Chapter 102: When the Strong Falter
The battlefield had splintered.
The Vanguard was no longer a single force.
They were scattered across the ruins, each engaged in battles that pushed them beyond their limits.
And all around them—Xelthar's hidden horrors were stirring.
The creature was massive.
A guardian born of ancient mana, its body forged from obsidian stone and flowing golden energy, eyes glowing with an intelligence that did not belong to a beast.
Lucian gripped his sword tightly, his golden aura flaring around him. "This thing isn't just some random monster."
Kael's crimson sigils flashed as he adjusted his stance. "No. It's a construct."
A living weapon.
The guardian moved, faster than something its size had any right to be. Its arm, thick as a castle wall, swung down.
Lucian vanished, golden embers trailing in his wake as he reappeared behind the beast, blade flashing.
Kael shifted gravity, slowing the impact of the swing just enough to dodge by an inch.
The ground shattered, sending debris flying.
Lucian **slashed through the beast's back—**but the blade barely made a dent before the wound sealed instantly.
Kael cursed. "It's self-repairing."
The guardian's eyes burned with recognition.
It turned fully to them, the ruins trembling.
Then—
It spoke.
"Unworthy."
And the air exploded.
A shockwave of pure mana tore through the chamber, sending Kael and Lucian crashing into the stone walls.
Lucian gritted his teeth, pushing himself up, his fingers tightening around his sword.
Kael wiped blood from his lips.
The guardian had judged them.
And found them lacking.
Lucian exhaled. "Alright. Let's stop holding back."
Kael's eyes burned red. "Agreed."
They charged together.
Cassian grinned, even as blood dripped down his face. "I gotta admit… you're tough."
The Xelthar Warlord stood before him, axe resting against his shoulder, unbothered.
Mira, breathing heavily, rolled her shoulders, her sword gripped tightly.
The warlord tilted his head. "You're both skilled. But skill means nothing against overwhelming strength."
He moved.
Cassian's instincts screamed.
The axe swung in a blur, the very air splitting apart as the warlord crossed the distance instantly.
Mira barely blocked in time—but the force sent her crashing through a stone pillar.
Cassian dodged, barely, the blade missing him by a hair.
But before he could counter—
The warlord's fist slammed into his ribs.
Cassian coughed blood, the impact sending him flying.
He skidded across the battlefield, barely catching himself on one knee.
His vision blurred.
That wasn't just raw strength.
That was mana-enhanced destruction.
The warlord stepped forward. "You cannot win."
Cassian exhaled, steadying his breathing.
Then, he grinned.
"Yeah? I hear that a lot."
His rapier flashed.
Mira pulled herself from the rubble, her crimson aura igniting.
They weren't done yet.
Darius dodged by instinct, lightning crackling around him.
The Xelthar General was relentless, his strikes faster than any human should be able to move.
Evelyne was holding the front line, her Titan's Resilience allowing her to take blows that should have broken her body.
But even she was struggling.
The General smirked. "You're both impressive."
His mana surged.
"But you are still children."
He vanished.
Darius barely managed to react before a blade appeared at his throat.
Evelyne turned—too late.
The General's sword pierced through Darius's side.
Darius choked, blood spilling down his lips.
Evelyne's eyes widened. "No—!"
The General twisted the blade, his voice almost gentle.
"One down."
He kicked Darius off his blade, sending him crashing to the ground.
Evelyne's body trembled.
Then—
She roared.
And the battlefield shook.
The figure before them did not move.
Rael tightened his grip on his daggers. "Something's wrong."
Selene narrowed her eyes. "It's not an enemy."
The hooded figure standing before them was not breathing.
Not moving.
But its presence was suffocating.
Then—
It spoke.
"The cycle repeats."
Rael and Selene stiffened.
"You have come seeking the truth. But the truth is death."
The runes on the walls flared.
And then—the figure moved.
Faster than either of them could react.
Rael barely blocked the first strike, his entire body rattling from the force.
Selene vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind the enemy—her blade flashing.
It didn't connect.
The figure caught it with two fingers.
Selene's breath hitched.
Then, with inhuman strength, the figure flung her across the chamber.
Rael exhaled. "Alright," he muttered. "This is bad."
The figure tilted its head.
"You are not ready."
Then—it attacked again.
Leonel stood above the battlefield, overlooking the hidden fortress beneath the ruins.
The symbols and carvings glowed, ancient and untouched for centuries.
But what truly caught his attention—
Was the massive door sealed in the depths below.
His fingers trembled.
This wasn't just an old ruin.
This was a prison.
Something was sealed here.
And Xelthar?
They were trying to wake it up.
Leonel cursed.
"We need to stop this now."
He turned—his mana already surging.
Because if that door opened—
Eldoria was doomed.