### Chapter - Down to Delve (2)
The room brightened, casting an eerie light across the chamber. The guardian moved, a single step that seemed to shake the very ground beneath Aedhira's feet. He barely had time to register the motion before Argos' voice echoed in his helm.
[Hostile intent recognized.]
"Damn it," Aedhira cursed, his voice a harsh whisper in the cold air.
The guardian's eyes flared with a fierce, icy light, and in an instant, it lunged forward. The massive axe swung with terrifying speed, a blur of frosted metal that aimed to cleave Aedhira in two. He reacted on instinct, throwing himself to the side, the axehead missing him by mere inches. The force of the swing sent a shockwave through the chamber, the air vibrating with its power.
Aedhira hit the ground hard, rolling to absorb the impact. His thrusters pulsed, a brief burst of energy that helped him regain his footing. He barely had a moment to catch his breath before the guardian was upon him again, its movements unnaturally fast for something so massive.
The axe came down in a vertical strike, aimed to split Aedhira from head to toe. He raised his gauntleted arm, the dragon-engraved plates absorbing the brunt of the impact. The force drove him to his knees, the ground cracking beneath him. He grit his teeth, pushing back against the overwhelming strength of the guardian.
With a surge of desperation, Aedhira activated his thrusters. The sudden burst of energy propelled him backward, the guardian's axe slamming into the ground where he had just been. He skidded to a stop, his armored boots scraping against the stone floor.
The guardian turned its head, its eyes burning with an unholy light. It lifted its axe, the blade crackling with a mix of frost and flame. Aedhira's heart pounded in his chest, the enormity of the task before him sinking in. He was fighting an ancient, powerful entity, a relic of a forgotten time.
But he couldn't back down now.
He lunged forward, his right fist arcing toward the guardian's torso. The thrusters flared, adding momentum to his strike. His gauntlet connected with a resounding crash, the dragon-engraved plates striking the charred and frosted armor. The impact sent a shockwave through Aedhira's arm, the force reverberating through his entire body.
The guardian barely flinched. Its free hand came up, grabbing Aedhira by the throat with a grip like iron. He struggled, kicking out with his legs, but the guardian's strength was overwhelming. It lifted him off the ground, the burning eyes boring into his visor.
Aedhira activated his thrusters again, a desperate attempt to break free. The burst of energy propelled him upward, his hands gripping the guardian's arm. He twisted in midair, using the momentum to wrench himself free. He landed awkwardly, rolling to the side as the guardian's axe came down in a crushing blow.
The floor shattered beneath the impact, shards of stone flying in all directions. Aedhira scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. He needed a new strategy, something to give him an edge against this relentless foe.
[Recommendation: Utilize thruster-based attacks to build momentum,] Argos suggested. [Direct confrontation is not advisable.]
"Yeah, I got that," Aedhira muttered, his eyes never leaving the guardian. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. The thrusters were his best bet, a way to use his smaller size and agility to his advantage.
He launched himself forward, the thrusters propelling him with a burst of speed. The guardian swung its axe in a wide arc, but Aedhira ducked beneath the strike, his movements fluid and precise. He came up behind the guardian, his gauntleted fist striking at the back of its knee.
The guardian staggered, but only for a moment. It turned with inhuman speed, its hand reaching out to grab Aedhira once more. He dodged to the side, his thrusters flaring to add momentum to his movements. He struck again, a rapid series of punches aimed at the guardian's joints.
Each impact sent a shockwave through Aedhira's arm, the force of the strikes barely denting the ancient armor. The guardian retaliated with a sweeping kick, its massive leg catching Aedhira in the side. He was thrown across the chamber, his body slamming into the stone wall with bone-jarring force.
Pain exploded through him, but he forced himself to his feet. The guardian was already advancing, its eyes burning with an eerie light. Aedhira's mind raced, searching for any weakness, any opening he could exploit.
The thrusters flared, and he launched himself forward again. He twisted in midair, his body spinning like a top. His gauntleted fist rammed into the guardian's torso with the force of a bullet, the impact sending a shockwave through the chamber.
The guardian stumbled back, its eyes flaring brighter. It swung its axe in a wide arc, but Aedhira was already moving, his thrusters propelling him out of harm's way. He landed in a crouch, his eyes locked on the guardian.
"Come on," he muttered, his voice a low growl. "Let's see what you've got."
The guardian responded with a roar, a sound that reverberated through the chamber like an earthquake. It charged forward, its axe raised high. Aedhira braced himself, his thrusters flaring in preparation for the next onslaught.
The battle was far from over, and he knew it would be a fight to the bitter end. But he was determined to see it through, to face the ancient guardian and emerge victorious. He had to.
With a final burst of energy, Aedhira launched himself into the fray, his gauntleted fists ready to meet the guardian's relentless assault. The clash of metal echoed through the chamber, a symphony of battle that would not end until one of them fell.
'No. Not falling'
He stared down the Guardian.
'Only thing falling today'
He clenched his fist, as hiss thrusters flared, again.
'Is that' he echoed in his mind.
"LET'S GO AGAIN"
Jet's of red hot flame shot out from behind him. His image blurred, as the Arstra jerked forwards.
### Chapter - Down to Delve (2) Continued
The flames from Aedhira's thrusters left a trail of red hot light in their wake, turning his figure into a streaking comet. The guardian braced itself, its stance widening as it prepared for the coming clash. The air around them seemed to hum with anticipation, the chamber itself alive with the tension of the impending battle.
Aedhira's heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing the rapid calculations racing through his mind. The guardian's previous attacks had been brutal, but this time, Aedhira knew it would be even worse. He couldn't afford to make a single mistake.
As he closed the distance, the guardian swung its axe with a force that seemed to bend the very air around it. Aedhira twisted mid-flight, his thrusters flaring to adjust his trajectory. The axe missed by a hair's breadth, the icy edge slicing through the air where his head had been.
Aedhira landed and immediately launched himself forward again. His gauntleted fist connected with the guardian's chest, the impact ringing out like a gong. The guardian barely reacted, its massive hand reaching out with impossible speed. Aedhira's eyes widened as the iron grip closed around his arm, the guardian's strength nearly crushing the armored gauntlet.
With a roar, the guardian swung Aedhira like a ragdoll, smashing him into the stone floor. The impact sent a shockwave through Aedhira's body, pain flaring in every nerve. He barely had time to gasp before the guardian lifted him again, this time hurling him against the chamber wall. The stone cracked under the force, pieces of debris raining down around him.
Aedhira's vision blurred, but he forced himself to focus. His thrusters flared, propelling him away from the wall and back into the fray. He ducked under another swing of the axe, his movements a blur of speed and precision. His fists hammered at the guardian's joints, searching for any weakness.
The guardian's response was relentless. Its free hand lashed out, catching Aedhira by the leg and swinging him overhead. He hit the ground with a bone-jarring thud, the air driven from his lungs. The guardian's axe came down, a crushing blow aimed at his prone form. Aedhira rolled to the side, the axehead splitting the stone where he had lain.
He scrambled to his feet, every muscle screaming in protest. The guardian's eyes flared brighter, a burning frost that seemed to sear Aedhira's very soul. It moved faster now, its attacks a blur of deadly precision. Aedhira dodged and weaved, his thrusters working overtime to keep him one step ahead.
But it wasn't enough. The guardian's reach was too great, its speed too overwhelming. Another crushing blow caught Aedhira in the side, lifting him off his feet and sending him crashing into the wall again. He felt something crack, pain radiating through his chest. He could barely breathe, each gasp a struggle.
[Host vitals critical. Immediate action required.]
"I know," Aedhira gasped, his voice a rasping whisper. He pushed himself up, every movement agony. His vision swam, the guardian's form a looming shadow.
He had to end this. Now.
The thrusters flared, brighter than before, and Aedhira launched himself forward. The guardian swung its axe in a wide arc, but Aedhira was ready. He ducked low, the axe passing over his head, and surged upward. His gauntleted fist struck the guardian's torso, the impact amplified by the thrusters' force.
The guardian staggered, its grip loosening for a moment. Aedhira seized the opportunity, his free hand reaching for the runes etched into the guardian's armor. He pressed his palm against them, focusing his will. The runes flared with a blinding light, a shockwave of magical energy ripping through the chamber.
The guardian roared, a sound of pure fury. It lashed out, catching Aedhira with a backhanded blow that sent him sprawling. He hit the ground hard, his vision going black for a moment. When he forced his eyes open, he saw the guardian towering over him, its eyes burning with an unholy light.
Aedhira's body screamed in protest, but he forced himself to his feet. He had to keep fighting. He couldn't let the guardian win. Not now.
With a final burst of energy, Aedhira launched himself at the guardian. His fists were a blur of motion, each strike aimed at the runes etched into the ancient armor. The guardian retaliated with a relentless fury, its blows coming faster and harder.
The chamber shook with the force of their battle, the very walls seeming to buckle under the strain. Aedhira's body was pushed to its limits, pain and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm him. But he couldn't give up. He wouldn't.
"LET'S GO AGAIN!" he roared, his voice echoing through the chamber.
His thrusters flared, a blinding burst of red-hot flame. He launched himself at the guardian, his gauntleted fist arcing towards the ancient foe. The guardian's eyes burned brighter, its axe raised high.
This was it. The final clash.
Aedhira's fist connected with the guardian's chest, the impact sending a shockwave through the chamber. The guardian's axe swung down, but Aedhira twisted in midair, his thrusters propelling him out of harm's way. He landed in a crouch, his eyes locked on the guardian.
The ancient entity roared, a sound of pure fury and desperation. It swung its axe in a wild arc, but Aedhira was already moving, his thrusters carrying him forward. His fist struck the guardian's torso again, the runes flaring with a blinding light.
The guardian staggered, its movements slowing. Aedhira pressed the attack, his fists a blur of motion. Each strike was aimed at the runes, the magical energy seeping into the guardian's ancient armor.
With a final, desperate roar, the guardian swung its axe in a wide arc. Aedhira ducked low, his thrusters flaring to carry him forward. His fist connected with the guardian's chest one last time, the impact sending a shockwave through the chamber.
The guardian's eyes flared brighter, then dimmed. Its movements slowed, the massive form shuddering. With a final, resounding crash, the guardian fell, its axe clattering to the ground.
It fell to its knees.
Aedhira stood over the fallen foe, his body trembling with exhaustion. The chamber was silent, the echoes of the battle fading into the darkness. He took a deep breath, the air cold and biting. His hands on his knees, he tried to take in a deep breath.
It was over. He had won. He had-
*CREAAAAAAAK*
His head snapped backwards. Hadn't he-
*CReAKkAKAAAk*
Intense groans of metal echoed the chamber. The Guardian. It wasn't-
"It didn't die?"
[I fear not sire]
"Bu-"
[Mana levels rising. Boss Entity (GUARDIAN) re-engaging at phase two. Prepare for combat]
Argos' word echoed in his already pounding head.
"God F*BEEEP*ing DA-*THWACK*
Aedhira has been smacked away like an insect before he'd even finished cursing. His body blurred as it sped through the chamber and cratered into the wall like a cannonball.
Pain racked his body, like being mugged in a deserted alleyway. He was stuck in the dent he'd made in the wall, but he wriggled- or at least he tried to wriggle free. The dust created by the impact cleared, and he laid his eyes across the chamber, and they widened at the sight.
The guardian was back on its legs. The suit of armor was crumbling at the seams, held together by a frosty-sinewy substance. And wires. Lots wires, filling the several internals of the torso. Metallic sinews lined under the armor, only revealed now as the armor was too damaged to stay together. Yet the helm remained unfazed, only it's eyes burned...seemingly fiercer than before.
Stranger yet, it hadn't yet picked up the axe, for all the mana the damned thing seemed to be billowing out, it didn't seem to make use of its newfound strength.
No.
It slowly moved. It crouched its legs slightly, enabling better stability, and held its hands together, as if it were paying respects. It bowed its helm slightly, before assuming martial stance.
The air chilled, and gathered around it, little icicles of moisture, or at least whatever moisture there was, coalesced.
It stared down the Aedhira-in-the-wall, levelly.
And, for the first time since Aedhira had laid eyes on it, the Guardian spoke.
Uttered only one word. It's voice like ice against steel.
"Come"