章 8: Chapter 7: "Echoes of the Forgotten Part 3"
The silence that enveloped the chamber felt suffocating. It wasn't just the stillness, but the weight of it—like a dark, ominous presence had been lurking in the corners of the ruin, watching, waiting. As we crossed the threshold into the heart of the ruin, the ground seemed to tremble beneath our feet, sending a ripple of unease through the group.
Then, with a sound like grinding stone, the colossal golem slowly rose from its resting place in the center of the room, its massive form creaking as if awakening from a long slumber. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I met its hollow, unblinking eyes—black orbs that shimmered with an unsettling energy.
"Steady," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "No sudden moves."
Zeri's sabre crackled with static, and I could see the tension in her shoulders as she prepared for whatever would come next. Tarek's eyes locked on the golem, his hand resting on the handle of his energy shield. Norah didn't flinch, but I could see her rifle leveled, her gaze sharp as she analyzed the creature's movements.
The golem's body was a bizarre fusion of ancient stone and raw, pulsing energy. It was an amalgamation of something mechanical and something alive, its movements jerky but deliberate. As it began to take a step toward us, I could feel the ground shake beneath its weight. Every motion it made seemed to reverberate through the chamber, like the earth itself was shuddering in fear.
"Get ready," I said, my voice firm as I gripped my sword, feeling the pulse of its enchantment hum beneath my fingers.
The golem raised one massive fist, its motion slow but purposeful. And then, with a sudden, terrifying speed, it swung downward.
"Move!" I shouted, instinctively darting to the left, just narrowly avoiding the crushing blow. The floor cracked where the fist hit, dust and debris flying through the air.
Tarek was the first to react, raising his shield with a fluid motion, the glowing energy forming a protective barrier in front of him. The golem's fist collided with the shield, sending a shockwave that rattled the stone beneath our feet. I heard Tarek grunt from the force of the impact, but the shield held.
"Zeri, to the left!" I commanded, already moving to flank the golem. "We need to get it off balance!"
Zeri didn't hesitate. Her body was a blur as she sprinted to the side, her sabre raised high. The golem's other arm shot out, its talons scraping the air like a blade cutting through the wind. Zeri met the strike head-on, her sabre clashing with the golem's arm, the sound of metal against stone ringing out like a bell. Sparks flew, but the creature barely recoiled.
"Damn it, it's tough!" Zeri hissed, narrowly ducking as the golem swiped again.
I couldn't wait any longer. I lunged forward, my sword crackling with arcane energy. I aimed for the golem's exposed flank, the blade singing through the air. The strike hit—solid, forceful—but the golem's body absorbed it like it was nothing, the stone and energy shifting under the force of my attack.
"We're going to need more than brute force," I muttered, my teeth gritting in frustration. The golem wasn't even flinching.
Suddenly, it moved again, its other fist coming down in a devastating arc. I didn't have time to react—Tarek was there before I could make a move, his shield absorbing the brunt of the blow, but the shockwave threw us back, sending me crashing into the wall. Pain flared in my ribs, but I ignored it, pushing myself back to my feet.
"Focus!" I barked, ignoring the throbbing pain in my side. "We need to hit it harder. Norah, cover us!"
Norah didn't need further instruction. She adjusted her rifle, taking aim at the golem's chest, where I could see a faint glow pulsing beneath the stone. Her finger squeezed the trigger, and the shot rang out, a burst of blue energy hitting the golem square in the chest.
It staggered back, the pulsing glow dimming for a moment, but the golem quickly regained its footing. I could see the crackling energy in its body intensify, its movements becoming more erratic.
"We're losing ground," Tarek grunted, holding up his shield again, bracing for the next attack. "It's like it's getting stronger."
I didn't have time to answer him. The golem was upon us again, its claws slashing through the air like death itself. Zeri barely dodged, her sabre grazing the side of its arm, but the golem was relentless.
I took a deep breath, trying to push through the pain, and motioned for Zeri to hold off. "Norah, take out the core. Now!"
Zeri dashed forward, distracting the golem long enough for Norah to line up another shot. Her rifle hummed with energy as she fired, and this time, the blast hit the core directly. The golem's chest erupted with sparks, and its form staggered.
But it wasn't enough. The golem roared in frustration, its energy intensifying as it swung its fists like battering rams, each strike pushing us back. My heart raced as I called out the next orders.
"Zeri, flank it! Tarek, hold the line! Norah, keep firing!"
We were fighting a losing battle. The golem was starting to regenerate, the cracks on its body slowly closing as the energy began to stabilize. Our window was closing, and I knew we had to do something drastic.
"Now!" I shouted, sprinting forward as the golem raised its fist again. I dodged to the side, using the pillars in the room to block its line of sight. Zeri was right behind me, her sabre flashing as she struck at the golem's legs.
It roared in anger as it stumbled, its body flickering in and out of existence. I seized the opportunity and ran for its core, aiming for the glowing energy at its center. With one last, powerful swing of my sword, I struck deep into the golem's chest.
The energy exploded outwards, and the golem staggered, its body crumbling into pieces. I stood there, panting, watching as the last remnants of the creature fell to the floor.
"We did it," Zeri said, her voice shaky, but triumphant.
I couldn't bring myself to feel victorious. Not yet. The battle was over, but the ruins still felt alive, the air thick with something more dangerous.
"Let's move," I said, my voice low, as the weight of our injuries hit me. "The worst might still be ahead."
The room was still, save for the shallow breathing of the group. Every step forward echoed in the chamber, bouncing off the cracked remains of the golem we had just destroyed. The weight of our injuries, both physical and emotional, hung heavily in the air.
"Zeri, how bad is it?" I asked, glancing at her side where blood was seeping through her makeshift bandage.
She gave me a lopsided grin, though it was strained. "Just a scratch, boss. I'll live." Her voice carried its usual bravado, but I could see the pain behind her eyes.
"Norah," I turned to her, "can you patch her up? We need her sharp."
Norah nodded without a word, already pulling a small medkit from her pack. The faint hum of the crystalline syringes filled the air as she applied a dose of healing serum. Zeri winced but said nothing, her grip tightening around her sabre.
Tarek leaned against a nearby pillar, his energy shield flickering as he powered it down. His chest rose and fell heavily, and I could see a fresh bruise spreading across his shoulder. "That thing," he muttered, "was just a piece of this place, wasn't it?"
I didn't answer immediately. My gaze was fixed on the far end of the chamber, where a massive set of doors loomed. They were ornate, carved with the same shifting runes and patterns that adorned the walls of the ruin. Energy pulsed faintly through the engravings, like veins carrying lifeblood to the very heart of this place.
"It wasn't the end," I finally said, my voice grim. "Whatever's behind those doors... that's the real challenge."
Norah finished dressing Zeri's wound and stood, her expression as serious as ever. "We need to be prepared. That fight wasn't easy, and we're already running on fumes."
I nodded, clenching my sword. "Then let's take a moment. Gather ourselves. We can't afford to go in half-dead."
The group settled into a tense silence as we regrouped. Zeri tested her movement, her sabre swinging in lazy arcs as she stretched her arm. Tarek adjusted his shield gauntlets, the faint glow of his mana pulsing as he recharged the energy cells. Norah remained still, her rifle resting on her lap as she stared at the towering doors.
"Do you ever wonder," Zeri began, her tone lighter than the moment called for, "why we do this? I mean, wandering into death traps for shiny rocks and old junk?"
Tarek snorted, shaking his head. "Speak for yourself. I'm here for the paycheck. You're the one who calls this fun."
"It's exhilarating," Zeri shot back, though her grin faltered as she glanced at her wound. "Okay, maybe not always."
"Focus," I said, cutting through their banter. "We don't know what's behind those doors, but it's not going to be friendly."
"Yeah, yeah," Zeri muttered, but her tone softened. "I know, Aldyn. You don't have to tell me twice."
As we approached the doors, the energy emanating from them grew stronger, a low hum vibrating through the floor. My hand hovered over the runes carved into the surface, their glow intensifying as if responding to my presence.
"This is it," I said, turning to the others. "Once we go through, there's no turning back. Everyone ready?"
They nodded, each in their own way. Tarek cracked his knuckles, Norah adjusted her rifle, and Zeri gave me a small, defiant smirk. Despite everything, they trusted me to lead them through whatever was to come.
I placed my hand on the door, the cold stone thrumming with a pulse that matched my heartbeat. With a deep breath, I pushed.
The doors groaned open, revealing the chamber beyond.
And what awaited us stole the air from our lungs.
________________________________________
The Grand Chamber
The sight was overwhelming. The room was colossal, its ceiling vanishing into the shadows above. The twelve pillars we had glimpsed in the ancient carvings stood in a perfect circle, each one emanating a faint, otherworldly glow. Between them, streams of energy arced like lightning, casting strange patterns on the walls.
At the center of the chamber, bathed in the eerie light of the pillars, was the relic.
The Prisma of Erebus.
It floated above a pedestal of black stone, its multifaceted surface shimmering with colors that defied logic. As I stepped closer, I could see the shifting patterns within it—images, memories, fragments of something ancient and powerful.
"Is that it?" Zeri whispered, her voice barely audible. "That's what we came for?"
I nodded, though my throat felt tight. "That's it. The Prisma of Erebus."
The air around the relic was thick, almost suffocating. It wasn't just its presence—it was the sense of something more. Something watching. Waiting.
"We don't touch it yet," I said, my voice firm. "Not until we understand what we're dealing with."
Tarek stepped closer to one of the pillars, his hand hovering over the glowing symbols etched into its surface. "These... they're active. Like they're containing it."
"Or guarding it," Norah added, her tone dark.
As we stepped further into the room, the door behind us began to close. The sound of stone grinding against stone echoed ominously, sealing us inside.
"No way out now," Zeri muttered, gripping her sabre tightly. "Great."
I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. It wasn't just the relic—it was the entire room, alive with an energy I couldn't comprehend.
"Form up. We're doing this together."I said, my voice low but commanding. "We're not alone."
The Guardian's roar echoed through the chamber, a thunderous sound that rattled the foundations of the ancient ruins. Its body, though visibly damaged, exuded raw power, each movement threatening to collapse the world around it. The ground trembled as it shifted forward, dragging its colossal limbs with unnerving purpose.
"Zeri, cut right! Tarek, shield left! Norah, suppress it with everything you've got!" Aldyn's voice rang clear, his commands sharp and immediate. There was no hesitation, no room for error.
Zeri darted to the right, her sabre gleaming with faint arcs of energy as she moved with the agility of a predator. Tarek raised his bracers, conjuring a glowing barrier just as the Guardian swung its massive arm toward their flank. The impact reverberated through the shield, sending Tarek skidding back a few steps, but he held firm.
Norah knelt, her rifle steady against her shoulder. She adjusted the focus with practiced precision, her breathing even despite the chaos. With a flash of blue light, a concentrated bolt of mana shot from the barrel, striking the Guardian's exposed joint. Sparks erupted, and the creature faltered momentarily, its arm sagging at an unnatural angle.
"That's it! Keep hitting that weak point!" Aldyn shouted, surging forward with his blade raised high.
The Guardian responded with a guttural growl, swinging its other arm in a wide arc. Aldyn ducked just in time, the wind from the swing brushing past his face like a gale. The sheer force of the attack sent debris flying, and he rolled to the side, barely avoiding a falling chunk of the ceiling.
"Norah, give me a clear shot at its chest!" Aldyn commanded, his sword shimmering with an activated enchantment.
"Working on it!" Norah shouted back, repositioning herself. She fired another bolt, this time aimed at the Guardian's torso. The energy connected, leaving a faint crack in the protective plating.
"Zeri, now!" Aldyn barked.
Zeri seized the moment, darting in with a feral grin. She slid under the creature's legs, slashing at its knee joint. Sparks and a burst of blackened fluid sprayed from the wound, and the Guardian stumbled, its massive frame collapsing to one side.
But the victory was short-lived. The creature let out a mechanical shriek, and the symbols etched into its chest began to glow ominously.
"Everyone, back!" Aldyn yelled, his voice carrying over the chaos.
The Guardian unleashed a shockwave, an eruption of energy that sent the group sprawling. The air crackled with residual power, and Aldyn scrambled to his feet, his ears ringing. He looked around, his heart racing as he counted his team.
"Tarek! Zeri! Norah!" he called out, his voice hoarse.
"I'm good," Zeri groaned, pushing herself up with visible effort. She clutched her side, her armor scorched but intact.
"Still here," Norah confirmed, her tone clipped as she checked her rifle for damage.
Tarek coughed, brushing off dust from his cloak. "Shield held... barely."
Aldyn exhaled in relief. "Stay with me. We're not done yet."
The Guardian had risen again, its wounds closing with an unsettling speed. It stomped toward them, the ground quaking under its weight.
"Zeri, bait it toward the pillars!" Aldyn ordered, his mind racing as he formulated a plan. "Tarek, keep that shield ready. Norah, aim for its legs—we need to bring it down!"
Zeri flashed him a crooked smile, despite the blood trickling down her temple. "You better have a damn good plan, Aldyn."
"You'll see," he replied, determination hardening his gaze.
Zeri didn't hesitate. With a flick of her wrist, she activated a small charge on her sabre, sending a crackle of energy through the blade. "Hey, big guy! Over here!" she taunted, sprinting toward the far side of the chamber, her footsteps echoing on the stone floor.
The Guardian turned, its massive head swiveling unnaturally fast to track her movements. With a guttural roar, it lunged, its colossal arm swinging toward her.
"That's it," Aldyn muttered, his eyes fixed on the glowing symbols along the pillars. "Just a little closer."
Norah had already positioned herself, kneeling on one knee as she aimed her rifle. Her shots were precise, each bolt targeting the Guardian's legs to slow its pursuit of Zeri. The creature's movements became more erratic, its balance faltering as sparks flew from its damaged joints.
"Aldyn, these things aren't holding it for long!" Norah warned, adjusting her position as the Guardian's tail—now revealed as a segmented, whip-like appendage—lashed dangerously close to her.
"Just keep it distracted," Aldyn replied, his voice steady despite the tension.
Tarek moved into position, his shield glowing with an intense golden light. He planted himself between the Guardian and the others, absorbing another devastating swing from the creature's arm. The force of the impact cracked the stone beneath his feet, but he held firm, gritting his teeth against the strain.
"Zeri, now!" Aldyn yelled.
Zeri darted toward the nearest pillar, skidding to a stop as the Guardian followed her. The symbols along the pillar flared to life as the creature approached, the air vibrating with an eerie hum.
"It's working!" Zeri shouted, though her voice was tinged with exhaustion.
The Guardian hesitated, its movements jerky and uncertain. The symbols on its chest flickered as if in response to the pillars' activation.
"Aldyn, what now?" Tarek called, his shield arm trembling.
Aldyn stepped forward, his sword glowing with a faint, ethereal light. "We end this. Tarek, hold its attention! Zeri, keep baiting it near the pillars. Norah, aim for the core—wait for my signal!"
As Tarek braced himself for another clash, the Guardian lunged. Its massive fist collided with his shield, the impact sending a shockwave that rippled through the chamber. Tarek grunted, his knees buckling, but he held the line.
Zeri darted to the opposite side, slashing at the Guardian's legs to draw its focus away. Her blade carved deep into the damaged joints, and the creature stumbled, its mechanical roar reverberating through the chamber.
"Aldyn, it's too strong!" Norah shouted, her voice edged with desperation.
"Trust me!" Aldyn yelled back. "Everyone, now! Focus everything on the core!"
The team moved as one. Zeri struck low, her sabre cutting into the Guardian's knees. Tarek slammed his shield into its torso, staggering the creature. Norah fired a concentrated bolt of energy, the beam searing through the Guardian's chest and exposing its pulsing core.
Aldyn charged, his sword blazing as he leapt toward the Guardian. The air crackled with energy as he plunged his blade into the exposed core, the impact sending a blinding surge of light through the chamber.
The Guardian let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing as the core shattered. Shards of glowing crystal rained down, and the creature collapsed in a heap of twisted metal and stone.
For a moment, there was only silence, broken by the sound of heavy breathing.
"We... we did it," Zeri said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aldyn stepped back, his sword still glowing faintly as he surveyed the fallen Guardian. "It's over," he said, though his tone carried an unease that none of them missed.
But the ruins themselves seemed to disagree. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a low rumble echoed through the chamber. The pillars flickered, their symbols glowing erratically.
"Uh, Aldyn?" Tarek said, his voice tight. "I think we've got a problem."
Aldyn's gaze shifted to the center of the chamber, where the relic now floated. It pulsed with an otherworldly light, its surface shifting like liquid metal.
"It's not over," Aldyn muttered. "Not yet."
The relic pulsated with an eerie luminescence, its shifting patterns drawing the group's gaze like moths to a flame. Aldyn stepped forward cautiously, his instincts screaming at him to keep his distance, yet he couldn't deny the magnetic pull of the artifact.
"This... isn't just treasure," Norah murmured, her voice trembling as she scanned the glyphs inscribed on the platform. "It's... alive."
"Alive or not," Zeri gritted her teeth, clutching her side where the last fight had left a deep gash. "We didn't come this far to turn back now."
Tarek, already visibly exhausted, hesitated. "Aldyn, something feels wrong. This thing—" he gestured to the relic— "it's not meant to be touched. I can feel it in my bones."
Aldyn tightened his grip on his sword, his gaze darting between the artifact and the group. "If it's here, it has a purpose. We either figure it out now, or we risk this whole place collapsing on us before we do."
The tension was palpable as Aldyn made his move toward the relic, but Norah intercepted him, shaking her head. "Let me. If anyone has a chance of deciphering this, it's me."
Before Aldyn could protest, Norah extended her hand toward the artifact. The room seemed to hold its breath. As her fingers brushed the surface of the relic, it flared to life, a blinding light engulfing her. A guttural scream echoed, not from Norah but from the relic itself, as if it had been awakened from an eternal slumber.
"Norah!" Tarek shouted, lunging forward, but Aldyn pulled him back just as the relic unleashed a shockwave that sent everyone sprawling.
When the light faded, Norah stood motionless, her hand still on the artifact. Her eyes, wide and unseeing, glowed faintly. Then, her body collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
"No... no!" Zeri dropped to her knees beside Norah, shaking her. "Get up, damn it! Don't do this!"
Aldyn's heart sank, but he forced himself to act. "We need to move. Now! The whole place is waking up!"
The room trembled violently as the once-dormant guardian stirred to life. The sound of grinding stone and whirring energy filled the chamber, its towering form casting a shadow that consumed what little light remained.
Aldyn didn't hesitate. "Zeri, Tarek, fall back! We're getting out of here!" He grabbed Norah's rifle, slinging it over his shoulder. "She wouldn't want us to die here."
Reluctantly, Zeri and Tarek obeyed, their movements sluggish with grief and exhaustion. The guardian loomed closer, each step shaking the ground as they sprinted toward the exit.
The corridors of the ruin twisted and writhed, as if the structure itself resisted their escape. Stones fell from the ceiling, and walls seemed to close in. Aldyn led the charge, his voice cutting through the chaos.
"Zeri, take the left flank! Tarek, cover the rear!" His commands were sharp, each word carrying the weight of survival.
They stumbled and scrambled through the labyrinth, the guardian's relentless pursuit growing louder behind them. It wasn't just a chase—it was a hunt, and they were the prey.
Zeri, breathing heavily, stumbled but quickly regained her footing. "Aldyn, this thing isn't stopping! What's the plan?"
"We don't stop either!" Aldyn shouted back. "Just keep moving. We're almost there."
As they rounded the final corner, the exit came into view, a sliver of light piercing through the darkness. The sight was both a relief and a reminder of how close they were to losing everything.
The moment they burst through the entrance, the ruin let out a final, deafening roar. A pulse of energy surged outward, throwing them to the ground. Dust and debris filled the air as the structure began to collapse in on itself, swallowing the guardian and the relic in a cataclysmic implosion.
Coughing and bruised, the group staggered to their feet outside the ruins. The silence that followed was deafening, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just endured.
Aldyn glanced at Zeri and Tarek, both battered but alive. Norah's absence was a void that none of them dared to acknowledge aloud.
Without a word, Aldyn led them to their vehicle—a rugged, sand-weathered crawler known as the Dustrunner. The off-road marvel was a testament to the world they inhabited: a fusion of mechanical ingenuity and arcane enhancement. Its six wheels hummed faintly with energy from embedded ether cores, designed to traverse the harshest terrains with ease. The cabin was cramped but efficient, filled with compartments for gear, weapons, and salvaged treasures.
As they climbed aboard, Zeri finally broke the silence. "She... she didn't deserve this."
"No one does," Aldyn replied quietly, his hands gripping the controls. "But she gave us a chance to live. Let's not waste it."
The Dustrunner roared to life, its engines humming as it sped across the desert, leaving the ruins—and their grief—behind.
クリエイターの想い 
Ironmaker
Ironmaker The Dustrunner is an example of Aetheris' unique blend of technology and magic. Powered by ether cores, it is capable of traversing deserts, mountains, and even volatile terrains like volcanic plains. The group’s reliance on this vehicle not only reflects their resourcefulness but also showcases the technological wonders that coexist with the mysticism of their world.
This chapter marks a turning point in their journey, one that will test their resilience and redefine their purpose as they face the repercussions of awakening the relic.
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