The Winds of the New World-Chapter 45 - 42: The Awakening of the Guardians

The silence of the chamber was shattered by the sound of stone crumbling and ancient chains breaking. The guardians of the lost civilization were awakening, their grotesque forms emerging from the shadows like sentinels of a forgotten time. Their red eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and their bodies were a fusion of metal, bone, and dark magic, exuding an aura of sinister power that made the air feel heavier and harder to breathe.

Dust rose as the ancient figures took shape, their silhouettes casting elongated shadows along the temple walls. The moisture in the air seemed to evaporate, replaced by a suffocating and oppressive energy, thick with arcane power. Edmund felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as the creatures moved with precise synchronization, as if responding to a silent command.

Kieza was the first to react, swiftly drawing her daggers and assuming a defensive stance. Voss, his sword already unsheathed, watched as the enemies positioned themselves around them, forming a perfect circle.

"This isn't good..." Voss muttered, adjusting his grip on the blade.

"Not good at all," Edmund replied, never taking his eyes off the creatures.

The creatures advanced. The first guardian, as tall as two men and covered in a carapace of ancient stone and metal, lunged at the group, its claws gleaming like sharpened blades. The ground trembled beneath the weight of its steps.

Edmund rolled to the side at the last second, narrowly avoiding a blow that pulverized the spot where he had stood just a moment before. Voss retaliated, striking the creature with all his might, but his sword bounced off the stone armor, producing nothing but a spark and a metallic clang.

"This thing is too tough!" Voss grunted, stepping back.

Kieza seized the opening, slipping behind the guardian, her blades sliding against the creature's vulnerable points. Her strikes landed at the joints of the armor, where the stone fused with the black metal. The creature roared but did not fall.

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Edmund quickly assessed the situation. They needed a different approach. His eyes scanned the chamber, searching for anything that could give them an advantage. Then he saw it—on the walls, symbols engraved in gold faintly glowed, as if reacting to the presence of the guardians.

"The runes! They might be the key!" Edmund shouted.

Kieza dodged a brutal strike and looked toward where Edmund was pointing. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the wall, her eyes analyzing the symbols while Edmund and Voss struggled to hold off the guardians.

The second guardian charged, its eyes glowing like embers. It raised its massive arm and brought it down with immense force. Edmund leaped back, feeling the rush of air as the stone beneath his feet exploded into fragments.

"Hurry, Kieza!" Voss shouted, blocking another attack.

Kieza pressed her hands against the inscriptions, murmuring ancient words that echoed through the temple. Suddenly, the runes' light intensified, and the creatures hesitated, as if something was interfering with their control.

"It's working! Keep going!" Edmund called out.

The creatures began to writhe, their bodies trembling as if being pulled by an invisible force. The broken chains on the ground reignited with golden light, dragging the guardians back toward the magical seal.

Edmund, Voss, and Kieza stepped back as the energy surged through the chamber. With a final, deafening roar, the guardians were pulled into the ground, the cracks sealing shut, and the runes fading into silence.

Silence returned. The trio panted, cold sweat on their foreheads.

"That was... intense," Voss said, still gripping his sword.

"But we learned something," Edmund replied, staring at the ruins around them. "This civilization didn't just fear these creatures... they knew how to control them."

Kieza nodded, studying the now-dormant inscriptions.

"And there may still be something... or someone... who knows how to awaken these monsters again."

The thought sent a chill down Edmund's spine. They were tampering with forces far beyond their understanding. And now, they had more questions than answers.