The arena of Anguish faded, giving way to a lush garden where enchanting scents wafted through the air and soft whispers caressed the mind. Yet beneath this beauty lurked an insidious threat—an ancient magic that seeped into the soul.
The thunderous voice returned, laced with playful malice.
"Welcome to the Second Circle: Temptations," it announced. "Your deepest desires will call to you. Resist with iron will, or succumb and become shadows of yourselves. Only the strongest will advance."
The space fractured, each competitor plunged into an illusion tailored to break their resolve. Invisible chains coiled around their minds, making resistance nearly unbearable. Across the garden, teams began to falter: some collapsed, their bodies twisting into howling shadows, consumed by their desires.
The survivors felt the crushing pressure, a force amplifying their wants into obsession.
Gills found himself in a majestic throne room, clad in glowing red armor, a crown atop his head. Before him, infernal dimensions bowed, proclaiming him absolute master. "You can have it all," a smooth voice purred, "if you abandon your team." The temptation sank like a blade, his desire to protect twisting into a thirst for domination. His mind wavered, red flames flickering as he struggled. "No… I won't sacrifice them," he growled, clenching his fists. With a roar, he unleashed a storm of red flames, shattering the illusion, his body trembling from the effort, but his will unbroken.
Soehpt stood in an arena bathed in light, cheers ringing out. Figures from his infernal dimension, ones he'd fled, applauded him. "Stay, Soehpt," a voice murmured, "prove your worth here, and be a hero." The long-buried desire for recognition consumed him, his spiritual blue flames faltering as he imagined acceptance. He fell to his knees, invisible chains tightening. "No… I can't abandon Gills and Kira," he whispered, rising with superhuman effort. A burst of blue fire erupted, breaking the illusion, though he gasped, drained by the inner battle.
Kira faced a vision of peace: she, Gills, and Soehpt, far from the tournament, in a world without strife. "No more fighting, no more pain," the voice cooed, amplifying her urge to protect her friends at all costs. The temptation was gentle, almost irresistible, but anger flared within her. "We don't run!" she shouted, her regeneration powers surging to repel the invisible chains. She struck the ground with contained fury, shattering the illusion, her bloodied fists a testament to her struggle.
Tyrnat stood before a towering demonic entity offering an alliance. "Join me, Black Prince," it said, "and rule all dimensions." The temptation burrowed into his mind, fueling his hunger for dominance. His pulse quickened, but he smirked coldly. "I don't need you," he replied, summoning Ombrailes to pierce the illusion. The little demon's tattered wings glowed, and Tyrnat severed the invisible chains with his shadow sickle, his icy gaze reflecting unshakable will.
Yulius saw rivers of blood, a voice promising infinite strength if he bathed in them. "No limits," it whispered, amplifying his craving for raw power. His body trembled, drawn to the promise, but he gripped Massacre, his bone sword, and slashed the illusion apart, his blood control scattering the visions with projectiles. "My strength is enough," he snarled, repelling the chains with fierce determination.
Nera faced a vision of Tyrnat offering his heart. "Stay with me, Nera," he murmured, his gentle gaze piercing her. The temptation wrapped around her heart, her love for Tyrnat swelling into obsession. She fell to her knees, the invisible chains pulling her toward the illusion. "No… this isn't you," she sobbed, clutching her cursed doll. With a wrenching effort, she unleashed shadow threads to shatter the illusion, her love for the real Tyrnat saving her, though she trembled in its wake.
Bhaadon, beneath his mask, saw a celestial throne, a voice offering to restore his forgotten past. "Return to what you were," it murmured, amplifying his desire for answers. The invisible chains gripped his mind, but he used telekinesis to push the vision back, steadying his will with a calm breath. "I am Bhaadon," he whispered, breaking the chains, his mask intact, though his body bore the strain.
Solom was tempted by a vision of total freedom, soaring through an endless sky unbound by constraints. The temptation seeped in, fueling his longing to escape, but he levitated, lightning bursting forth to shatter the illusion. His staff Ivory gleamed as he repelled the invisible chains, his resolve holding firm.
Gota saw a tranquil ocean, a voice inviting her to remain in its refuge. The temptation of peace overwhelmed her, but she summoned an aqueous jellyfish to break the illusion, casting off the chains with a defiant cry. "I won't stop here!" she declared, breathless.
The survivors emerged, exhausted, their minds scarred by the ordeal. Gills shot a hard look at Tyrnat, who responded with a mocking smirk. Soehpt, still shaken, was steadied by Kira, who smacked the back of his head. "Move, idiot, or I'll hit you again!" she growled. The Nephalems, silent, watched from afar, their intentions veiled.
Across the garden, the howling shadows—competitors who had succumbed—faded into the darkness. The path to Famine opened, promising new trials.