The soft hum of the Veil seemed to deepen as Drakar and his companions passed through the stone archway. The corridor that lay beyond was lined with intricate carvings that shimmered with silver and gold, depicting the rise and fall of ancient empires. The air grew warmer, carrying the faint scent of embers and starlight.
Kaelen ran a hand along one of the walls, tracing the constellation-like patterns with his fingertips. "I've never seen anything like this. It's like the stars themselves were etched into stone."
Taronis moved ahead, his footsteps measured. "We're nearing something powerful. Stay sharp."
The corridor opened into a colossal chamber that took their breath away. Towering above them was the Starforged Gate—a massive set of double doors forged from celestial metal that shimmered with shifting hues of silver, blue, and gold. The surface was adorned with intricate constellations that pulsed faintly, as though alive.
Drakar's gaze locked onto the gate. He could feel its immense presence, like a slumbering giant waiting to awaken.
Kaelen whistled under his breath. "This makes every door we've faced before look like a garden gate."
Taronis's eyes narrowed. "It's more than a door. It's a seal."
The Guardians of the Gate
As they stepped closer, the constellations on the gate flared brighter. The floor beneath their feet pulsed with the same celestial light, and two immense shapes began to form—one to the left and one to the right of the gate.
From the light emerged two Starforged Sentinels—titanic figures forged from astral metal and flame. Their forms radiated raw, cosmic power, and their eyes blazed with blue-white starlight. Each sentinel held a massive halberd etched with runes that glowed like molten gold.
Kaelen instinctively drew his bow, though his voice wavered. "I hate to ask... but does anyone have a plan for taking down two star giants?"
Taronis unsheathed his blade, its blue flame flickering to life. "Same plan as always: survive."
Drakar stepped forward, his tattoos pulsing with emberlight. The Veil's hum resonated through his bones. "They're not invincible. Watch for their movements. Strike when they overreach."
The sentinels raised their halberds in unison, their blades crackling with starlight. One took a thundering step forward, sending a shockwave through the chamber.
The Battle Begins
The first sentinel swung its halberd in a sweeping arc. Drakar leapt to the side, the massive blade slicing through the air where he had stood. The force of the swing sent shards of stone skittering across the floor.
Taronis dashed forward, his blade blazing as he slashed at the sentinel's leg joint. Sparks flew, but the sentinel's armor held firm. It retaliated with a downward strike, forcing Taronis to roll out of the way.
Kaelen loosed a volley of arrows at the second sentinel, aiming for the joints in its shoulders. The enchanted arrows exploded on impact, causing the sentinel to stagger slightly.
Drakar surged forward, his dagger igniting with Infernum Surge. He ducked under the sentinel's halberd and drove his blade into the back of its knee. Flames erupted along the joint, and the sentinel let out a sound like grinding metal.
Precision and Power
The second sentinel raised its halberd high, light gathering at the tip. A beam of starlight shot toward Kaelen, who dove behind a fallen pillar. The beam struck the stone, reducing it to dust.
Kaelen coughed and drew an arrow etched with runes. "Alright... time for something bigger." He whispered an incantation, and the arrow began to glow. "Pierce the Void."
The arrow flew true, striking the sentinel's chest. The runes on the arrow flared, and a crack spread across the sentinel's armor. The creature stumbled, its celestial glow dimming.
Taronis used the moment to close in, his blade slashing in quick succession. Each strike chipped away at the weakened armor, sending fragments of astral metal clattering to the ground.
Drakar faced the first sentinel alone, his heartbeat steady as he focused. His tattoos flared as he whispered, "Ignis Ascendare." Flames spiraled up his arms and coalesced around his dagger. He lunged forward, driving the blade upward into the sentinel's core.
The sentinel's body convulsed as emberlight surged through it. Its halberd fell from its grasp, embedding itself in the floor. The sentinel collapsed to its knees before dissolving into motes of starlight.
The Collapse of the Last Guardian
The second sentinel, still staggering from Kaelen's enchanted arrow, tried to raise its halberd again, but Taronis was faster. He leapt onto its back, driving his sword deep between its shoulder blades. Blue fire erupted from the wound, and the sentinel let out a hollow, resonant cry.
Kaelen's final arrow flew, striking the sentinel's head. The celestial glow in its eyes dimmed as it crumbled, falling to its knees before disintegrating into stardust.
The Gate Opens
The chamber fell silent once more, save for the quiet hum of the Veil. The Starforged Gate began to glow, its intricate carvings shifting as the seal unraveled. The double doors groaned as they slowly parted, revealing a grand hall bathed in golden light.
Kaelen lowered his bow, breathing heavily. "We're still alive. That's a win."
Taronis stepped forward, wiping stardust from his blade. "But what lies beyond might make us wish otherwise."
Drakar sheathed his dagger and moved toward the gate, his eyes glowing with determination. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
The golden light beckoned them forward as they stepped into the unknown.