Their clash had turned the chamber into a warzone. The Therellum throne shattered, the walls cracked and bled molten light, and the air itself screamed from the force of each blow. Ethan moved like a man possessed, ducking under sweeping fists, parrying golden strikes with knives now chipped and stained black.
But the Golden Guardian was slowing.
He was hurting.
Ethan's relentless assault left deep gouges in the once-impervious armor. And then—with a final burst of fury—Ethan launched into the air, twisting, screaming, and plunged both blades into the Guardian's neck.
The giant fell to one knee.
Ethan leapt back, panting, blood pouring from a dozen wounds.
The Guardian chuckled, even as golden ichor leaked from his mouth.
"You… really are different."
And then—snap.
A horrific crack echoed through the chamber.
Ethan howled.
His right shoulder burst open—ligaments shredded, skin torn, bone exposed. His arm hung limp, flayed and useless.
The cost of victory.
The Guardian, kneeling, placed one hand on the cracked floor. He looked up at Ethan, his expression for the first time... serious.
"You beat me," he said, voice low. "But listen well. Do not destroy the orb."
Ethan narrowed his eyes, blood dripping from his chin. "Why?"
The Guardian stared into the pulsing red light. "Because it's not just a gate… It's a seal."
"A seal?"
"If you destroy it… you'll release what's inside. A Level 7." His voice trembled. "A being that dwarfs me. One who will not talk. Who will not let you live. He will flatten this entire continent in a day. His flesh is beyond bullets, beyond fire, beyond your rage."
Ethan growled, pain making his voice tremble. "Then how do I kill him?"
"There's only one way… Armor. Forged from the bodies of guardians like me. Armor infused with Therellum and Corebone. Material found deep in this pit—deeper than any human has gone."
The chamber rumbled.
The orb pulsed brighter.
"He knows you're here," the Guardian whispered. "He's waking."
Ethan took one step toward the orb, but staggered, clutching his torn shoulder. "Why… tell me all this?"
The Golden Guardian looked at him with something like pride. "Because… I don't want to see everything die."
Then—his golden form crumbled, turning into shards of hardened light, falling like glass onto the floor.
Ethan stood alone.
In front of the orb.
Bleeding.
Burning.
But alive.
And now, with a mission deeper than vengeance.