Chapter 62: Unlocking the Gateway
The obelisk pulsed with dormant power, its ancient carvings whispering secrets of realms beyond. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the desolate landscape. Arlen stood before it, his mind set on one goal—breaking through the barriers of this world and taking the fight directly to Kaorath.
Liora traced the runes with her fingertips, eyes glowing faintly as she channeled her magic into the stone. Sparks of energy crackled along the obelisk's surface. "This will take time," she muttered. "The gateway is unstable. Forcing it open without proper control could scatter us across the void."
Arlen crossed his arms. "Then we'll do it right. But we can't afford delays. Kaorath's forces will be back."
Caden, ever the strategist, studied the runes alongside Liora. "We need more than magic. If we can find out where these obelisks connect, we might be able to trace the central point where Kaorath's power originates."
Liora nodded, concentrating harder. "It's possible… but I'll need access to another obelisk to compare their signatures."
A Dangerous Lead
Arlen's mind raced. If they needed another obelisk, there was one place that held answers—the ruins of Xel'thar, a place buried in legend, where the last great war against Kaorath's kind had taken place centuries ago.
"We head to Xel'thar," Arlen decided. "If the legends are true, there's another obelisk there. And maybe, just maybe, we'll find something that gives us an advantage."
Caden frowned. "That place is a death trap. No one who's gone searching for it has ever returned."
Arlen's lips curled into a smirk. "Then it's a good thing we're not just anyone."
Liora sighed but didn't argue. "We'll need to move quickly. If the obelisk here reactivates, Kaorath's forces will pour through before we're ready."
A Growing Darkness
As the group made their way toward Xel'thar, an unsettling sensation lingered in Arlen's chest. It was as if the air itself was thick with unseen eyes watching their every step. His instincts screamed danger, but he pushed forward.
As night fell, they made camp within the ruins of an abandoned fortress. The silence was deafening, save for the occasional crackle of the fire.
Liora sat beside him, her expression pensive. "You feel it too, don't you?"
Arlen nodded. "Something's changing. The deeper we go, the stronger the presence of Kaorath's power becomes."
She hesitated before speaking. "There's more to this than just an invasion. I think… Kaorath isn't just trying to conquer. He's searching for something."
Arlen's gaze darkened. If that was true, then their mission had just become even more urgent.
As the fire crackled and the night stretched on, one thing was certain—whatever awaited them in Xel'thar would change everything.