The Citadel loomed ahead of us, a monstrous structure of crumbling stone and jagged spires that seemed to claw at the sky. Time had not been kind to the ancient fortress; vines crawled over its walls like veins, and the air was thick with a sense of foreboding.
"Yep, definitely a five-star destination," Ji Ho muttered, craning his neck to take it all in.
"Stay sharp," I said, gripping the divine blade tighter. "The guardians won't wait for us to knock."
As if on cue, the ground trembled, and a deep, guttural growl echoed through the air. From the shadows of the Citadel's entrance emerged a hulking figure, its body forged of stone and metal, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.
"Well," Ji Ho said, taking a step back. "That didn't take long."
The guardian roared, its massive fists slamming into the ground with enough force to send cracks spidering through the earth.
