Capítulo 7: Chapter 7: Two Options
Whereas Keiran and Lira entered the creepy clutches of the Forgotten City, Ella stayed behind at their base-a conglomerate of improvised shelters huddled together on the lip of a broad canyon.
It was the skeleton of an old mining outpost, discarded so long ago as the source had dried up; over time, survivors had taken it in, converting the hard skeletons into a safe haven against the sea of confusing turrets and barricades made from wood and metal.
The central square was complete chaos: supplies carried around, goods changed, and all manner of preparation for dangers outside in the wasteland. A gigantic fire pit sat dead center, a communal fire crackling day and night against the darkness encroaching upon them.
She stood close to the fire and peered, hawk-eyed, into the perimeter beyond. The edges of her jacket of patched leather had become frayed through much use, and the hair at the back of her skull was pulled down into a practical braid.
"Ella, you really should eat," Jorin said with a wave of an empty spoon.
She shook her head. "Later. I need to make sure my brother comes back from this journey all well and good."
Jorin frowned. "You've said that for hours. You can't take care of anyone if you collapse from exhaustion."
Ella hesitated then reached for the bowl. "Thanks, Jorin. But things are terse. People are concerned with Keiran and Lira.
They're tougher than they look," Jorin said, joining her on the bench seat. "You've got to trust them. Just as we trust you."
Ella managed a small smile. "Thanks. I just. I wish I could do more."
Back within the forgotten city, Keiran and Lira stood before that towering statue, its radiating sigil casting an unnerving light over the plaza.
"This feels like such a terrible idea," Lira said, her hand casually on her blade.
Keiran didn't say anything. He was fixated on the statue; some part of him just wanted to be drawn to it in a way he couldn't explain. The voice of the Zenith System resounded in his head.
Objective: Investigate the statue. High-level anomaly detected.
"Yeah, thanks for the warning," Keiran grumbled under his breath.
As they drew closer to the statue, the earth began to shudder beneath their feet. A sigil on its chest began to pulse, and a humming noise rumbled low in the air.
What's going on? Lira exclaimed, shock giving way to panic.
Something very ancient stirred, and the air thickened around the giant statue in the Forgotten City. Keiran's hold on the dagger tightened; his heartbeat quickened when the tremors beneath his feet surged stronger.
"Keiran," Lira whispered, her voice full of quavers. "We have to step back.
But Keiran was immobile. Right before his eyes, the interface of the Zenith System blazed, with glowing prompts filling his mind.
[Synchronization in progress. Unknown anomaly detected. Prepare for immediate challenge. ]
"I can't," Keiran muttered, half to Lira, half to himself. "It's calling me."
Lira's eyes flickered between him and the statue. The sigil on the statue's chest pulsed brighter with each second.
"You're not thinking straight!" Lira hissed, clamping onto his arm. "If this thing activates, we'll both be dead before we can figure out what it even is."
Keiran turned to her, his eyes sharp but at war. "This could be the key to everything: the Zenith System, the Forgotten City-the anomaly. If I do nothing now, this might be our last opportunity ever.
Lira hesitated, but the determination in Keiran's voice was unshakable. With a resigned sigh, she stepped back, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. "Fine. But don't think I'm saving your sorry butt if this goes south."
[Initiate contact] the Zenith System prompted.
Keiran reached a shaking hand out, his fingers wild as they went to touch the surface of the sigil. A surge of energy coursed through his body at contact, knocking him off his feet.
"Keiran!" exclaimed Lira, hasty to his side.
Groaning, he clasped one hand to his chest as the voice of the Zenith System rose loudly in his head.
[Synch Complete. Trial started.]
"What trial?" Keiran muttered, forcing himself to his feet.
The statue stirred. The creak of stone on stone, its arms flexed and its head, now tilted down to them. A pair of smoldering eyes flared to life in the statue's sockets and a rumbling voice boomed across the plaza.
"Who dares disturb the Guardian of the Forgotten?
Lira drew her sword and interposed herself between Keiran and the animated statue. "We did not come to stir anything up!" she cried. "We are but passing through!"
The statue paid her no heed but instead focused its eyes of light upon Keiran. "Only he who is found worthy shall awaken the power of the Zenith."
Keiran's heart pounded, and in his chest, his words echoed, "What do you want from me?"
The voice of The Guardian rumbled like thunder, "Prove your resolve. Survive the trial, or perish."
In an instant, the ground beneath them buckled and split, opening into a large, round arena around the statue. Keiran and Lira barely escaped slipping into the sharp crevices.
"Keiran, this is terrible!" Lira screamed her voice audible over the deafening sound.
The statue lifted its giant arms, summoning ghostly figures from the ruins that surrounded them. Translucent, humanoid shapes whose forms danced like dying flames.
"Defeat the specters," the Guardian intoned. "Then you shall be considered worthy."
Keiran's Zenith System sprang into operation, overlaying the battlefield with glowing markers.
[Enemy analysis complete. Specters are vulnerable to elemental attacks. Recommendation: Utilize adaptive strategy.]
"Adaptive strategy? What's that even supposed to mean?" Keiran muttered.
Lira didn't need to be told, though. She dove at the closest specter, her blade slicing through its form. The specter shrieked but, almost immediately, reconstituted its ghostly form, claws ripping towards her.
"They aren't going down easy!" Lira shouted.
Keiran's gaze scanned across the battlefield as his mind worked furiously. "The system said they're weak against elements, we gotta overwhelm them!"
"Oh, genius idea, too bad we don't have any magic to sling around."
Keiran's gaze fell to the glowing sigil emblazoned across its chest, and suddenly it clicked. "Lira, keep 'em busy! I'm going for the statue!"
"What? You can't be serious!"
Keiran sprinted for it, dodging swipes from the specters to reach it. The wild pulsations of energy on the sigil drew to it.
[Objective Update: Use Guardian's power to neutralize the specters.]
Finally reaching the statue, Keiran laid his hand on the sigil once more. A wave of searing pain shot through his arm, but he gritted his teeth and held on.
[Channeling energy.]
A wave of energy swept through him, and his body glowed in the light emanating from the sigil. Spinning, he faced the specters, his hand rising instinctively. From his palm burst a stream of energy, dissolving one of the specters upon contact.
"Keiran!" Lira screamed, throwing her arm over her face to shield it from the radiance.
He fell back a step, the energy rolling off him. "I-I think I found it!
"No kidding!" Lira shot back, slashing through another specter.
Keiran steadied himself, focusing on the energy within. Again, he raised his hand this time to the crowd of specters. A beam of light erupted, washing across them in a resplendent display.
The specters fell one after the other, their forms bursting into the air.
As the last specter faded, the Guardian's voice echoed once more.
"You have shown determination and adaptability. The choice now is for you to make."
The arena started again to reverse its transformation-the floor healed itself of the tears again, and the statue returned to old position.
Keiran fell to his knees, exhausted yet at the same time exhilarated. Lira flung herself down beside him, equally spent and mud-caked.
"You are insane, you know that?" she breathed, reaching her hand out to him.
He wrapped his hand around hers with a weak attempt at a smile. "Maybe. But it worked."
The sigil on the statue disappeared but not completely; some residual light remained as if to act like a sort of checkmark on some cosmic to-do list.
"We're not done yet," Keiran said, eyes riveted to the statue.
"No kidding," Lira replied, shaking her head. "Next time, let's not enrage ancient statues, all right?
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
JJ_Francis
JJ_Francis Creation is hard, cheer me up! VOTE for me!
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder