Chapter 5: The Rune Guardians
Kayden and Nadia stared down the advancing Rune Guardians, their massive stone bodies shimmering with the same glowing runes that lined the fortress walls. The air was heavy with magic, crackling with tension as the golems moved in, their footsteps sending tremors through the ground.
Kayden shifted his halberd into a combat stance, his eyes sharp as he studied the towering figures before them. Each golem was at least three times his height, their stone forms impossibly dense and covered in intricate patterns. The runes glowing across their bodies pulsed in rhythm with the fortress, as if the guardians were directly linked to the structure.
"These things aren't going to go down easily," Kayden muttered, his grip tightening on his weapon.
Nadia, standing beside him, assessed the golems with a cold, calculating gaze. Her mana flared subtly in the air around her, her mind already running through possible strategies. "Their weak points are likely tied to the runes on their bodies. If we disrupt those, we might be able to disable them."
Kayden nodded, his mind racing as he formulated a plan. "I'll engage them head-on. Draw their attention. You focus on disrupting the runes with your magic."
Without another word, Kayden charged forward, his halberd spinning in his hands. He moved with a speed and agility that defied the weight of his weapon, his bloodline's strength enhancing every step. The first Rune Guardian reacted, raising a massive arm to crush him with a single blow.
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[Halberd Mastery Activated.]
[Skill: Quickstep - Evasion Rate Increased by 50%.]
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Kayden's body blurred as he dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the golem's strike. He countered immediately, driving his halberd into the creature's side with a powerful swing. The blade connected with the stone, but only left a shallow cut.
"Damn," Kayden muttered, pulling back. "Their defense is insane."
Nadia, standing a distance away, had already begun channeling her magic. Her eyes glowed with a fierce intensity as she focused on the runes lining the golems' bodies. She extended her hand, her mana coiling into a sharp, concentrated beam aimed directly at the glowing symbols.
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[Skill: Arcane Disruption - Weakens Magical Constructs.]
[Mana Overcharge Activated.]
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A pulse of raw arcane energy shot from her palm, striking the first golem's chest. The rune it hit flickered for a moment, and the creature staggered as if momentarily disoriented.
"Now!" Nadia shouted.
Kayden didn't waste the opportunity. He charged again, this time aiming his halberd at the weakened rune. The blade slammed into the glowing symbol with a burst of energy, shattering the stone and sending cracks spider-webbing across the golem's chest.
The Rune Guardian let out a low groan, its movements growing sluggish as the magic animating it began to falter.
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[Critical Hit! Rune Disrupted - Golem's Defense Reduced by 30%.]
[Experience Gained: 500.]
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"One down," Kayden said through gritted teeth, stepping back as the golem crumbled into a heap of stone. His muscles burned from the effort, but there was no time to rest. The other golems were already closing in, their glowing eyes locked onto him.
Nadia's voice was calm but urgent. "Focus on the runes. I'll keep them off-balance."
She raised both hands, her fingers weaving intricate patterns as she cast another spell. The air around them crackled with energy as she summoned a storm of magical projectiles, each one infused with her mana.
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[Skill: Mana Storm - Targets Multiple Enemies with Arcane Bolts.]
[Skill Modifier: Chain Effect - Bolts will jump to nearby enemies.]
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Dozens of glowing bolts of mana shot from Nadia's hands, each one homing in on the runes across the remaining golems' bodies. The arcane projectiles struck with precision, weakening the runes and disrupting the flow of magic animating the creatures.
Kayden seized the moment. With the runes weakened, the golems' defenses were down. He moved swiftly, his halberd a blur of motion as he attacked their vulnerable points. One after another, the towering Rune Guardians fell, their stone bodies crumbling under the weight of his strikes.
Despite the intensity of the battle, Kayden remained focused, his mind clear. His halberd felt lighter in his hands, an extension of his will, as he tore through the final golem. With a final, powerful swing, the last Rune Guardian collapsed, its body dissolving into dust.
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[All Rune Guardians Defeated.]
[Experience Gained: 2000.]
[Skill Points Gained: 5.]
[Item Drop: Rune Armor (Rare).]
[Proceed to the Fortress Gate.]
---
Kayden wiped the sweat from his brow, his breathing heavy. "That... was intense."
Nadia approached him, her eyes still glowing faintly from the lingering effects of her magic. She looked just as exhausted, but there was a determined smile on her face. "We handled it. Just like always."
Kayden chuckled, offering her a fist bump. "Teamwork."
Nadia returned the gesture with a grin. "Teamwork."
They turned to face the fortress gate, which had begun to glow with the same energy that had powered the golems. The runes lining the massive stone doors pulsed brightly, and with a low rumble, the gates slowly began to open.
Beyond the gates lay the entrance to the fourth floor. Unlike the previous floors, this one radiated a powerful, almost oppressive aura. The air was thick with ancient magic, and the ground itself seemed to hum with energy.
Kayden and Nadia exchanged a glance. "This next floor… feels different," Kayden said cautiously.
Nadia nodded in agreement, her gaze scanning the area. "It feels… older. Stronger."
As they stepped forward, the system chimed once more, revealing their next challenge.
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[Welcome to the Fourth Floor.]
[Objective: Survive the Trial of Ancients.]
[Reward: Advancement to the Inner Tower, Legendary Item Drop.]
[Warning: This trial has claimed the lives of 85% of those who attempted it.]
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Kayden raised an eyebrow. "Eighty-five percent failure rate? That's... comforting."
Nadia's expression remained calm, though her eyes sharpened. "We've come this far. We can handle it."
Kayden nodded, his confidence returning. "Yeah. Let's keep going."
They walked through the now-open gates, their footsteps echoing in the silence as they entered the fourth floor. The air was thick with tension, and they could feel the eyes of the tower watching their every move.
The fourth floor was unlike anything they had encountered before. The terrain shifted constantly, with mountains, deserts, and ancient ruins fading in and out of existence as if the very fabric of reality was unstable.
As they ventured deeper, the ground beneath them rumbled, and the landscape warped. From the shadows, a figure emerged—a towering, humanoid creature clad in ancient armor, its face hidden behind a cracked, weathered mask.
The system flashed again.
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[Trial of Ancients: Defeat the Guardian of Time.]
[Guardian Rank: D-Rank (Initial). Warning: Will increase in rank as time passes.]
[Time Limit: Defeat the Guardian before it reaches C-Rank.]
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Kayden's heart raced. "It's going to get stronger the longer we take."
Nadia's eyes narrowed, her mind already calculating their next move. "Then we need to strike hard and fast before it becomes unstoppable."
The Guardian of Time raised its massive sword, the ancient weapon glowing with power. The very air around it seemed to warp and bend under the pressure of its presence.
Kayden spun his halberd, his mind focused. "Here we go."
With a battle cry, they charged, ready to face the next challenge in their ascent through the tower.