I Can See Evolution Paths

The stone door began to shake.

BOOM.

Dust fell from the ceiling. Arthur tightened his grip around King Maker.

Another impact came from the other side.

BOOM!

Mithra stepped closer to Arthur. "Something is behind it."

Athena raised Heavenpiercer. "And it doesn’t sound happy."

Sun glanced toward Luna. "Can the Light Mirror handle this?"

Luna looked at the glowing Mirror. "I don’t know."

Sun sighed. "That answer is becoming a little too common."

Luna gave him an apologetic smile. "I’m sorry."

"It’s fine." Sun tightened his grip around his staff. "Just stay close to us."

Luna nodded.

The spectral figure of Halburn stood silently before the door.

Then—

It disappeared.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed. "Wait."

The golden figure dissolved into countless particles of light, flowing toward the stone door. The hammer carved into its surface began glowing. Then the door opened.

A massive chamber appeared beyond it. The first thing Arthur noticed was the size, pillars rising hundreds of feet into darkness, golden carvings covering the walls. At the center stood a gigantic creature.

Arthur stopped. The creature had once been a guardian. He could see it immediately.

Its body was covered in ancient armor, almost resembling a massive Beast-shaped knight, four enormous legs supporting its body, two long horns curving backward from its skull. Its chest was covered by a thick golden plate, and embedded in its forehead was an ancient crystal.

But the crystal was almost completely black.

Purple veins covered its body. Miasma poured from the cracks in its armor.

Arthur’s expression hardened. "It was already here."

Athena nodded. "This place had a guardian."

Mithra looked at the corrupted creature. "And the Miasma got to it."

Vedas tightened his grip around King Maker. "So it wasn’t created by the corruption."

"No." Arthur stared at the creature. "It was corrupted."

The distinction mattered. The Miasma hadn’t created the monster. It had taken something that had once protected this place and turned it against everything inside.

The guardian slowly raised its head. One purple eye opened. Then the other. A deep growl shook the chamber.

Luna raised the Light Mirror. "Everyone!"

Golden light exploded outward, the Light Zone expanding across the chamber. The Miasma pouring from the Guardian immediately recoiled.

The creature roared.

ROOOOAR!

The entire chamber shook.

Sun’s eyes widened. "That’s a Guardian?"

Athena tightened her grip on Heavenpiercer. "Apparently."

Sun swallowed. "I suddenly understand why they needed one."

The Guardian moved, far faster than something that size should have been, its enormous claw crashing toward them.

Arthur raised King Maker.

[Guardian Strike]

A golden spectral warrior appeared behind Arthur, mirroring his thrust. The Guardian’s enormous claw collided with the giant spear of light.

BOOM!

The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber. Arthur slid backward. Vedas immediately appeared beside him. "Together."

Arthur nodded, and Vedas thrust King Maker, Arthur following. The two spears struck the Guardian’s chest at nearly the same time.

CLANG!

The armor cracked. But the Guardian didn’t fall. Instead, purple energy exploded from its body.

Luna’s Light Zone flickered. She staggered. "Ah!"

Mithra immediately moved beside her. "Luna!"

"I’m fine!"

The golden barrier stabilized. But its size had decreased.

Athena noticed. "The Guardian’s Miasma is much stronger than the others."

Luna nodded. "Every time it releases that corruption, the Mirror has to push it back."

Arthur looked at the Guardian. "Then we can’t let this drag on."

Vedas grinned. "I agree."

The Guardian charged. Mithra moved first, her fox ears appearing, her tails expanding behind her as she accelerated. The Guardian swung one massive claw. Mithra slipped underneath it. "Now!"

Sun charged from the opposite side, crimson veins spreading across his arm as Kong’s characteristics flowed into him. He punched the Guardian’s leg.

BOOM!

The enormous creature staggered. Kong immediately launched himself forward, his golden gauntlets flashing, striking the same location.

BOOM!

A crack spread across the Guardian’s armor.

Sun laughed. "Nice!"

Kong bounced excitedly.

Athena moved in, Athy’s characteristics covering her body, golden armor forming around her, her helmet appearing. She raised Heavenpiercer. "Aegis!" Her shield slammed into the Guardian’s attack.

CLANG!

The impact stopped the creature, and Athena thrust Heavenpiercer into its chest, the spear piercing through the cracked armor. "Arthur!"

Arthur understood immediately. He rushed forward, Star stretching across his arm, his flesh transforming into slime, and wrapped the Guardian’s forelimb, pulling the enormous limb downward.

Vedas saw the opening. "Mine." He disappeared, King Maker flashing.

[Guardian Strike]

The golden warrior behind Vedas appeared again, this time its spear enormous, striking the Guardian’s exposed chest.

BOOM!

The armor shattered. Purple energy exploded outward.

Luna raised the Light Mirror. "Hold!"

Golden light surged across the chamber, the Miasma slamming against the Light Zone. The barrier shook violently, and Luna’s face paled.

Mithra immediately moved closer. "Luna, you’re pushing too hard."

"I know."

"Then don’t."

"If I don’t, the Miasma will enter."

Mithra clenched her teeth. "Then we’ll finish this quickly." She looked toward Arthur. "Arthur!"

He nodded. Everyone understood. They needed one coordinated attack.

The Guardian roared and released another wave of corruption, the purple energy surging outward. The Light Zone shrank again.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed. "Everyone!"

Vedas moved to his side. Mithra positioned herself opposite them. Sun and Kong moved toward the Guardian’s legs. Athena raised Aegis. Eden flew upward. Star expanded across Arthur’s arm, and his wings appeared.

The Guardian charged. Athena stepped forward first. "Aegis!" Her shield expanded, and the Guardian slammed into it.

BOOM!

Athena’s feet dug into the stone. "Now!"

Mithra moved, her five tails becoming a silver blur, striking the Guardian’s exposed side repeatedly.

One.

Two.

Three.

The Guardian twisted toward her. Sun appeared beneath it. "Not so fast!" His crimson arm slammed upward, Kong striking at the exact same moment.

BOOM!

The Guardian’s balance broke. Eden flew overhead, a burst of temporal energy slowing the creature for a fraction of a second. That was all Arthur needed.

His wings carried him forward, Star’s slime stretched across his arm, King Maker gleaming in his hand. Vedas appeared beside him.

Arthur looked at him. Vedas smiled. "Together?"

"Together."

Both spears moved.

[Guardian Strike]

The golden Guardian appeared behind Arthur, and at the same time Vedas drove King Maker forward. Three enormous spears of golden light struck the Guardian’s chest.

BOOOOOOM!

The armor shattered. The ancient crystal embedded in the Guardian’s forehead cracked, and a wave of purple corruption exploded outward.

Luna screamed. "Everyone, get down!"

The Light Mirror flared, golden light consuming the chamber. The Miasma was pushed back.

Arthur landed heavily. Vedas crashed beside him. The Guardian staggered, its massive body trembling, the purple veins across its armor beginning to disappear. The black crystal in its forehead fractured.

Then—

CRACK.

The Guardian fell. The enormous creature hit the ground.

BOOM!

Silence. Nobody moved.

Sun slowly lowered his fist. "...Did we actually do it?"

Mithra was breathing heavily. "I think so."

Athena looked at the fallen Guardian. "The corruption is gone."

Vedas lowered King Maker. Arthur stared at the creature. The purple light had disappeared. For the first time, the Guardian looked peaceful.

Arthur exhaled. "It’s over."

Luna lowered the Light Mirror. The golden barrier remained. Barely. She looked exhausted. "We should move before—"

RUMBLE.

Everyone froze.

The ground moved beneath their feet. Arthur looked down before another tremor shook the chamber.

RUMBLE!

Dust fell from the ceiling. The ancient carvings began glowing.

Athena’s expression changed. "That’s not from the Guardian."

Mithra looked around. "The entire ruin is shaking."

A massive crack appeared across the floor.

CRACK!

Arthur’s eyes widened. The crack spread directly toward the center of the chamber. Something beneath them was waking up.

Vedas raised King Maker. "Arthur..."

Arthur stared at the widening fissure. "I know."

Another enormous tremor shook the ruins.

And somewhere deep beneath the earth—

Something answered.