Charon felt nothing.
His senses had vanished, but they did not leave an emptiness.
It was pure, unfiltered nothingness. An absence of existence.
Then, as if struck by lightning, a sensation came, sending his body into shock.
The nothingness was replaced with a presence so totalitarian his mind refused to cope with it.
He began to convulse, his thoughts vanishing as something brushed against him.
Instantly, his body broke apart, the very atoms coming undone. Everything that Charon ever was withered away, even the memory of his existence.
Then, as if through an act of mercy, he returned, his body rebuilding itself at the behest of something else.
When Charon was finally able to open his eyes, the midnight sky greeted him.
What he thought were stars twinkled millions of miles away, keeping the infinite darkness at bay.
It was a peaceful place.
Sighing, he rested his head, realizing he was laying on something cold and hard.
Rolling to the side, he looked down and saw the floor was made of a dark stone.
'Onyx, maybe? Or is it obsidian?'
His memories returning to him slowly, he jumped up with a start as he remembered the dark mists.
'The priest! What happened? Did he get the artifact? Am I dead?'
The thoughts came one after the other, bringing a headache with them.
Clutching his head with his remaining hand, he scanned his surroundings, frowning when all he saw was an impenetrable darkness.
The strange stone floor stretched off in every direction, vanishing into the midnight veil as if swallowed by the inky infinity.
'Where am I?'
His confusion mounting, he reached up with his other hand and scratched his chin. Only after a few seconds passed did he realize what he was doing.
Reeling back, he yanked his hand away and stared at the appendage.
Charon gaped as he studied the miraculous return of his limb, gingerly poking the pink flesh to make sure he wasn't imagining it.
'How is that possible? I felt it rot away, I watched it rot away!'
Touching his face with his hand, he felt how smooth it was, even where he knew the mist had touched.
Doing the same all over, he slowly came to realization he was whole once more.
'I'm back… my body is back!'
Smiling like an idiot, he barely noticed when another figure appeared on the stone with him, standing menacingly near the edge of the void.
Charon's eyes snapped to the man, taking a few steps back in fright.
'Gods above what now!'
A knight in matte black armor watched him from a covered visor, a violet light burning from the V shaped eye slit. A plume of purple feathers stuck out of the top, glowing faintly.
Unlike the bulky armor of the sergeants, this suit of armor was more sleek and practical, allowing far more mobility. A regal looking sword hung from a sheath at his side, and over his shoulders were the corners of a heater shield, strapped to his back.
Everything about him screamed danger, only made worse by the next realization Charon made.
'I can't sense him. I can't feel anything about him, not where he is or anything!'
It was as if the man didn't exist, a hole in reality.
Seconds passed in tense silence before he dared speak.
"Who- Who are you?"
Only once addressed did the knight move, taking a few steps towards Charon before stopping, his dreadful helm slowly looking him up and down.
"I have no name."
Exhaling slowly to calm his racing heart, Charon took note of a few things.
'He hasn't attacked me yet, and he responded. That's good, it means he is open to conversation.'
He raised a hand and placed it on his chest, offering what he hoped was a disarming smile.
"My name is Charon."
The knight stared into his eyes unflinchingly, placing a single gauntlet on the polm of his blade.
"I am aware of who you are. I have been sent to validate your trial, and offer information."
Charon almost collapsed from relief as the words reached his ears.
'Validate the trial! He is here to validate the trial! That means I passed it, right? I survived!'
Smiling from ear to ear, he couldn't help but laugh aloud, his voice vanishing into the distance.
"Thank the gods! I knew it had to do with the staff!"
Providing a single nod, the knight continued speaking, his voice hollow and emotionless.
"The acquisition of the artifact was one of the possible endings to the trial, albeit an unexpected one."
Freezing on the spot, Charon turned his still smiling face to the foreboding figure, his expression locked solid.
"What do you mean one of the possible endings?"
"During the trial, there were multiple endings supplied. Those included; fleeing the fight, attacking the Death army, killing the priest, aiding the Life slaves, fighting in the fortress courtyard, and killing the Servant of Blood."
Tears began to leak down Charon's face as the words hit him like bullets.
"I could've ended the trial by just… running away? Like I had originally planned?"
A chuckle escaped his lips, followed by another. Before he could control himself, he fell to his knees, laughing manically.
Minutes passed as the shrill sound continued, only relenting when Charon felt his vocal chords fail him, leaving him sitting there with his mouth wide open.
'What a sick joke!'
With a few powerful steps, the knight approached, standing over him and looking down.
"Extend your hand."
Barely registering the words, Charon complied, his willpower depleted after learning all the pain he went through was meaningless.
The knight reached out, placing a single metal finger on the back of Charon's palm.
A cold feeling flowed from the point of contact, racing up his arm and into his chest.
With a gasp, a new sensation reached his brain, and he jerked his hand back.
'What was that?'
Looking at his hand, he saw something new where the knight had touched him.
A tattoo of a black circle with a staff inlaid into the center now marked his skin.
He scratched at it, but it remained, permanently marring his limb.
Looking up in horror, he screamed at the knight.
"What did you do to me! Haven't I been through enough?"
The knight leaned down, his helmet pausing just inches away from Charon's face. The violet flame flickered in the visor, making him feel a strange sense of dread.
"Do not insult the gift you have been given. If not for the will of Death, I would not have your unfaithful eyes even see the artifact, let alone wield it. You are to be gracious."
Whether it was the confusion he saw in Charon's, eyes or his sense of duty outweighing his anger, the knight stood back up, offering more explanation.
"Focus on the mark."
Complying with the request more out of terror than loyalty, Charon felt a burst of energy flow from his chest and into his hand, a long black staff slowly manifesting into it.
With wide eyes, he recognized the skull adorning its top and its onyx body.
'Its the artifact the priest and I fought for!'
Holding it out to properly inspect it, he was even more surprised when a window screen appeared in front of him, describing the item.
[Patience]
[Rank: Mythic Artifact]
[Allegiance: Death]
[Aspects: Soul, Undeath]
[Abilities: (Locked)]
[Description: (Locked)]
[Requirements to Unlock: 1,000,000 Souls offered to Death]
Charon read it once, then twice, then a third time for good measure, the wheels in his brain slowly turning.
'How is this possible? I don't have the System implant, yet I can access a screen already. What rank is Mythic? Is that good? What even is this requirement to unlock supposed to be? A million souls offered to Death?'
As dozens of thoughts raged through his head, he slapped himself, hoping to focus on what was important.
'I have someone to explain things now, I don't need to stay ignorant anymore.'
With hopeful eyes, he looked up at the knight, barely opening his mouth before he got a response.
"The System is merely a way to connect the information of the deities with the mortal species. In this place, we have no such need for a connection. As for the specifics regarding Patience, that is for you to learn with time. Take care, human, for it has not been wielded by mortal hands for many millenia."
Satisfied with getting at least one answer, he sighed deeply, a faint grin teasing at his lips.
'I have a special artifact. Well how about that.'
Only one question remained.
"Did I pass the trial? What happens now?"
The knight nodded, stepping back to give Charon some space, a loud clunk accompanying the action.
"You did. You will now be returned to the planet you came from, with many eyes watching you. It will be my duty to check in periodically to gauge your growth, and reward you if I see fit."
The knight raised his hand, opening it before stopping.
"I will warn you, Charon. The God of Death has set his sights upon you. You would be wise not to waste this opportunity."
Before he had a chance to respond, the knight struck his chest, causing the world to vanish again.