It was unlike anything Team Eclipse had seen: the platform beyond the fallen Warden. In place of the oppressive darkness lay open space, lit by shifting, otherworldly lights illuminating deep shades of indigo and crimson. At the heart of the chamber stood a massive structure: a black monolith alive with veins of glowing energy feeding directly into the surrounding void.".
As they moved forward, the Abyssal Orb in Ryu's hand began to beat with a rhythm that harmonized with the monolith. Every step made its light brighten. A system message flashed before them:
[You have reached the Core of the Abyssal Ruins.]
[Warning: The Catalyst Core is highly unstable. Proceed with caution.]
"'Highly unstable,' huh?" Draven whispered, adjusting his shield to the correct position. "Always a good sign.
Aris scanned the surroundings, her eyes narrowing at the intricate patterns swirling across the ground. "This place doesn't feel right. It's too… quiet."
Ryu nodded, his gaze fixed on the monolith. "Stay alert. Whatever power is keeping this place together is coming from that Core. If it goes, the whole ruin might collapse."
Draven groaned. "So, no pressure then?"
The team spread out, approaching the Core cautiously. The air grew heavier as they drew near, charged with a raw, primal energy that sent their nerves on edge. The glowing veins on the monolith began to pulse faster, and the ground beneath their feet trembled.
And without warning, the chamber was set to life. The shifting lights coalesced into a series of intricate glyphs that hovered in the air around the Core. A deep, resonant voice echoed through the chamber, vibrating through their very bones:
"You dare to disturb the heart of the Abyssal Nexus?"
Draven raised his shield instinctively. "Great. The ruins are talking again. Never a good sign."
A new notification appeared:
[Catalyst Core: Final Seal Activated.]
[Guardian Protocol Engaged.]
The glyphs combined to form an enormous figure-a human made construct composed of the same ethereal, radiant energy of the monolith. Eyes glowing brightly and hands bringing a long-handled halberd-apt with dark abyssal energies.
[Catalyst Guardian: Nexus Sentinel]
Level:?
Health:?
Aris muttered to herself and brought out her daggers. "We got guests."
The Sentinel didn't waste time. It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its halberd sweeping in a wide arc. The team scattered, narrowly avoiding the strike as it carved a glowing fissure into the ground.
"Focus!" Ryu shouted, his sword flashing as he countered the Sentinel's next attack. The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, forcing him back several steps.
Draven charged in, slamming his shield into the leg of the Sentinel. "I have its attention! Take it down!"
The Sentinel turned its glowing gaze on Draven. Its halberd came crashing down with incredible force. Draven barely blocked the blow, the impact sending him to one knee. "A little help here!" he grunted.
From her blindside, Aris darted inside, her daggers driving forward to strike the Sentinel in all its joints. Her attack left faint cracks in that bright and glowing form but seemed unable to slow it down.
"This thing's tougher than the Warden," she shouted, ducking the retaliatory swing.
The glowing veins on the Sentinel's body were locked on by Ryu. "Those veins—it's drawing its power from the Core! We need to sever that connection.
Easier said than done. The Sentinel kept at him, each swing of the halberd tearing into something. Ryu dodged the thrust and came back with a charged strike, aiming for one of the glowing veins in the torso of the Sentinel. His blade hit the mark, sending a pulse of energy through the room.
The Sentinel reeled, its movements slowing a little. A notification came up:
[Catalyst Guardian Weakness Detected: Core Veins Exposed.]
"Hit the veins!" Ryu ordered. "It's weak!"
Aris nodded and moved with lightning speed. She targeted the glowing veins on the Sentinel's arms, her daggers slicing through the energy conduits. Each strike caused the Sentinel to falter, its form flickering as the connection to the Core weakened.
Draven capitalized on the opening, slamming his shield into the Sentinel's chest with a thunderous roar. "Take that, you glowing pile of rock!"
The Sentinel let out a deafening roar, its arms stretching toward the sky as its halberd vanished. The glyphs in the room began shifting to create a light barrier surrounding the Core.
Notification popped up:
[Catalyst Guardian entering Overload Mode.]
[Core Veins Reinforced. Guardian Strength Increased.]
"Of course it's not that easy," Draven said, retreating as the Sentinel stabilized into a new form. The Sentinel's halberd rematerialized, but crackled with even more power.
Aris cursed. "It's drawing more power from the Core! If we don't take it down soon—"
Ryu cut her off. "We can't beat it while the Core is feeding it energy. Aris, Draven—keep it distracted. I'll sever the link."
Draven blinked. "You want us to keep this thing busy? Sure, no problem. It's not like it's trying to kill us or anything."
Aris smirked even as the tension mounted. "Come on, big guy. Let's see if we can't piss it off."
The two of them went to work, coordinated strikes keeping the Sentinel busy. Meanwhile, Ryu ran toward the Core, the Abyssal Orb in his hand brightening with every step.
The Sentinel let out a roar and turned its attention toward Ryu. Draven intercepted it, slamming his shield into its leg. "Oh no, you don't! You're stuck with me!"
Aris joined in, her daggers a blur as she targeted the veins on the Sentinel's legs. "Ryu, whatever you're doing, do it fast!"
Ryu reached the Core and held the Abyssal Orb high. The orb resonated with the monolith, sending a surge of energy into the chamber. The glowing veins connecting the Core to the Sentinel began to flicker.
"Almost there," Ryu muttered, pouring more energy into the orb. The monolith shuddered, its glow dimming.
The Sentinel faltered, its movements becoming sluggish. Draven and Aris seized the opportunity, their attacks landing with devastating precision.
With one last burst, Ryu cut the connection. The monolith's light dissipated, and the Sentinel emitted an unearthly scream before crumbling into a waterfall of dying glyphs.
A message flashed on the screen:
[Catalyst Guardian: Nexus Sentinel Defeated.]
[Abyssal Nexus Stabilized.]
The room went silent. Ryu placed the Abyssal Orb back down; its glow was weak now. He turned to his team, their faces weary but triumphant.
"Is it over?" Draven asked, his voice laced with exhaustion.
"For now," Ryu said, his eyes still fixed on the slumbering monolith. "But something feels to me like this was just the beginning."
With the Core stable and the Nexus Guardian defeated, Team Eclipse was preparing to leave the ruins, but their minds were already reaching beyond the shadows.