Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Crystal Obelisk
The faint light on the horizon grew brighter as Azarion and Sera pressed forward, illuminating the jagged, obsidian-like terrain. The air grew colder with each step, their breath visible in the pale glow. It wasn't just the chill of the environment—it was an unnatural cold, the kind that sank deep into the bones and whispered of power that should not be disturbed.
"There it is," Azarion murmured, stopping in his tracks.
Ahead, a massive crystal obelisk jutted out of the ground, its surface a kaleidoscope of shimmering hues. It pulsed faintly, as if alive, and the fragment's energy within Azarion's blade resonated with it, the hum now almost deafening. The obelisk was surrounded by broken statues of forgotten figures, their forms twisted and eroded by time.
Sera squinted at the obelisk, her unease palpable. "That's... not ominous at all."
Azarion gripped his blade tightly, the fragment's glow matching the rhythm of the obelisk's pulses. "The fragment is inside. This place must have been built to guard it."
"Guard it from what?" Sera asked, stepping closer to the statues. Each one depicted a figure in mid-battle, their faces frozen in expressions of agony and fear. "Or maybe who?"
Before Azarion could answer, the ground trembled beneath their feet. The air grew heavier, and a deep, guttural sound echoed through the clearing, like the groan of an ancient beast stirring from slumber.
"We're about to find out," Azarion said, stepping in front of Sera.
The earth around the obelisk cracked and split, revealing dark fissures that radiated violet light. From the shadows emerged a towering figure, its body composed of dark, writhing mist and shards of crystalline armor. Two glowing, violet eyes burned in its featureless face as it stepped forward, each movement exuding raw, oppressive power.
"A warden," Azarion muttered, recognizing the creature's unnatural presence.
The warden's voice boomed, an ethereal sound that reverberated through the air. "You dare disturb the sanctum of the fragment? Prove your worth—or perish."
Without warning, the warden lunged. Its massive claw, composed of shifting mist and razor-sharp crystal, slammed into the ground where Azarion had just been standing. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, throwing Sera off her feet.
"Sera!" Azarion shouted, his blade flaring with energy as he charged the warden.
She scrambled to her knees, nocking an arrow and firing it at the warden's exposed core. The arrow struck true but dissolved upon impact, the mist absorbing it like water.
"It's shielding itself!" she shouted.
Azarion gritted his teeth, dodging another attack. The warden's movements were relentless, each strike calculated to overwhelm its opponents. He slashed at its arm, the fragment's energy carving through the mist and crystal, but the damage was minimal, the creature regenerating almost instantly.
"It's too strong!" Sera yelled, firing arrow after arrow, each one deflected by the warden's armor. "We can't fight it like this!"
Azarion leapt back, his mind racing. He could feel the fragment within the obelisk, its energy pulsating like a beacon. The connection between his blade and the obelisk grew stronger with every passing second.
"We need to weaken it first," Azarion said, his voice steady despite the chaos. He glanced at the obelisk, an idea forming. "The obelisk—its energy is tied to the warden. If I can disrupt it, we might have a chance."
"Disrupt it?" Sera asked, dodging a swipe from the warden's claws. "How exactly are you planning to do that?"
"I'm going to channel the fragment's energy directly into the obelisk," Azarion replied, stepping toward it. "Cover me."
"Cover you?" she repeated incredulously. "You're insane!"
"Just trust me!" Azarion shouted, dodging another attack as he sprinted toward the obelisk.
Sera growled in frustration but didn't hesitate. She fired a barrage of arrows at the warden, aiming for its joints to slow it down. "Don't you dare die on me, Azarion!"
The warden roared, its attention shifting to Sera as Azarion reached the base of the obelisk. He placed his hand on its surface, the fragment within his blade reacting instantly. A surge of energy coursed through him, the obelisk's light intensifying.
The warden howled in pain, its body convulsing as the connection between it and the obelisk was severed. Its misty form began to dissipate, the crystalline armor cracking and falling away.
"Now, Sera!" Azarion shouted, his voice strained as he channeled the fragment's energy.
Sera didn't hesitate. She drew a glowing arrow from her quiver, its tip infused with energy from the fragment Azarion had given her earlier. She took aim and fired, the arrow piercing the warden's exposed core.
The warden let out a final, deafening roar as its body shattered, fragments of crystal and mist disintegrating into the air. The ground beneath them steadied, the oppressive weight in the air lifting.
Azarion collapsed to his knees, his breathing ragged. The obelisk's light dimmed, its energy now fully absorbed into his blade.
Sera rushed to his side, her expression a mix of relief and anger. "You're reckless, you know that?"
Azarion managed a weak smile. "It worked, didn't it?"
She rolled her eyes, helping him to his feet. "One of these days, your luck is going to run out."
"Not today," he said, sheathing his blade.
They turned to leave, the shattered remains of the obelisk and its warden behind them. But as they walked away, a faint, sinister whisper echoed in the distance—a reminder that their journey was far from over.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone