The stone guardians thundered toward them, their massive feet shaking the ground with each step. Erik's heart raced, but his instincts kicked in, his mind sharpening as the power coursed through his veins. He could feel the temple responding to him, as if the very stones were alive, watching, waiting for what he would do next.
"They're coming in hot!" Carter shouted, backing up as the first guardian's hulking form barreled closer.
"Erik!" Lili's voice was urgent. "We need a plan!"
"I know!" Erik gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm. He could sense the raw energy pulsing through the temple, and it felt... malleable. If he could just focus, maybe he could use that energy to stop the guardians, or at least slow them down.
The first guardian raised its arm, a massive stone fist the size of a car, ready to crush them.
"Move!" Sasha yelled, pushing Zara out of the way as the fist came crashing down, barely missing them.
Erik's hand shot out instinctively, and a wave of energy burst from his palm, slamming into the guardian's chest. The impact staggered the creature, but it didn't fall. Instead, it let out a low, rumbling growl and swung at Erik, its movements faster than something so massive had any right to be.
Erik dodged, rolling to the side just in time to avoid the blow. "Okay, new plan," he muttered. "These things are tougher than they look."
Lili drew a deep breath, her eyes scanning the room. "The temple's power... Erik, you're connected to it. Can you use that? Can you control them?"
"I don't know," Erik replied, his voice strained. "But I'm about to find out."
He closed his eyes for a moment, tuning into the energy of the temple. It was everywhere—pulsing through the walls, the floor, even the guardians themselves. It was old, ancient, and wild, but it wasn't beyond his reach. Slowly, he extended his senses, trying to connect with it, trying to bend it to his will.
The second guardian charged, its eyes glowing brighter as it neared Erik. He could feel its presence, not just physically but spiritually, like it was an extension of the temple itself. With a surge of determination, Erik focused all his energy, channeling the temple's power into his hands.
"Stop!" he commanded, his voice reverberating through the hall.
For a split second, the guardian hesitated, its glowing eyes flickering. Erik's heart leaped—he was getting through to it. But then, with a deafening roar, the guardian shook off his influence and continued its advance.
"Not enough," Erik whispered, his frustration mounting. He wasn't strong enough to control them completely, not yet. But maybe, just maybe, he could weaken them.
"Erik, behind you!" Zara screamed.
Erik spun around just in time to see the first guardian's fist coming down again. Without thinking, he raised both hands, summoning a shield of energy. The guardian's fist slammed into the shield with a deafening crash, and Erik felt the impact reverberate through his entire body. The shield held—for now—but he could feel it cracking under the strain.
"Any ideas, genius?" Carter shouted as he ducked behind a pillar for cover.
Erik gritted his teeth. "Just one." He turned to Lili and the others. "I can't stop them completely, but I think I can weaken them. The temple's power is tied to the guardians. If I can disrupt that connection, we might have a chance."
"How do we do that?" Hugo asked, eyeing the advancing guardians nervously.
Erik pointed toward the altar at the far end of the hall. "The altar. It's the source of the energy. If I can get there, I might be able to break the connection."
"Of course," Sasha said, understanding dawning in her eyes. "The guardians are bound to the temple's magic. Disrupt the magic, and you disrupt them."
"Exactly," Erik said. "But I'm going to need time."
Lili nodded, stepping forward. "We'll buy you that time. Do what you need to do."
"Wait, what?" Carter blurted, his eyes wide. "You want us to take on those things while Erik plays with magic rocks?"
"We don't have a choice," Zara snapped, grabbing Carter's arm. "We need to keep them busy, or we're all going to be crushed."
Carter let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. But if I die, I'm haunting all of you."
Without another word, the group sprang into action. Lili and Sasha darted toward the guardians, using their agility to stay out of the creatures' reach. Zara and Hugo hung back, using the pillars for cover while shouting directions to help the others dodge the guardians' attacks. Carter, despite his complaints, grabbed a fallen piece of stone and hurled it at the nearest guardian, drawing its attention away from Erik.
Meanwhile, Erik sprinted toward the altar, his heart pounding in his chest. The closer he got, the more intense the energy became. It was like a living thing, swirling around him, trying to pull him in. He could feel its power, wild and uncontrollable, but he couldn't let it overwhelm him. He had to focus.
As he reached the altar, Erik placed his hands on the cold stone surface. A jolt of energy shot through him, and for a moment, he saw flashes of images—gods, battles, and ancient rituals. He gasped, his head spinning from the onslaught of visions, but he forced himself to stay grounded. He had come here for a reason.
"Come on," Erik muttered, his hands glowing with energy as he tried to channel the temple's power. "Show me how to stop this."
The altar pulsed beneath his hands, and slowly, the energy began to shift. Erik could feel the guardians weakening, their connection to the temple fraying. It was working.
"Erik!" Lili shouted, her voice strained as she dodged another blow from the guardians. "Whatever you're doing, do it faster!"
"I'm trying!" Erik shouted back, sweat pouring down his face. The energy was wild, resisting his control, but he couldn't stop now. He pushed harder, pouring every ounce of his power into the altar.
With a final surge of energy, the connection snapped.
The guardians froze mid-step, their glowing eyes dimming. For a moment, the hall was filled with an eerie silence, and then, with a deafening crash, the stone guardians crumbled into piles of rubble.
Erik collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. His friends rushed to his side, their faces a mix of relief and exhaustion.
"You did it," Lili said, helping him to his feet. "You stopped them."
"Barely," Erik muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That was too close."
Carter let out a shaky laugh. "Well, I'd say that was a solid 'A' for effort. Now, can we please leave before something else tries to kill us?"
Erik shook his head, his gaze shifting to the altar. "Not yet. We came here for answers. And I'm not leaving until we get them."