Chapter 12: The Trials of Astraxis
The journey back to Aurora Station was supposed to be straightforward. After all, they had completed their mission at Eleanor's Secret Lab and unlocked the mysterious prototypes. Orion was still in awe of his father, Astron, the Nebula Grandmaster, who was now guiding him through the intricacies of the Nebula Cross Wheels. Meanwhile, Layla was growing more attuned to her Nebula Spear and Bow under the tutelage of Seraphina's spirit. Their bond, as well as their power, had deepened over the past weeks.
However, as their ship glided through the darkness of space, a sudden tremor shook the cabin.
"Orion, what was that?" Layla asked, already gripping her Nebula Spear.
Orion quickly glanced at the navigation panel. "There's something up ahead. A planet… but it wasn't on our charts."
The planet before them glowed faintly in shades of green and blue, its surface obscured by thick clouds. The ship's autopilot began to slow as they neared its gravitational pull.
"Do we investigate, or go around it?" Layla asked, her eyes sharp.
Orion considered for a moment. "Let's check it out. We should make sure it isn't a threat."
As they entered the planet's atmosphere, their ship lurched and alarms blared. The vessel was being pulled down faster than expected, and before they could react, it crash-landed on the planet's surface, skidding to a halt in a dense, jungle-like area.
The air was thick and humid. Strange sounds echoed from the undergrowth, but there was no time to admire the environment. As the dust settled, Orion and Layla stepped out, weapons drawn.
"We need to assess the damage," Orion said, activating the ship's repair systems.
Suddenly, a rustle in the foliage caught Layla's attention. She turned just in time to see figures moving toward them—dozens of them. The creatures were humanoid but with reptilian features, their skin shimmering like scales, and their eyes glowing red.
"We're not alone," she said, narrowing her eyes.
The creatures, armed with primitive but deadly-looking weapons, let out guttural roars and charged. Orion's heart raced. "Looks like we're about to get some combat practice."
He unsheathed the Nebula Sword, its blue glow intensifying as it connected to his energy. Layla, her Nebula Bow glowing bright, was already drawing an arrow made of pure energy.
"Focus on what we've learned," Orion said, his voice steady despite the tension. "Let's test the limits of our training."
The battle was swift and fierce. The aliens attacked in waves, their sheer numbers overwhelming. Orion spun, unleashing the Nebula Cross Wheels in rapid succession, their sharp edges cutting through the attackers. Layla, with Seraphina's guidance, fired her energy arrows with pinpoint accuracy, each shot finding its mark.
But no matter how many they took down, more kept coming.
"They're endless!" Layla shouted, switching to her spear as a group closed in on her.
Orion could feel the pressure building. His muscles ached, and the energy in the Nebula Sword was beginning to wane. He knew they couldn't keep fighting like this forever.
"We need a plan," he called out, blocking an attack. "We're running out of time!"
Layla nodded. "There has to be something on this planet—some reason these creatures are attacking us." Her eyes scanned the landscape until she saw it: a massive temple structure, partially hidden in the distance.
"There!" she pointed. "That's where we need to go. It might explain all of this!"
"Let's move!" Orion said.
Together, they fought their way toward the temple, their combined skills creating a path through the swarming attackers. But just as they neared the entrance, a massive alien warrior, twice the size of the others, stepped forward. Its armor gleamed in the dim light, and it carried a weapon that resembled a staff, crackling with dark energy.
Orion and Layla exchanged a glance. This was no ordinary opponent.
"Layla, get inside the temple," Orion said, stepping forward. "I'll handle this."
"No way! We do this together!" she replied.
The alien warrior's strike slammed into the ground where Orion had stood just moments before. He rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the crackling energy from its staff. Layla fired a volley of energy arrows at the alien, but the creature's thick armor absorbed most of the impact. It let out a growl and swung its weapon toward her.
Orion rushed in with his Nebula Sword glowing, slashing at the alien's exposed flank. The blade connected, sending sparks of blue energy flying, but it wasn't enough to bring the creature down.
"We need to retreat into the temple!" Orion yelled, breathing heavily.
Layla nodded, her spear ready. Together, they dashed toward the temple's entrance, the massive alien close behind them.
As soon as they crossed the threshold, the temperature dropped. Inside, the air was stale, and the walls were covered in ancient inscriptions glowing faintly in the darkness. The temple had an eerie, forgotten energy, like a long-abandoned tomb.
Behind them, the alien warrior hesitated, unwilling or unable to enter the sacred space. It roared in frustration, pacing outside the entrance but not following them inside.
"Looks like they won't come in here," Layla said, catching her breath.
Orion glanced back before turning his attention to the ancient structure around them. "Good. But something tells me we've got new problems."
The temple was vast, its corridors winding into darkness. The floor was littered with broken statues and debris, and strange symbols adorned the walls. They cautiously stepped forward, the faint light from the inscriptions illuminating their path.
"We should be careful," Layla said, her eyes scanning the area. "This place is ancient, and I'm sure it's filled with traps."
As if on cue, a loud click echoed through the corridor. Orion froze, his heart skipping a beat. From the ceiling, a series of razor-sharp blades swung down in rapid succession, narrowly missing them.
"Booby traps. Great," Orion muttered, his sword raised defensively.
They moved slowly, dodging arrows that shot out from hidden walls, avoiding pressure plates, and leaping over pits of molten energy. Every step felt like a test of their reflexes and courage.
Finally, they entered a massive chamber. At its center was a pedestal, atop which rested an ancient stone tablet. The inscriptions on the walls glowed brighter here, as if reacting to their presence. Orion and Layla cautiously approached the pedestal, but as they got closer, the ground beneath them rumbled.
"I don't like this," Layla whispered, her eyes darting around the room.
Before they could react, the entire chamber began to shift. The floor split apart, revealing an intricate mechanism beneath. From the walls, ancient constructs—robotic guardians made of stone and metal—emerged, their eyes glowing red with hostility.