The roar of the golem echoed through the ancient chamber, a deep sound that seemed to shake the very bones of the earth. Its massive form charged forward, each step sending tremors across the stone floor. Auren stood his ground, his golden eyes narrowing, his hands lifting as mana swirled around them.
"Hold your ground," he commanded, his voice carrying a calm authority that made Isla's fear lessen, if only slightly.
The spectral warriors that Auren had conjured moved as one, forming a line between them and the golem. Their ghostly forms shimmered, their armor glinting faintly in the dim light of the chamber. Isla's heart pounded as she watched them brace themselves against the impending collision.
The golem swung one of its massive arms, the stone limb crashing into the spectral soldiers. The illusionary warriors crumbled, dissipating into wisps of mana. Isla saw the effort etched on Auren's face as he reinforced the illusions, the shimmering forms reforming around them. She had seen the power of Auren's illusions before, but this was different—this was raw, desperate defense.
Roderic, the group's Treasure Hunter, scrambled to the side, ducking behind a pillar. "I knew this was a bad idea!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the chamber. Isla caught a glimpse of his pale face before he disappeared into the shadows.
Auren glanced at Isla, his gaze sharp. "Use your mana sensitivity. There has to be a weak point, something binding it. Find it."
Isla nodded, pushing down the fear that knotted her stomach. She focused, reaching out with her senses, feeling the ebb and flow of mana around them. The air was thick with energy, the ancient power of the runes that glowed along the walls. She closed her eyes, tuning out the chaos, the sound of stone against spectral illusions.
There—she felt it. A concentrated pulse of mana, deeper in the golem's chest. A binding rune, feeding it power and keeping it animated. Her eyes flew open, her gaze locking onto the glowing spot just beneath the stone guardian's neck.
"Auren! The chest, just below the neck! There's something there—it's the binding rune!" Isla shouted, pointing towards the golem.
Auren followed her direction, his gaze narrowing as he saw the faint glow emanating from the golem's core. He nodded, a hint of a smile touching his lips. "Good work, Isla. Keep it distracted."
Isla's heart skipped a beat. "Keep it distracted? How exactly do you expect me to do that?"
But Auren had already moved, his form blurring as he darted towards the golem. Isla swallowed her panic, her hands trembling slightly as she activated [Trap Awareness]. She scanned the floor, her eyes catching sight of a faint outline—a glyph hidden beneath centuries of dust and dirt. It was old, barely functional, but maybe, just maybe, it would be enough.
"Roderic!" Isla called out, her voice high-pitched with urgency. She saw his head pop out from behind the pillar, his expression a mix of fear and irritation.
"What now?!"
"Help me activate this! It's a trap rune—if we can get it working, we might be able to slow the golem down!"
Roderic hesitated, then swore under his breath as he scrambled over to her. He looked down at the glyph, his eyes widening slightly. "You sure this thing still works? Looks like it's as old as the tower itself."
Isla shot him a glare. "It's either this or we get crushed by that thing. Your choice."
Roderic grimaced, nodding. Together, they began to clear away the debris covering the rune, Isla's fingers glowing faintly with mana as she tried to reactivate the ancient glyph. The symbols flickered, the power within them weak, but Isla pushed harder, willing the mana to flow through the lines of the rune.
Behind them, the golem roared again, its massive hand swiping towards Auren. He twisted away, his illusions shifting and blurring around him, spectral warriors lunging at the guardian, their blades slicing through its stony hide but doing little to slow it down. Auren's focus was on the weak spot Isla had identified, his golden eyes locked onto the glowing rune beneath the golem's neck.
"Almost there..." Isla muttered, her voice strained. She felt the rune beneath her fingers pulse, the mana finally beginning to take hold. The lines of the glyph glowed brighter, spreading out across the floor, forming a web of light.
"Now!" she yelled, stepping back as the trap activated.
A burst of energy shot out from the glyph, wrapping around the golem's legs like chains. The stone guardian stumbled, its movements slowing as the mana bindings took hold, forcing it to kneel. The roar that echoed through the chamber was one of frustration, its glowing eyes flaring brightly.
Auren seized the opportunity, leaping forward. He thrust his hand towards the golem's chest, his fingers crackling with mana. The energy gathered around his hand, shaping into a sharp spear of pure mana. With a shout, he drove the spear into the glowing rune beneath the golem's neck.
The effect was immediate. The light in the golem's eyes flickered, then dimmed, its massive body shuddering as the mana that animated it began to dissipate. Cracks spread across its form, the stone crumbling as the guardian let out one last, echoing roar before collapsing in on itself, the mana that held it together scattering like dust in the wind.
Silence fell over the chamber, the echoes of the battle fading into nothing. Isla stood there, her breath coming in gasps, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked at Auren, who was still standing near the remains of the golem, his expression unreadable.
He turned to her, his golden eyes meeting hers, and for a moment, she saw something there—something like pride. "Well done," he said, his voice calm but with an edge of exhaustion.
Isla managed a shaky smile, nodding. "Thanks. That was... more than I expected."
Roderic, still catching his breath, leaned against a pillar, shaking his head. "You two are absolutely insane. You know that, right?"
Auren gave him a cold smile. "You knew the risks when you agreed to join us."
Roderic, ever the Treasure Hunter who thrived in danger but preferred to avoid the impossible, opened his mouth to retort, then thought better of it, shaking his head again. "Yeah, yeah. Just... maybe a little less 'giant magical guardian' next time, alright?"
Isla chuckled, the tension slowly ebbing away. She looked around the chamber, her eyes drifting to the glowing runes on the walls. They still pulsed faintly, the mana within them undisturbed despite the battle. She stepped closer, her archaeologist's curiosity taking over.
"What now?" she asked, her eyes scanning the carvings. "There must be more here—more secrets, more knowledge. The golem was protecting something."
Auren nodded, stepping beside her. "Indeed. This was only the first trial. The true secret lies deeper within." He placed his hand against the wall, the runes shifting at his touch, the mana flowing into new patterns.
A low rumble echoed through the chamber, and a hidden door began to slide open, revealing a dark passageway leading deeper into the earth. The air that flowed out was cold, carrying with it the scent of ancient stone and something else—something powerful.
Roderic groaned, pushing himself upright. "Of course there's more. It's never just one deathtrap, is it?"
Auren glanced back at him, a faint smirk on his lips. "You can leave if you wish."
Roderic hesitated, then shook his head. "Nah. I'm in it now. Might as well see what other nightmares we dig up."
Isla smiled, her fear replaced with determination. She looked at Auren, nodding. "Let's keep going. Whatever's down there, we'll face it together."
Auren's gaze softened slightly, and he nodded. "Together, then."
With that, they stepped forward, leaving the shattered remains of the guardian behind as they descended into the darkness, deeper into the mysteries of the watchtower and the secrets it held.