The roar reverberated through the very fabric of the Abyss, a sound that rattled the bones of those who heard it. Adexander's grip on the Bloodborne Fangblade tightened, the weapon humming with hunger, as if eager to taste what lay ahead. The path through the palace was dark, the air thick with the weight of forgotten memories. His mind, still reeling from the flashes of his past life, struggled to focus.
The Forgotten Guard stirred within the depths of the palace—a remnant of the past, a creature bound to the throne, guarding it from all who dared approach. This was no mere beast. It was an embodiment of the throne's corrupted power—ancient, relentless, and unforgiving.
Adexander's party moved with calculated precision, the tension palpable in the air.
Kaien muttered under his breath, eyes scanning the environment for any sign of movement. "We're walking into the heart of the storm… and I'm not sure I like it."
Raik snorted, adjusting his gauntlet. "You don't like anything, Kaien."
Velessia's wings shimmered faintly as she hovered a few inches above the ground, her silver eyes locked ahead. "Stay focused. The Forgotten Guard is not just a monster—it's a manifestation of the throne's will."
Adexander said nothing. His gaze remained fixed on the path leading into the palace, the gates now fully open before him. The walls of the passage were adorned with intricate carvings—dark, twisted images that seemed to writhe as he approached.
> [System Notice: Abyssal Crown Domain - Final Trial Detected]
> [Warning: Entity "The Forgotten Guard" Approaching]
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. The air grew colder, as if all warmth had been sucked out of the world. A massive figure emerged from the shadows—its towering frame slowly becoming visible against the dark backdrop.
The Forgotten Guard was a colossal creature, clad in ancient armor that seemed to be forged from the very essence of the Abyss. Its skin was a patchwork of decayed flesh and armor, covered in cracks that leaked flickering darkness. A massive sword, forged from the bones of fallen kings, was gripped in its skeletal hand.
Its eyes, if they could be called eyes, burned with a cold, empty fire—an endless, unblinking gaze that seemed to pierce through reality itself.
The Forgotten Guard let out a guttural roar, the sound like a thousand voices screaming in agony, and it lunged forward with surprising speed, its massive blade swinging in a deadly arc.
Kaien leapt to the side, narrowly dodging the swing, his eyes wide in disbelief. "What in the hells is that thing made of?"
Raik moved with equal swiftness, his gauntlets flaring with energy as he aimed a devastating strike at the Guard's exposed side. But the blow barely made a dent. The creature's flesh, though rotting, seemed to regenerate instantly.
Adexander stepped forward, his expression unreadable. He raised the Bloodborne Fangblade, the crimson edge catching the light of the floating flames that lined the path.
Velessia's voice was steady as she called out to him. "This is no ordinary foe, Adexander. It is bound to the throne—its strength is drawn from it. Destroying it will require more than just power. You need to strike at its core."
Adexander nodded, his voice low but commanding. "I know."
The Forgotten Guard raised its massive sword again, preparing to bring it down on the party. The ground beneath them trembled as it unleashed a wave of dark energy that rippled outward, distorting reality itself.
> [System Notice: Entity "The Forgotten Guard" - High-Level Threat Detected. Immediate Evacuation Recommended.]
The warning flashed in Adexander's mind, but he ignored it. He wasn't leaving—not when the throne was within reach.
In one fluid motion, he charged forward, his blood red weapon trailing behind him like a streak of lightning. The air crackled with energy as he closed the distance between himself and the towering figure. The Forgotten Guard swung its blade again, but Adexander was faster—too fast. He ducked beneath the swing, the blade missing him by inches, and in a fluid motion, he thrust the Fangblade upward into the Guard's chest.
The creature roared in fury, its massive frame staggering back as Adexander twisted the blade inside its body, carving through its decayed flesh. The weapon hummed with power, resonating with the very core of the creature's existence.
But the Guard wasn't done. It roared again, its free hand swinging down to crush Adexander, but he was already moving, his senses heightened, his body fueled by something deeper than mere power. He pulled the Fangblade free, leaping back just in time to avoid the crushing blow.
Kaien was already moving in, his gauntlet-clad fists crashing into the Guard's side with explosive force, creating cracks in the creature's armored body. Raik joined in, his own strikes targeting the Guard's legs, trying to bring it down.
Adexander watched them work in tandem, his mind calculating the patterns of the battle. This was his fight—his trial. His strength had always been bound to the throne, and the throne had bound him to the abyss. But now, he would shatter that bond.
He stepped forward once again, his eyes burning with crimson fire.
"We kill kings."
With a roar, he lunged, the Bloodborne Fangblade trailing behind him as he cut through the air, striking directly at the core of the Forgotten Guard's chest. The blade sank deep into the creature's heart, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
A blinding burst of light erupted from the wound, and the Forgotten Guard let out a final, bone-shaking scream as it crumbled to the ground. The darkness that had surrounded it began to dissipate, and the oppressive weight of the Abyss seemed to lift, even if only for a moment.
Adexander stood over the fallen creature, his chest rising and falling with each breath, the Bloodborne Fangblade still humming with the remnants of its power.
"It's over," he muttered, looking down at the fallen form of the Forgotten Guard. But even as the creature fell, a new voice echoed through the ruins of the palace.
> "You have slain one of my guardians, but the throne is not yours."
A dark shadow emerged from the depths of the palace, a figure cloaked in black armor. The energy it radiated was unlike anything Adexander had felt before. It was familiar—and yet, utterly alien.
"I am Drevan," the figure said, its voice cold and distant. "And the throne… will be mine."
The ground trembled once again, and the temperature dropped. Drevan's presence was a weight that settled over the room, crushing all other sounds into nothing.
Adexander's eyes narrowed as he gripped the Fangblade tighter. "So it begins…"