The Guardian Left Behind

The figure moved like smoke wrapped in bone.

No footsteps.

No breath.

Just the whisper of something not alive, but bound.

Juno stepped beside Lyle, swords drawn.

No questions.

No fear.

She was ready to fight.

But the thing didn't charge.

It spoke.

> "You wear the ring of the Bloodwalker… but your soul is unclaimed."

Its voice came from behind its face.

From the air itself.

From somewhere deeper.

Lyle didn't flinch.

"Who are you?"

> "I am Sentinel-9. Anchorwraith. Bound to the Oath of the Cracked Fang.

Left by the One Who Bled Stars… to kill the next who would carry his curse."

Juno's eyes narrowed. "Quinn?"

The creature shrieked.

Not in rage.

In pain.

> "Do not speak the ancient's name."

---

The Codex flickered to life in Lyle's mind:

> [Anchor Conflict Detected]

This entity predates the rewritten Seal.

Cannot be scanned.

Weakness: Null core — corrupted bloodline anchor.

Threat Level: Cataclysmic (solo engagement discouraged).

Juno read his face. "Bad?"

"Worse than the simulations."

---

The creature raised its hand—

Not to strike—

But to draw.

A glyph formed in the air.

Not magic.

Not Codex-script.

Just pure anti-symbol.

And the ground between them shattered.

---

Juno launched forward, a blur of steel and intent.

Her blade screamed against the creature's unnatural skin, sparks flying like shrapnel.

Lyle followed, but the Codex faltered—his spells flickered, reacting poorly to the Guardian's presence.

"It's dampening my glyphwork!" he shouted.

"Then don't cast!" Juno yelled back.

"Do something stupid instead!"

So he did.

He charged.

Bare-handed.

---

The Guardian grabbed him mid-swing.

Lifted him effortlessly.

> "You are not him."

> "No," Lyle choked out. "But maybe I'm worse."

He shoved the ring directly into the Guardian's chest.

The moment it touched—

The world screamed.

---

A shockwave ripped outward, silencing the air.

The creature howled—

Its arm fracturing, sigils bleeding red-black energy.

> [Anchor Protocol Overriding]

Quinn's signature recognized.

Sentinel conflict triggered – termination initiated.

And for the first time—

The Guardian backed away.

"You should not exist."

"You said that already," Lyle coughed, rolling to his feet. "Now tell me something new."

---

Juno didn't hesitate.

She struck the creature's exposed spine, her blade finding the single mark the Codex had flagged—

It screamed.

Fell.

And crumbled into dust and static, the way all unbound constructs do.

---

Lyle dropped to one knee.

Juno knelt beside him.

"That was reckless."

"Effective."

She sighed. "If this is what that ring brings, you better start explaining."

He opened his mouth—

Then froze.

Because beneath the dust…

The second anchor flared—

> [Gate Progress: 50%]

Quinn's world can now be reached.

Next jump: 3 days.

---

And far away, beneath the blood moon—

Quinn stood at the edge of his balcony.

Watching the sky split for just a moment.

> "You're close," he murmured.

"Let's see if you survive the crossing."