The oppressive energy radiating from the Catalyst's Gate pressed against Kael like a heavy weight, each pulse hammering in sync with his heartbeat. The glowing runes etched across the surface of the gate shimmered faintly, shifting in patterns that seemed almost alive.
Kael stepped forward, his shadow flickering wildly at his feet. "It's reacting to me," he said, his voice strained.
"No kidding," Torran muttered, gripping his sword tightly as he scanned the darkened chamber. "It's not subtle about it either. How do we even start with this thing?"
"Carefully," Elira said, her eyes narrowing as she studied the runes. She pointed to one near the gate's center, its light pulsing faintly. "That one's different. It's weaker—like it's waiting to be activated."
Kael placed his hand near the rune, feeling a surge of cold energy shoot up his arm. His shadow twisted toward the symbol, coiling around it like a living thing. Taking a deep breath, he focused his energy, summoning the power of his Edgeweaver abilities.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Resonance]
Effect: Connects with dungeon runes to decipher their structure and purpose.
The rune glowed brighter, and a faint hum filled the chamber. Patterns rippled across the gate's surface, linking the symbol to others that began to pulse in sequence. Kael's chest tightened as the energy drained from him, his strength ebbing with each passing moment.
"It's working," Elira said, stepping closer to observe the patterns. "The symbols are aligning—wait, stop!"
Kael froze, his hand trembling. "What? What happened?"
Elira pointed to a faint crack forming near one of the runes. "You were about to overload it. The gate won't open if the runes collapse first."
Kael exhaled shakily, pulling back. "Great. No pressure."
As Kael adjusted his approach, Torran shifted his stance, his shield ready as faint growls echoed from the shadows surrounding the chamber. "We've got movement," he warned.
Elira turned quickly, her bow drawn. "How much time do you need, Kael?"
"I don't know," Kael admitted, focusing on the next rune. "Just keep them off me."
Torran smirked grimly. "No problem. I'll hold the line."
Elira loosed an arrow at a creature slinking toward them, her aim precise as the corrupted form dissolved into sparks. "Don't waste time!"
Kael continued to channel energy into the runes, each activation leaving him weaker. The shadow at his feet wavered, responding to the draining pull of the gate. As the final rune in the sequence began to glow, a surge of energy rippled through the gate, illuminating the entire chamber.
Kael staggered, barely catching himself against the gate's surface. "Two down," he muttered, his vision blurring. "How many more?"
"More than we have time for," Torran growled, slamming his shield into a charging creature. "Pick up the pace, Edgeweaver."
Kael clenched his fists, forcing himself to focus as he reached for the next rune, the weight of the gate pressing harder against him with every passing second.
The chamber trembled as Kael worked on the third rune, his shadow coiling around the glowing symbol like a living tether. Torran fended off the creatures that darted toward them from the darkened edges of the room, each strike of his sword sending sparks flying. Elira's arrows hummed through the air, precise and deadly, but her quiver was growing lighter with every shot.
Kael's chest tightened, the cold pull of the gate sapping his strength. He grit his teeth and focused, forcing the rune to align with the others.
Then the growl came—deep, resonant, and far louder than anything they had heard before.
Elira froze mid-draw, her eyes snapping to the far end of the chamber. Torran turned as the growl grew louder, reverberating through the air and shaking loose dust from the walls.
"That's no ordinary creature," Torran said grimly, raising his shield.
From the shadows emerged a towering figure, its corrupted form rippling with dark energy. Its body was vaguely humanoid, but jagged protrusions jutted from its shoulders and arms, and its face was an indistinct mass of glowing red light. The energy around it flickered violently, distorting the air as it moved.
"The Gatekeeper," Nerith muttered from their position near the wall. "It doesn't want you touching that gate."
Kael stepped back, his shadow flaring as the Gatekeeper turned its glowing gaze toward him. Its presence felt suffocating, a tidal wave of corruption that pressed against Kael's senses.
"You have trespassed," the Gatekeeper said, its voice a low rumble layered with distortion. "The Monolith denies your passage."
"Not exactly rolling out the welcome mat, are they?" Torran muttered, stepping in front of Kael. "We'll handle this. Keep working on the gate."
The Gatekeeper lunged, its massive arm swinging toward them with devastating speed. Torran braced himself, his shield glowing as he activated a defensive skill.
[Skill Activated: Iron Wall]
Effect: Absorbs 50% of incoming damage for all allies within range. Duration: 15 seconds.
The impact sent a shockwave through the room, the force pushing Torran back several feet but leaving Kael and Elira unharmed.
"It's too strong!" Elira shouted, loosing an arrow that struck the Gatekeeper's arm. The arrow sparked against its corrupted armor, leaving only a faint scorch mark. "We're barely scratching it!"
Kael turned back to the gate, his hands trembling as he reached for the next rune. "I need more time!"
The Gatekeeper roared, its voice shaking the walls. It raised both arms, dark energy gathering around its claws. Torran gritted his teeth, charging forward to intercept the attack.
"Come on, you overgrown monster!" he shouted, slamming his shield into the Gatekeeper's leg.
Elira fired another shot, aiming for the glowing core at the creature's chest. The arrow struck true, and the Gatekeeper staggered briefly, its distorted voice snarling in rage.
Kael forced himself to focus, his shadow twisting as he activated another rune. The energy coursing through the gate grew stronger, its hum rising to a near-deafening pitch.
"I've got this one," he said through gritted teeth, "but I can't do it alone. Buy me just a little more time!"
The Gatekeeper's roar shook the chamber, and the walls groaned as if the entire dungeon was responding to its rage. Torran lunged forward, his shield raised, deflecting another of the creature's heavy strikes. The impact sent vibrations up his arm, but he held firm.
"Anytime now, Kael!" Torran shouted, his voice strained.
"I'm almost there!" Kael yelled back, his focus locked on the glowing rune beneath his trembling hands. His shadow coiled around the gate, latching onto the symbols as if desperate to hold them in place. Each pulse of energy drained more of his strength, but the runes glowed brighter, their intricate patterns aligning one by one.
The Gatekeeper snarled, turning its glowing red gaze toward Kael. It raised one massive arm, dark energy swirling around its jagged claws.
"It's going for him!" Elira shouted, loosing an arrow aimed at the creature's core. The shot struck, and for a moment, the energy around the Gatekeeper flickered. It staggered, its attack delayed, giving Torran just enough time to charge in.
Torran slammed his shield into the Gatekeeper's leg, throwing his full weight behind the strike. The creature stumbled back with a distorted growl, the energy around it surging in retaliation.
Kael gritted his teeth, his vision blurring as he activated the final rune. The gate trembled, and a surge of energy exploded outward, knocking him to the ground.
[System Notification: Catalyst's Gate Activation Complete.]
The runes on the gate flared with brilliant light, and the massive doors began to creak open. A swirling vortex of shadow and light was revealed beyond, its energy rippling outward like a living thing.
Kael forced himself to his knees, his body trembling from the effort. "It's open," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
The Gatekeeper recovered, its distorted roar echoing through the chamber. It turned toward the gate, its massive form surging forward with renewed fury.
"It's not giving up!" Torran yelled, raising his shield as the Gatekeeper charged.
Elira grabbed Kael's arm, helping him to his feet. "We have to move, now!"
The Gatekeeper roared again, its massive claws swinging toward them. Torran intercepted the blow, his shield glowing as he activated another defensive skill.
"Go!" Torran shouted, bracing himself against the force.
Kael staggered toward the gate, the pull of the swirling energy drawing him closer. He glanced back at Torran, who stood his ground despite the overwhelming strength of the Gatekeeper's attacks.
"Torran—" Kael started, but Elira cut him off.
"He'll catch up!" she said urgently, pulling him toward the vortex. "We can't stay here!"
The Gatekeeper let out a deafening roar, its claws tearing through the ground as it charged one final time. The vortex surged, its energy spilling into the chamber as the Gatekeeper's massive form loomed over them.
The chapter ends as the group dives toward the swirling gate, the Gatekeeper's claws mere inches away from striking.