System in Assassin's Creed

Chapter 86: Chapter 85: Ezio Auditore!

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---Previously---

Flavia looked around the chamber, then back at the seemingly impassable wall. ”So... is this it?” she asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice. ”A dead end?”

Alaric turned, a confident smirk spreading across his face. ”Not in the slightest,” He raised his voice slightly, addressing the wall itself. ”Seventy-two!”

---Now---

Instantly, lines of light traced the complex geometric patterns on the wall, converging and intensifying on the triangular shapes until one massive, glowing triangle dominated the center.

A low hum filled the chamber, and with a soft grinding sound, the entire wall began to ascend smoothly upwards, revealing a long, straight corridor beyond.

The corridor itself was constructed of the same strange, almost futuristic material, and faint lines of light were along moldings near the floor, resembling some form of advanced illumination.

Alaric didn’t hesitate, stepping forward into the corridor. Reuben and Flavia followed, their eyes wide as they took in the impossible architecture.

As they walked, the ascending wall sealing the entrance behind them with a soft thud, Flavia finally voiced the question burning in her mind. ”Alaric... how do you know all of this? This place... the password...”

Alaric glanced back, first at Flavia, then at Reuben. ”You curious too?”

Reuben nodded mutely, still trying to process the reality of the hidden chamber.

Alaric’s smirk returned, widening into a full grin. ”Simple,” he announced cheerfully. ”I know all these things because...”

”...I’m handsome.”

Both Flavia and Reuben stopped dead in the corridor, staring at Alaric’s back with utterly dumbfounded expressions. After a beat of silence, Reuben let out an exasperated sigh. Flavia turned to him, bewildered. ”Is he... is he always like that?”

Reuben just shook his head wearily. ”He has his antics...” He sighed again, then gestured for them to keep moving. ”Come on.”

They caught up to Alaric just as he reached the end of the long corridor, which opened out into a space that defied comprehension.

It was vast. Impossibly vast.

A colossal cavern stretched out before them, the ceiling lost in shadows far above. Strange, massive walls surrounded them, constructed of the same unknown material as the corridor, marked with more glowing lines and symbols.

In the center of this immense void, seemingly floating in empty space far below their current level, was a circular platform. At the heart of this platform pulsed a brightly shining orb of golden light, casting eerie shadows across the cavern. There was no visible way to reach it.

Flavia gasped, her mouth falling open. ”This... this is impossible...” she breathed, overwhelmed by the scale and alien nature of the place.

”Nothing is impossible,” Alaric replied quietly, his gaze fixed on the distant orb.

Flavia snorted softly at his platitude, but then her breath hitched, her eyes widening in sudden, profound shock. Standing near the central platform, bathed in the golden light of the orb, was a shimmering, translucent figure, a white silhouette recognizable to any Italian Assassin.

”T-T-That...” Flavia stammered, pointing a trembling finger. ”That’s... my ancestor... Ezio Auditore!”

Ezio’s white silhouette was carrying the same orb in the middle like it was some sort of projection.

”Yes... but it’s just a projection of what happened during the time he came here.”

Alaric explained then smiled as the silhouette disappeared, a thrill running down his spine despite himself. Goosebumps rose on his arms. Seeing it in the game was one thing, but witnessing this place... the Vault, firsthand... He felt a surge of excitement but forced himself to remain outwardly calm.

Alaric looked at the vast chasm separating them from the central platform where the glowing orb.

He knew the intended path involved a series of parkour moves, activating hidden ledges and beams, the way Desmond Miles had done it in the game.

’Why would I do that,’ Alaric thought dismissively, ’when I have...’

He closed his eyes briefly, and when they opened, the intricate red pattern of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan blazed within them. ’...Vulcan!’

He raised a hand, focusing his will. A faint shimmer appeared in the air before him as microscopic metal particles gathered.

With astonishing speed, these particles coalesced and solidified, forming a thick, sturdy bar of dark iron that shot outwards from the edge of the platform they stood on. It extended rapidly across the chasm, anchoring itself firmly to the edge of the central platform.

A solid, if somewhat crude, bridge now spanned the impossible gap.

Reuben and Flavia stared, eyes wide, first at the impossible bridge that had appeared from nothing, then back at Alaric.

Alaric grinned at their gawking expressions. He gestured towards the newly formed bridge with a nod. ”Let’s go.”

Still stupefied but trusting Alaric implicitly, Reuben and Flavia cautiously stepped onto the iron bridge, testing its solidity before following Alaric across the chasm towards the central platform.

As they stepped onto the platform itself, nearing the brightly glowing orb, Reuben suddenly swayed, putting a hand to his head.

”Ugh... what is that?” he groaned, looking pale. ”I feel... weak.” As he finished speaking, the Sword of Damokles, still sheathed at his hip, began to vibrate intensely, emitting a low hum and a golden glow that pulsed in time with the orb before them.

Flavia, however, seemed less physically affected but equally awestruck, her gaze fixed on the golden sphere.

”Apple of Eden...” she whispered, her voice filled with reverence and a touch of fear.

Reuben looked at her sharply, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his vibrating sword. He was wary now, remembering the unsettling influence the blade had exerted before Alaric sealed it. ”Apple of what?”

Flavia tore her eyes away from the artifact to look at Reuben. ”An Apple of Eden,” she explained, her voice hushed.

”It’s mentioned in the records... the codex pages... left by my ancestor, Ezio Auditore. Pieces of Eden, they’re called. Artifacts of immense power left by Those Who Came Before.” She looked back at the orb. ”This one... the Apple... it’s said to have the power to control human minds, create powerful illusions, bend thoughts to the wielder’s will... perhaps even manipulate reality itself. Some believe it influenced historical events, myths... like the parting of the Red Sea, or the Trojan War.” Her expression grew serious.

”It is an incredibly dangerous artifact, Reuben. Sought after for centuries by many groups... including both the Assassins and our enemies, the Templars.”

Reuben listened intently, his hand tightening on his sword hilt as it continued to hum. He turned to Alaric, his expression worried. ”’Laric... did you hear that? That thing’s dangerous! My sword’s been vibrating like mad ever since we stepped onto this platform. I fear the seal might break!”

Alaric’s earlier amusement and excitement were gone now, replaced by a focused seriousness as he studied the Apple.

”Don’t worry, Reuben,” he said calmly, his voice steady. ”I won’t let that happen.”

He took a step closer to the pedestal holding the Apple of Eden. He could feel it now... a strange, almost psychic pressure emanating from the golden sphere, probing his mind, trying to discern his thoughts, his desires. It felt ancient, powerful, and intelligent in a way that was utterly alien.

’Interesting,’ Alaric thought, resisting the mental probe effortlessly. ’What’s the difference between this Apple and the one I found back in London? This one... it feels much more potent, more... aware.’

He reached out a hand towards the glowing artifact, and...

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