As Orion continued tracing the intricate diagrams, a faint hum reverberated through the air, resonating with the formation's hidden force. His focus sharpened to a razor's edge. The shift in his aura was palpable gone was his usual laid-back demeanor, replaced by an eerie coldness, tinged with a rare spark of excitement. There was a thrill in deciphering ancient scripts, as if he were communicating directly with the world itself, altering its fabric, even if just slightly.
The group stood in awe, barely able to recognize the man before them. Was this still the same Orion? His entire presence felt... different, almost otherworldly.
"Every formation has a weakness," Orion mused to himself, his eyes gleaming with newfound insight. "I just need to find it, and the rest will fall apart. When I observed it earlier, the formation slowed down while absorbing Spiritual Energy. That's it—the weak point lies where the energy is being funneled."
His eyes darted across the formation's intricate lines, tracing them until they all converged—two statues, positioned ominously at the front.
'Heh found you' he smirked. 'So that's why I felt like I was being watched by these statues. Turns out, they're the core.'
Without taking his eyes off the formation, Orion called to the group, his voice calm but commanding. "Everyone, when I give the signal, focus all your strength on the statue to the right."
The group shifted their attention to the blue-hued statue, falling into battle-ready stances. However, Leroy couldn't suppress his curiosity and spoke up. "Uh, Orion, there are two statues. Why just target one? Wouldn't it be smarter to attack both?"
Orion, unphased, responded with a smirk. "If we hit both, the formation will stabilize and repair itself. But if we focus on only one, it'll destabilize the core entirely. That instability is our ticket inside."
Leroy scratched his head, embarrassed by the simple logic he had missed, and tightened his grip, ready to strike.
The atmosphere was thick with tension. Every warrior braced themselves, waiting for Orion's signal. His eyes flickered with understanding as the formation began to dim. At first, it was subtle, but the shift grew more pronounced, and the moment arrived.
"Now! Attack with everything you've got!" Orion's voice roared across the mountain
"IRON FIST!"
"ANGRY DRAGON FLAMES!"
"ICY PHOENIX PALMS!"
The ground quaked under the devastating might of their techniques. Torrents of heat and icy winds clashed, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Dust and debris erupted as the combined force struck the towering statue, an ancient monument of the past, head-on.
All eyes locked onto the statue, hearts pounding in anxious anticipation. As the dust began to clear, the once-imposing figure was no more—shattered into nothing but fragments, scattered like fallen leaves on the battlefield. Their combined strength had obliterated it entirely.
Orion stepped forward; his gaze set on the grand palace looming before them. This time, the familiar, oppressive force barring their entry was gone.
"The barrier... it's no more," he muttered, glancing over his shoulder at the others.
A grin spread across Leroy's face as he clapped Orion on the back. "Well done, kiddo! Knew you had it in ya all along."
The group's exhaustion was evident, but their excitement was undeniable.
"We have no idea what lies within the palace walls," Orion warned, his sharp gaze falling on Brandon. "We should rest, regain our strength. Who knows what dangers await us inside?"
Brandon gave a slight nod, too drained to argue. Without hesitation, the group sat, warily eyeing the palace's dark entrance. It took a full day for their energies to return, their weariness giving way to renewed vigor. Now prepared, they stood, determination burning in their eyes.
Brandon led the way, and with cautious footsteps, they ventured into the palace's shadowy halls. The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by their faint breaths. Suddenly, Brandon froze.
"Do you hear that?" His voice was barely a whisper, yet the tension in the room skyrocketed.
Panic flickered across their faces as they strained their ears.
Clop
Clop
Clop
A slow, deliberate footstep echoed through the air. Then, the palace burst to life, dim blue lights illuminating the vast hall, revealing a towering figure standing ahead. The massive warrior was clad in deep blue armor, every inch of him encased in steel, a great sword resting across his shoulders. His eyes were a void—an abyss that seemed to swallow the very light around him.
Without a word, the armored figure lunged toward them with blinding speed.
"Brace yourselves!" Brandon bellowed.
Orion took a step back, his mind racing.
'Another core? Could this thing be powered like the others? Where is it?'
Brandon took the brunt of the attack, his fists meeting steel with a grunt. Leroy saw the opening and darted forward, aiming for the figure's back, but his strike bounced off the impenetrable armor. The warrior whirled with terrifying precision, swinging his great sword toward Leroy. Only a desperate leap backward saved him from certain death.
With a roar, Brandon switched from defense to offense, his fists a blur as he launched a flurry of strikes. Linda joined him, attacking from the opposite side, while Leroy circled for another opening. The other two members threw occasional attacks from a distance, unable to get close.
Orion, who had been analyzing from the sidelines, realized he needed to be closer to spot the core—if there was one at all. Joining the fray, he kept his distance, launching ranged attacks like the others.
Minutes turned to hours. The group's spiritual energy dwindled, yet the armored figure fought with the same relentless intensity. Exhaustion, it seemed, wasn't a word in its vocabulary.
"Aaargh!" Brandon cried out; his face twisted in agony as the great sword slashed across his chest.
Orion rushed to his side, hauling him back as Linda and Leroy desperately tried to hold off the armored juggernaut. With every passing second, the group's energy waned.
"We can't hold it!" Linda gasped, her face pale.
"We need a plan—now!" Leroy barked, but the fight was slipping out of their control.
"Fall back!" Leroy ordered.
As they retreated, the armored figure made its move, leaping towards Leroy. Panic surged through the group as Leroy, in a fit of desperation, grabbed Orion and hurled him directly into the figure's path.
"Noooooooo!" Orion's scream tore through the air, but it was too late.
The palace doors slammed shut behind the fleeing group, sealing Orion within the dark, silent halls. Alone. The armored figure's void-like eyes locked onto him. Death stared him in the face.