One hundred and eight Guardians stood rigid like a row of statues. Not a single one of them shifted from their position. The deathly silence that blanketed the underground hall radiated a terror far more suffocating than the roar of any monster.A Guardian in the front row took one step forward. Their ironclad foot struck the concrete floor, shaking the hall’s entire foundation and causing fine dust to rain down from the ceiling. The other one hundred and seven Guardians behind them remained standing, not moving an inch.An aged voice, heavy with authority, boomed once more from within the black stone altar structure, shattering the silence:"One on one. Prove that you are worthy to hold the Obsidian Fang!"Gerry tightened his grip on the hilt of the Obsidian Fang. There was no fear in his eyes, but every nerve in his body tensed, struggling against the pressure of the aura radiating from the armored warrior before him.The Vesper vision interface in Gerry's left eye projected a conci

The danger alarm on Vesper's visual interface in Gerry's left eye was still blaring incessantly, casting flashes of deep red that seared his field of vision.[CRITICAL WARNING: GUARDIAN CAPTAIN ACTIVE.][Threat Level: CLASS0 (ABSOLUTE DESTROYER).]Yet, the Guardian Captain standing tall in the center of the hall did not draw any of the six swords crossed behind his back. The massive armored figure simply stood still, locking his gaze directly onto Gerry from behind the slits of his helmet.The pressure of the aura radiating from his body felt like an invisible mountain, freezing the airflow within the hall."Step forward..." a deep, gravityladen voice emerged from behind the captain’s black helm, echoing through the concrete walls. "...show me whether you were merely chosen by the Obsidian Fang by chance, or if you are truly worthy of leading us!"Silence immediately engulfed the entire room.The Guardian Captain took a step forward.BOOM!The impact of his iron boots caused the entir

The thick white mist enveloping the void slowly faded and vanished, leaving no trace.A man with a jawline, eye shape, and facial features identical to Gerry’s stood calmly before him. The man held an Obsidian Fang that was identical in shape, detail, and size to the one in Gerry’s hand.Gerry reflexively pulled his right foot back, dropping into a tight combat stance with his dagger held horizontally."Are you just an illusion created by this place?" Gerry growled, his eyes scrutinizing every detail of the figure's movements.The man offered a thin smile. "I am far more real than your mind could ever imagine."SreettEven before Gerry could tense his leg muscles, the man had shifted positions, standing just centimeters in front of Gerry’s chest. His speed surpassed the limits of the naked eye’s reflexes.He did not strike with the blade. Instead, he pressed his right index finger firmly against the center of Gerry’s forehead.BZZZZT!Within milliseconds, Gerry’s entire vision explode

CRACK!!A sharp, booming sound shattered the silence. This horrifying friction did not stem from the collapse of the hall’s stone walls, nor did it originate from the dimension of the Forger’s World.The cracking sound erupted directly from deep within Gerry’s chest.Veins along Gerry’s right arm suddenly turned pitch black, bulging rigidly across his skin like the wild, spreading fractures of shattered glass. A burning heat surged through his meridians, flooding his heart with an uncontrollable wave of biological energy.The Obsidian Fang in his right hand vibrated violently, releasing a deathly hum.Gerry fell to his knees, his hands clawing at the stone floor to steady himself against the pain that was crushing every joint in his body. The legendary dagger nearly slipped from his trembling grip.Vesper’s display in Gerry’s left eye suddenly exploded in a glare of deep red alarms, filling his entire field of vision:[CRITICAL WARNING: BODY CONDITION AT RISK OF COLLAPSE.][First Abso

Tap.Tap.Tap.The rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed through the dark underground stone corridor, slowly cutting through the silence of the night.The echoes drew nearer, accompanied by the faint rustling of fine fabric.Gerry, leaning against an old altar pillar, forced his legs to support his weight. His knees were shaking violently. Thick blood continued to drip from the corner of his lips, while the cracks along his meridians sent stabs of pain that nearly snuffed out his consciousness.The Obsidian Fang in his right hand vibrated with a low roar, emitting waves of warning.The Vesper System projector in Gerry’s left eye exploded in a red alarm strobe:[WARNING: ANTHROPOMORPHIC DETECTION.][Three HighEnergy Entities Have Entered the Altar Perimeter.][Energy Fluctuation: Unidentified: Off the Standard Scale.][Hazard Threat Level: Immeasurable.]The thin mist at the end of the corridor parted slowly. Three tall figures cloaked in pristine white robes appeared without making a sin