Chapter 57: A Shadowed Lead

The group was gathered around a crackling campfire in the heart of the restored forest. The air was thick with unease, each member of the party deep in thought after the revelations from Onyxrazor and the past luminaries. Terra broke the silence, tossing a twig into the flames.

"Have you heard of someone named Roylen?" she asked, her tone cautious but intrigued.

Xalin looked up from his meditative stance, his markings faintly glowing. "No. Who is he?"

Kell leaned forward, shadows dancing around him as he added, "The name came up during my training with the shadow arts. They said he's… unnaturally strong. And his rise in power? Unprecedented."

Lira crossed her arms. "Strong enough to defeat planetary guardians," she added grimly. "Apparently, he took down a four-armed giant—single-handedly."

Xalin's brow furrowed. The guardians were legendary protectors of their planets, beings said to wield near-divine strength. "You're saying he defeated one? Alone?"

Terra nodded, her gaze steady. "And he's been collecting something. Crystals from the guardians. They're important, but no one knows why."

Xalin exhaled slowly. "Could he be one of the Legion?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and foreboding.

---

The team moved quickly to the nearest teleportation station, a sprawling hub of glowing platforms powered by ancient technology. Xalin, now able to channel the elemental spirits more efficiently, felt the subtle pull of the earth beneath his feet, guiding his senses.

"Where did Roylen go after defeating the guardian?" Xalin asked as they stepped onto the platform.

"Reports say he was last seen on Verdinax," Terra replied. "It's a jungle planet, but also home to a teleportation nexus. If he's moving fast, that's where we'll find him."

Kell activated the controls, the platform humming with energy. As the teleportation sequence began, Xalin's heart raced. A lead on the Legion of Darkness—or so he believed—was too critical to ignore.

---

Verdinax: A Jungle of Secrets

The group materialized amidst the dense greenery of Verdinax. Towering trees stretched toward the sky, their canopies forming a near-impenetrable ceiling of leaves. The air was humid, and the sounds of wildlife echoed through the jungle.

Xalin knelt, placing his palm on the ground. His connection to the earth spirits heightened his awareness, allowing him to sense the vibrations of life across the terrain. He focused, feeling the rhythmic pulses of the jungle's heartbeat.

"There," he said, pointing toward a faint disturbance to the east. "Someone is moving fast—and not with the grace of the wildlife. It's deliberate."

Terra closed her eyes, her seismic sensing complementing Xalin's. "Agreed. Let's move."

---

A Trail of Destruction

As they followed the trail, the signs of battle became apparent. Uprooted trees, scorched earth, and deep gouges in the ground painted a picture of a fierce confrontation.

Lira stopped beside a massive crater. "This was recent," she muttered, kneeling to inspect the charred remains of a tree.

Kell's shadow extended, probing the area. "Someone fought here. And judging by the damage, it wasn't a fair fight."

The group pressed on, their movements cautious yet purposeful. Eventually, they reached a clearing where the remnants of a towering figure lay motionless—a four-armed giant, its chest caved in.

"That's the guardian," Terra said, her voice barely above a whisper.

In the center of the clearing, a man stood with his back to them. He was tall, with a lean yet muscular build, his dark red cloak fluttering in the faint breeze. In his hand, he held a crystalline object, its surface glimmering faintly in the dim light.

Xalin narrowed his eyes. "Roylen."

The man turned slowly, his sharp features illuminated by the glow of the crystal. His gaze was piercing, and an unsettling smirk played on his lips.

"I see my reputation precedes me," Roylen said, his voice smooth and confident.

Xalin stepped forward, his markings beginning to glow faintly. "Why are you collecting those crystals? What do you need them for?"

Roylen tilted his head, feigning ignorance. "You ask a lot of questions for someone who doesn't understand the answers."

Xalin's fists clenched. "Are you part of the Legion of Darkness?"

Roylen laughed, a deep, resonant sound that echoed through the clearing. "The Legion? No. But it's amusing that you'd think so."

Lira stepped beside Xalin, her blood aura faintly visible. "Then explain this," she demanded, gesturing to the fallen guardian. "Why kill something that was meant to protect this planet?"

Roylen's smirk widened. "Because it was in my way."

Xalin's patience snapped. He shifted into a combat stance, the ground beneath him cracking as his elemental energies surged. "You're lying. And I'm not letting you leave here until I know the truth."

Roylen's expression hardened, the smirk fading. He tossed the crystal into the air, catching it effortlessly. "You're bold, Luminary. But boldness doesn't equal strength."

The tension was palpable, the air thick with the promise of battle. Xalin's companions readied themselves, their auras flickering like flames in the wind.

Roylen casually tossed the crystal aside, his cloak billowing as he took a step forward. "If it's a fight you want, Luminary, I'll gladly oblige."

The two stood at opposite ends of the clearing, their energy crackling in the air like a storm about to break. The stage was set, and the battle was inevitable.