Chapter 19: Bonds Forged in Stone
The labyrinth stretched before them, its winding corridors and oppressive silence broken only by the faint hum of runes etched into the walls. Reynard Caine moved with purpose, his sword sheathed but his presence enough to steady his companions. This wasn't his first trial, nor would it be his last.
They entered the chamber cautiously. It was massive, its ceiling vanishing into the shadows above. The walls were carved with scenes of battle—armored warriors locked in combat with monstrous beasts, their faces frozen in grim determination. In the center of the room stood four towering Stone Sentinels, each one a hulking mass of jagged stone and glowing runes.
The constructs stood still, their glowing red eyes fixed on Reynard's group. The air crackled with latent energy, and the ground beneath their feet felt alive, as though the labyrinth itself was waiting to strike.
"These things are big," Amara muttered, spinning her spear lazily. "Big and slow. Shouldn't be too hard."
Selene shot her a sharp look, her hood pulled low over her silver hair. "Don't underestimate them. Look at the runes—they're feeding the constructs energy. This is going to be a fight of endurance, not speed."
Darius rested his claymore against his shoulder, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Good. I was getting bored of the weaklings we've been running into. Something like this? This is more my speed."
"Focus," Reynard said, his tone calm but firm. He unsheathed his sword, the faint flicker of flames igniting along the blade as the power of his Blazing Champion class coursed through it. "We'll take them one at a time. Darius, you're with me. Amara, keep the second sentinel distracted. Luther, find the weak points in the third and slow it down. Selene, cover us with barriers and work on disabling the runes. They're boosting the constructs."
"And if they don't follow your plan?" Luther asked, smirking as he twirled a dagger.
"Then we adapt," Reynard replied, stepping forward.
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As Reynard prepared to engage, golden text flickered faintly in the corner of his vision. The familiar sight of his Legacy System was both comforting and distracting. Passed down through the generations of the Caine family, the system was an exclusive gift that provided insight and guidance in even the direst situations.
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Legacy System Notification:
Threat Level: Moderate. Recommended Strategy: Divide and Conquer. Exploit mobility weaknesses at the joints.
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Reynard barely glanced at the notification. He didn't need the system to tell him that. Its advice, though precise, was becoming predictable. He took a deep breath, focusing instead on the enemies before him.
"Darius, aim for the joints," Reynard said, his voice steady. "Disable their mobility first. Let's move."
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The first sentinel groaned to life, its massive arm swinging down in a crushing arc. The force of the blow shook the chamber as it slammed into the ground, sending cracks splintering outward. Reynard sidestepped with practiced precision, the flames along his blade intensifying as he activated Ignition Slash.
"Go for the cracks," Reynard called out, his sword cleaving into the sentinel's side. Fire erupted from the impact, spreading across the stone surface and leaving molten trails.
Darius charged in from the side, his claymore glowing faintly as he brought it down in a brutal arc. The blade connected with the sentinel's torso, widening the cracks Reynard had created.
"Not bad," Darius said, smirking as he swung again.
"Keep going," Reynard replied, his voice sharp.
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Legacy System Notification:
Core Weakness: 65% Exposed. Additional pressure recommended.
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The sentinel groaned, its movements slowing as the flames and cracks spread across its body.
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On the other side of the chamber, Amara darted toward the second sentinel, her spear spinning in her hands. Flames danced along the tip of her weapon as she struck at the construct's legs, aiming for its joints.
"These things are slow," she muttered, sidestepping a heavy swing. "Is this supposed to be hard?"
The sentinel retaliated with surprising speed, its massive arm swinging toward her. A shimmering blue barrier appeared just before impact, deflecting the blow and sending ripples through the air.
"Don't get careless," Selene called out, her hands glowing faintly as she maintained the barrier.
Amara grinned. "Appreciate it!" She lunged forward, driving her spear into the sentinel's knee. Flames erupted from the strike, forcing the construct to stagger.
Luther moved like a shadow at the rear of the chamber, his daggers flashing as he darted between the legs of the third sentinel. He struck at its joints with calculated precision, chipping away at the stone to disrupt its movements.
"This one's slow, but it's getting faster," he muttered, dodging a retaliatory swing.
Selene knelt beside a glowing rune etched into the floor, her chanting growing louder as she worked to disrupt its energy. The light of the rune flickered and dimmed, sending faint pulses of energy through the chamber.
"That's one," Selene said, rising to her feet.
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Legacy System Notification (Warning):
External Disruption Detected. Estimated Danger Increase: 20%. Risk of Additional Spawns.
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"Selene, keep going," Reynard called out, his tone sharper than before. "We need those runes shut down now."
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The third sentinel groaned as the flames of Reynard's Ignition Slash burned through its torso. He activated Infernal Charge, a fiery burst of speed propelling him forward. His sword blazed with intense heat as he drove it into the sentinel's core.
The construct staggered, its movements growing sluggish as the runes on its body flickered faintly.
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Legacy System Notification:
Threat Level: Declining.
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But just as Reynard prepared to deliver the final blow, the system flashed another notification—one unlike any other he had seen.
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Legacy System Alert:
New Variable Identified.
Name: Orin Lumis.
Threat Level: Unknown.
Observation Recommended.
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Reynard froze. For the first time in the trial, his focus faltered. Orin Lumis. The name was familiar—the weakest student in Class A. The one who had challenged him in a sparring match back at the academy.
"Why now?" Reynard murmured under his breath, his grip on his sword tightening.
Darius, noticing his pause, glanced over. "Something wrong?"
"Nothing," Reynard said quickly, shaking his head. But the system's warning lingered in his mind. Orin was weak, unremarkable, barely surviving the academy. And yet, the system had never been wrong before.
Selene disrupted a second rune, and the remaining sentinels groaned as their energy sources weakened.
"Now's the time to strike!" Reynard shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Darius swung his claymore with crushing force, shattering the core of the first sentinel. Amara finished off the second with a flaming thrust to its chest, the construct crumbling into rubble.
Reynard delivered the final blow to the third sentinel, driving his blade through its core. Flames erupted from the impact, consuming the construct in a fiery explosion.
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The group gathered near the center of the chamber, their breathing heavy but steady. Luther sheathed his daggers with a smirk. "Four oversized statues down. Not bad for a day's work."
"Not bad at all," Amara added, leaning on her spear.
Reynard said nothing. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the system's alert about Orin.
Selene studied him carefully, her voice quiet. "You're distracted."
"I'm fine," Reynard said quickly, sharper than intended.
Selene didn't press further, but her gaze lingered on him as the group prepared to move on.
Reynard glanced back at the rubble-strewn chamber, the weight of the system's warning heavy in his mind.
Orin Lumis… what are you hiding?
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