Dust settled around the colossal guardian as it lumbered forward, its stone-like scales scraping against the trees. The crimson glow in its eyes pulsed in rhythm with its heavy footsteps. Aren tightened his grip on his staff, signaling Sharu to stay close. The others formed a defensive circle, wary of the beast's movements.
Dorian, his fists crackling with electricity, stepped forward. "Alright, big guy. Let's see if stone can handle a little shock!"
Before anyone could stop him, Dorian launched himself at the guardian, his Shockwave Lion roaring in tandem. The impact sent a surge of energy coursing through the creature, but it barely flinched. Instead, it swung a massive stone limb, forcing Dorian to dive out of the way.
"Careful!" Lyra shouted. "It's more resilient than it looks."
Kael's Shadow Serpent slithered through the underbrush, striking at the guardian's legs, but the beast's tough exterior deflected the fangs effortlessly. Aren realized brute force wouldn't work—they needed a strategy.
"Aric, use your fire to heat the stone!" Aren called out.
Aric hesitated, but then his Fire Salamander unleashed a stream of flames at the guardian's lower body. The heat caused cracks to form in the stone, and steam hissed as frost from Liora's Ice Wolf followed, rapidly cooling the superheated areas.
Lyra's eyes widened. "The rapid temperature change! It's causing the stone to fracture!"
Taking advantage of the moment, Dorian slammed his fist into one of the cracks, sending a shockwave through the weakened area. The guardian's leg buckled, forcing it to kneel.
Aren felt a surge of hope. "Keep it up! Target the cracks!"
The guardian roared, and its chest emitted a deep, resonant hum. Energy built up around it, and before they could react, the ground trembled violently. A burst of force rippled outward, sending everyone sprawling.
Kael cursed under his breath, wiping blood from his lip. "It's gathering energy—like it's drawing strength from the earth itself."
Lyra helped Aren to his feet, her expression grim. "We have to break that connection or it'll keep regenerating."
Thinking quickly, Aren glanced at Sharu. "Can you sense anything unusual beneath it?"
Sharu tilted his head, then lowered his nose to the ground. A moment later, his ears perked up, and he barked softly. Aren knelt, pressing his hand to the soil, and felt a faint vibration—like roots pulsing with life.
"It's channeling energy from the ground," Aren realized. "If we sever the connection, it might weaken it."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "The roots—it's drawing power from them. We need to cut them off."
Liora didn't hesitate. "My wolf can freeze the ground—trap the roots and stop the flow."
"Do it!" Aren urged.
The Ice Wolf howled, and frost crept along the earth, forming a thick layer of ice. The guardian roared in frustration, its movements sluggish as the energy flow was disrupted.
Lyra's Shadow Falcon dived from above, slashing at the cracks in the guardian's chest with razor-sharp talons. Sparks flew as the stone chipped away, exposing a core of pulsing red light.
"There!" Lyra shouted. "That's its heart! If we destroy it, the guardian might fall!"
Dorian grinned, his determination reignited. "Leave it to me!"
He charged forward, lightning surging through his body, and delivered a devastating punch to the exposed core. The impact caused a surge of energy to erupt, but instead of shattering, the core only dimmed.
Aren shouted, "It's still connected! Aric, superheat the core!"
Aric nodded, his Fire Salamander unleashing a concentrated burst of flames at the glowing orb. The heat intensified, and cracks spread across the core's surface. With a final, powerful strike, Dorian smashed his electrified fist into the weakened core.
A blinding light erupted, and the guardian let out a final, resonant howl before crumbling to pieces, its core shattering like glass. The tremors ceased, and silence fell over the clearing.
Panting, Dorian wiped sweat from his forehead. "That… was tougher than expected."
Kael observed the remains warily. "That was no ordinary guardian. Its core—did you notice how it seemed… alive?"
Liora knelt by one of the shattered fragments, tracing a faint rune etched into the stone. "This isn't just a guardian. It's part of something larger—a defense system. But what was it protecting?"
Aren remembered the carvings they had seen at the ruins—the ancient symbols that seemed to glow. "Maybe it was protecting the seal. If these guardians are connected to the primordial beasts, breaking the seal might be waking them up."
Lyra looked thoughtful. "If that's true, there could be more. Guardians positioned around the forest, keeping the corruption contained. But if the seals break…"
Aric frowned. "Then the guardians might see us as threats, just like the corrupted beasts."
Aren's heart sank as the implications settled in. The forest wasn't just dangerous because of the corrupted beasts—it was becoming a battlefield between ancient forces and whatever was trying to break free.
Kael straightened, his expression resolute. "We need to report this. If the academy knows about the seals, they might have records on how to strengthen them. Ignoring this could put everyone at risk."
Aren agreed. "Let's head back. We'll gather the others and plan from there."
They moved cautiously through the forest, the eerie silence amplifying their unease. As they neared the academy grounds, Aren couldn't help but look back, his thoughts tangled.
Sharu nuzzled his hand, offering silent comfort. Aren couldn't shake the feeling that they were stepping into something far more dangerous than the trials alone. The forest was awakening, and the academy seemed caught in the center of a storm that had been brewing for centuries.
As they approached the gate, the judge awaited them, his expression more severe than usual. Behind him, instructors whispered to one another, clearly unsettled.
"You returned faster than expected," the judge noted. "Report."
Kael stepped forward, recounting the encounter with the guardian and their discovery about the roots channeling energy. The judge listened intently, his gaze sharp and calculating.
When Kael finished, the judge remained silent for a moment before nodding. "You've done well. Rest for now. Further instructions will follow."
As the judge turned away, Aren caught a glimpse of the instructors exchanging worried looks. Something was definitely wrong, and whatever the academy was hiding, Aren knew they couldn't afford to stay in the dark.
As they made their way to their quarters, Aren's mind raced. The forest wasn't just a trial ground—it was a ticking time bomb. And unless
they found a way to stop the seals from breaking, the entire academy could be at risk.