Chapter 759 - 761
At the center of it all stood a pedestal, atop which rested a single object, a key, seemingly simple yet radiating an undeniable aura of power. Jude’s heart pounded. He had come too far to hesitate now.
He approached, but before he could reach out, the ground trembled. A low, guttural growl echoed through the chamber. From the shadows between the massive gears, a form began to emerge. At first, it was nothing more than a shifting silhouette, but as it stepped into the light, its features became clear, a guardian, forged of metal and stone, its body adorned with ancient engravings that glowed faintly with the same golden hue as the room. Its eyes burned like molten fire.
"You who seek the key," the guardian’s voice was a deep rumble, resonating through the chamber. "Prove your worth."
Jude barely had time to react before the guardian lunged. He threw himself to the side as a massive fist crashed into the floor where he had stood, sending cracks spiderwebbing outward. Rolling to his feet, he reached for his sword, but the guardian was already on him, its speed defying its immense size.
The blade met the creature’s arm with a metallic clang, sparks flying. The force of the impact sent a shock through Jude’s arm, nearly making him lose his grip. He adjusted his stance, exhaling sharply. He had fought many battles, but this was different. This was not a living opponent, there were no weaknesses to exploit, no exhaustion to wear down.
The guardian swung again. Jude ducked, barely avoiding the strike, and countered with a slash aimed at its legs. The blade skidded across the stone-like surface, leaving only a shallow scratch. The guardian twisted, bringing an elbow down toward him. Jude leapt back, the blow missing him by inches but sending a gust of force that nearly knocked him off his feet.
Think. There had to be a way to defeat it.
His eyes darted around the chamber, searching for anything he could use to his advantage. The gears, the chains, the entire mechanism was interconnected. If this guardian was part of the temple’s defenses, then perhaps,
The guardian charged again. Jude sidestepped, dodging a punch that shattered the floor beneath them. In that moment, he spotted it, a weak point in the chains that held the largest gear in place. If he could sever it, disrupt the balance of the mechanism, it might just give him the opening he needed.