The group stumbled out of the labyrinth chamber, their breaths labored, yet their spirits alight with renewed determination. The fragment they had secured pulsed faintly in Orin's hand, its glow dimming slightly as though it recognized the trials were not yet over.
The path ahead was narrow, framed by jagged obsidian walls that seemed to hum with an unnatural energy. Above them, the ceiling dripped with luminescent droplets that dissipated before reaching the ground.
"This place is getting weirder," Riven said, his voice breaking the silence. He gestured at the glowing droplets with a flick of his wrist. "What even is that? Magic? Condensation? Both?"
"Focus," Zaria said sharply, though her tone lacked its usual bite. Her eyes were fixed on the fragment. "The energy from this thing feels... incomplete. There's more to find."
Orin nodded. "The Nexus Blade won't forge itself. We need all the fragments."
"Speaking of which," Nyron interjected, spinning his scythe lazily. "Where to next? Another death maze? Or maybe a room full of puzzles? I'm starting to miss straightforward enemies I can just cut in half."
Zaria sighed, exasperated. "You always want the simple way out."
"Simple works," Nyron countered with a smirk. "Unlike your endless magic equations."
"Enough," Orin said firmly. His commanding tone silenced their bickering. "We stick to the plan. Find the fragments, avoid traps, and keep each other alive."
"Sounds easy when you put it like that," Riven muttered under his breath, earning a glare from Orin.
The path eventually opened into a vast cavern, its walls shimmering with veins of gold and silver that radiated a faint warmth. At the center stood a massive pedestal, atop which rested a sword hilt. The blade was missing, its absence glaringly obvious, but the hilt itself emitted a powerful aura.
"The Nexus Blade," Zaria breathed, her eyes wide.
"Or what's left of it," Nyron added, stepping closer. "Looks like we're putting this puzzle together piece by piece."
Orin approached the pedestal cautiously, holding the fragment aloft. As he neared, the hilt began to glow, resonating with the fragment's energy. The moment he placed the fragment next to the hilt, a burst of light erupted, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
When the light faded, the hilt now held a faint, translucent outline of a blade, shimmering like an unfinished masterpiece.
"It's reacting," Zaria said, awe in her voice. "The fragment is binding to it."
Orin tightened his grip on the hilt, feeling a surge of power course through him. The blade's incomplete form pulsed faintly, as though eager for more fragments to restore its full glory.
"It's not enough," Orin said, lowering the blade. "We need the other pieces."
"Yeah, no kidding," Riven said, brushing ash off his cloak. "But where are we supposed to find them? It's not like they left us a map."
Before anyone could respond, the cavern trembled. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling as the ground beneath their feet began to quake.
"Uh-oh," Nyron said, raising his scythe. "What now?"
From the shadows, figures began to emerge. They were humanoid but twisted, their bodies composed of jagged shards of crystal that glowed faintly in the dim light. Their faces were featureless save for two piercing orbs of light where eyes should have been.
"Guardians," Zaria whispered. "They're protecting the blade."
"Protecting or attacking?" Riven asked, already igniting flames in his palms.
"Does it matter?" Nyron replied, spinning his scythe. "They're in our way."
The first guardian lunged, its movements unnaturally fast for something made of crystal. Orin reacted instantly, his blade clashing against the creature's crystalline limbs. Sparks flew as he parried its attacks, the translucent blade in his hand vibrating with energy.
"Careful!" Zaria warned. "They're made of enchanted crystal. Breaking them might not be so easy."
"Good thing I like a challenge," Nyron said with a grin, slicing through another guardian. His scythe's blade bit into the crystal, but instead of shattering, the guardian's form reassembled itself almost instantly.
"Are you kidding me?" Riven yelled, launching a fireball at one of the creatures. The flames engulfed it, but when the fire dissipated, the guardian stood unscathed, its glowing eyes fixed on him.
"They're absorbing our attacks," Zaria realized, frustration evident in her voice. She raised her staff, summoning a barrier as another guardian charged toward her. "We need a new strategy!"
Orin gritted his teeth, dodging a flurry of strikes from two guardians. "We can't destroy them directly," he said, blocking another blow. "Focus on disabling them instead!"
Nyron nodded, twirling his scythe with renewed purpose. "Got it. Trip them up, smash them apart, and keep them down."
Riven groaned. "That sounds suspiciously like a plan that'll get us killed."
"Then don't mess it up," Nyron shot back.
Working together, the group adjusted their tactics. Orin used his sword to deflect attacks while targeting the joints of the guardians, temporarily immobilizing them. Zaria enchanted the ground beneath them, creating traps that slowed their movements. Nyron focused on knocking them off balance, his scythe sweeping their legs out from under them. Meanwhile, Riven's fire provided distractions, forcing the guardians to divide their attention.
Despite their efforts, the battle was grueling. For every guardian they disabled, another seemed to emerge from the shadows.
"We're getting nowhere," Zaria said, her voice strained as she fired another spell. "There's too many of them."
Orin's eyes darted to the pedestal. The Nexus Blade continued to pulse faintly, as though urging him to act.
"I have an idea," he said, breaking away from the fight.
"Care to share it?" Riven yelled, ducking under a crystal claw.
"Just buy me some time!" Orin shouted, gripping the hilt of the Nexus Blade tightly.
As the others covered him, Orin focused all his energy on the blade. The fragment within it responded, its light growing brighter.
"Come on," Orin muttered. "Help me end this."
The blade flared, and suddenly, its translucent form solidified briefly. Orin swung the blade in a wide arc, releasing a wave of energy that tore through the guardians. The creatures shattered, their crystalline forms disintegrating into harmless dust.
When the light faded, the cavern was silent once more.
Orin fell to one knee, the blade's glow dimming again. Zaria rushed to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concern in her voice.
"Yeah," Orin said, breathing heavily. "But that took more out of me than I expected."
Nyron whistled, examining the remnants of the guardians. "Not bad, Lightheart. You might just have a knack for this hero thing after all."
Riven crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "That's great and all, but what happens next? We still need more fragments."
Orin stood, his resolve unwavering despite his exhaustion. "We'll find them. One step at a time."
Zaria nodded. "The blade is responding to you, Orin. It'll guide us to the next piece."
"Great," Riven said with a sigh. "More chasing after glowing rocks. Just what I signed up for."
Nyron clapped him on the back. "Don't act like you're not having fun."
The group shared a brief, weary laugh before turning their attention back to the path ahead. The journey was far from over, but with the Nexus Blade partially restored and their determination stronger than ever, they knew they were ready for whatever came next.