Chapter 12: Into the Depths

The golden orb of the sunrise had only just managed to shimmer through the thick canopy of the ancient forest when Saga and Lysandra set out. The Forest of Shadows stretched out before the two companions, the thickness of undergrowth and the towering trees veiled in some eerie mist. The villagers had warned them of the perilous things that abided within—supernatural creatures leeching treacherous terrain, and the overwhelming darkness that seemed to swallow all light. But deep in this forest lay whatever artifact Saga sought, and so he had no choice but to walk into the belly of the beast.

Lysandra fiddled with her pack straps, eyes sweeping over the edge of the forest in a mix of determination and trepidation. "This place kind of gives me the creeps," she confessed lowly. "Are you sure we're ready for this?"

Saga gripped the weapon at his side tightly, his gaze piercing the dark path in front of him. "We do not have any choice in the matter. The task of the System is clear—retrieve the artifact that was hidden within the forest. If we didn't do this, I wouldn't grow stronger, and we shall never be able to face the greater threats that are coming."

Lysandra nodded, but concern was plain in her eyes.

"Just promise me one thing—don't do anything reckless. We're in this together, and I'm not about to lose you to some ancient curse or hidden trap."

Saga offered a reassuring smile. His heart was racing within his chest. "I promise. We'll get through this together."

With that, the two of them entered the forest, and the mist coiled around them like the smoke around a flame. A heavy smell of wet earth and rotting leaves filled the air; nothing could be heard but the crackling of footsteps on the ground. And, every step inside, the darkness deepened, shadows lengthening into oppressive sleeves. He felt as if the very forest were alive, watching his every move with unseen eyes.

They had hardly walked two feet, or so it seemed to Saga, before he began to feel that they were being followed. He looked back over his shoulder more than once, his hand never far from his weapon. However, every time that he looked, nothing was there—just the quiet trees and thick fog.

"This place is twisted," Lysandra said quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "It feels as though even the air is alive and watching us.".

Saga nodded. "Stick nearby. We'll try not to lose each other in here."

Hours slipped by, and judging from the situation, there was no end to the jungle. The more they advanced, the more they became lost—the serpentines and the lush vegetation of the place made the determination of the direction they were following impossible to discern. Saga began to feel that they were merely walking in circles because the intense feeling of the forest was now also weighing heavily on their minds.

After a while, when they were starting to think of turning back and reorganizing, they finally burst into a clearing. There was a huge stone set in the middle of the clearing, half-buried in the earth, and covered in moss and vines. It was ancient, its surface etched with strange runes, which shone faintly in the dim light.

"That must be it," Lysandra said, her voice tinged with awe. "In there lies the hidden artifact.

Saga approached the structure carefully, his eyes scouring the runes. The flickering interface of the System came alive within his mind, giving him a couple of encrypted symbols and warnings.

System Task: Retrieve the Forbidden Artifact. Warning: Highly Dangerous. Traps Detected.

"Here's this place," he confirmed, his heart pounding. "But it won't be easy. The System's warning us about traps.".

Lysandra drew her weapon, eyes now intent. "We have come too far. There can no turning back."

And thusly, together, they pushed open the stone door with the heavy weight groaning as it was swirled inward. Inside, the structure was dark and cold, the air thick with the scent of damp stone; the walls were lined with more glowing runes, casting an eerie light that barely illuminated the tight corridor ahead.

As they advanced further into the building, the corridors grew tighter and more booby-trapped. Saga's heart pounded in his head as they gingerly started to get around the traps that the System had warned them of: pressure plates, hidden spikes, and swinging blades that would easily have taken their lives were it not for the guidance of the System.

Finally, after eternal, torturously silent moments, they emerged within the room itself. In the center rested an. artifact atop a pedestal of black stone. It was a small orb, deeply carved, and on its surface, there was some kind of dark, otherworldly energy.

Saga advanced toward the artifact slowly, with an outreached hand. The System's interface flickered once more, showing a final warning.

System Task: Retrieve the Forbidden Artifact WARNING: Retrieving item will alert the Guardian to your presence. You will have to fight.

"Lysandra," Saga spoke, with tension in his voice. "Once I get this, we're going to have company. Be ready."

Lysandra nodded, tightening her grip on her weapon. "I'm ready. Just do it.

Saga took a deep breath and reached out, fingers closing around the artifact. As he lifted it from its pedestal, the chamber seemed to shake mightily, the walls cracking as one great column of ancient magic after the next was unleashed. Flaring into bright lights, the runes on the walls exploded, and a deafening roar echoed through the chamber.

And then from the very end of the room, where the shadows lay the deepest, there moved out a huge creature. A nightmare beast; hulking and gnarled and clad in thick black scales, its eyes glowing red, evilly. The Guardian had awoken.

Saga and Lysandra stood with their backs to each other, their weapons drawn, while the beast roared, slowly advancing towards them. It moved with unearthly speed, its claws slashing at the air and roaring its displeasure. Saga felt the power of the System surge through his veins, guiding his movements to dodge and counter as the Guardian enacted its attacks.

But the beast was relentless, and the strength and speed set it well apart from that which they had met before. Saga knew this was all but life or death, and the only way they would get out was through.

"Lysandra, now!" Saga shouted, guiding her weapon with the power of the System into a ruinous strike for the Guardian's unprotected side.

Lysandra sprung forward, her blade slicing through the air and landing true. A second howl escaped The Guardian, but one strike wouldn't take it down. It once again refocused its attention on them, eyes burning with rage.

Saga clenched his teeth, pushing past his limits while struggling to hold back the creature. The echoes of fighting resounded in the chamber containing clashing steel, a roaring Guardian, and the heavy breaths of two warriors in a race to survive.

Only after the battle had drawn out for a length of time did Saga start feeling the difference. The artifact he was holding pulsated with energy, dark power intermingling with the System. He realized the fact that this is not just a key; it's a weapon, something of such great power that could turn the battle to his advantage.

And with one final, desperate surge of strength, she channeled the power of the artifact through the System, focused it into one single, annihilating attack. Filled with blinding light, the chamber was released with that energy, hitting the Guardian with an atomic bomb.

The beast roared for one last time deafeningly before crumbling to its knees and disintegrated into ashes. The room suddenly fell silent, filled with the essence of battle slowly dying out.

Saga stood there panting in the destruction where the last footsteps of the echoes of battle were dying out from there, with the artifact still pulsating in his hand. Lysandra ran to his side, her face full of relief and opened wide with wonder.

"We've done it." exclaimed she in an awed voice. "You have really done it.

Saga gazed downwards at the artifact, its dark energy quite miraculously tamed by now. "It was not all me," he muttered. "It was the System. and the artifact. There's more to this power than I ever thought off."

Lysandra nodded, softening her gaze. "And there's more to you than you realize, too. You're stronger than you think, Saga.

Saga managed a smile, though small, his thoughts already racing with questions. The battle had been won, but the true nature of the System and the artifact remained a mystery. And he knew that their journey was far from over.

As they left the chamber holding the artifact, now safeguarded, Saga could not shake the feeling that they had only just barely touched the surface of all the challenges to be encountered. But with Lysandra at his side and the power of the System guiding it, he would finally be able to face, once and for all, whatever the future held.