Trial of the Guardian

The ancient temple shook as the stone warrior came to life, its massive sword dragging against the floor with a deafening scrape. The red glow in its eyes pulsed, filling the chamber with an ominous energy.

Jin-Won steadied himself, gripping his sword tightly. "We need to take it down before it collapses this whole place!"

Hori rolled his shoulders, cracking a grin. "Finally! Some action!" He dashed forward, blade ready, but as soon as he got close, the statue swung its enormous sword. The force alone sent Hori flying back, crashing against the stone wall.

Lyria gasped. "Hori!"

Si-Yeon quickly raised her hands, chanting a spell. A blue barrier formed just in time to block the next attack, but cracks spread across it from the sheer power of the guardian's strike. "This thing is way stronger than it looks!"

Jin-Won didn't hesitate. He lunged at the statue, slashing at its legs, but his blade barely left a scratch. "Its armor is too tough… We need a different approach!"

Lyria's eyes darted around the chamber. "Wait! Look at those symbols on the walls!" She pointed at the glowing carvings, which flickered in response to the statue's movements. "Maybe there's a way to stop it!"

Si-Yeon's gaze followed Lyria's direction. "That must be the key!"

Jin-Won shouted, "Then we'll hold it off—find a way to shut it down!"

The battle raged on, each strike of the guardian shaking the temple like a raging storm.

The trial had begun.

—To be continued…