Chapter 21 — Trial of Bloodsteel
Chapter 21 — Trial of Bloodsteel
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The Vault trembled.
The Bloodsteel Guardian fully emerged from the black mist—towering, armored like a forgotten war god. Its jagged sword, larger than a man, scraped sparks against the floor.
Every step it took echoed like war drums inside the chamber.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
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Shun (half-grinning, voice low):
"They weren't joking about this place, huh."
Liora (soft teasing):
"I hope you can steal its sword for us later."
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Cyrus stood slightly behind the group, eyes cold, calculating, scanning every movement.
> Its joints are stiff. Heavy armor, but limited flexibility.
The weak points — lower knee joints, left shoulder plate.
But that sword... single strike could split any of us if we get careless.
Yet he remained still — observing.
> Let's see how they handle true danger.
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Ren (activating Limit Overdrive, voice sharp):
"Daiki, front guard!"
Without hesitation, Daiki Stormgrave stepped forward.
His skin hardened into steel-like plates, muscles bulging under his uniform. The Guardian's first swing crashed down — and Daiki caught the blade barehanded.
CRACK!
Sparks exploded as metal ground against hardened flesh.
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Daiki (calm, slightly strained tone):
"Hold it… strike now!"
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Kaito (voice charged, composed):
"Opening."
He blasted a beam of condensed plasma into the Guardian's side — melting part of its armor. The creature stumbled, but roared with metallic rage.
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Seraphina (soft voice, eyes glowing faintly red):
"Its life essence is unstable… I can drain it."
She raised her hands — thin threads of red energy lashed into the Guardian's frame, leeching power as its movements grew more sluggish.
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Vera vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind the monster, blades flashing. She targeted its exposed joints, slicing tendon-like cables inside its armor.
SLASH!
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Aurora (commanding, eyes narrowed):
"Reality Bend — slow its perception."
The air shimmered briefly as the monster's swings became clumsier, like it was fighting underwater.
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Cyrus narrowed his eyes.
> Good coordination. Minimal wasted movements.
But...
He glanced sideways at Adrien.
> You're not watching the monster. You're watching us.
Adrien simply smiled — hands behind his back, as if observing pieces on a board.
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Selene (calm voice, manipulating time):
"Collapse point — now."
For a brief second, Selene froze the Guardian mid-step — locking its position for a perfect strike window.
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Ren (voice sharp):
"Liora!"
Liora (playful tone, voice shifting deeper):
"Break."
Her mindwave pulsed outward — mentally crushing the creature's weakened joints
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The Guardian roared one last time before collapsing under its own weight — shattering into fragments of bloodstained metal.
Silence returned.
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Iris (softly, pretending wide-eyed):
"We... we did it."
Vynne (wiping sweat, slightly breathless):
"That was only the first guardian, wasn't it?"
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Cyrus finally stepped forward, speaking for the first time.
Cyrus (low, calm tone):
"Impressive... but predictable."
Everyone turned to him, curious.
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Aurora (curious tone):
"Predictable?"
Cyrus (voice steady):
"You coordinated well. But your strength blinded you to its secondary function."
He pointed at the black mist leaking from the broken armor.
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The fragments twitched.
Dozens of smaller creatures — spider-like machines with sharp, needle legs — emerged from the cracks.
Ren (tensed):
"Damn it—!"
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Adrien (calm, faint smile):
"The Trial of Bloodsteel isn't passed with brute force."
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The spiders spread across the floor quickly, covering the ground.
Suddenly, Cyrus spoke coldly:
Cyrus (sharp, emotionless):
"Vera. Shadows."
Without hesitation, Vera merged into the ground, spreading a thick black field that slowed the spiders.
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Cyrus (next, steady command):
"Kaito. Area-wide discharge."
Kaito instantly responded, releasing a controlled burst of electromagnetic energy, frying several of the creatures mid-charge.
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The group paused—watching Cyrus issue orders as if he'd rehearsed it all beforehand.
> Their eyes are seeing something new now,
The leader without a crown.
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Adrien (smiling wider, whispering under breath):
"Excellent, Cyrus... show them who you truly are."
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The battle was far from over.
The Vault still pulsed, as if watching.
Adrien raised his arm and pointed forward.
Adrien (firm tone):
"Tomorrow — we will go more deeper
Others look at him with frustrated look.
But they understand situation
Adrien continue
And your families are unknown about our little expedition so better not make them
More curious.
Other nodded and ended the discussion.
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As the group began to disperse for final preparations, Cyrus stood still, quietly watching Adrien from behind.
> He keeps pulling the strings. But I'll pull mine too.
> They obey him like sheep they all want power only known to them not there family.
Cyrus thinking in clam and more logical way
They are planning to take over there family.
But the main reason they are obeying is
... Desire get more Powerfull
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End of Chapter 21