The second round began with a heavy tension that made even Olorun's usual smirk falter. The stone guardians wasted no time, their movements precise and calculated. They dealt the cards with a flourish, their confidence radiating like the unyielding strength of the mountains they resembled.
Kenji picked up his hand, his face immediately twisting in frustration. "Are you kidding me? This hand is garbage!"
Olorun snickered, peeking at his own cards. "Maybe it's just you."
"Shut up, moss-for-brains," Kenji growled. "We wouldn't even be in this mess if you hadn't blown it last round!"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Olorun shot back sarcastically. "Maybe if someone wasn't yelling in my ear every two seconds, I could focus!"
"Focus on what? Losing?" Kenji slammed his fist on the table. "Because that's all you've been good at!"
The first guardian placed a card on the table with a deafening thud. "Basalt Blitz. Fifteen points to us."
Kenji groaned. "Great! They're already ahead!"
Olorun glared at him. "You want to complain, or do you want to play?"
Kenji played a Strategy card. "Granite Shift. Steal five points."
The second guardian chuckled, countering effortlessly. "Obsidian Shield. Blocks and adds five points to us. Your move."
Kenji's jaw clenched as he stared at his hand. He had no combos, no power plays—just a mess of low-value cards. "We're doomed."
"Not if you let me handle this," Olorun said, placing down a Strategy card. "Rockfall Reset. Shuffle their hand."
The guardians didn't even blink. "Nice try." They played a double combo. "Stonebreaker Duo. Twenty points to us."
Kenji slammed his cards down. "What the hell, Olorun?! That's the best you've got?"
"It's not my fault they've got god-tier luck!" Olorun snapped. "You're supposed to be the strategist. Where's your genius plan now?"
Kenji pointed an accusing finger. "Maybe if someone didn't play like a total amateur—"
"Amateur?!" Olorun barked. "At least I'm trying, you walking musclehead!"
The guardians grinned as they placed their next move. "Final Stone Surge. Ten points. We win again."
The table shook as the final score lit up—Guardians: 50, Kenji and Olorun: 15.
Kenji buried his face in his hands. "Unbelievable. Two rounds, and we're wiped."
Olorun leaned back, sighing. "Alright, so maybe we're a little outmatched."
"A little?!" Kenji's voice rose. "We don't stand a chance! We're toast!"
The first guardian's gravelly voice boomed. "Do you accept defeat, mortals?"
Kenji scowled, looking at Olorun. "Wait… let's make a deal."
The guardians tilted their massive heads. "Speak."
Kenji stood, crossing his arms. "If we win one round, you let us pass. One round, no strings attached."
The guardians exchanged glances, their stony faces unreadable. After a long pause, the first one spoke. "Very well. One round. Win, and the path is yours. Lose, and you stay here forever."
Olorun raised an eyebrow. "Kenji, are you sure about this?"
Kenji nodded, his eyes blazing with determination. "This is our last shot. No screw-ups this time."
Olorun smirked. "Alright. Let's show these overgrown rocks what we're made of."
The first guardian's deep voice rumbled. "If you win, you pass. But if we win, we take your soul."
Olorun's eyes widened. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! You can't just take my soul!. your my brother's guardian's! That's not how this works!"
The second guardian's granite face didn't so much as crack. "You are not the one we seek. It is the swordsman's soul that we desire."
Olorun turned to Kenji, his expression pleading. "Kenji, you don't have to do this."
Kenji stood tall, his face set in stone. "I've been through worse. Let's play."
The guardians grinned, their stony features somehow more menacing than before. "Very well. Let the game begin." The cards were dealt, and Kenji immediately felt a sinking sensation in his gut. His hand was atrocious—barely any synergy, no combos, and only one Strategy card. He glanced at Olorun, who seemed equally disheartened by his own draw.
The first guardian began with a devastating combo. "Basalt Barrage, Granite Reinforce, and Obsidian Strike. Thirty points."
Kenji's eyes widened. "Thirty points?! Are you kidding me?!"
Olorun gritted his teeth. "Stay calm. We just need to find an opening."
Kenji played his only viable card. "Granite Smash. Five points."
The second guardian countered immediately. "Double Obsidian Block. No points for you, and we gain ten."
Olorun slammed a Strategy card on the table. "Rockfall Shuffle. Reset both hands."
The guardians didn't flinch, drawing their new cards with confidence. "Stonebound Surge. Twenty more points."
Kenji's fists clenched as the scoreboard read: Guardians: 60, Kenji and Olorun: 0.
"This is impossible!" Kenji snarled. "We're getting wiped!"
Olorun growled back. "Stop whining and focus! We need a miracle!"
The guardians smirked. "Your turn."
Kenji glanced at his new hand and felt a flicker of hope. He laid down three cards in rapid succession. "Granite Smash, Basalt Barricade, and Obsidian Counter. Combo: Earthbreaker Assault! Thirty points!"
The guardians nodded, unfazed. "Impressive, but not enough."
Olorun followed up with a bold move. "Strategy Override: Point Swap. We trade scores!"
The scoreboard flipped. Kenji and Olorun: 60, Guardians: 0.
Kenji grinned. "How do you like that?!"
The guardians' eyes glowed ominously as they slammed down their final combo. "Stone Titan's Wrath. Instant victory."
Kenji and Olorun's hearts sank as the massive stone titan on the card seemed to come to life, towering over the table.
"It's over," Kenji muttered.
But just as the guardians were about to declare their win, Kenji noticed something—a flaw in their combo. His eyes lit up as he played his last Strategy card. "Fatebreaker Nullify! It cancels your Titan combo and gives us one last move!"
The guardians froze, their confidence momentarily shaken. "Impossible…"
Olorun smirked, playing his final card. "Obsidian Finale. Ten points. We win."
The scoreboard flickered: Kenji and Olorun: 70, Guardians: 60.
---
The corridor fell silent. The guardians stared at the scoreboard, their massive forms unmoving.
The first guardian finally spoke, his voice filled with disbelief. "You… won. By a margin of 0.0000000000001."
Kenji collapsed into a chair, sweat dripping down his face. "That… was insane."
Olorun laughed, his voice shaky. "Told you we had it."
The second guardian stepped aside, his voice somber. "You have earned passage. Proceed, mortals."
Kenji stood, glaring at Olorun. "Next time, you're playing solo."
Olorun chuckled, patting Kenji on the back. "Admit it, you had fun."
Kenji rolled his eyes. "Not even a little."
As Olorun continued to walk, the mist thickened around them, swirling in eerie patterns. Kenji glanced around uneasily before asking, "Olorun, what's happening? This doesn't look normal."
Olorun looked just as confused. "I don't know… I've never been this far before."
Kenji frowned. "Wait, what do you mean 'never been this far'? You've done this before?"
"Well," Olorun admitted, "I've always tried to see my big brother. I'd get past Penelope, but then…"
Kenji tilted his head. "Penelope? Who's that?"
"The one we snuck past earlier," Olorun said, exasperated.
"Ohhh, her," Kenji nodded, realization dawning. "Yeah, she was creepy. So, what about her?"
"She's not even the real challenge," Olorun continued. "After her, it's the Stone Guardians. No matter what I did, I couldn't beat them. They always wiped the floor with me."
Kenji smirked, clearly amused. "You? Getting beaten by some stone statues? That's rich."
"It wasn't just losing!" Olorun snapped. "It was worse than a fight. It was like… it tore at my pride. Every time, I had to run away, crying like a kid."
Kenji chuckled, his smirk widening. "And now, with my help, you're saying you finally beat them?"
Olorun puffed out his chest. "I didn't need your help, fool! I was, uh… holding back. Yeah, I've got mad card skills. Just didn't feel like using them."
Kenji rolled his eyes. "Really? You're gonna stick with that? Even a five-year-old could see through that lie."
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Olorun grumbled, clearly annoyed. "Anyway, what about that skeleton guy?"
"Tony? What about him?" Kenji asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You think he'd let me join him?" Olorun hesitated before continuing, "I mean, after I almost killed that bunny kid…"
Kenji burst out laughing, clutching his sides. "Oh man, you're too much!"
Olorun glared. "What's so funny?"
Kenji finally caught his breath and wiped a tear from his eye. "That 'bunny kid' has a name—it's Eleo. And get this: he's our leader."
Olorun froze, his jaw practically hitting the ground. "What?! That kid's the leader?!"
Kenji nodded, still grinning. "Yup. The one you almost squashed like a bug is the boss."
Olorun groaned, rubbing his temples. "Great… just great. I'm so screwed."
Kenji clapped him on the back, nearly knocking him off balance. "You'll be fine. Just don't challenge him to a card game. He's got better skills than you."
Olorun shot him a look. "You're lucky I don't punch you right now."
Kenji smirked. "Yeah? Try it. See what happens."
They kept walking, the mist finally starting to clear. In the distance, a tall figure sat cross-legged, deep in meditation. His imposing frame and sharp features were unmistakable.
Kenji's hand moved to his sword. "That's him… Taki."
Olorun's expression turned serious. "This is it, huh?"
Taki's presence was commanding, his sheer size and aura of discipline enough to make anyone pause. His powerful frame, standing at 195 cm (6 ft 5 in), was wrapped in a dark, sleeveless tunic that revealed his chiseled arms and a scar running down his left bicep. His battle-worn gloves bore signs of countless fights, yet his hands rested calmly on his knees.
Taki's hair was jet-black, tied into a tight topknot, while a few loose strands framed his angular face. His sharp jawline and high cheekbones gave him an air of authority, but it was his eyes—cold, piercing, and almost void of emotion—that struck the deepest. A long scar crossed his left eye, though it did nothing to dull the intensity of his gaze. Across his back, a massive blade rested in its sheath, its hilt intricately carved with ancient symbols.
The faint rustle of the mist stirred as Taki opened his eyes, revealing irises that glimmered like molten gold. His voice was low, calm, and steady, yet it carried an unyielding weight.
"You've come far, but the path ahead will demand more than luck."
Kenji tightened his grip on his sword, while Olorun shifted uneasily