The twilight painted the sky in shades of red as Leonhardt finished sharpening his new sword. Fate's Edge gleamed with a faint glow, as if eagerly awaiting its first real battle. Around him, his companions completed their preparations for the incursion into the island's ruins.
"It's now or never," Saya said, adjusting her daggers on her belt.
Evelyn took position, her bow at the ready. Victoria, with her usual elegance, rested her hand on the hilt of her sword.
The Ancient Dungeon
They descended through a hidden passage among the dense vegetation, where the walls were covered in inscriptions of a forgotten language. As they advanced, they felt a heavy presence, as if the darkness itself was watching them.
"This place… isn't normal," Evelyn whispered.
The ground suddenly trembled. From the shadows, stone guardians with crimson eyes emerged. Their movements were slow, but their resilience made them formidable foes.
Leonhardt didn't hesitate. Using his new ability to see weak points, he detected fractures in their bodies and delivered a precise slash. His sword cut effortlessly, shattering one of the guardians.
The girls fought with equal skill. Saya used her speed to strike at the golems' joints, while Evelyn fired enchanted arrows that weakened their energy cores. Victoria, with her flawless swordsmanship, brought down enemies with elegant cuts.
After a grueling battle, the guardians fell. But the true challenge still awaited them.
The Confrontation with Kael
Upon reaching the deepest chamber of the dungeon, a lone figure awaited them on a stone throne. Kael watched them with a sly smile, as if he had been expecting this moment.
"You've come farther than I anticipated. But this is where your journey ends."
He stood slowly, his dark armor radiating an aura of death. With a snap of his fingers, shadows rose from the ground, forming floating swords around him.
Leonhardt felt adrenaline surge through his body.
"Let's see if you're as strong as you appear to be," he said, taking his combat stance.
Kael didn't respond. He simply vanished in the blink of an eye and reappeared in front of Leonhardt with impossible speed. His sword descended in a lethal arc, and Leonhardt barely managed to block the impact.
The clash of forces echoed throughout the chamber. Kael was faster and stronger than they had anticipated.
Evelyn and Saya attempted to attack from the flanks, but the shadow swords blocked their movements. Victoria joined the fray, launching a precise thrust, but Kael dodged it with ease.
The Awakening of a New Power
Every strike from Kael pushed Leonhardt to his limits. But just when it seemed like he was going to be overwhelmed, his Eye of Destiny activated with greater intensity. He could now see not only Kael's weak points but also a projection of his next moves.
"I can see it…!" he murmured, dodging an attack with millimeter precision.
Kael smirked.
"So, you can anticipate my moves? Interesting… but not enough."
He increased the intensity of his attacks, forcing Leonhardt to react even faster. But instead of just defending himself, Leonhardt used his enhanced vision to find the perfect opening.
With a calculated movement, he dodged a slash and thrust his sword directly into Kael's chest.
The blade pierced through his armor.
For a second, silence filled the dungeon.
Kael staggered back, his hand over the wound. Then he chuckled.
"Not bad… But this isn't over yet."
His body began to dissolve into shadows.
"We'll meet again, Leonhardt. Next time, it won't be so easy."
And with those words, he vanished into the darkness.
The Path to the Top
The group stood in silence for a few moments, processing what had just happened.
"We didn't defeat him…" Evelyn murmured.
"But we made him retreat," Saya said with determination.
Leonhardt looked at his sword. He had managed to wound Kael, but he knew that the real battle was yet to come.
He turned to his companions and stepped forward.
"We still have a long road ahead. But when Kael returns, we'll be ready."
With that thought, they left the dungeon, certain that their adventure was only just beginning.