Chapter 46: Stage 7 Guardian?

Feng Lin stepped forward, his hand instinctively reaching for the Chaos Rune Sword. The pull of the Nexus was stronger the closer he got, and his body trembled as the chaotic energy surged through him. Every nerve in his body seemed to buzz as if the Nexus was trying to synchronize with the Chaos Core inside him.

Before he could get too close, Yan Mei called out. "Wait! We don't know what will happen if you touch that thing.."

Feng Lin hesitated, the warning hanging in the air. Yan Mei's concern was real, but the pull of the Nexus was impossible to ignore. He could feel that it held something vital, something that could unlock a new level of power. The risk was great, but so was the reward.

"I can't stop now," he said, his voice steady. 

[System Notification: Chaos Nexus – Potential Power Surge Detected. Approach with Caution.]

Zhen exchanged a glance with Yan Mei, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "If you're going to do this, at least let us figure out a way to back you up."

Before anyone could move, the ground began to tremble violently. The chaotic symbols on the walls flickered, growing brighter, and the chamber itself seemed to pulse with life. From the shadows, massive figures emerged—more golems, larger than the ones they had faced before. These guardians were different, their forms more jagged and twisted, as if the Nexus itself had warped them over time.

"Looks like we don't have a choice," Feng Lin muttered, his hand tightening around the sword's hilt.

The largest of the golems let out a deafening roar, its glowing eyes locking onto Feng Lin. Its stone limbs moved with unnatural speed as it charged toward him.

[System Notification: Chaos Golem – Stage 7 Guardian.]

"Stage 7? This one's no joke," Feng Lin muttered, activating Shadowstep to dodge the creature's initial strike. He appeared behind it, but before he could land a blow, the golem's arm shot backward, catching him off guard.

The force of the hit sent him flying across the chamber, crashing into the wall. Pain shot through his body, but he quickly stood, focusing on the chaotic energy coursing through him.

"These things are faster than before!" Yan Mei shouted as she unleashed a volley of energy blasts at one of the smaller golems. Her attacks struck true, but the creatures seemed more resilient, barely slowing down.

Zhen, his face tense with concentration, engaged another golem, deflecting its blows with his weapon. "We need to focus on one at a time!" he called out, struggling to keep up with the guardian's relentless attacks.

Feng Lin gritted his teeth. He could feel the Chaos Core inside him responding to the chaotic energy in the chamber. The Nexus was amplifying everything—his strength, his speed, but also the power of his enemies. He had to find a way to tip the balance.

[System Notification: Chaos Overdrive Skill Activated ]

The system's prompt flashed in his mind, and Feng Lin didn't hesitate. With a thought, he activated Chaos Overdrive, feeling the raw, untamed energy flood his body. His muscles tensed, and his vision sharpened as the chaotic energy enhanced every aspect of his being.

[Chaos Overdrive: All Stats Increased by 50% for 5 Minutes.]

[Current Stats:

Strength: 3,190 (+50%)

Agility: 2,328 (+50%)

Spirit: 3,450 (+50%)

Perception: 1,465 (+50%)]

With his newly heightened abilities, Feng Lin moved like a blur, re-engaging the largest golem. This time, his strikes were faster and more precise. His Void Slash cleaved through the creature's thick stone armor, sending chunks of debris flying in all directions.

The golem staggered but didn't fall. Its glowing eyes burned brighter, and it retaliated with a devastating punch. Feng Lin barely managed to avoid the blow, the force of it shaking the ground where he had stood.

"These things just won't go down!" Zhen shouted, still locked in combat with another golem.

"We need to focus our attacks on the core!" Yan Mei called out, her eyes darting between the enemies. "Their weak point is the Nexus energy inside them."

Feng Lin nodded, his mind racing. The core… Of course! These golems were powered by the same chaotic energy as the Nexus. If they could disrupt that energy, they could bring the creatures down.

He dashed toward the golem, dodging another punch as he summoned the full force of his Chaos Manipulation. The chaotic energy in the chamber surged, and Feng Lin directed it toward the creature's core. His Chaos Rune Sword gleamed as it connected with the Nexus-powered heart of the golem.

The reaction was immediate. The golem let out a guttural roar as its core was overloaded with chaotic energy. Cracks spread across its body, and with a final, ear-splitting explosion, it disintegrated into dust.

[System Notification: Chaos Golem Defeated – 10,000 EXP Earned.]

Feng Lin didn't have time to celebrate. The other golems were still standing, but now they had a plan. "Aim for their cores!" he shouted, already moving to assist Yan Mei and Zhen.

Together, the three of them coordinated their attacks, targeting the golems' chaotic cores. One by one, the creatures fell, their bodies crumbling as their energy was disrupted.

[System Notification: Golems Defeated – 25,000 EXP Earned.]

The chamber fell silent, the chaotic energy slowly settling. Feng Lin's chest heaved as he caught his breath, the effects of Chaos Overdrive fading.