The Eternal Sketch

The ruins trembled as the inky-black guardian fully emerged from the cracked stone, its massive form towering over Ryo and Elara. Its body flickered between solid and smoke-like, shifting in and out of existence as if it were barely clinging to the material world. Hollow eyes stared down at them, filled with an unnatural awareness.

"You trespass upon sacred ground." The voice resonated in the air, though the guardian's mouth never moved.

A gust of wind swept through the ruins as Callus stepped forward, his presence alone sending a wave of authority through the battlefield. Unlike Ryo and Elara, he was completely unfazed by the guardian's towering form. The veteran instructor had faced worse threats in his lifetime, and his confidence was absolute.

"Ryo," Callus said, his voice calm but firm, "watch carefully. This is what it means to control overwhelming power."

Before Ryo could respond, Callus moved.

Faster than Ryo's eyes could follow, Callus unsheathed his blade and slashed through the air. The strike seemed almost casual, yet a massive force erupted from his sword, cutting through the guardian's arm like it was paper. The ink-like appendage dissipated into nothingness, the guardian recoiling in shock.

Elara gawked. "Yeah, that's definitely cheating."

The guardian roared, shifting its form to try and regenerate its lost limb, but Callus didn't let up. With a single step, he closed the distance, his blade glowing with condensed energy. He swung again—this time at the guardian's core. The attack struck true, and cracks of golden energy spread through the creature's body like shattering glass.

Ryo swallowed hard. He had spent weeks training his abilities, refining his ink constructs and learning to stabilize his summons. Yet here was Callus, wielding raw power with effortless mastery. It was a clear reminder of how far Ryo still had to go.

The guardian staggered back, its form unraveling. But before it could fully collapse, it spoke again, its voice strained.

"You… are not like the others."

Callus lowered his sword slightly, his expression unreadable. "Who created you?"

The guardian's form flickered. "I was born from the ink of the first scribe… I was meant to protect the knowledge buried here."

Ryo stepped forward, curiosity overriding his awe. "Then why attack us?"

The guardian's voice wavered. "Because the knowledge must not fall into the wrong hands. The professor… he sought what should remain hidden."

Ryo exchanged glances with Elara and Callus. This wasn't just about a missing researcher anymore. There was something dangerous here—something even the guardian feared.

"The professor is still inside, isn't he?" Ryo asked.

The guardian hesitated, then nodded. "But he is not alone."

A chill ran down Ryo's spine.

Something else was waiting for them within the ruins.

And it might be far worse than the guardian they had just fought.