The first light of dawn crept over the horizon, casting the Crimson Wastes in an eerie, blood-red glow. The storm had passed, leaving behind a strange stillness that unnerved Ryan more than the chaos of the night before. He tightened the straps of his pack and glanced at the Core's container, its faint pulse a reminder of the power they carried.
"Ready to move?" Arya asked, her voice cutting through the silence. She was already on her feet, her bow slung across her back and her sharp eyes scanning the terrain.
Ryan nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Grent hefted his hammer, his usual grin replaced with a serious expression. "Let's finish this. The sooner we're out of these Wastes, the better."
The group resumed their journey, the jagged landscape growing harsher with every step. The sand gave way to cracked, rocky ground that radiated heat despite the early hour. Strange, twisted formations loomed on either side of their path, casting long shadows that seemed to shift when Ryan wasn't looking.
"What's that?" Ryan asked, pointing to a series of dark marks on the ground ahead.
Arya crouched down, running her fingers over the marks. "Tracks. Big ones. Something heavy came through here recently."
Grent scowled. "Great. Just what we needed."
Ryan's HUD flickered, struggling to process the information around him. "Could it be another Guardian?"
Arya stood, her expression grim. "Possibly. Whatever it is, we need to be ready."
As the sun climbed higher, the group reached a narrow canyon that twisted and turned like a labyrinth. The air grew hotter, the oppressive heat making it difficult to breathe. Ryan wiped sweat from his brow, his muscles aching from the climb.
"We're close," Arya said, her voice strained but determined. "The Core is just ahead."
Grent chuckled humorlessly. "And so is whatever's guarding it."
Ryan opened his mouth to reply, but the words died in his throat as a deafening roar echoed through the canyon. The ground shook beneath their feet, and a massive shadow passed overhead.
"Down!" Arya shouted, pulling Ryan into cover as a colossal creature landed in the center of the canyon.
The beast was unlike anything Ryan had seen before. Its body was covered in jagged, obsidian-like scales that glowed faintly with crimson veins. Massive wings extended from its back, and its glowing eyes radiated malice.
[Crimson Leviathan] - Level 15
Grent let out a low whistle. "Now that's a Guardian."
Arya nocked an arrow, her hands steady despite the tension in the air. "Stick to the plan. Grent, you take its attention. Ryan, look for weak points. I'll cover you."
The Leviathan let out another roar, its wings spreading wide as it charged. Grent met it head-on, his hammer colliding with the beast's claw in a resounding clash. Sparks flew, and the force of the impact sent shockwaves through the canyon.
Ryan activated [Quick Strike], darting to the side to flank the creature. His HUD highlighted faint cracks in the Leviathan's scales, and he targeted them with precision. His sword struck true, chipping away at the beast's armor and drawing a roar of pain.
Arya's arrows flew, each one finding its mark and forcing the Leviathan to shift its focus. "Keep it moving! Don't let it pin us down!"
The battle raged on, the canyon echoing with the sounds of steel and roars. The Leviathan's movements were swift despite its size, and its attacks were relentless. Grent took a heavy blow to his shield, the impact forcing him to his knees, but he pushed back with a roar of defiance.
Ryan activated [Power Slash], his blade glowing as he targeted a crack near the Leviathan's neck. The strike landed, and the beast staggered, its movements growing sluggish.
"It's weakening!" Arya shouted. "Ryan, finish it off!"
Ryan's HUD flashed as a surge of energy coursed through him. He activated [Final Strike], his sword radiating with light as he leapt into the air. With a powerful swing, he drove the blade into the Leviathan's core, the impact creating a shockwave that shook the canyon.
The Leviathan let out a final, pained roar before collapsing, its body disintegrating into shards of crimson light. The canyon fell silent, save for the trio's ragged breathing.
+500 XP. Level Up! (Ryan is now Level 10)
Arya approached the Core, now exposed in the Leviathan's wake. Its glow was stronger here, pulsing with an almost hypnotic rhythm. She inspected the area carefully before nodding.
"It's stable. Let's seal it and get out of here before anything else shows up."
Grent leaned on his hammer, a wide grin on his face despite the battle's toll. "Not bad, kid. You're really starting to look like a hero."
Ryan smiled faintly, his exhaustion tempered by the rush of victory. "Thanks. But we've still got a long way to go."
As Arya began the sealing process, Ryan glanced at the horizon. The Wastes had tested them in ways he hadn't expected, but they had made it through.