The skeletal knight let out a bone-chilling roar, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. The crimson glow of the Shard of Veilmoor pulsed in time with its movements, as if feeding the creature's rage.
"Level 15? Are you insane, Draven?" Aris hissed, her daggers trembling slightly in her hands.
Draven grinned, his spear poised for attack. "Insanity's just another word for strategy. Stick to the plan, and we'll get out of this alive."
"What plan?!" Ryu barked, sidestepping as the knight's massive sword cleaved through the air, narrowly missing him. The force of the swing sent a gust of wind through the chamber, scattering loose debris.
"Simple," Draven called out, darting forward. His spear glowed faintly as he activated a skill, the tip slicing across the knight's armor with a loud clang. "I distract it. You two hit it where it hurts. Watch for an opening!"
"That's not a plan!" Aris shot back, but her feet were already moving, her instincts taking over.
The knight threw its hollow, glowing eyes at Draven, swinging the sword in an arc. Draven leaped backward just as the blade whizzed through, missing him by an inch.
"Ryu!" Aris shouted from his flank, "it's slow, but really strong. We can't let it touch us, even once."
"I saw!" Ryu exclaimed, moving closer as the knight faced Draven again. He struck at vulnerable joints of its armor-exposed, decaying sinew binding its skeletal structure, the blade slicing through these as the sparks flew through. The creature didn't flinch.
The knight let out another roar as it raised its sword on high. Shadows began condensing around the blade forming a dark, crackling aura.
"Get down!" Draven shouted. "It's charging an AoE!"
But Ryu nor Aris were able to even react before the knight swung its sword onto the floor. The collision sent out a wave of dark energy, cracks sprouting along the stone floor. Ryu dodged sideways, missing the blast, but Aris wasnt so quick. The side of the wave caught her and tossed her into the cavernous wall.
"Aris!" Ryu cried out with his heart in his mouth.
"I'm fine," she groaned, staggering to her feet. Her health bar had dropped dangerously low, but she managed to stay upright. "Just focus!"
Draven's voice rang out. "Ryu, draw its attention! I'll aim for the shard embedded in its chest."
Ryu clenched his teeth, planting his feet firmly on the cracked ground. "Got it!"
He charged forward, his sword glowing brighter as he activated his strongest skill. The blade hummed with energy as he slashed at the knight's legs, forcing it to stagger. The creature turned its fiery gaze on him, momentarily distracted.
"Now, Draven!" Ryu shouted.
Draven pushed forward in a burst of speed, spear spinning like a whirlwind. The glowing tip centered directly on the faint pulsing shard buried in the knight's chest. In a ferocious cry he thrust the spear into the shard, the impact generating a shockwave through the chamber.
The knight let out a deafening roar, its movements erratic. The crimson glow in its eyes flickered as cracks spread across its body, dark energy leaking out like blood.
"It's working!" Aris shouted, her voice filled with renewed determination. She darted in, her daggers flashing as she targeted the weakened joints in the knight's armor.
The skeletal guardian stumbled, and its massive sword dropped to the ground. With a final, guttural growl, the beast dropped to its knees then collapsed into a pile of ash and rusted metal.
The room was silent once more, except for the hum of the Shard of Veilmoor.
"We… we did it," Aris said with ragged breath. She rested against the cavern wall, her health bar low and dangerous.
Draven pulled his spear out of the broken shard, grinning. "I told you it'd work. You just needed to trust me."
Ryu didn't seem to care about that. He took a step forward, sword still drawn. "What exactly are you after, Draven? You knew about this shard. You knew about the guardian. This wasn't just some random adventure for you.
Draven's smirk smoothed a little, his eyes narrowing. "Relax, kid. I told you—I'm after information. The Nexus Keeper's no joke. If we're going to survive this game, we need every advantage we can get."
Ryu didn't lower his sword. "Then why not do this alone? Why drag us into it?
Draven chuckled. "Because the truth is, I can't do it alone. None of us can. If you're smart, you'll stick with me. We make a good team."
Aris took a step forward, putting a hand on Ryu's arm. "He's right," she said unwillingly. "We wouldn't have gotten out of that fight if he hadn't been here."
Ryu paused and finally let his sword fall to his side. "Fine. But if you ever screw us over, I won't hesitate."
Draven laughed, slinging his spear over his shoulder. "Noted."
As they turned to leave, the shard pulsed one final time, a wave of energy washing over them. A notification appeared in their HUDs:
[Quest Update: Shard of Veilmoor Obtained!]
[New Objective: Uncover the Shard's Secrets.]
"Well," Aris said, eyeing the notification. "Looks like we're not done here."
Draven's smirk returned. "Oh, this is just the beginning."
The three of them stepped out of the chamber, back into the dark tunnels. The shadows seemed a little less menacing now, but the weight of the unknown still lingered heavily over them.
Whatever secrets the shard held, one thing was certain—this was no ordinary game.