The rocky outcrop loomed ahead, the runes etched into its surface glowing faintly with an unnatural, sickly light. Sam felt the box pulse weakly in their hands, its energy flickering as if the artifact itself were weary from their battles. The riverbank was still, but the air was heavy, crackling with the dark energy emanating from the conduit.
"That's it?" Sam asked, their voice low. "It doesn't look as big as the others."
"It's smaller, but that doesn't make it less dangerous," Delphine said, her tone sharp. "We destroy this one the same way. Quickly and efficiently."
Calder let out a weak laugh, clutching his injured side. "Efficiently? You've met us, right?"
Sam shot him a glare. "Do you ever take anything seriously?"
"Taking things seriously hasn't kept me alive this long," Calder replied, his grin faint but defiant.
"Enough," Delphine snapped. "Focus. The darkness won't just let us destroy this."
Sam sighed, their shoulders sagging. "It never does."
The trio approached the conduit cautiously, their movements deliberate. The glow from the runes grew brighter as they drew closer, and the air grew colder, the unnatural chill biting at their skin. Sam's hand tightened around the box as the gauntlet hummed faintly on their other arm.
As they reached the base of the outcrop, the box pulsed sharply, its light flaring for a brief moment. Sam stumbled, the sudden energy surge catching them off guard.
"What was that?" they asked, glancing at the artifact.
"The box is reacting to the conduit," Delphine said. "It's synced with the gauntlet. Use them together to destroy it."
"Right," Sam muttered, stepping toward the glowing runes. "No pressure or anything."
Before they could reach the conduit, the ground beneath their feet trembled, and a deep, resonant hum filled the air. The light from the runes flared violently, and dark tendrils of shadow began to coil out from the rocky surface.
"Of course," Sam said, stumbling back. "It couldn't just let us
destroy it peacefully, could it?"
The dark tendrils twisted and writhed, taking form as they emerged from the conduit. Humanoid figures with jagged, shadowy limbs and eyes like burning coals stepped forward, their movements unnervingly fluid. Each one carried a weapon forged from pure darkness, their forms radiating malevolence.
"More guardians?" Sam asked, their voice trembling.
"No," Delphine said, her daggers drawn. "These are Sentinels. Stronger. Faster. Smarter."
"Fantastic," Sam muttered, the gauntlet flaring faintly on their arm. "Why is it always me?"
The Sentinels charged without hesitation, their weapons cutting through the air with deadly precision. Delphine met the first one head-on, her daggers flashing as she deflected its strike. Calder followed close behind, his blade arcing toward a second Sentinel in a powerful slash.
Sam stumbled back, their heart pounding as a third Sentinel turned its glowing eyes on them. The gauntlet hummed against their skin, its energy syncing with the box in their hand. Sam raised their arm, unleashing a burst of golden light that struck the Sentinel square in the chest. The creature staggered, its form flickering, but it recovered quickly, lunging toward Sam with its blade.
"Focus, Sam!" Delphine shouted, dodging another Sentinel's attack. "The gauntlet is our only chance!"
"I'm trying!" Sam yelled, the gauntlet flaring again as they struck the advancing Sentinel. This time, the light burned through its form, reducing it to ash. "One down!"
"Two to go!" Calder called, his voice strained as he clashed with another Sentinel. Despite his injuries, he moved with surprising agility, his blade cutting through the air in precise arcs.
The final Sentinel lunged at Delphine, its dark blade striking with relentless speed. Delphine parried the blows expertly, her daggers finding openings between the creature's movements. With a swift strike, she drove one of her blades into the Sentinel's chest, its form dissolving into smoke.
The battlefield fell silent, the Sentinels defeated. But the conduit's glow remained, its energy growing more erratic as the box and gauntlet pulsed in response.
"Sam, now!" Delphine said, turning toward the conduit. "Finish it!"
Sam stepped forward, their heart pounding as they raised the gauntlet. The golden light flared brightly, its energy surging through the artifact. The box pulsed in unison, releasing a wave of light that struck the conduit. The runes flickered violently, their red glow shifting to purple as cracks began to spread across the rocky surface.
The conduit trembled, its dark energy spilling into the air like smoke. Sam gritted their teeth, pouring every ounce of energy they had into the gauntlet. The golden light grew brighter, overwhelming the conduit's defenses.
With a deafening crack, the conduit shattered, its fragments dissolving into ash. The oppressive energy in the air lifted, replaced by an eerie stillness. The runes faded, their glow extinguished.
Sam collapsed to their knees, the gauntlet's light dimming as the box fell silent. "Please tell me that was the last one."
"It wasn't," Delphine said, though her tone held a note of rare reassurance. "But we're one step closer."
Calder staggered over, his grin faint but intact. "You're getting pretty good at this, Herald."
Sam glared at him. "Stop calling me that."
"Not a chance," Calder said, his grin widening.
Delphine sheathed her daggers, her sharp gaze scanning the horizon. "The darkness knows we're coming. It won't stop until it's destroyed—or we are."
"Comforting," Sam muttered, their exhaustion settling over them like a heavy blanket. "What's next?"
Delphine's expression softened, just slightly. "Rest. We'll need it for what's ahead."
Sam let out a shaky laugh, leaning back against the rocky outcrop. The box pulsed faintly in their lap, its light steady and reassuring. For the first time, they allowed themselves a moment of relief.
"Plan B for destiny," they whispered, closing their eyes. "One nightmare at a time."