The massive door creaked open with a sound that resonated through the ravine, a deep groan that sent shivers down Ryan's spine. Beyond it lay a dimly lit chamber, its walls covered in glowing runes that pulsed like a heartbeat. The air inside was thick with the scent of ozone and ancient stone, and a faint hum vibrated in the stillness.
"Whatever's in here," Arya said, stepping cautiously inside, "it's not going to be friendly." Her bow was already in hand, an arrow notched and ready.
Grent followed, his hammer resting on his shoulder. "Good. Friendly things don't usually carry loot." He grinned at Ryan, who tightened his grip on his sword and stepped in behind them.
The chamber widened into a vast hall, the ceiling arching high above them. Pillars carved with intricate patterns lined the walls, and at the far end of the room, a pedestal bathed in faint light stood alone. Resting atop it was a small orb, its surface swirling with a liquid-like glow.
[Artifact: Core of Shadows]
"That's definitely it," Arya said, her voice low. "The source of all this energy."
"Looks easy enough," Grent said, stepping forward.
"Wait!" Ryan said, his HUD flashing with warnings. Danger Detected: Guardian Entity Nearby.
Before they could react, the ground beneath them rumbled, and a massive shape emerged from the shadows behind the pedestal. The creature was serpentine, its body coiling around the pedestal like a living wall. Its scales shimmered with the same glow as the orb, and its eyes burned with an intense light.
[Obsidian Serpent] - Level 12
Arya cursed under her breath, already moving to the side. "Grent, take the front! Ryan, keep it distracted! I'll aim for the weak points!"
The serpent lunged, its jaws snapping shut inches from Grent's shield. The impact sent him skidding back, but he held his ground. "You heard her, kid! Keep it busy!"
Ryan circled around the creature, his HUD highlighting glowing patches along its underbelly and near its tail. He activated [Quick Strike], darting in to slash at one of the weak spots. His blade connected, drawing a roar from the serpent as it whipped its tail around. Ryan barely managed to dive out of the way, the tail smashing into the ground where he had been standing.
Arya's arrows flew through the air, striking the glowing spots with precision. Each hit drew another pained roar, but the serpent's movements only grew faster and more erratic.
"This thing's not going down easy," Arya said, loosing another arrow. "Ryan, focus on the tail! Grent, aim for the head when it strikes!"
"Got it!" Ryan shouted, dashing toward the serpent's thrashing tail. He timed his movements carefully, slashing at the weak spots whenever they became exposed. His HUD flashed with each successful hit:
+30 XP +30 XP
The serpent reared back, its glowing eyes locking onto Ryan. It lunged, forcing him to roll out of the way. As it recovered, Grent took the opportunity to leap forward, bringing his hammer down onto its skull with a resounding crack.
The serpent writhed in pain, its coils smashing into the pillars and shaking the ground. Arya fired a glowing arrow, the projectile striking the creature's throat. A critical hit.
"Now, Ryan!" Arya shouted.
Summoning all his courage, Ryan charged forward, activating [Power Slash]. His sword glowed brightly as he drove it into the serpent's exposed underbelly. The creature let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing before collapsing in a heap.
+250 XP. Level Up! (Ryan is now Level 7) Ryan's HUD displayed a new notification: Skill Unlocked: Power Slash. The ability came with a brief description: A focused attack that delivers a powerful, high-damage strike, effective against heavily armored or large foes.
The chamber fell silent, save for the crackling energy from the orb. Ryan leaned on his sword, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"We did it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Grent grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. "Not bad, kid. You're starting to pull your weight."
Arya approached the pedestal, her gaze fixed on the orb. "This is it. The Core of Shadows. Whatever's been driving the creatures in the woods, this is the source."
Ryan stepped closer, his HUD scanning the artifact. Warning: High-Level Energy Detected. Handle with Care.
"What do we do with it?" Ryan asked.
Arya hesitated. "We take it back to Dawnstead. The guild needs to know about this."
"And if it's dangerous?" Ryan pressed.
Grent smirked. "Then we'll deal with it, like we always do."
Ryan nodded, a sense of purpose settling over him. Together, they secured the orb, its glow dimming slightly as it was removed from the pedestal.