Kael knelt at the edge of the crater, his breathing ragged as he tightened his grip on the Large Mana Crystal in his hand. His body felt sluggish, and his mana reserves were completely drained after the fight with the Infernal Guardian. Around him, the group was in a similar state—bloodied, burned, and exhausted. But they were alive.
"Everyone okay?" Kael asked, his voice strained.
Leena leaned against a jagged rock, clutching her side where the Guardian had thrown her earlier. "Define 'okay.' I think I broke a rib, but I'll live."
Corin, sitting cross-legged on a nearby boulder, inspected a singed dagger. "My pride's wounded more than anything else. That thing really didn't like me."
Marra was bandaging her arm where the heat from the lava had left angry red burns. "We're lucky it didn't go worse. That thing was a walking disaster."
Thane, though visibly pale and exhausted, stepped forward and pointed his staff toward the nexus. "We don't have time to catch our breath. Look."
Kael followed Thane's gaze. The crimson crystal at the center of the nexus pulsed erratically now, its tendrils of mana spiraling wildly out of control. The ground around it cracked and crumbled, and the glowing veins of molten rock grew brighter with each passing moment. The air itself seemed to hum with energy, making it hard to focus.
"It's destabilizing," Thane said, his tone grave. "The Guardian was acting as an anchor, balancing the energy flowing through the leylines. Without it, the nexus is falling apart."
Kael pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly as he adjusted his grip on his spear. "What happens if it collapses?"
Thane's expression darkened. "An eruption. Not just of lava, but pure leyline energy. The entire Emberwild—and likely everything within miles—would be obliterated."
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Leena asked. "We can't exactly hold it together with duct tape."
Thane shook his head. "We need to stabilize it, at least temporarily. If we can reroute some of the energy or disperse it into safer channels, we might be able to buy ourselves enough time to destroy the nexus before the Master arrives."
Kael looked at the others, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and determination. "We don't have much choice. Thane, you guide us. Tell us what we need to do."
---
Thane led the group down the slope of the crater, the unstable terrain making every step treacherous. The closer they got to the nexus, the more chaotic the energy became. The air felt heavier, charged with mana that buzzed against their skin like static electricity. The heat was almost unbearable, forcing them to shield their faces from the glowing veins of molten rock.
When they reached the base of the nexus, Thane stopped, his staff glowing brighter as he extended his senses. "There are three main leyline channels feeding into the nexus. If we can sever or disrupt those, it will weaken the flow of energy and stabilize the crystal—temporarily, at least."
Marra glanced at the glowing fissures spreading out from the nexus like roots. "Severing them sounds like it's easier said than done."
"It is," Thane admitted. "But if we don't act, this entire place will explode, and we'll be the first to die."
"Sounds motivating," Corin muttered, spinning one of his daggers.
Thane ignored him, focusing on Kael. "You're out of mana, so you won't be able to use your skills. But if you can reach the leyline channels and physically disrupt them—destroy the crystals, collapse the conduits—it might be enough."
Kael tightened his grip on his spear. "What about the rest of you?"
Thane nodded toward the group. "Leena and Marra will cover you. Corin and I will stay here and try to direct the excess energy away from the nexus. But we'll be sitting ducks if something else shows up."
"Let's not hope for something worse than the Guardian," Kael muttered. "All right. Let's move."
---
Kael sprinted toward the first leyline channel, his muscles protesting with every step. The ground beneath his feet felt unstable, trembling with the pulse of energy flowing through the fissures. When he reached the glowing red crystal embedded in the ground, he didn't hesitate—he drove his spear into it with all his strength.
The crystal shattered, releasing a burst of energy that sent him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. For a moment, the world spun around him.
You have disrupted a leyline channel
XP Gained: +50.
"Kael!" Leena shouted, rushing to his side. She dragged him to his feet, her grip firm but urgent. "Are you okay?"
Kael coughed, wincing as he steadied himself. "Yeah. I'm fine."
The ground shook violently, and a deafening roar echoed through the crater. Kael and Leena turned to see another creature emerging from the molten fissures. This one was smaller than the Guardian but no less menacing. Its body glowed with the same molten energy, and its movements were unnervingly fast.
Molten Ravager (Level 8)
HP: 150/150
"What the hell is that?" Leena muttered, raising her sword.
"Doesn't matter," Kael said, raising his spear. "We'll take it down."
The creature lunged at them, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed. Kael dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. Leena countered with a heavy slash to the creature's flank, her blade cutting deep into its molten armor.
The creature screeched, lava oozing from its wound, but it didn't stop. It turned on Leena, its claws slashing across her arm and leaving a trail of searing burns. She gritted her teeth, refusing to back down as she struck again.
Kael took the opportunity to thrust his spear into the creature's exposed chest, driving it back. The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing into a pool of molten rock.
Victory!
You have defeated Molten Ravager (Level 8)
+40 XP
"You all right?" Kael asked, panting as he turned to Leena.
She nodded, though her arm was bleeding. "I'll manage. Keep moving. We need to hit the other channels."
---
They regrouped with Marra near the second leyline channel. She was firing arrows into another smaller creature, keeping it at bay while Kael moved to destroy the crystal. This time, he used the butt of his spear to strike it from a safer distance, shattering the crystal without being thrown backward.
The energy flowing into the nexus dimmed slightly, but the pillar still pulsed violently. The ground beneath their feet cracked and splintered, molten rock bubbling up through the fissures.
You have disrupted a leyline channel.
XP Gained: +50.
"Two down," Kael said, his voice grim. "One more to go."
"Something's happening!" Thane shouted from across the crater. "The energy is shifting! Be ready!"
Kael didn't have time to ask what Thane meant. The ground trembled again, and a massive explosion of lava erupted from the final leyline channel. From the molten depths, a monstrous creature emerged—larger than the others, its body encased in jagged obsidian and its molten core glowing brighter than the nexus itself.
Leyline Warden (Level 10)
HP: 250/250
"Tell me that's not worse than the Guardian," Corin called out, his voice tinged with panic.
Kael gripped his spear tightly. "It's worse."
The creature roared, molten lava dripping from its claws as it charged toward them. Kael raised his spear, determination burning in his chest. He was out of mana, out of energy—but he wasn't out of fight.
"Keep it busy!" Kael shouted. "I'll take out the last crystal!"
Leena and Marra moved to intercept the creature, their strikes landing true but barely slowing it down. Kael sprinted toward the final channel, dodging molten projectiles as the creature's attacks grew more frantic. When he reached the crystal, he swung his spear with all his strength, shattering it in one decisive blow.
The energy feeding into the nexus surged wildly for a moment before dimming. The glowing pillar of the nexus stabilized, its tendrils of mana retracting as the chaotic pulses slowed.
You have disrupted a leyline channel.
XP Gained: +50.
The Leyline Warden let out a deafening roar, its movements becoming more erratic as the leyline energy around it began to collapse. Kael joined Leena and Marra in the fight, their combined efforts finally bringing the beast to its knees. With one final strike, Kael drove his spear into its molten core, shattering it in a burst of fiery light.
Victory!
You have defeated Leyline Warden (Level 10)
+60 XP
Kael dropped to his knees, gasping for breath as the creature disintegrated into ash. The nexus still loomed above them, stable for now—but the fight was far from over.
"Everyone alive?" Kael asked, his voice hoarse.
"Barely," Leena muttered, collapsing beside him. "But we did it."
Thane approached, his expression grim. "We've bought ourselves time, but the nexus is still a threat. If the Master reaches it…"
Kael clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. "Then we make sure he doesn't."