The Abandoned Forge Of The Depths (4)
Atlas looked around the room once more. Now that the battle was over, it was possible to focus on the search.
– Let's take a look around. – He told Kira.
She nodded and ran her hand along the walls, looking for any marks or hiding places. Atlas activated the "Discarded Sense", hoping to discover something hidden.
[System Notification]
"Environment analysis... Anomalies have been detected!"
He noticed immediately that there was a barely visible crack on the far wall. He came closer, ran his hand, and his fingers found a small protrusion.
–There's something here...
Kira came over and looked at it carefully.
– It looks like a hidden mechanism. A latch, perhaps?
Atlas pressed down a little, and with a dull screech, the wall began to slide apart, revealing a narrow passage.
–Did you see that? – Kira exclaimed in surprise.
–Yeah… It looks like it leads deeper into the dungeon.
Inside the hidden room were the remains of machinery, old dilapidated racks, and several chests covered in dust. One of the chests was engraved with a strange symbol in the form of an eye.
[System Notification]
["You've found the secret room of the Fallen Guardians dungeon!"]
Atlas examined the chests. One was locked, but his "Repair of Forgotten Items" could help. He touched the lock carefully, concentrating.
[System Notification]
["Interaction with the mechanism... part of the structure has been restored!"]
The lock clicked, and the lid slowly opened.
There were several items inside:
["Part of the Echo Armor Blueprint"]
["Guardian Relic Fragment"]
["Shaded Lens Stone"]
Kira bent down, examining the finds.
–These blueprints… They look like my family's records!
Atlas looked at them more closely.
– Do you think your ancestors created something like this?
–I don't know… But it's definitely a footprint. I need to study this in the Dra'Myr.
He nodded and put the items back in his inventory.
[System Notification]
["The Fallen Guardians Dungeon is 100% explored!"]
["Received: 900 XP."]
Atlas exhaled. Now it was time to move on. He frowned. Judging by the description, there could be other relics in the dungeon. But neither the Essence of Fire nor the Fragment Plate was found among those found.
He looked at Kira thoughtfully.
–Listen, since this place has something to do with blacksmiths… Have you seen anything like an ancient forge here?
The girl thought about it, and then nodded.
I saw old furnaces in the far corridor, but there was no way to get there — there were rubble. Maybe there's something left?
Atlas looked at the map. Indeed, part of the dungeon remained inaccessible due to the destruction.
[System Notification]
["You have discovered the hidden area of the 'Flooded Forge'!"]
– Great. Let's check it out. – he said, heading in the right direction.
They carefully reached the place. Rocks, dirt, and rusty chains cluttered the entrance, but a strange crimson glow filtered through the cracks.
Atlas activated "Repair of forgotten Objects," and some of the rubble began to crumble, as if reacting to his touch. The remains of the mechanism creaked faintly, and the entrance opened slightly.
Behind him, a hall opened with a massive furnace, extinguished but still soaked in heat. Ancient tools and remnants of metal structures were scattered around.
In the center, there was an altar with flame symbols engraved on it.
[System Notification]
["You've found the 'Fire Forge'!"]
["Activate the furnace to extract its power."]
Atlas examined the place, noticing something bright in the recess of the altar— the Essence of Fire.
But as he approached, the walls shook. A huge silhouette covered in hardened plates burst out of the shadows.
–Damn it...– he gasped.
[System Notification]
["The Boss Battle has begun: The Guardian of the Fire Forge!"]
As soon as the system confirmed the start of the battle, the creature completely emerged from the shadows. It was a massive golem made of red-hot metal. His armor shone with an orange light, and a pulsating core of flame flickered in his chest.
[Enemy Analysis]
[Name] : Guardian of the Fire Forge
[Level]: 18
[Resistance]: Fire, Physical Damage
[Vulnerability]: Water Magic, Core Destruction
Atlas quickly analyzed his options. He didn't have any water magic skills, but destroying the cores sounded like a possible strategy.
– Kira, stay behind! He shouted as he activated Tactical Evasion and Astral Assistant Summon.
The air shark turned around, emitting a "Discharge Wave", but the electricity only ran faintly through the metal shell of the golem.
[System Notification]
["The electroattack had a weak effect on the enemy."]
–I knew it… We need to aim at the core!
The golem raised a massive fist and struck the ground with incredible force. A wave of heat spread through the hall, and the floor began to crack underfoot. Atlas jumped back in time, and Kira staggered back, almost falling into the impact zone.
–I can't just stand there! –She shouted, pulling out her warhammer.
– Then aim at his joints, you need to slow him down!
Kira landed a powerful blow on the golem's knee, but the metal was too strong.
However, a crack still appeared, and this gave Atlas the opportunity to use an "Energy Surge" to break through closer.
He activated the "Dagger Fight", aiming directly at the center of his chest, where the core was located.
[System Notification]
["Critical hit! Damage to the vulnerable area has been increased!"]
The golem shuddered, but did not fall. Instead, his body began to overheat, and then…
[CORE OVERLOAD HAS BEEN ACTIVATED.]
Atlas whispered, realizing that an explosion would occur in a few seconds.
They needed to end the battle quickly, otherwise the entire forge could collapse!
The golem shuddered, and its armor began to heat up even more. Flames were shooting out of cracks in the metal. An alarm system notification appeared on the Atlas screen:
[System Warning]
["Core overheating has reached a critical point.]
[Time to detonation: 30 seconds."]
–Damn, it's going to explode! –Atlas shouted, jumping back.
Kira gripped the hammer, her eyes widening as she realized the danger.
–We have to finish him off before it gets worse!
[System Warning]
["The explosion will cause catastrophic damage to the entire environment. Evacuation is impossible."]
– Of course! – Atlas grumbled: –No chance of escape, huh?Then let's work!
The golem raised its red-hot fist, trying to hit Atlas, but he activated "Tactical Evasion", rolling to the side.
– Kira, aim at the chest! We need to break through the hull and get to the core!
–Got it! – The girl kicked off the ground and swung her hammer.
[DEVASTATING BLOW!]
A powerful blow landed precisely on the already damaged section of the armor, and it could not stand it — the metal flew apart, revealing a flaming core!
Atlas did not miss the chance — he put all the available mana into the "Energy Resonance", pointing the dagger directly at the center of the core!
[System Notification]
[Critical damage! The core is unstable!]
The golem stopped, its body began to tremble, and the fire in its eyes went out.
–Did he... did he pass out? – Kira asked, catching her breath.
But then the core burst into flames, shattering into pieces, and then — a flash of light, a shock wave spread ashes and debris across the hall. Atlas and Kira flew back, but the system immediately displayed a message:
[VICTORY!]
[You have destroyed the Guardian of the Fire Forge!]
[Received: Fire Essence (x1), Fragmentation Plate (x1), Fragment of Fire Steel (x3).]
The atlas rose slowly, shaking off the dust.
– Phew… It seems that we have won after all.
Kira, breathing heavily, looked at him with respect.
–You're just an indestructible rabbit, Atlas.
He grinned, carefully examining the items he had obtained:
Essence of Fire (x1) — Contains pure magical flame energy. It can be used to enhance weapons or activate ancient mechanisms.
Fragmentation Plate (x1) — Ancient armor, a fragment of a destroyed golem. It can be recycled or used in blacksmithing.
A fragment of Fiery Steel (x3) is a piece of ancient material that is still hot to the touch. They are used to create weapons or armor that can withstand extreme temperatures.
–That's all we need. –Atlas said, putting the items back into his inventory: –With this, we can definitely open the Gates of the Ancient Master's Forge.
To be continued, please like and save…