The glowing shard that Kaelion had absorbed into his Starfire Core radiated with a faint warmth, its presence humming in rhythm with his heartbeat. He felt the shard's immense power coursing through him, blending seamlessly with the energy of his core.
"System," Kaelion said, still catching his breath. "What exactly is this Flame Tempest skill?"
> "Flame Tempest: An advanced skill derived from the Abyssal Flame Shard. When activated, it generates a storm of concentrated fire and wind energy, devastating enemies within a wide radius. The skill consumes a significant amount of energy but can be scaled depending on the user's intent."
Kaelion smirked, already imagining the devastation such a skill could unleash. But his satisfaction was short-lived as the ground beneath him trembled again.
Lyria immediately tensed, her daggers in hand. "What now? Please tell me we didn't just wake something worse."
The mist around them thickened, swirling with unnatural force. From the shadows, faint figures began to emerge—humanoid shapes cloaked in black fog, their glowing eyes filled with malice.
Kaelion cursed under his breath. "I think the Abyssal Sentinel wasn't the only guardian of this place."
---
The Wraith Horde
The figures stepped forward, their numbers growing until they formed a wall of darkness. Each one wielded spectral weapons that shimmered with ghostly energy.
"Kaelion," Lyria said, her voice steady but low, "there are too many of them. We can't fight all of them head-on."
Kaelion's Starfire Blade flared to life in his hand, its golden light cutting through the oppressive darkness. He grinned at her, his usual confidence unwavering. "Who said anything about fighting fair?"
The system chimed in:
> "Recommendation: Activate Flame Tempest to clear the area. Current energy reserves are sufficient for a single large-scale activation."
Kaelion nodded. "Alright, system. Let's see what this thing can do."
---
Unleashing the Storm
Kaelion took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing on the shard's energy. The Starfire Core pulsed, the heat within him intensifying as golden flames began to swirl around his body.
The wraiths seemed to sense the rising power and let out an ear-piercing shriek before charging forward as one.
"Now or never," Kaelion muttered. "Flame Tempest—activate!"
The world around him erupted in chaos. Golden flames burst forth from his body, spiraling into a massive vortex of fire and wind. The heat was blinding, and the force of the storm sent shockwaves rippling through the chasm.
The wraiths howled as they were caught in the tempest, their shadowy forms disintegrating one by one. The obsidian ground beneath Kaelion cracked and shattered under the sheer intensity of the energy, glowing with molten light.
Lyria shielded her eyes, her mouth slightly agape as she watched the spectacle. "By the gods…" she whispered.
When the storm finally subsided, the chasm was eerily silent. The wraiths were gone, their remnants reduced to faint wisps of smoke. The once jagged and uneven terrain was now smooth, as if the flames had melted the stone itself.
Kaelion staggered slightly, his body drained from the effort. The Starfire Core's glow dimmed, though its warmth remained steady.
> "Flame Tempest successfully executed. Energy reserves at 30%. Core synchronization improved. Current progress: 75%."
"Not bad," Kaelion muttered, a faint smile on his lips.
---
A Moment of Reflection
Lyria approached, her expression a mix of awe and concern. "Are you okay?"
Kaelion nodded, though his legs felt like they might give out at any moment. "I'll live. That took more out of me than I expected."
She glanced at the scorched ground, then back at him. "That was… incredible. But you can't keep pushing yourself like this. We're not even out of this cursed place yet."
"I'll be fine," he assured her, sheathing the Starfire Blade. "Besides, it worked, didn't it?"
Lyria sighed but didn't argue. "Just try not to get yourself killed. I don't want to drag your body out of here."
Kaelion chuckled. "Noted."
---
The Abyss Reveals Its Secrets
As they continued forward, the oppressive energy of the ravine began to wane, the mist thinning until they could see the path ahead more clearly.
The system chimed again, its tone calmer than before:
> "Observation: The Abyssal Flame Shard has stabilized the surrounding energy field. Hostile entities neutralized. Proceed to the exit for further exploration."
"That's a first," Kaelion said. "The system actually giving me good news."
Lyria smirked. "Don't get used to it."
The path ahead led to a towering archway carved from black stone, its surface etched with glowing runes. Beyond the archway, faint light flickered—warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the darkness they had just endured.
"This must be the way out," Lyria said, her voice tinged with relief.
Kaelion nodded but hesitated. The warmth of the Starfire Core flared briefly, as if trying to warn him.
"What's wrong?" Lyria asked, noticing his pause.
"There's something ahead," he said, his voice low. "Something powerful."
---
The Guardian Awaits
As they stepped through the archway, the light grew brighter, revealing a massive chamber. At its center stood a colossal statue of a warrior, its features weathered but still imposing. The statue's eyes glowed faintly, and an ancient weapon rested in its hands—a spear that radiated an aura of overwhelming power.
The system chimed:
> "Entity identified: Eternal Guardian. Classification: Artifact Protector. Threat level: Extreme."
Kaelion sighed. "Of course. It's never that simple."
The statue's eyes flared to life, and its massive form began to move, stone grinding against stone as it stepped forward. The spear it held pulsed with energy, sending ripples through the air.
"Kaelion," Lyria said, her voice tense. "This thing… it's not like anything we've faced before."
He smirked, gripping the Starfire Blade. "Good. I was starting to get bored."
The Eternal Guardian raised its spear, its booming voice echoing through the chamber:
> "Prove your worth, or perish."
Kaelion raised his blade, the Starfire Core flaring with renewed energy. "Let's see who's worthy."