Chapter 1227: The Crystals and Galatea’s Secret
The guardians of this mysterious realm advanced... Their fractured bodies didn’t make them weak at all.
They even looked more terrifying, seeing those glowing parts under the violet shards of the sky.
The three champions braced themselves, but before any strategy could be agreed upon, Butcher Bae roared.
"Enough waiting! We need to complete the mission!"
His voice thundered across the strange landscape.
Soon, he raised his cleaver high, and he charged head‑on into the nearest guardian.
The impact was deafening.
His blade slammed against the guardian’s stone‑like body, sparks flying as if metal had struck metal.
The creature wavered but did not fall.
It even looked angrier, and it retaliated with a crushing blow that sent Bae skidding back across the rippling ground.
Bam!
Asad cursed under his breath.
"Idiot! We’re not here to kill them!"
He also moved forward, pulling Bae to his feet.
The Necromancer’s gauntlets gleamed faintly, but without the System’s support that helps them wield their Survivor Skills, they were nothing more than hardened steel.
Still, his movements were swift...
He shoved the guardian aside just long enough to create space...
Hanes, meanwhile, kept his focus on the mission.
He scanned the fractured terrain, searching for the faint glow of the black crystals Galatea had described.
"Just delay them! The crystals are what we need!" he shouted.
Butcher Bae spat blood and his grin remained savage despite the injuries.
"Then find them! I’ll hold these bastards off!"
He swung his cleaver again, the force of his strike echoing throughout the whole terrain...
The guardian was pushed back, but another stepped forward, its heavy arms raised.
The pressure of the realm bore down harder...
Asad and Hanes moved quickly, weaving through surroundings and pools of silver light.
The stabilizers pulsed against their chests, anchoring them, but the weight of the dimension made every step feel like wading through stone.
They were surely not welcome to this place...
This mysterious place seemed too weird!
"There!" Hanes pointed.
A cluster of black crystals protruded from the ground. Their surfaces were pulsing faintly with ominous energy.
They seemed alive, resonating with the heartbeat of the realm itself.
Asad rushed forward, his gauntlets smashing through the brittle ridges surrounding the crystals.
He grabbed one and felt how heavy it was...
"Got it!"
Hanes seized another, his blade cutting away the edges that resisted their touch.
Soon, the crystals pulsed violently, as if unwilling to be taken, but the stabilizers glowed brighter, suppressing the resistance just enough for them to wrench the shards free.
Behind them, Butcher Bae fought like a beast.
His cleaver tore into the guardians, each strike would cause a vibration in the ground...
But the creatures did not bleed... They were not stopping at all.
Every blow he landed was answered with a crushing counter. His armor cracked, his body bruised, but he refused to fall.
"Go!" he roared. "Get the crystals to the gate!"
Asad hesitated, his instincts screaming to help. But Hanes grabbed his arm.
"He knows what he’s doing. If we stay, we’ll all die."
Together, they sprinted back toward the gate.
However, it seemed that taking the Black Crystals wouldn’t be easy.
The fractured sky bent above them, the ground rippling violently as if trying to swallow them whole.
The guardians pursued...
Rooaar!
At this point, their heavy steps were shaking the terrain, but the stabilizers shielded them from the worst of the realm’s fury.
Butcher Bae stumbled, blood dripping from his mouth.
One guardian’s strike had shattered part of his armor, leaving his side exposed.
Still, he swung his cleaver, carving a path through the terrifying creatures...
"Move!" Hanes shouted. He and Asad reached the gate, the crystals clutched tightly in their arms. The portal glowed, indicating that they had been recognized...
Bae staggered toward them... His body was battered, but he was still alive...
A guardian pounced at them, but Asad rushed forward, slamming his gauntlet into its chest.
Bam!
The creature was sent back, just enough for Hanes to drag Bae through the gate.
The moment they crossed, the crushing pressure vanished.
The fractured sky dissolved, the rippling ground disappeared, and they collapsed back into the shelter’s hall.
The full‑armored guards rushed forward, catching Bae before he fell completely.
Galatea stood waiting... Right now, her eyes lit up as she saw the crystals clutched in Hanes and Asad’s hands. "You succeeded," she said softly. "Despite the realm’s resistance."
Butcher Bae coughed, his grin faint but defiant. "Hah... I told you... I’d fight head‑on."
Asad shook his head, exhaustion etched across his face. "You nearly got yourself killed. But... we did it."
Hanes, on the other hand, noticed that Galatea was still using her Mind Control Skill, making the two completely feel it was normal to risk their lives for this mission.
’Interesting... Asad should have strong mind control resistance, but he’s still unable to fight back. I guess this skill isn’t too forceful... Maybe just some suggestions... Enough not to trigger his innate skill.’
Hanes mused as he guessed why the mind control was so effective... He could only think that it wasn’t too invasive to its targets’ mind.
In any case, he didn’t reveal the truth yet... Not until he obtained all the Gate Stones he needed.
Instead, he placed the crystals before Galatea.
"The mission is complete. Now, honor your promise."
Galatea’s smile widened. "Of course. You will be rewarded. And soon, you will understand why these crystals matter more than anything else."
The three champions exchanged glances. They had survived the pocket dimension, retrieved the crystals, and returned alive.
But the cost was clear... Bae’s body bore the marks of the guardians’ relentless strikes, and all of them had felt the crushing weight of a world that rejected their very existence.
Still, they had succeeded.
***
The hall was filled with tension as Galatea examined the nine black crystals laid before her.
Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction, though even she seemed surprised.
"Nine crystals..." she whispered.
"More than I expected. You three have exceeded my expectations."
She raised her hand, and servants rushed forward with chests of items.
The gates stones, weapons, armor, scrolls, and rare resources were unveiled, far more than the agreed tournament rewards.
The crowd of attendants gasped at the sight.
"Your rewards will be increased," Galatea declared. "For bringing me nine crystals, you will each receive not only your promised gates stones, but additional items, resources, and two extra permanent residence tokens within this shelter. You can give these tokens to anyone you want to live here as well."
Butcher Bae’s grin widened despite his injuries.
"Hah... now that’s more like it."
Asad smirked faintly.
"Generous. But generosity always has a price."
On the other hand, Hanes just accepted the rewards silently, his mind already turning over the implications.
Galatea stepped closer. "You have proven yourselves. I would have you serve as my personal guards. With your strength, none could threaten this shelter."
The three exchanged glances.
Butcher Bae shook his head immediately. "I fight for myself, not to stand behind anyone."
Asad chuckled softly and nodded. "I prefer freedom. Guarding you would mean chains."
Still, Hanes simply said, "No."
Galatea’s smile did not change as she expected that much. "Very well. Rest then. You have earned it."
Servants guided them back to the mansion, tending to their wounds, feeding them, and ensuring they had everything they needed.
Butcher Bae collapsed into his bed, exhausted.
Asad remained quiet, as he wasn’t sure what the Clan Leader was thinking...
Still, Hanes, did not rest.
Later that night, Hanes’ body vanished from his chamber.
He slipped silently through the corridors...
He had no intention of sleeping. He wanted answers.
Galatea was dangerous... he had seen the way she used her subtle mind‑suggestion Skill, bending even strong‑willed fighters like Asad and Bae.
And now, with nine crystals in her possession, her power would only grow. Hanes needed to know the truth.
He followed her through the shelter, careful to remain unseen.
Galatea moved with her escorts trailing behind her until she dismissed them at a sealed chamber. Alone, she entered.
However, Hanes slipped in after her, cloaked in silence...
Inside, the chamber was vast and dimly lit.
At its center stood a mysterious black statue...
Its surface was carved with some strange markings, resonating with the same energy as the crystals.
’What’s going on this time?’ Hanes mused.
The air around it felt heavy, alive, as though the statue itself was aware of their presence.
Then, Galatea approached it reverently, her voice low but clear.
"You have saved this shelter time and again. With these crystals, your strength will grow. Soon, we will move freely, beyond the reach of any enemy."
Hanes’ eyes narrowed.
’So this is it... the secret behind the shelter’s survival.’
He studied the statue carefully.
It was no ordinary relic. Its aura was immense, oppressive, yet strangely protective.
He realized that every time the shelter had shifted or survived an attack, it was likely because of this statue. It was definitely the one capable of moving the entire shelter across the wastelands, perhaps even across realms.
Then, Galatea placed the crystals at its base, and as soon as she did this, the black crystals trembled violently...
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