Aris gripped the sword tightly as the statues began to animate, their stone forms cracking and crumbling as they came to life. The sound was deafening, like mountains grinding against one another. The hall, previously silent, now vibrated with an ominous energy that seemed to resonate with the statues.
The first to move was the hooded figure with the staff. Its glowing eyes locked onto Aris as it stepped forward, the ground beneath its massive feet trembling. The other statue, armed with dual axes, followed closely, dragging its weapons behind it with a screech that set Aris's teeth on edge. Prepared to engage in battle.
Despite the overwhelming presence of these colossal beings, Aris didn't falter. He tightened his grip on the sword, feeling its power coursing through him. The weapon seemed to hum in response, as if it were eager for the battle ahead.
"Alright, let's see what you've got," Aris muttered, a smirk spreading across his face. Excited to use the sword he had just acquired.
The hooded statue raised its staff, and an eerie green light began to form at its tip. Aris's instincts screamed at him to move, and he dashed to the side just as a beam of light shot past him, scorching the stone floor where he had stood moments before.
"That's some firepower," Aris said, impressed but unfazed. He sprinted towards the hooded figure, the sword in his hand leaving a faint trail of black energy in its wake. As he closed the distance, the dual-axe wielder lunged at him from the side, swinging one of its massive weapons in a wide arc.
Aris barely managed to duck under the blow, feeling the rush of air as the axe narrowly missed his head. He used the momentum of his dodge to roll forward, coming up directly in front of the hooded statue. With a burst of strength, he slashed at its midsection.
The sword cut through the stone like it was paper. Black energy erupted from the blade, sending cracks spiderwebbing through the statue's torso. The hooded figure staggered back, its movements momentarily disjointed.
"Not so tough after all," Aris said, confidence surging.
But his triumph was short-lived. The dual-axe wielder was already upon him, bringing both weapons down in a devastating overhead strike. Aris raised his sword instinctively, and the axes collided with it in a deafening crash. Sparks flew as the sheer force of the attack drove him to one knee.
"Damn, you're heavy," Aris grunted, his arms straining under the weight of the attack. But the sword, as if sensing his struggle, pulsed with energy, pushing back against the axes. With a roar, Aris shoved the statue back, the force of his push sending it skidding several meters across the hall.
The hooded statue, despite its cracked torso, was already preparing another attack. Aris saw the green light gathering at its staff and knew he couldn't let it fire again.
Thinking quickly, he dashed towards the dual-axe wielder. It swung one of its axes horizontally, but Aris leapt into the air, flipping over the weapon. As he descended, he brought his sword down in a powerful strike, aiming for the statue's shoulder.
The blade sank deep, severing one of its arms. The statue roared—an unearthly, guttural sound that reverberated through the hall.
"One down," Aris said, landing lightly on his feet. But before he could celebrate, the green beam from the hooded statue shot towards him. With no time to dodge, Aris raised the sword in front of him.
The beam struck the blade, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Then, the sword absorbed the energy, its black aura growing darker and more menacing.
"What…?" Aris stared at the sword in disbelief. It felt stronger, hungrier, as if it were feeding off the energy.
"Guess you're full of surprises," he muttered, a grin spreading across his face.
Now armed with a weapon that had just absorbed one of his enemies' attacks, Aris turned his attention back to the hooded figure. He sprinted towards it, weaving to avoid another incoming beam. Closing the distance, he leapt into the air, his sword raised high.
With a powerful downward strike, he brought the sword down on the statue's staff, shattering it into pieces. The hooded figure staggered, its glowing eyes dimming as it began to crumble.
But the dual-axe wielder wasn't done. Despite missing an arm, it charged at Aris with relentless fury. It swung its remaining axe in a wide arc, forcing Aris to backpedal.
"Alright, big guy, let's finish this," Aris said, his tone almost playful.
He lunged forward, feinting to the left before pivoting to the right. The statue swung its axe where it thought Aris would be, but he was already behind it. With a swift, powerful slash, he severed its remaining arm.
The statue roared again, but Aris didn't give it a chance to recover. He drove the sword straight through its chest, black energy exploding from the blade as it pierced the stone. The statue froze, cracks spreading rapidly across its body before it shattered into countless pieces.
Breathing heavily, Aris surveyed the destruction. Both statues were nothing more than rubble now, their once-intimidating forms reduced to debris.
He looked down at the sword in his hand, its aura still pulsing with energy.
"You and me," he said softly, addressing the weapon. "We're going places."
With the immediate threat gone, Aris turned his attention to the pedestal at the end of the hall. Whatever lay there had to be important—it was, after all, what the statues had been guarding.
But as he approached, the hall began to shake violently. The fluorescent orb above the pedestal flickered, and a deep, menacing voice echoed through the room:
"You've proven yourself… but this is only the beginning."
Aris froze, his grip on the sword tightening. "What now?" he muttered, his eyes scanning the hall for the source of the voice.
But he couldn't find any source, Aris wondered what he had gotten himself into.