Chereads / The Dark System Given To Me By A God / Chapter 26 - Star Dragon Trial (9)

Chapter 26 - Star Dragon Trial (9)

Sigiled Skink

Level: 90

HP: 12,000/12,000

Speed: 1400

Strength: 1450

Endurance: 14,000

Agility: 1800

Skills:

Rune-Infused Bite: Each bite is imbued with ancient runes that increase damage and siphon life energy from the target.

Elemental Aura: The gems in its chest allow it to channel and manipulate elemental energy, enhancing its attacks with fire, ice, or lightning.

Insatiable Hunger: A relentless drive to consume anything in its path, growing stronger with each devoured enemy.

Stone Skin: A natural armor that reduces damage from physical and magical attacks.

As Kairos and Caelum stepped into the darkened chamber, the tension between them seemed to ease, replaced by a shared focus on the looming threat. The Sigiled Skink—a monstrous creature bound by ancient runes and the five glowing gems embedded in the dragon statue—began to stir. Its stone-like skin cracked and shifted, revealing an insatiable hunger in its eyes as it emerged from the shadows.

Kairos tightened his grip on his sword, his celestial eyes tracking the creature's every movement. Caelum, standing beside him, brandished his weapon with a determined expression. For the first time in a long while, the two cousins fought side by side, their differences momentarily forgotten in the face of the skink's deadly presence.

The Sigiled Skink lunged forward, its maw wide open, ready to devour anything in its path. Kairos moved first, his sword slicing through the air with a sharp whoosh as he struck at the beast's side. The blade connected with a sickening thud, but the skink barely flinched, its stone-like skin absorbing most of the impact.

Caelum leaped in, his own attack aimed at the creature's underbelly, where the runes glowed with ominous energy.

His blade found purchase with a crunch, cutting deep into the skink's flesh, causing it to roar in pain. For a moment, it seemed as though they were making progress, but the creature's wounds began to close almost as quickly as they were inflicted.

"It's healing too fast!" Caelum shouted, frustration creeping into his voice. "We need to target the gems!"

Kairos nodded, his mind racing as he tried to formulate a plan. The gems were the source of the creature's power, and they needed to be destroyed if they had any hope of defeating it. "Cover me!" he called out, darting towards the dragon statue, his eyes fixed on the glowing stones embedded in its chest.

Caelum fought with renewed vigor, his strikes precise and unrelenting as he kept the skink at bay. The sound of metal clashing against stone echoed through the chamber.

Kairos, his celestial sight guiding him, reached the statue and focused on the nearest gem. With a powerful swing, he shattered the stone with a resounding crack, sending shards flying in all directions.

The Sigiled Skink howled in pain, its body convulsing as the loss of the gem weakened it. Encouraged, Kairos moved to the next gem, but before he could strike, the skink, in a desperate attempt to defend itself, lashed out with its tail, knocking him off his feet with a heavy smash, sending him crashing into the stone floor.

"Kairos!" Caelum shouted, his voice tinged with fear. Seeing his cousin in danger, he charged at the skink with a roar, his blade slicing through the air with a ferocity born of desperation. Whoosh—clang! He managed to draw the creature's attention away from Kairos, giving him the chance to regain his footing. They launched a final, coordinated assault.

With one powerful swing, Kairos shattered the last of the gems. The Sigiled Skink let out a bloodcurdling scream as its form began to crumble, the runes on its body fading into nothingness. But before it could fall apart completely, the dragon statue's eyes glowed brighter, and the skink, in its final moments, lunged at Caelum with terrifying speed.

"Caelum, watch out!" Kairos yelled, but it was too late.

The skink's jaws clamped down on Caelum's arm with a sickening crunch. Caelum let out a piercing scream, the pain excruciating as the creature ripped his arm from his body. Blood splattered across the stone floor as Caelum collapsed, clutching the stump where his arm had been moments before.

The dragon's eyes glowed brighter, the room illuminated by a sinister light as the statue seemed to pulse with energy.

"No!" Lyra screamed, her voice trembling with shock and disbelief.

Alaric's face twisted in horror, his voice barely a whisper. "Caelum…"

Kairos stood frozen for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. The celestial energy in his eyes swirled, the stars within them reflecting a cold calculation. Eclipse's voice resonated in his mind, sharper than ever. "Focus on the task at hand, Kairos. The skink's power is within your reach, but only if you seize it."

A new quest appeared before Kairos's eyes, the text shimmering with an ominous glow: Consume the Sigiled Skink.

Kairos hesitated, the weight of the command pressing down on him. His cousins looked at him, their expressions a mixture of fear, confusion, and disbelief. Lyra, her eyes wide with shock, whispered, "Kairos… what are you going to do?"

Eclipse's voice urged him on, relentless. "You've seen the skink's power. It's the key to your survival and growth. Take it, Kairos. Make it yours."

Kairos's gaze hardened, his resolve solidifying. He glanced at Caelum, who was writhing in pain, then back at the Sigiled Skink, which was now fully animated, the gems in its chest glowing with dangerous energy. The runes along its scales pulsed, a clear sign of the beast's readiness to strike again.

With determination, Kairos took a deep breath, channeling his celestial energy. The stars in his eyes blazed with intensity as he prepared to face the creature. The Sigiled Skink, sensing the challenge, hissed, its scales shimmering as it prepared to attack.

Just then, Orion rushed forward, his hands glowing with healing magic. "Hold on, Caelum," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos. "I've got you."

Orion's healing magic enveloped Caelum, slowing the bleeding and beginning the process of mending his arm. Though it wasn't a complete restoration, it was enough to stabilize him and prevent any further loss of life. Caelum's breathing became more even, the pain in his eyes subsiding as Orion's magic took effect.

Kairos, his relief palpable, turned his attention back to the Sigiled Skink. The beast was weaker now but still dangerous. Just as he prepared to engage it again, Lyra and Alaric stepped forward, their eyes blazing with determination.

"We're not letting you do this alone," Lyra declared, her voice fierce. "This ends now."

Alaric nodded in agreement, his expression as resolute as his sister's. "Together, we can finish this."