The dim tunnel echoed with the heavy breathing of a giant beast, a sound like a warning rising from the depths of hell. Lu Chen and Huo Yao exchanged a look, both reading the gravity in each other's eyes. They softened their footsteps, cautiously advancing toward the source of the sound.
On both sides of the tunnel, murals flickered in the pulsing light, depicting ancient sacrificial rituals. The faint silhouette of the beast appeared in the carvings, as if foretelling what was to come. A smell of decay filled the air, mingled with the scents of earth and blood, enough to turn one’s stomach.
"ROAR!" A deafening bellow erupted, making their eardrums ache.
The group halted, gripping their weapons tightly. At the end of the passage, a massive dark shadow slowly emerged, its pair of lantern-like, blood-red eyes casting a ghostly glow.
"Good god..." Thomas gasped, his voice thick with terror. "What kind of monster is this?"
The beast was gargantuan, nearly occupying the entire width of the tunnel. Its body was covered in pitch-black scales, each glinting with a metallic sheen. Its sharp claws and teeth were like steel blades, emitting a bone-chilling light.
"Prepare to fight!" Lu Chen barked, drawing the longsword from his waist. The blade glowed with a deep blue light, a manifestation of the spiritual energy surging within him.
Huo Yao did not lag behind. With a flick of her slender wrist, a whip crackling with electricity appeared in her hand. Light and agile as a ghost, she danced around the beast, searching for a weakness.
The beast, incensed by the sudden onslaught, let out a thunderous roar. It swung a massive claw toward Lu Chen.
Dare not take the hit head-on, Lu Chen dodged sideways, swinging his sword at the creature's sharp claws.
"CLANG!" A deafening sound rang out as sparks flew everywhere.
Lu Chen felt a massive force transmit through the blade, numbing his hand and forcing him to stagger backward.
"Lu Chen!" Seeing this, Huo Yao lashed out with her whip, binding one of the beast's other claws in an attempt to restrain it.
The beast, thoroughly provoked, struggled violently, trying to break free from her hold.
"Thomas, Alice, think of something! Find its weakness!" Black Wolf shouted while firing his guns at the creature's eyes.
Thomas and Alice did not hesitate. Forcing themselves to overcome their fear, they observed the beast's every movement, hunting for a flaw.
The battle was on the verge of exploding. In these ancient ruins, the struggle between humanity and the giant beast had only just begun. Thomas and Alice watched the fierce fighting with bated breath; every swing of the claw and every roar made their hearts leap. Black Wolf held his twin pistols, scanning the surroundings vigilantly to prevent any accidents. He knew he was as vital as the two scholars; protecting them was protecting the hope of victory.
"Its scales are too thick! My sword can't pierce them at all!" Lu Chen gasped, the intensity of the prolonged fight beginning to weigh on him.
"This thing is absolutely invulnerable!" Black Wolf cursed while firing at the beast's eyes. "What kind of monster is this? Its defenses are monstrous!"
Huo Yao moved with agility, like a butterfly in flight, weaving around the beast to find an opening. Her whip, like a venomous snake, lashed repeatedly at the creature's hide.
"It’s no use. Its defense is too high; my attacks are just tickling it." Huo Yao said anxiously. She could feel the beast's strength steadily increasing; if this continued, they would be worn down eventually.
"There must be a way. No creature in this world is truly invincible!" Thomas said, dodging flying shards of debris while meticulously tracking the beast's movements. He noticed that although the beast attacked fiercely, it was not delivering killing blows, and its movements seemed to follow a specific pattern.
"Alice, have you noticed anything?" Thomas asked, trusting that with her scholarly knowledge, she would see something he missed.
Alice furrowed her brows. As she flipped through an ancient tome, she watched the beast's behavior. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She pointed to a spot on the beast's back and exclaimed, "Look there! The color of that scale is different from the rest!"
The group cast their gaze toward the beast's back. Sure enough, near the location of its heart, there was a scale slightly redder in hue, with a shape distinct from the others.
"That is..." Thomas seemed to realize something. He frantically flipped through his book to look up the information.
"Found it!" Thomas shouted excitedly. "The text records that this giant beast is called a 'Guardian'. They possess immense power and impenetrable armor, but they have one fatal weakness: their heart!"
"You're saying that red scale is the location of its heart?" Black Wolf asked.
"Exactly!" Thomas confirmed. "The records state that the 'Guardian' has a special scale protecting its heart. It’s slightly different in color—that is the optimal target for an attack!"
"Perfect!" Lu Chen’s spirits lifted. He knew they had found the hope they needed to defeat the beast.
However, just then, the creature stopped its attack. It tilted its head back and let out a deafening roar, a sound filled with such grief and despair that it seemed to be accusing them of something. It suddenly spun around and bolted toward the depths of the tunnel, its massive frame slamming into the walls with a thunderous crash.
"What is it doing?" Huo Yao asked, bewildered.
"It seems... as if it's afraid of something?" Alice looked at the beast’s retreating, frantic figure, her heart filled with doubt. What could this fierce giant possibly be afraid of?
Watching the beast disappear, Lu Chen felt a strange sensation. He felt that things might not be as simple as they seemed. Was this beast merely an attacker? It appeared to be... guarding something.
As soon as this thought took root, it grew like wildfire in his mind. He had a strong premonition that he had to uncover the truth, or they might make an irreversible mistake.
"We can't let it run!" Black Wolf moved to give chase but was held back by Lu Chen.
"Wait. I have a feeling it wasn't really trying to kill us." Lu Chen’s brows were knitted tight; his intuition told him there was more to this.
"Are you crazy?" Black Wolf looked at him in disbelief. "It almost killed us just a moment ago!"
"Trust me." Lu Chen’s gaze was firm. "Let’s see what’s going on first."
Huo Yao stepped beside Lu Chen and gently held his hand, offering him a resolute look. "I believe you."
Lu Chen turned to Alice. "Can you find more information about the 'Guardian' in the book? Like why it’s here, and what it’s protecting?"
Alice nodded, leafing through the pages as she spoke rapidly: "The book says 'Guardians' are the patron deities of an ancient civilization. They possess great power, protecting important secrets and treasures. But they are also highly sensitive; once they perceive a threat, they become extremely dangerous."
"Secrets and treasures?" Black Wolf’s eyes brightened. "That means there must be some loot nearby!"
Lu Chen shot him a glare. "Is this the time? We have to figure out the 'Guardian's' intent first, or we're all in danger!"
They followed the path the beast had taken, moving cautiously. The walls on both sides were covered in ancient murals that seemed to tell a forgotten history.
"These murals..." Thomas studied the content closely, his expression turning solemn. "They seem to describe a catastrophe—a terrible, terrible catastrophe..."
The scenes were harrowing, depicting volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. People were shown struggling and fleeing, only to be swallowed by the merciless disasters.
"Could it be that the 'Guardian' is protecting this history?" Huo Yao hypothesized.
"Perhaps." Lu Chen nodded. "But why was it afraid? What was it afraid of?"
Just then, they reached the end of the passage. The view opened up, revealing a massive underground chamber.
In the center of the space, the giant beast was curled up, letting out low whimpers. It appeared injured, its body trembling slightly.
Standing before the beast was a mysterious figure cloaked in black. He stood with his back to the group, his face obscured, yet the powerful aura radiating from him left everyone feeling suffocated.
"Who are you?" Lu Chen demanded in a low voice.
The mysterious figure slowly turned around, revealing a strange, eerie smile. "You... have finally arrived..."