Chapter 66: Reckoning

Chapter 66: Reckoning

Silvia's POV

The cavern trembled with the weight of ancient power. The air itself felt charged, thick with something older than Titan, older than humanity. The towering figures standing before Silvia and her team were not just relics of the past—they were alive, breathing, sentient.

Their leader stepped forward, armor gleaming in the dim bioluminescence of the underground city. His voice resonated through the chamber like an earthquake. "You trespass on sacred ground. This place is not for you."

Silvia met his gaze, gripping her weapon tightly. "We didn't come here to destroy. We came to stop Titan. What were they doing down here?"

The being's piercing eyes studied her for a long moment. "Titan sought to harness what should never be disturbed. They awoke something beyond their control. And now… it is loose."

A distant rumble shook the cavern, and Silvia's stomach twisted. Something is loose?

Dragon stepped beside her, his golden eyes narrowing. "You mean the creatures we fought in the tunnels?"

The armored figure shook his head. "No. Those were merely the guardians. What Titan disturbed… was something far worse."

The Unleashing

Before Silvia could ask more, the ground shuddered violently. A deafening screech echoed through the cavern, sending chills down her spine. The blue lights illuminating the underground city flickered erratically.

Then, from the abyss beyond the ancient structures, it emerged.

A monstrosity of shadow and molten energy crawled from the depths, its form shifting as if it were both solid and liquid. Its eyes burned like twin suns, and when it opened its jagged maw, reality itself seemed to ripple.

The ancient beings braced themselves, weapons glowing with ethereal light. "It has awakened."

Silvia's breath caught in her throat. "What the hell is that?!"

Dragon's body tensed, his claws extending. "Something that should have stayed buried."

Garrik cursed. "We are so screwed."

The beast let out another roar, and the walls of the cavern cracked. Debris rained down, forcing the resistance fighters to scatter. Silvia ignited her hands with fire, preparing for battle.

"We need to bring it down!"

The leader of the armored beings turned to her. "If you wish to fight, then fight with us. But know this—there is no victory. Only survival."

Silvia clenched her jaw. "Then we survive."

The Battle Beneath the Earth

The cavern erupted into chaos as the monstrous entity lashed out. Silvia barely dodged a wave of energy that shattered the ground where she stood. Dragon leaped onto a rock formation, shifting mid-air and slashing at the creature's side. His claws made contact, but the wound sealed instantly.

"It's regenerating!" Tarren called out as she fired a round of explosive bullets at its head. The shots hit, sending bursts of light across its form, but the creature barely staggered.

Silvia turned to the ancient warriors. "How do we kill it?!"

Their leader raised a glowing spear. "You don't. But you can seal it."

He pointed toward the heart of the city, where a massive construct pulsed with the same energy as the creature. "That machine was built to imprison it. Titan tried to dismantle it. We must restore it before the beast reaches full strength."

Silvia nodded, already moving. "Then let's get it done."

A Desperate Gamble

As the battle raged, Silvia and a handful of fighters raced toward the ancient construct. It stood like a cathedral, intricate carvings glowing faintly as if remembering its purpose.

Garrik set up explosives along the perimeter. "We need to power this thing back up, fast."

Silvia pressed her hands to the structure, channeling her magic. The carvings responded, pulsing brighter, but it wasn't enough.

Dragon landed beside her. "It needs more."

The leader of the ancient warriors stepped forward, his voice calm despite the chaos. "It requires a sacrifice. Energy must be given to restore the lock."

Silvia's stomach dropped. "What kind of sacrifice?"

The warrior placed a hand on his chest. "Life."

Before she could protest, he turned, facing his soldiers. One by one, they nodded, stepping toward the construct.

"No!" Silvia shouted, but it was too late. They placed their hands against the structure, and light engulfed them. Their bodies dissolved into energy, surging into the machine. The carvings blazed to life, and the air vibrated with raw power.

The beast shrieked, sensing its doom. It lunged toward the structure, but Dragon intercepted, slamming into it with all his strength. Silvia poured the last of her fire into the machine.

The cavern shook one final time, and then—the beast was pulled backward, screaming as it was dragged into the depths.

The city fell silent.

Silvia collapsed to her knees, breathing heavily. The warriors were gone. Their sacrifice had sealed the creature away.

Dragon placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's over."

She exhaled shakily. "For now."

She scanned the underground ruins, taking in the remnants of an ancient war. The air still crackled with residual energy, and the scent of ozone filled her lungs.

Tarren knelt beside her. "What do we do now?"

Silvia straightened, brushing dust from her uniform. "We gather everything we can. This place—these warriors, their history—it matters. Titan was here for a reason, and I intend to find out why."

Garrik glanced at the darkened passageways leading deeper into the city. "Do you think there are more of them? More of those creatures?"

Dragon ran a hand through his hair, eyes still trained on the now-dormant construct. "If there are, we need to be ready."

Silvia's fingers curled into fists. "No more surprises. We take control of this place before Titan does. If they wanted whatever power was buried here, we sure as hell aren't leaving it for them."

The war was far from over, but tonight, they had gained something invaluable—knowledge. And with knowledge came power.

Silvia turned toward the exit, the weight of responsibility pressing down on her. "Let's move. We have work to do."