As I stepped through the ancient gate, a thick fog wrapped around me, as if I had entered another world. The air was heavy with an unfamiliar energy—similar to what I had felt when touching the Shard of the Ancient Shadow. The silence was unsettling, broken only by the muffled sound of my footsteps against the ancient stone floor. I wasn't sure if this stillness was a sign of peace… or a warning of what lay ahead.
I continued forward, the mist gradually thinning to reveal a vast hall with towering ceilings, decorated with faintly glowing symbols. But what truly captured my attention wasn't the walls—it was the entity waiting for me in the center.
The Guardian Appears
From the heart of the stone circle in the middle of the chamber, shadows rapidly gathered, swirling into a vortex of darkness before taking on a humanoid form. It stood tall, its entire body shrouded in shifting darkness, as though it had no fixed shape. In its right hand, it gripped a massive sword with a black blade that pulsed with a faint blue glow. Its eyes, glowing with the same eerie light, locked onto me, studying my every move.
A system notification appeared before me:
[Warning! "Guardian of the Forgotten Sanctuary" has been activated! Prepare for battle.]
I tightened my grip on my sword and took a deep breath. I knew this battle wouldn't be like any I had fought before.
The Battle Begins
The guardian gave me no time to prepare. In an instant, it vanished from its spot—only to reappear directly in front of me, its sword descending at an impossible speed.
I barely managed to raise my weapon in time to block the strike, but the force behind it was overwhelming!
"Impossible…!"
My arms trembled under the sheer pressure, and before I could react, the guardian shoved me back violently, sending me skidding across the ground. I barely had time to regain my footing before I saw its massive blade swinging toward me again.
No time to think—move!
I threw myself to the side at the last moment, the blade slicing through the air just inches from my face. The force of the strike alone was enough to send a gust of wind that brushed against my cheek. A deep gash was left in the stone floor where I had been standing just seconds earlier.
"This thing isn't just made of shadows… It's a monster!"
I sprang back to my feet and attempted a counterattack, aiming for its side. But the moment my blade made contact, the shadows dispersed momentarily, as if I had struck nothing but air.
"What—?!"
I had no time for shock. In less than a second, the guardian reappeared behind me, its blade swinging for my back. I tried to turn, but I was too slow.
The sword tore through my armor, and a wave of pain shot through my body as I was sent flying backward, crashing onto the stone floor.
A metallic taste filled my mouth, and a system notification flashed before my eyes:
[Severe damage to armor! HP: -35]
I exhaled sharply, watching as the guardian advanced toward me at a steady pace, as if this battle was nothing more than routine for it.
I couldn't keep going like this… I had to find its weakness.
Finding the Weakness
The moment I focused my gaze on the guardian, a new notification appeared:
["Eye of Insight" activated – Weakness detected!]
There!
A faint flicker of light shimmered in the center of its chest. It wasn't visible to the naked eye, but Eye of Insight allowed me to perceive it. If I was right, this was its energy core—if I could land a direct hit on that spot, I might be able to bring it down.
But how? The guardian was impossibly fast, capable of evading attacks with ease. I needed a plan… I needed just one opening!
The Counterattack
Taking a deep breath, I channeled all my energy into my sword. Heat surged through my arm as the blade began to glow with a dark blue aura. If I could deceive it for just a moment…
I lunged toward it at full speed, attacking from the right side. As expected, the shadows dispersed when my sword made contact—but this time, I was ready!
With a sudden pivot, I reversed my grip and redirected my momentum. Using the force of my swing, I twisted my body mid-air and drove my sword straight toward its weak point!
But the guardian was faster than I had anticipated—it raised its sword to block my strike. I had no time to hesitate—if I couldn't land a direct hit… then I would make its own power work against it!
As our blades clashed, I used the force of the impact to propel myself upward. Twisting in the air, I repositioned myself above the guardian, and with all my might, I plunged my sword directly into its chest!
"This is the end!"
The blade struck its weak spot perfectly. A surge of blue energy erupted from its body, accompanied by a deep, echoing wail. The shadows surrounding it began to unravel, as if something inside it was collapsing.
"I did it!"
The guardian dropped to its knees, and just before it completely faded away, I heard a faint whisper echoing through the chamber:
"You have found the path… but are you ready for what lies beyond?"
And then, it was gone.
Rewards and Progress
I collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from my face. That wasn't just a normal fight… it had been a real test.
A new system notification appeared before me:
[Congratulations! You have defeated the "Guardian of the Forgotten Sanctuary."]
[Rewards obtained:]
• +70 Energy Points
• New Ability: "Shadow Step" (Allows movement between shadows at high speed)
• Sanctuary Key (Unlocks the next gate)
I lifted the key and examined it. I wasn't sure what lay ahead, but one thing was certain…
"This wasn't the end. This was just the beginning."
With steady steps, I approached the next door, ready for whatever awaited me in the depths beyond.