Chapter 17: Traces to the Hidden Temple
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New Clue
After successfully defeating the ice guardian and obtaining the first fragment, Kano's group continued their journey. Near the border of the Frozen Valley, they found a large stone carving partially buried under the snow. Lyra, with her vast knowledge of ancient symbols, immediately recognized the pattern etched on the stone.
"This is a map," she said, brushing the snow off the surface. "This carving shows the location of an ancient temple. I'm sure this is related to the next Rune."
Kano stared at the carving, trying to understand the direction it indicated. "The temple seems to be located in a forest to the south. But isn't that too close to Voidus's territory?"
"That's exactly what makes sense," Reina replied. "Perhaps the Primordial Rune was hidden there to keep its power out of the enemy's reach."
Dorian sighed and adjusted his fur cloak. "The southern forest, huh? I just hope we don't run into anything scary like we did before."
"Don't get your hopes up," Reina said with a wry smile.
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Towards the Dark Forest
The forest they entered was different from the places they had been before. Towering ancient trees with almost entirely covered canopies made the place feel dark, even though the sun was still shining. The air smelled damp, mixed with the scent of decaying wood.
"We need to be cautious," Lyra said, lighting a small magic orb in her hand to illuminate the path. "This place doesn't feel right. The energy here… it's unnatural."
A sense of unease spread across the group. Every step they took felt as though something invisible was following them. Dorian, usually cheerful, now seemed nervous, his sword always ready in hand.
Suddenly, Reina stopped. "Quiet," she whispered, raising her hand. "Do you hear that?"
Everyone fell silent. In the stillness, soft footsteps could be heard approaching from the bushes ahead. The steps grew louder, until a large figure leapt out—a giant black wolf with glowing red eyes.
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Black Wolf Attack
The wolf leapt toward them with incredible speed. Dorian reacted quickly, swinging his sword at the creature. However, the wolf was too agile, dodging the attack effortlessly.
Lyra quickly cast a spell, creating an energy shield around the group. "This isn't just any wolf," she said anxiously. "It's infected with Voidus's energy!"
Reina nocked an arrow and fired at the wolf. The arrow struck the creature's shoulder, causing it to howl in pain, its cry echoing throughout the forest. But it wasn't enough to stop it.
"Kano, use your Rune!" Lyra shouted.
Kano focused his energy. The Rune on his body glowed brightly as he felt a surge of power flow into his sword. With a single strike, he cleaved toward the black wolf. A wave of blue light struck the creature, sending it flying backward.
The wolf let out a final roar before its body dissipated into black smoke, leaving behind a small crystal floating in the air.
"This is strange," Kano said, picking up the crystal. "This crystal has traces of Rune energy, but it feels tainted by Voidus."
Lyra nodded as she observed the crystal. "It seems like this is part of Rune energy that's been corrupted by Voidus. We have to be careful—there might be more creatures like this around the temple."
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Forest Guardians
Their journey continued, but the atmosphere in the forest grew more oppressive. They began to see signs of other creatures—large footprints in the soil, broken branches, and remains of animals that seemed to have been devoured.
Eventually, they arrived at an open area. In the center stood a massive statue of a humanoid figure with a blank expression. The statue appeared damaged, with moss and wild plants growing around it.
"This isn't just any statue," Lyra said, approaching it. "This is a temple guardian. I've read about these—they only awaken if they sense a threat."
"Well, we're not a threat, right?" muttered Dorian as he stepped forward.
However, as soon as he approached the statue, its eyes glowed red. The ground began to tremble, and the statue moved, raising its large hand toward the group.
"You spoke too soon!" Reina yelled, pulling Dorian back.
The guardian took a step forward, its massive body causing the earth to shake with each movement. With a single swing of its arm, it destroyed nearby trees, causing chaos in the area.
"We have to defeat it to enter the temple!" Lyra shouted.
Kano drew his sword again, the Rune on his body shining brightly. "We don't have a choice!"
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Battle in Front of the Temple
The guardian's attacks were powerful, forcing them to keep moving to avoid being hit. Reina shot arrows, trying to find a weak spot in the statue's body, but it had no effect.
Lyra tried using earth magic to trap the guardian's feet, but the creature was too strong. "Kano, aim for its chest!" she shouted.
Kano noticed small cracks in the chest of the statue. He focused his Rune energy, creating a wave of blue light. With one targeted strike, he hit the crack.
The guardian stopped moving. Its body began to crack all over, until it finally collapsed into rubble.
Behind the destroyed statue, a hidden door slowly opened.
"We did it," Reina said, letting out a relieved breath.
"This is just the beginning," Kano said, staring into the darkness of the temple. "The next fragment is inside, and I'm sure it'll be even harder than before."