The thick smell of dread filled Rex's nostrils as he found himself in front of a massive gate. The air was heavy, almost suffocating, and compared to the last time he had ventured here, a cave-like dungeon where he faced the so-called "Cerberus", this place was different. Way different. The gates loomed before him, majestic yet dripping with an aura of pure dread.
Even Rex, with his cool bravado, felt a tiny shiver run down his spine.
The gate had black iron bars that seemed to absorb the light, almost as if they were feeding on it. Jagged spikes lined the top, and ancient runes snaked across the surface, glowing faintly like they'd been freshly etched by the hands of an ancient being.
On either side of the entrance stood towering obsidian statues of monstrous creatures, their eyes hollow, but you could almost swear they were watching Rex's every move.
"Welcome to the Gates of the Underworld!" Cronus's voice boomed in Rex's head, full of that theatrical flair Rex had come to love and occasionally find annoying.
Rex looked up at the towering gates, then back down at his feet, as if expecting to see a 'You Are Here' sign. "So, this is it, huh? Gotta say, I'm not a fan of the 'VIP entrance to eternal damnation' vibes."
Cronus chuckled. "It is not supposed to be inviting, young Harbinger. This is where souls are judged and punished accordingly. Mortals should tremble in its presence."
Rex rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, all dramatic and stuff. So, this is where I'll find that thing?" He craned his neck, trying to peer through the gate, but it only seemed to lead into pitch-black nothingness.
"Indeed," Cronus replied ominously. "Beyond this gate lies your true test. Prepare yourself."
Rex stretched his arms, cracking his knuckles. "Eh, how hard can it be? I already beat the Cerberus last time, right? Big dog with three heads, smelled like a public restroom no one bothered to clean." He made a face at the memory.
Cronus remained silent for a moment longer than Rex liked, which immediately put him on edge. "The creature you fought before was... let's say, a replica."
Rex blinked. "Wait, hold up. A replica? Are you telling me I threw down with a knock-off Cerberus? Like, the Walmart version?"
"It was a mere shadow," Cronus replied calmly. "A fraction of the true beast's strength. A test. What you are about to face now is no fake."
Rex stared at the gate in disbelief, before muttering under his breath, "Why is it always me, huh? I can't even get a discount on fighting mythical monsters. Always the full-price version." He shook his head, sighing dramatically. "I swear, if the real one drools on me again..."
Without warning, the massive gate began to creak and groan, slowly swinging open. The darkness beyond it seemed to writhe like a living thing, the temperature dropping by several degrees. Rex couldn't help but feel a little cheated. He had been here before, or so he thought. He had already "defeated" Cerberus, so why was he back?
The ground trembled beneath his feet, the vibrations so strong he could barely keep his balance. A deep, guttural growl echoed from the abyss beyond the gate, followed by the sound of massive paws hitting the earth, heavy and deliberate. The ground cracked and splintered under the weight of whatever approached.
Rex braced himself, his hands clenching into a fist "Okay, Rex," he whispered to himself, "you got this. It's just another overgrown mutt. Nothing you haven't handled before."
The growling grew louder, and from the shadows, the beast emerged. Its three heads loomed like a nightmare brought to life, each set of jaws dripping with saliva. The fur was matted and dark as night, and each of its eyes glowed with a fiery intensity that screamed danger.
Rex's casual bravado faltered for a second as he took in the sheer size of the beast. The thing was easily three times larger than the previous one he fought, with muscles rippling beneath its fur and claws that looked like they could rip through steel.
"...Okay, so maybe it's a little bigger," Rex muttered, his voice shaky.
"That's the real Cerberus, young Harbinger. Now you face the true guardian of the Underworld," Cronus chimed in, his tone far too amused for Rex's liking.
Rex grimaced. "You know, you could've just told me this up front. Saved me the trouble of thinking I was a total badass."
The middle head of Cerberus snarled, and Rex could feel the force of its breath against his skin, hot and foul like a furnace. All three heads growled in unison, and the ground beneath Rex cracked even further, as if the beast's very presence threatened to tear the world apart.
He took a deep breath, then gave a casual shrug. "Alright, fine. I guess I'll just have to make you sit down the old-fashioned way."
Cronus, ever the commentator, chuckled. "Your arrogance is charming. Let's see if it will serve you well against this true beast."
Rex tightened his grip on his weapon, his heart pounding in his chest as the real Cerberus bared its teeth. He gave a half-smile, though more to steady himself than anything else.
Origin: Child of Echnida and Typhon
Abilities: Poisonous bite, Claw strike
Role: (Guardian of the underworld)
"Cr...Cr.....Cronus.... what the heck is this...." Rex stuttered as he spoke, clearly overwhelmed by what he was seeing
"Aha! Now thou facest A true Cerberus, harbinger" Cronus chuckled
"Damn you! Why do I feel like you're always trying to kill me?" Rex asked
"Thou hast to face death if thou longest for power" Cronus chuckled again
Suddenly, Rex started taking steps backward, his expression faltering. He wasn't the type to walk away from a fight but he knew the types of fight he should avoid
"Please, I wanna go home," Rex screamed out
Cronus sighed, frustrated by Rex's decision "Very well, I shall alter the system then.... but ye shall not get the artifact ye came here for and thou shall not properly start your test lest thou face the true Cerberus" Cronus said
"Yeah, whatever...do your thing!"
Suddenly, Rex felt a slight change in the environment. The ominous vibes from before, though still present reduced by a large margin
Origin: A fraction of the true Cerberus' powers
Abilities: Claw strike, poisonous bite(effective after two minutes)
Agility: 30 Follow current novels on NovᴇlFir(e).nᴇt
Rex heaved a sigh of relief "Well....This is better" Rex said as he locked eyes with the new Cerberus in sight. It's three heads growling at him, ready to pounce if he walked closer to the gate