as he pushed on, step by painful step.

Finally, just as he neared the end of the chamber, the sand began to lose its grip, the weight around his legs lessening. He felt the ground firm beneath his feet, the sand's resistance weakening.

With a final surge of effort, he shot his chain to the other end, dragging himself out and breaking free of the quicksand just as it threatened to consume him entirely.

He stumbled forward, breathing heavily as he steadied himself, the last echoes of Eris's laughter fading into silence. His gaze swept over the chamber, now dim and quiet, the illusions gone, their taunts dissolved into nothing.

"You may seek to test me, Eris," he whispered in a low voice, "but I know who I am. And I won't fall to your illusions."

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