Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

The Guardian of Virtues smiled again, satisfied with their decision. "Very well. May your inner light shine brightly in your darkest moments. Follow the path of light and be strong."

With these words, the Guardian of Virtues slowly disappeared, like a mist dissipating in the sun. Without further hesitation, the group began to follow the luminous path that stretched ahead. The verdant landscape around them gradually began to disappear, replaced by an increasingly arid and desolate environment.

As they walked, the transition was almost imperceptible, but soon they found themselves in a rocky desert. The sky, once a clear, serene blue, was now overcast with dark, turbulent clouds. An eternal storm roared above, filling the air with distant screams and intermittent flames that mixed with the violent winds.

"This is the Second Circle," muttered Og'tharoz, his words almost inaudible under the roar of the storm. "Lust."

Xisrith observed his surroundings carefully, noting how the wind seemed to carry not only dust and ashes, but also fragments of tortured souls. It was as if the air itself was alive, a chaotic mixture of suffering and desire.

"We need to stay together," warned Og'tharoz, his voice firm but full of urgency. "This storm could tear us apart if we're not careful."

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than a particularly strong gust of wind swept over the group, forcing them to take cover as best they could.

Kaizen tried to hold onto Bloody Lily's hand, but the wind pushed them in opposite directions. Andrew and Xisrith were also blown away, their voices lost in the tumult, while Alina managed to quickly put up a barrier to protect herself and whoever was behind her.

Kaizen fell to his knees, the wind and fire whipping his body. He tried to get up, but the force of the storm pressed him to the ground. He looked around desperately, trying to locate his friends, but all he saw were indistinct shadows and dancing flames.

"Xisrith! Jayaa! Andrew!" he shouted, but his voice was swallowed up by the roar of the storm.

He tried to stand up again, planting his feet firmly on the rocky ground, but the wind insisted on knocking him down. With a superhuman effort, he managed to stand up, his eyes squinting to protect himself from the sand and ash that burned like needles on his skin. It was then that he saw a familiar shadow among the dancing flames.

"Emma!" he shouted, reaching out desperately.

Bloody Lily was a few meters away, also fighting the storm. Her red armor was dirty, but her eyes shone with determination. She saw Kaizen and reached out, their fingers almost touching. With one last effort, Kaizen lunged forward, their bodies colliding as they hugged each other to keep each other steady.

"We need to get out of here!" Kaizen shouted, his voice barely audible. "We have to find the others!"

Lily agreed. "But I'm glad I'm with you!"

"What? I can't hear you!"

"Oh, never mind, let's walk!"

"Just kidding, I can hear you!"

Together, they began to move against the wind, each step a constant struggle. The rocky ground was treacherous, and the winds that danced around them made every move risky.

Meanwhile, Andrew and Xisrith were in an equally precarious situation.

The storm had blown them away from some of them, separating them from Kaizen and the rest of the group.

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Andrew, his face covered in dust and soot, tried to locate Xisrith. His eyes were stinging and the wind felt like it wanted to rip his skin off, but he didn't give up.

"Hey, is anyone there?" He called out.

"I'm here!" Her voice sounded weak, but close.

Andrew turned and saw her, leaning against a rock, using what little protection it offered. He ran to her, his heart racing with relief.

"Are you all right, Xisrith?" he asked, holding her shoulders.

"Yes, of course I am, but we can't stay here," Xisrith replied, her voice firm despite the situation. "We need to find the others."

Andrew nodded, helping her to her feet. Together, they began to move forward, using the rocks as temporary shelter as they moved through the storm.

Further away, Og'tharoz was alone. The storm roared around him, but he stood firm, his eyes shining with an almost supernatural determination. Like a demon from the depths, he seemed immune to the chaos around him, moving with ease. He knew he needed to find the others, but for now, his priority was to find a safe way into the Second Circle.

Alina and Jayaa had luckily managed to stay together. Alina, with her magical ability, had erected a temporary barrier that protected them from the worst of the storm. Jayaa, by coincidence, was the only one standing next to her, and because he had been saved unintentionally, he watched her as if she were his hero.

"How long can you keep this up?" Jayaa asked, her voice tense.

"Not long," Alina replied, sweating with the effort. "We need to move before my energy runs out."

Jayaa nodded, and together they began to advance, using the barrier as a shield against the elements.

In the midst of this chaos, Kaizen and Lily advanced with difficulty. The storm seemed to intensify every moment, and the roar of the wind was deafening. Finally, they found a small shelter, a recess in the rocks that offered some protection.

"We need to think of a plan," Kaizen said, panting. "We can't go on like this."

Lily nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "We need to find the others. If we stay separated, we may never get out of here."

Kaizen agreed, sitting down for a moment to catch his breath. "Og'tharoz said that this is the Second Circle, Lust. What do you know about it?"

Lily reflected for a moment. "Lust is a place of insatiable and tormenting desire. The storm is not only physical, but also mental. We need to be careful with our emotions."

Kaizen nodded. "Then we need to stay focused. We can't let ourselves get carried away by despair or desire."

"Do you have any ideas in mind?" Lily asked.

"What? Why ask me?"

"Because you always have ideas and they usually work. If you don't have one yet, it might be time to start thinking."

"All right, I have an idea. It could be dangerous, though."

"And what exactly is it?"

At that moment, Kaizen closed his eyes and clenched his right hand into a fist. He seemed to be concentrating and suddenly something began to glow inside his hand.

Immediately, Bloody Lily realized what Kaizen wanted to do. "It might work, but it's a big risk. What else can a human beacon attract in a place like this?"

"I don't know, but we'll have to find out."