The Guardian’s colossal fist crashed down, shattering the floor where Trevor and Lyra had been standing mere moments before. Dust and shards of stone exploded into the air, making Trevor’s eyes water as he stumbled backward. His heart pounded in his chest as he grabbed Lyra’s arm and yanked her out of the way of another devastating strike.“Move, move, move!” Trevor shouted, his voice breaking with panic.Lyra’s grip on the Heart of the Ancients tightened as she scrambled to keep up. The artifact glowed faintly in her hands, almost as if it were feeding on the chaos around them. “We can’t keep running!” she shouted back. “We need a plan!”Trevor ducked as another swing from the Guardian came perilously close to turning him into a smear on the cavern floor. “Oh, sure! Let me just consult my Manual for Surviving Giant Murder Golems! Oh wait—I don’t have one!”The Guardian roared, its fiery red eyes locking onto Lyra. It lunged forward, its massive arm swinging down again. Lyra barely ma

Trevor and Lyra kept moving through the labyrinth of tunnels, their breaths loud in the deafening silence that had replaced the Guardians’ roars. The faint light from Lyra’s glowing hands barely illuminated the path ahead.“Are we running toward safety or just deeper into trouble?” Trevor asked, his voice echoing off the stone walls.Lyra glanced back at him, her expression grim. “We need to reach the core chamber. If the Guardians were active, that means someone or something has tampered with the system. The core might hold answers.”“Great. I love mysteries,” Trevor muttered, stumbling over a loose rock. “Especially the kind that almost get me killed.”Lyra ignored him, picking up the pace. The air grew colder as they descended, and the walls of the tunnel seemed to close in, pressing against Trevor’s already frazzled nerves.After what felt like hours, the tunnel opened into a vast cavern. Trevor’s jaw dropped as he took in the sight. A massive crystal hovered in the center of the

Dance of ShadowsThe Warden towered over Trevor and Lyra, its body radiating heat and darkness. Flames licked the edges of its form, while its molten eyes locked onto them with deadly intent. Trevor felt a chill run down his spine despite the fiery aura.“What’s the plan?” Trevor whispered, gripping his dagger tightly.Lyra stepped in front of him, her hands glowing with magic. “The plan is survival.”The Warden didn’t wait for an invitation. With a roar that reverberated through the cavern, it raised a massive claw and slammed it down. Lyra yanked Trevor out of the way just in time, the force of the impact sending cracks spidering across the floor.“Okay, I vote for a new plan!” Trevor shouted, scrambling to his feet.Lyra glared at him. “I’m open to suggestions.”Trevor glanced at the console behind them. “Can we use that thing? Maybe hack it or something?”Lyra hesitated. “It’s a possibility, but I need time to figure it out.”The Warden swung its other arm, a streak of fire slici

Trevor ducked under Kaldor’s massive sword swing, the blade narrowly missing him and crashing into the stone floor with a deafening clang. Sparks flew, and cracks spiderwebbed across the ground. Trevor scrambled back, his heart racing.“Lyra!” he shouted. “Any time you want to bring the magic boom, now’s great!”“I’m working on it!” Lyra snapped, her hands glowing as she prepared a spell. “Just keep him distracted!”“Distraction is my middle name,” Trevor muttered, dodging another swing. “Though I’d really prefer ‘Alive and Well.’”Kaldor turned his attention to Lyra, recognizing her as the greater threat. With a low growl, he raised his sword and advanced on her.“Oh no, you don’t!” Trevor shouted, charging at Kaldor’s back. He leapt onto the armored figure, plunging his dagger into a joint in the armor. The blade sparked, and Kaldor let out a guttural snarl, shaking Trevor off like a ragdoll.Trevor hit the ground hard, groaning. “Ow. Okay, maybe not my best move.”Kaldor turned to

The barren plain stretched endlessly, its cracked ground glowing faintly with an ominous red light. Trevor adjusted his jacket, dusting off the remnants of the Core’s explosion, while Lyra scanned the horizon with a furrowed brow. The air was thick, each breath feeling heavier than the last."Great," Trevor said, breaking the silence. "Now we’re in some post-apocalyptic hellscape. All we need is a leather-clad warlord screaming about gasoline to complete the vibe.""Trevor, focus," Lyra snapped. She pointed toward the distant shadow on the horizon. "Do you see that? Something’s out there."Trevor squinted, shading his eyes with one hand. "Yeah, I see it. It’s big. Probably angry. And definitely coming this way."The ground beneath them began to tremble as the shadow moved closer. Dust and debris swirled in the air, making it harder to see. Lyra clutched her staff, readying herself for whatever was approaching."Any chance it’s friendly?" Trevor asked, pulling his sword from its sheath