**Chapter 53: Unlikely Allies**
The roar of the guardian beast echoed through the Abyssal Mountains, its glowing eyes fixed on Lira and Vira, who stood frozen in the face of its raw, overwhelming power. Time seemed to stretch in that moment, as both warriors realized they were outmatched. Death was an inch away, ready to claim them both.
"Move!" Lira shouted, breaking the spell of terror that held Vira in place. She lunged to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's massive claw as it slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave of debris into the air.
Vira didn't hesitate this time. She dove in the opposite direction, rolling to her feet with a swift movement. Her heart raced, but she couldn't afford to be distracted by fear. The beast's sheer size and strength were beyond anything she had encountered, but there had to be a way to survive.
Lira's sharp voice cut through the chaos. "If we don't work together, we're both dead."
Vira glared at her but knew she had no choice. As much as she despised Lira and the forces of Alex, the guardian beast wasn't an enemy she could fight alone.
"Fine," Vira growled, gripping her sword tightly. "But after this, we go back to being enemies."
Lira smirked. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
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**Cooperation in the Face of Death**
The beast swung its massive tail, shattering rocks and boulders with ease, the force of the attack knocking coalition members and Alex's agents alike to the ground. Lira and Vira dodged and weaved between the creature's attacks, exchanging quick glances as they formulated an unspoken plan.
"We need to slow it down," Lira shouted. "I'll distract it—strike when you see an opening!"
Vira nodded, her sharp mind already calculating the best way to take advantage of Lira's plan. While she didn't trust her, she knew Lira was a skilled fighter. If anyone could create an opening against the guardian beast, it would be her.
With a surge of speed, Lira dashed toward the beast, her movements fluid and agile. She darted between its legs, slashing at its thick scales with her blade. Sparks flew as her weapon struck, but the beast barely noticed, its hide too thick to be pierced by a normal blade.
Still, it worked. The beast turned its attention to Lira, roaring in anger as it swiped at her with its claws. Lira was quick, dancing out of reach just in time, leading the beast in a circle.
Seeing her chance, Vira summoned every ounce of strength and focus she had. Channeling her energy into her blade, she leaped toward the beast's exposed flank. Her sword glowed with a fierce, radiant light as she aimed for the small gap between the creature's scales.
With a powerful strike, Vira's sword found its mark. The blade pierced through the beast's armor-like hide, sinking deep into its flesh. The guardian beast let out a deafening roar of pain, thrashing violently as blood spilled from the wound.
But the beast was far from defeated. With a rage-filled cry, it swung its tail, catching Vira off guard. The impact sent her flying through the air, crashing into a nearby boulder with a sickening thud.
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**A Desperate Gamble**
Lira cursed under her breath as she watched Vira go down. The wound they had inflicted was deep, but not enough to bring the beast down. It was growing more enraged by the second, its movements wild and unpredictable.
"We need to end this now," Lira muttered to herself. She couldn't afford to wait for the others—her team was scattered, and the coalition members were barely holding their own.
Drawing on the forbidden cultivation techniques Alex had given her, Lira channeled a dark energy into her blade. Her eyes glowed with an eerie light as the weapon pulsed with power. It was a risky move, but they were running out of options.
As the beast prepared to strike again, Lira dashed forward with blinding speed. She leaped into the air, her blade aimed directly for the creature's skull. In that moment, everything else faded away—the mountains, the wind, the chaos. There was only the beast and the power she wielded.
Her blade struck true, piercing the guardian beast's skull with a sickening crunch. The creature let out one final, pained roar before collapsing to the ground with a thunderous crash. The ground trembled as the massive beast lay still, its life extinguished.
Lira landed gracefully beside the fallen beast, her chest heaving with exertion. She wiped the blood from her blade, casting a glance at Vira, who was slowly getting to her feet.
"Guess that makes us even," Lira said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Vira, clutching her side, glared at Lira but didn't respond. She knew they had barely survived by working together, but that didn't mean she had to like it.
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**A Moment of Silence**
As the dust settled and the remaining forces of both factions gathered themselves, there was an uneasy silence. The guardian beast lay dead, its massive body sprawled across the rocky terrain, but the tension between the coalition and Alex's agents remained.
Malek, bloodied but alive, approached Lira cautiously. "This changes nothing," he said, his voice hard. "Once we retrieve the artifact, this temporary truce is over."
Lira sheathed her blade, her eyes cold and calculating. "I wouldn't have it any other way. But you won't find the artifact."
Malek's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Lira smirked. "We already have it."
The realization hit Malek like a punch to the gut. While they had been focused on the beast, Alex's agents had secured their true objective. The artifact was already in their possession.
"You—" Malek started, but Lira raised a hand to silence him.
"We'll be taking our leave now. Consider yourselves lucky we didn't finish you off along with the beast."
With that, Lira turned and motioned for her team to retreat. They vanished into the shadows of the mountains as quickly as they had appeared, leaving the coalition to grapple with their defeat.
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**End of Chapter 53**
As the dust settles in the Abyssal Mountains, the coalition realizes they've been outmaneuvered once again. The artifact is in Alex's possession, and the stakes have never been higher. But with the guardian beast slain and tensions mounting, both sides prepare for the next stage of the conflict, knowing that the real battle is just beginning.