The Infernal Guardian's molten armor radiated oppressive heat as its clawed fists crashed into the ground, sending tremors through the chamber. Kael staggered, his shadow flickering as he scrambled backward.
[System Notification: Warning - Proximity to Overloaded Entity Detected. Environmental Stability: Critical]
"Elira!" Kael shouted, his voice hoarse over the roaring vibrations. "This thing's not slowing down!"
"I see that!" she retorted, loosing another arrow. The projectile struck true, embedding itself in a glowing fissure along the Guardian's shoulder. The beast roared in defiance, the crackling light of its wounds intensifying.
[Critical Hit! Enemy HP Remaining: ???]
Kael clenched his fists, the sting of his diminishing mana bar a constant ache. His ability to manipulate shadows had never felt so raw, so unhinged. Summoning every ounce of focus, he called upon Shadow Stitch, directing its inky threads toward the Guardian's leg.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Stitch - Anchor Mode]
Effect: Reduces mobility by 30%. Success chance: 75%.
Mana Cost: 10. Remaining Mana: 15/50.
The tendrils latched onto the glowing fissures around the Guardian's knee, tightening with a ferocity that mirrored Kael's desperation. The Guardian stumbled, its colossal form unsteady for the first time.
"Elira! Go for the knee! It's weakened!" Kael yelled.
Without hesitation, Elira nocked an arrow tipped with a faintly glowing rune. "Let's see how you like this," she muttered, releasing the shot. The arrow streaked through the air, striking the exact point Kael had anchored.
[Elira's Ability Activated: Piercing Precision - Enhanced Damage to Structural Weak Points]
Damage Dealt: 300 HP.
Enemy Status: Leg Stabilizer Overload.
The Guardian's knee buckled, and it collapsed onto one side with an earth-shaking crash, sending shards of stone flying through the air. Kael shielded his face, coughing as dust filled his lungs.
But the battle was far from over.
[System Alert: Enemy Adapting. Countermeasures Active.]
Guardian Armor Recalibrating... Weak Points Concealed.
"Of course it can adapt," Kael muttered bitterly. His mana bar blinked ominously, a warning that he couldn't afford another full skill activation.
"Got any more tricks up your sleeve?" Elira called, her tone sharp but not unkind.
"Not unless you count dying dramatically," Kael shot back, trying to steady his breath.
The Guardian's form shifted, its molten cracks sealing as its armor solidified into an even more impenetrable sheen. A deep, guttural roar erupted from the creature as it rose, renewed fury radiating from its every movement.
[Enemy Ability Activated: Molten Surge - Increased Aggression.]
Effect: +50% Attack Speed. +25% Damage Output.
Kael's mind raced. If brute force wasn't enough, they needed a way to exploit the Guardian's sheer weight. His eyes darted toward the precarious pillars framing the chamber. Each was riddled with cracks from years—or perhaps centuries—of wear.
"Elira!" he shouted. "The pillars! We bring those down, it might crush this thing!"
She glanced at the nearest column, then back at Kael. "That's a long shot."
"It's a better shot than dying here!" he snapped.
With a sharp nod, Elira shifted her aim, loosing arrows at the weakened columns. The runes etched along her bow flared with light, each shot carrying enough force to chip away at the ancient stone.
Kael, meanwhile, summoned what little mana he had left, directing his shadow threads to pull at the base of the nearest pillar. Each movement felt like dragging his own soul through glass, but the cracks widened with each effort.
[Skill Overload: Mana Depletion Imminent. Stamina Cost Applied.]
Kael gritted his teeth as a sharp pain stabbed through his chest. "Just... a little more..." he growled, pulling harder.
The Guardian wasn't idle. It lunged toward them, its molten fist raised high. Kael dove to the side as the blow struck the ground, shattering stone and sending tremors through the chamber.
[Environmental Instability: Structural Collapse Accelerated.]
"Elira, now!" Kael bellowed.
With one final shot, Elira's arrow pierced the last support. The pillar groaned, tilting dangerously before collapsing entirely. Massive chunks of stone fell in a cascade, striking the Guardian squarely in the back.
A deafening roar filled the chamber as the creature's form flickered violently, its glitching armor struggling to hold together. In its death throes, the Guardian lashed out blindly, sending molten debris in every direction.
Kael threw himself behind a nearby column as the inferno raged, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
[System Alert: Enemy Defeated. XP Gained: 500. Level Up Pending.]
"Finally..." Kael muttered, sliding down the column as exhaustion overtook him.
Elira approached cautiously, her bow still drawn. She nudged a piece of molten debris with her boot, ensuring the Guardian was truly down. "That was... reckless," she said, though there was a faint smirk on her lips.
Kael managed a weak laugh. "You're welcome."
The chamber fell eerily silent, save for the faint hum of residual energy. As Kael tried to steady himself, a new notification appeared in his vision.
[System Fragment Acquired: Infernal Core Shard]
Effect: ???
WARNING: High corruption levels detected. Handle with caution.
Kael stared at the pulsing shard, its light casting ominous shadows across the ruined chamber. Whatever this was, it felt like more than just a victory. It felt like a step deeper into something he didn't fully understand.
Kael knelt among the Guardian's shattered remains, his fingers hesitating above the pulsing shard embedded in the rubble. The Infernal Core Shard seemed alive, its jagged surface flickering with molten light and static. Just looking at it sent a faint buzzing through his skull, like a persistent itch he couldn't scratch.
[System Fragment Acquired: Infernal Core Shard]
Effect: Unstable energy detected. Potential for corruption.
WARNING: Extended contact may destabilize wielder.
Elira approached cautiously, her bow still at the ready. "What is it?" she asked, her voice low.
Kael shook his head. "I don't know, but it's part of the System. Feels... powerful. Dangerous, too."
Her eyes narrowed as she studied the shard. "Powerful things are rarely safe. Leave it."
Kael hesitated. The shard's glow seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, each wave of light drawing him closer. His instincts screamed to take it, to understand its power. But Elira's warning hung heavy in the air.
"And what if this is the key?" he argued, gripping the shard before she could stop him. A shock of heat seared through his palm, and his vision momentarily blurred.
[System Update: Edgeweaver Class Compatibility Detected. Synchronization in Progress.]
Corruption Resistance: 50%. Side Effects Unknown.
Elira swore under her breath, stepping back as Kael stumbled to his feet. "You're insane," she muttered. "That thing could kill you—or worse."
Kael steadied himself against a cracked column, his breathing ragged. "Maybe. But what if it's the only way to figure out what's happening here? The System's already broken; this might help us fix it."
Her sharp gaze softened for a moment, but the hard edge in her voice remained. "Or it could break you even more. I've seen what corruption does to people, Kael. It's not a gamble I'd make."
"Noted," he replied dryly, tucking the shard into his inventory. The faint warmth lingered on his skin, a reminder of its volatility.
Elira crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Just don't expect me to save you if that thing turns you into some glitching monster."
Kael smirked faintly. "Good to know where we stand."
The chamber rumbled softly, interrupting their tense exchange. A cascade of dust fell from the fractured ceiling, and the ground shifted beneath their feet.
[System Notification: Environmental Instability Increasing. Collapse Imminent.]
"We need to move," Elira said, urgency replacing her irritation. She turned toward the jagged corridor leading deeper into the labyrinth. "Whatever's left here isn't worth getting buried alive for."