The dust settled slowly, and Zami looked down at Kiyo, his silver eyes softening for a brief moment. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low and steady despite the strain in his body.
Kiyo nodded weakly, clutching the small wooden carving of a bird that Zami had given her. Her hands trembled, but her grip on the figure was firm, as if it anchored her amidst the chaos.
Zami exhaled deeply, then planted his palms on the debris covering them. With a grunt, he pushed the heavy rubble off his back and shoulders, standing tall once more despite the pain radiating through his body. Dust and dirt clung to his bloodied clothes, but his unwavering focus remained on the battlefield ahead.
In the distance, the grotesque insect-like creature knelt in its death throes. Its segmented limbs were shattered, its chitinous exoskeleton riddled with deep gashes, and the glow of its once-menacing presence had faded. Despite its stillness, its grotesque form exuded an aura of a warrior who had fallen in battle.
Zami's gaze lingered on it, his expression impassive but contemplative. "It was a formidable foe," he murmured, half to himself. "Even with everything I've trained for, I needed to use the *Whirlpool of Doom* to bring it down."
He straightened his posture, wiping the blood off his hands onto his torn cloak. "It wasn't as powerful as the vessels," he added, his voice calm, "but still... strong."
The sound of crumbling stone echoed faintly in the distance as the remains of the temple continued to settle. Zami turned his attention back to Kiyo, who was still holding the carving tightly against her chest. Her wide eyes reflected a mixture of fear and admiration as she looked up at him.
"Let's keep moving," he said, his tone resolute. "This place is far from safe."
Zami extended a hand to her, and Kiyo grasped it tightly, her small hand dwarfed by his. Together, they moved forward, leaving behind the corpse of the creature and the wreckage of their deadly encounter.
As they ventured deeper into the temple's ominous corridors, Zami couldn't shake the lingering thought: if this creature wasn't a vessel or a fragment of one, then what kind of nightmare was waiting for them ahead?
The chamber trembled violently as chunks of stone and debris crashed to the ground, threatening to bury everything within. "Hold on!" Zami said, scooping Kiyo into his arms with practiced ease. He rushed toward the chamber's exit, his feet pounding against the unstable floor as more pillars crumbled around them.
The gate loomed ahead, its structure shaking but still intact. With a final burst of speed, Zami crossed the threshold, sliding to a halt just as the chamber behind them collapsed entirely. Dust and echoes of destruction filled the air, but the corridor they entered remained stable—for now.
Setting Kiyo gently on her feet, Zami leaned on his katana for a moment, catching his breath. "Karesh," he muttered, his voice low but firm, "what were those creatures? The dragon-insect beast and the humanoid one. Were they like the others—mutations from the meteorites?"
Karesh's voice echoed in Zami's mind, deep and cryptic as always. "No... those were different. The dragon-insect was likely an aberration, a creature twisted beyond recognition by prolonged exposure to the meteors' energy. But the humanoid... it wasn't merely mutated. It had purpose, intelligence, and a hunger for battle. That kind of creature is more than a beast—it is something shaped by the will of the entities, directly or indirectly."
Zami's silver eyes narrowed, his mind turning over Karesh's words. "So it wasn't just a mindless monster. It was created to fight... like a fragment of their design."
"Perhaps," Karesh replied. "But weaker than true fragments. Consider it a warning, Zami. If these creatures guard this place, then what lies deeper must be far more dangerous."
Zami straightened, sheathing his katana. He glanced at Kiyo, who was clutching her wooden carving tightly again. Her wide eyes reflected both fear and trust in him.
"Stay close," Zami said, his tone softer now. "We're not done yet."
They moved forward through the dimly lit corridor, the air heavy with ancient dust and foreboding. After some time, the corridor opened into an expansive room.
Zami stopped in his tracks, his gaze sweeping over the chamber. The room was vast, with a high ceiling supported by thick stone columns. Shelves lined the walls, filled with ancient artifacts—armors, weapons, scrolls, and strange, unidentifiable objects. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, its surface holding what appeared to be an intricate, glowing orb.
The faint hum of energy filled the air, and the artifacts seemed to pulse faintly, as if responding to their presence. Zami's instincts told him this room was significant—but also dangerous.
"Stay back," he told Kiyo, his tone sharp. "There's no telling what might happen here."
He stepped forward cautiously, his eyes scanning the room for traps or hidden dangers. Every movement felt heavier, the weight of countless battles and sacrifices pressing against the walls of this ancient place. What secrets did this chamber hold, and what price would they demand?