NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: Guardian
As the group stood in silence, tension thick in the air, Axel suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Hold up," he said, his voice low. "Something moved."
He turned his head, pointing toward a stone statue at the far end of the crypt. "Over there... it was slight, but I swear I saw that thing shift."
The others followed his gaze. The statue, an ancient figure of a warrior with a cracked and weathered surface, stood eerily still. Its eyes, hollow and dark, seemed to watch them.
"Are you sure?" Cauis asked, his hand instinctively moving to his weapon. "Maybe the shadows are playing tricks on you."
"No," Axel insisted. "I know what I saw."
Dylan took a step closer to the statue, giving it a quick glance. "Relax, it's just a statue," he said with a shrug. "Nothing else."
Before anyone could breathe easy, the statue's head twisted toward him, its stone limbs creaking as it began to move. Its glowing eyes locked onto the group.
Without warning, the statue lunged at Dylan, its stone arm swinging toward him with surprising speed. Dylan barely managed to dodge, the force of the strike cracking the ground where he had just stood.
"Okay, not just a statue!" Dylan shouted, rolling to his feet. "A little help here?"
The statue stood over twenty feet tall, its stone surface etched with ancient lines that pulsed with golden light, forming intricate patterns across its body. Its eyes glowed with the same golden hue, and at its center, embedded in its chest, was a core a swirling sphere of energy that seemed to power the entire construct. Each movement it made caused the glowing lines to brighten momentarily, sending faint vibrations through the air.
Its heavy limbs, though made of stone, moved with an unnatural fluidity, as if magic coursed through every crack and joint. The core in its chest pulsed in rhythm with its attacks, the light intensifying with each swing of its massive arms.
Axel rushed in, slamming his fist into the statue's side. "This thing's tougher than it looks!" he growled, shaking out his hand from the impact.
Cauis drew his blade, eyes narrowing. "Hit it hard, aim for the cracks!"
June prepared a spell, frost gathering around her hands as the group engaged the animated guardian.
June unleashed a blast of ice toward the statue's core, but the frost shattered on impact, leaving no mark.
Axel struck with a flurry of punches, each one echoing through the crypt, yet the stone guardian remained unfazed. "This thing's like punching a mountain!" Axel grimaced, shaking his sore fists.
Cauis dashed in, slashing at the glowing lines running along its body, but his blade glanced off the enchanted stone harmlessly. "Not even a scratch! What is this thing made of?"
Alisan, gripping her staff tightly, concentrated her magic into a surge of power, but even her spell barely caused the guardian to flinch. "Its core might be the key, but it's too well protected!"
The statue raised its arms, golden light flaring as it prepared to strike again. "We need a new plan fast!" Dylan called out, keeping his distance, his eyes locked on the glowing core.
The statue's chest glowed brighter, and a crackling beam of golden energy shot out, scorching the air. Alisan barely managed to dive out of the way.
"That was too close!" Alisan gasped, clutching her staff as she scrambled to her feet.
June's eyes widened. "It's charging up again! We've got to take out that core, or it'll blast us all!"
Axel clenched his fists. "Then we aim everything at that glowing core no holding back!"
The group quickly repositioned, preparing to focus their attacks on the statue's weak point. "Time to break that shield!" Cauis said, determination flashing in his eyes.
Cauis raised his sword, golden light swirling around him as he activated Guardian's Embrace. A towering, radiant spirit emerged, its form shimmering with divine energy. The guardian wrapped its protective aura around Cauis, forming an impenetrable barrier.
"Stay behind me!" Cauis commanded, his voice steady. The spirit absorbed the statue's next powerful beam, deflecting the golden energy with ease.
The group regrouped behind him, reassessing their strategy. "This won't hold forever," Cauis warned. "We've got to bring it down while we still can!"
Alisan nodded, gripping her staff. "Aim for the core while it's exposed! June, keep it slowed down. Axel, be ready to break that thing apart!"
"Got it!" Axel said, his fists crackling with energy as he prepared to strike.
The statue intercepted Axel's punch with its stone arm, the impact ringing out like a thunderclap. With a swift counterattack, it struck Axel with a powerful backhand, sending him flying across the crypt. He crashed into the wall with a grunt, dust and debris scattering around him.
Axel groaned as he pushed himself up, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "Alright... that one actually hurt."
"Axel, you okay?" June called out, frost gathering around her hands as she prepared another spell.
"Yeah," Axel said, cracking his neck. The statue's core pulsed again, glowing brighter as it prepared another attack.
Dylan's eyes lit up with realization. "Alisan!" he shouted, dodging another beam from the statue. "Can you use your Rapture magic on direct contact? If you can, hit the core and destroy it from the inside!"
Alisan clenched her staff, determination in her eyes. "I'll need an opening!"
"Leave that to us!" Cauis called back, summoning his Guardian's Embrace again to shield her. "Everyone, buy her time!"
June unleashed a barrage of ice shards, aiming to slow the statue's movements, while Axel charged in from the side, throwing a flurry of punches to keep its attention divided. Dylan darted around the battlefield, slashing at its limbs to force the statue into a defensive stance.
"Now, Alisan!" Dylan yelled, leaping back as the others cleared a path.
Alisan raised her staff, the air around her vibrating with raw energy. She dashed toward the statue, her magic glowing like crackling lightning. As she made contact with the core, the power surged inward, causing the golden lines across the statue's body to flicker violently.
The crypt trembled as the statue's core began to crack from within.
The statue let out a guttural, metallic roar, shaking the entire crypt. A shockwave burst forth, stunning the group momentarily and forcing them to brace themselves. The golden lines across its body flickered wildly, cracks spreading outward from the core like a web of light.
"It's heavily damaged!" Dylan shouted, his voice cutting through the ringing in their ears. "One more hit should do it!"
The statue staggered, its movements erratic but still dangerous. It raised its arms, preparing to unleash another devastating attack despite its crumbling form.
With the divine energy of Celestial Embrace surging through him, Cauis leaped toward the statue's core, his blade gleaming with celestial light. He brought it down with a powerful, precise strike. The moment his blade made contact, there was a blinding flash of radiant energy that surged through the statue's form. The golden lines that had once glowed brightly now shattered like glass, and the core at its chest cracked open, spilling an intense light as the statue let out one final, resounding mechanical cry.
The entire statue crumbled to the ground, its magic dissipating into the air like dust in the wind.
Breathing heavily, Cauis stood over the wreckage, his sword still glowing faintly as he surveyed the broken remnants. "That's one less thing to worry about," he said with a grin, though his body was still tense from the fight.
The group, weary but triumphant, gathered around, finally able to take a breath. The crypt, once filled with the hum of ancient magic, now fell silent.
As the group caught their breath, the broken remnants of the statue began to glow faintly, pulsing with an eerie light. The once-cracked core flickered with a soft radiance, and from the shattered stone, five small, glowing particles emerged, swirling in the air like wisps of ethereal energy.
Without warning, the particles shot forward, one by one, and merged with each member of the group.
The first light entered Axel, his muscles twitching with newfound power. Then it was June's turn, her eyes briefly flashing with a strange intensity, as if a surge of arcane knowledge had suddenly been unlocked within her. Alisan felt a shiver run through her spine as the light merged with her, her connection to Rapture magic feeling deeper than ever before. Cauis, still feeling the pulse of Celestial Embrace, now felt a resonance with the divine energy, as though his bond with the guardian spirit had strengthened. Lastly, Dylan felt an unfamiliar surge of awareness, as though the magic inside him was evolving, heightening his senses in ways he couldn't fully comprehend.
The group stood still for a moment, absorbing the strange new energy that coursed through them. They looked at each other, exchanging puzzled glances, as the crypt seemed to fall into an eerie stillness.
"What just happened?" Axel asked, his voice low, though there was an underlying excitement.
Dylan placed a hand on his chest, feeling the power swirling within him. "I don't know... but I can feel it. Something's changed. This energy... it's like we've... merged with it."
Cauis, already recovering from the battle, nodded, his eyes glowing faintly with the new magic. "Whatever this is, it's over. But for now, let's grab that relic over there and get out of here."
They carefully placed the relic in their pack, making sure it was secure. With the crypt's eerie silence hanging in the air, the group turned and made their way back out, ready to leave the dark depths behind them. As they stepped back into the daylight, a sense of relief washed over them. The worst was behind them for now.
As the group emerged from the crypt, they were greeted by a surprising sight. A large group of adventurers had gathered outside, talking amongst themselves with expressions of curiosity and caution. The ground around the crypt showed signs of recent shockwaves, small cracks and debris scattered in the area. It was clear that something had happened inside, and the adventurers had noticed the disturbance.
The adventurers looked up at the group as they approached, their eyes curious, perhaps recognizing the exhausted yet determined expressions on the party's faces.
One adventurer, a tall man with a scar across his face, stepped forward, addressing the group. "We felt the shockwaves from here. The air was vibrating for miles. What's going on inside?" His voice was a mix of concern and intrigue. "We've gathered a team to check it out, but we need to know what we're getting into. Any dangers in there?"
The group of adventurers behind him looked on eagerly, waiting for an answer. It seemed the crypt had stirred up more than just curiosity it had raised questions about the true nature of what was inside.
As Dylan, the least exhausted of the group, answered, "We fought a statue with a core inside it," one of the adventurers asked, "You fought the guardian?"
Dylan nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah, we fought the guardian. It was no easy fight. A statue with a core inside it, radiating powerful magic. It shocked everyone and drained our mana, but we managed to take it down."
One of the adventurers raised an eyebrow. "The Guardian of the Sunken Crypt? You actually defeated it?"
Dylan gave a half-smile, still catching his breath. "That's the one."
The adventurers exchanged looks, some with renewed determination, others looking a bit more cautious.
One of them, clearly skeptical, spoke up. "You guys must be lying," he said, gesturing to one of his companions. "Go inside and check if they're telling the truth."
As the adventurer ventured back inside the crypt, Axel, June, Alisan, Cauis, and Dylan took the opportunity to rest, their bodies still recovering from the intense battle. They leaned against the nearby rocks, catching their breath.
After a few moments, the adventurer returned, his face pale and eyes wide in disbelief. He staggered towards the group, his voice shaky. "You... you weren't lying," he muttered, shaking his head in utter shock. "That statue... it's really gone. We... we couldn't even make a dent in it. It was insane inside. There's no way anyone should've been able to defeat it." He glanced back toward the crypt, his gaze filled with awe. "I... I don't know how you did it."
The adventurers outside, still skeptical and murmuring among themselves, finally spoke up. "Alright," one of them said, his tone demanding. "If you really defeated the statue, show us the relic. It's said to be impossible to obtain, so we want to see it for ourselves."
The group exchanged wary glances, knowing the pressure was on them. With a sigh, Dylan stepped forward, pulling the relic out of his bag. He held it up for all to see the ancient, intricately designed artifact, still glowing faintly with magic.
The adventurers fell silent, eyes wide in disbelief. "Impossible," one of them whispered. "That's... that's it. That's the relic from the depths of the crypt.
The disbelief in their voices was palpable, and for a moment, the entire crowd stood frozen, stunned by the sight of the artifact. The group's victory was now undeniable.
The group stood there, catching their breath, feeling the effects of their newfound power. The magic from the statue's core seemed to course through their bodies, rejuvenating them faster than they'd expected. Their exhaustion melted away, replaced by an invigorating surge of energy. The light from the relic in Dylan's hand seemed to resonate with their own newfound strength, making them feel more alive, more capable.
Axel cracked his knuckles, his grin widening. "That was fast. I feel like I could take on anything right now."
Cauis nodded, the faint glow in his eyes still lingering. "This power... it's not just a boost. It's like it's changed us."
June stretched her arms, feeling a new connection to her magic. "I can sense every bit of energy around us now... I've never felt this focused before."
Alisan nodded, her Rapture magic flickering in her hands. "I feel... different. More attuned, like the magic flows through me effortlessly now."
Dylan, now fully alert, glanced around at his companions. "This is exactly what we needed. Let's make sure we use this wisely. The challenges ahead won't be easy."
The group stood ready, their energy fully restored and their resolve stronger than ever.
As the group caught their breath and recovered from their battle, the adventurer who had been waiting outside approached them with a curious look. His voice held a mixture of skepticism and curiosity as he asked, "What are you going to do with the relic.
The group exchanged glances, each of them considering the question carefully. Dylan, who was still holding the relic, was the first to speak.
"The relic? Well, it's ours now, so we get to decide what happens next," he said, his tone firm.
Axel nodded in agreement, his exhaustion replaced with a renewed energy. "Yeah, we didn't go through all that to just hand it over to anyone. We earned it."
Cauis glanced at the relic in Dylan's hand, his expression thoughtful. "We still don't fully understand its power. It might be useful, but it could also be dangerous if we don't handle it right."
Alisan's voice was steady as she added, "We don't know who's after it, or why it's so important. But one thing's clear there are forces out there that'll do anything to get their hands on it. The King of Drakmire told us that relics like this are often tied to ancient powers that's able to seal the rift, ones that are better left untouched by the wrong hands."
The adventurer stood there, looking from one of them to the next, clearly still unconvinced. After a brief pause, he raised an eyebrow and said, "So, you're keeping it for yourselves? What makes you think you can hold onto something so dangerous?"
Dylan's eyes narrowed slightly as he replied, his voice calm but with a hint of warning, "We don't take kindly to people questioning our decisions. This relic is ours, and we'll protect it no matter who comes after it."
As the tension from the encounter began to fade, the group remained silent for a moment. They knew they had made the right choice, but the relic in Dylan's hand now felt heavier than before.