Chapter 17: Pulse of the Labyrinth

The group moved cautiously, the glow of the runes casting faint shadows across their faces. The earlier victory against the vipers lingered in their minds, but the oppressive air of the labyrinth was relentless.

Orin led the way, his katana sheathed for now but his senses on high alert. The artifact in his chest hummed faintly, as if adjusting to the power it had just granted him. The memory of the Aetherbound Pulse was fresh in his mind—its strength, its potential—but there was no time to test it yet.

"You've been awfully quiet," Cassandra said, walking beside him. Her tone was casual, but her sharp eyes studied him carefully. "Let me guess—you're still trying to figure out what that little glow show back there was all about."

"Something like that," Orin replied.

"Well, don't overthink it. You'll get plenty of chances to test it out. This place isn't done with us yet."

"She's right," Kael said, his voice still weary but more confident now. "The labyrinth's designed to push us to our limits. If that artifact of yours is tied to this place, you'll need every ounce of power it can give you."

Orin didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. The artifact pulsed again, its warmth a steady reminder of its presence.

The corridor opened into a massive chamber, its ceiling so high it disappeared into darkness. Pillars lined the edges of the room, their surfaces covered in glowing runes that shifted and pulsed like a living heartbeat.

At the center of the chamber stood a massive construct—a Stone Warden, its body made of jagged rock and its glowing eyes fixed on the group.

"Mid-D Rank," Cassandra said, her voice calm but cautious. "We've dealt with worse."

Kael, however, shook his head. "This one's different. Look at the runes on the pillars—they're feeding it energy. If we don't shut them down, it'll just keep regenerating."

"Fantastic," Finn muttered, already gripping a dagger. "Another day, another deathtrap."

"Kael, can you shut down the runes?" Orin asked, stepping forward with his katana drawn.

"Maybe, but it'll take time," Kael replied, his eyes scanning the room. "I'll need to study their patterns first."

"Then do it," Orin said firmly. "Mira, stick with Kael and keep him safe."

Mira nodded, her hand already on her short sword.

"What about us?" Cassandra asked, spinning one of her daggers idly.

"We'll keep the Warden busy," Orin said. "We just need to hold out until Kael shuts down the runes."

"Hold out?" Finn repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That thing's the size of a house. You sure you're not planning to get squashed?"

"Not if we work together," Orin said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The Stone Warden roared, its deep, guttural cry shaking the chamber as it lumbered forward. Each step sent tremors through the ground, and the runes on the pillars flared brighter as if feeding the construct's power.

Orin activated Spirit Step, darting forward to meet the Warden head-on. His katana glowed faintly as he struck at the creature's arm, but the blade barely left a scratch against its rocky exterior.

"Great," Orin muttered, dodging as the Warden swung its massive fist at him. The force of the attack shattered the ground where he had just stood, sending chunks of stone flying.

Cassandra darted in from the side, her daggers targeting the joints in the Warden's legs. Her strikes left small but noticeable cracks, forcing the creature to slow its movements.

"Keep hitting its weak points!" Orin shouted.

"Easier said than done," Cassandra replied, narrowly avoiding another swing from the Warden.

At the edge of the chamber, Kael knelt beside one of the pillars, his fingers tracing the glowing runes. "These patterns are ancient," he said, his brow furrowed. "But I think I can disrupt them. Mira, cover me!"

Mira stood guard, her sword raised as smaller, snake-like constructs began emerging from the cracks in the walls.

"More snakes?!" Mira exclaimed, slashing at one of the creatures as it lunged at Kael.

"They're guardians," Kael explained, his voice strained. "The Warden's connected to them—they're protecting its energy source!"

"Just keep working!" Mira shouted, cutting down another snake.

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The Warden roared again, its movements becoming more erratic as it absorbed more energy from the pillars. Orin dodged another heavy swing, but the strain was beginning to take its toll. His breathing was labored, and his arms ached from the repeated strikes.

The artifact in his chest pulsed harder, its warmth turning into a blazing heat. Orin clenched his jaw, focusing on the energy building inside him.

"Aetherbound Pulse," he thought, the memory of the skill flashing through his mind.

He steadied his stance, raising his katana as the energy surged to the surface. With a shout, he released the skill. A shockwave of glowing blue energy erupted from his body, spreading outward in a wide radius.

The force slammed into the Warden, cracking its armor and forcing it to stagger. The smaller snake constructs were thrown back, several of them shattering on impact.

The chamber fell silent for a moment as the team stared in awe.

"Well," Cassandra said, a smirk playing on her lips. "That's one way to make an entrance."

With the Warden briefly stunned, Orin and Cassandra pressed the attack. Orin's katana glowed faintly as he struck at the creature's cracked armor, each hit deepening the fractures. Cassandra's daggers targeted its joints, her strikes quick and precise.

Meanwhile, Kael finished disrupting the first pillar, its glow fading as the runes flickered and died.

"One down!" Kael shouted. "Three more to go!"

"Mira, help him move to the next one!" Orin yelled, blocking another swing from the Warden.

The fight raged on, the Warden roaring in fury as its movements grew more unstable. With one pillar down and three remaining, the group's success—or survival—hung by a thread.

As Orin prepared to release another Aetherbound Pulse, the artifact in his chest flared with light, its energy threatening to overwhelm him.

"Orin!" Cassandra shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Orin's vision blurred, the heat of the artifact spreading uncontrollably. He gritted his teeth, gripping his katana tightly as the Warden loomed above him.

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