—
"Split into two teams!" the leader commanded. "One distracts it; the other aims for weak points!"
The Dark Alliance members moved with precision, years of ruthless training kicking in. The first team rushed forward, launching a flurry of attacks at the dragon’s legs to limit its mobility.
"FLAME STRIKE!" one of them yelled, slashing his fire-infused sword across the dragon’s shinbone.
WHOOSH!
But—!!
The flames barely left a mark on the dragon’s enchanted bones. The beast snarled, stomping the ground in retaliation.
BOOOOOM!
The shockwave sent three of them flying.
One landed on his face.
SPLAT!
Ding!
+1,500 SP Copied from Dark Alliance (Pain).
The second team saw an opening.
One of the strongest Level-C members leapt onto the dragon’s spine, activating his shadow-infused spear technique.
"DIE, BEAST!"
His spearhead glowed black, vibrating with condensed spiritual energy. With a battle cry, he plunged the weapon into the dragon’s spine—!
STAB!
For a moment—there was silence.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The dragon erupted with dark energy, its spinal bones twisting unnaturally. The fighter on its back let out a bloodcurdling scream as his own attack was reflected back at him.
CRACK!
His body turned into ashes before it even hit the ground.
Ding!
+2,000 SP Copied from Dark Alliance (Death).
"ENOUGH!" the Dark Alliance Leader roared, stepping forward. His spiritual aura exploded, revealing his true power as a Level-B cultivator.
His shadow energy expanded, forming dark claws around his hands. He vanished from sight, only reappearing on top of the dragon’s skull. With one powerful motion, he slammed both of his fists down.
BOOM!
The impact cracked the dragon’s skull, forcing it to stumble. The other Level-C fighters seized the chance and attacked in unison, their weapons piercing through the dragon’s joints.
The combined force was too much. The Skeleton Dragon let out one final, echoing roar before its body collapsed into a heap of bones.
As the dust settled, the survivors of the Dark Alliance stood in silence, panting heavily.
Out of the ten who started, only five remained standing.
The leader wiped the sweat from his forehead, gazing at the defeated beast.
He smirked. "The strongest always win."
Still catching his breath, one of his men asked, "What now, boss?"
The leader stepped forward—his eyes locked onto something floating in the air.
It was a massive, glowing ball—this must be the Ruin core. His smirk widened. "Now… we take what’s ours."
The air was still thick with battle energy. The once-mighty Skeleton Dragon now lay in ruins, its massive bones scattered across the battlefield.
The Dark Alliance had won the fight—but not without casualties.
Their forces were weakened, and their leader, the powerful Level-B cultivator, was visibly exhausted. The prolonged battle had drained him, and his subordinates weren’t faring any better.
The Dark Alliance’s remaining fighters, all Level-C cultivators, stood near their fallen comrades, catching their breath. Their weapons were covered in bone dust; some had deep wounds from the Skeleton Dragon’s final attacks.
The leader wiped blood from his mouth, his red eyes burning with determination. "This… was just an obstacle," he muttered. "The real prize is ahead."
He turned to his surviving men. "We move now. The Ruin Core is close."
His voice was cold, decisive. They had no time to waste. They had to reach the glowing ball (they think it’s the Ruin core) before Nexus and the Watchers arrived.
But what the leader didn’t know… Jade Monroe was already three steps ahead.
Not far behind, hidden in the shadows, Jade Monroe and his elite Watchers observed the Dark Alliance’s movements.
Jade crouched near a half-broken pillar, his sharp eyes following their leader’s every move.
Tyler Stone stood beside him, whispering, "They’re moving toward the Ruin Core. Do we attack now?"
Jade smirked. "Not yet." His golden eyes gleamed with strategy.
"The Dark Alliance just fought the Skeleton Dragon. They’re weak. They’re running on fumes. And they’re still heading into another battle inside the Core Chamber."
He tapped his sword hilt.
"Why should we fight them now… when we can let them fight someone else first?"
Tyler raised an eyebrow. "You mean… the Ruin Guardian?"
Jade nodded. "Exactly. Every ruin has a final Guardian protecting its Core. It’s their last line of defense."
Tyler’s eyes widened with realization.
"So we let the Dark Alliance waste their strength fighting the Guardian… then we move in and finish off whoever survives?"
Jade grinned. "Now you’re thinking like me."
Nexus Jade turned to his squad of Watchers. "Everyone, listen up. We’re following them, but we don’t engage until I give the signal."
He raised a communication artifact, a small crystal that allowed him to send silent spiritual messages to his entire team.
"Move in formation. Stay hidden. If anyone is spotted, retreat immediately. No fights until I say so."
The Watchers nodded in unison, their expressions serious. One of them, a young scout who didn’t listen to what Jade was saying, whispered, "Sir, what if they notice us?"
Jade smirked. "Then we’ll give them a reason to run faster." I just said what to do. Are you nervous? The silent hunt had begun.
The Dark Alliance leader moved quickly, leading his men through the narrow corridors of the ruin. The passage was dimly lit, torches flickering against ancient stone walls lined with carvings of forgotten battles.
Despite their injuries, they pushed forward.
They knew, sooner or later, that Nexus and the Watchers would come. They had to reach the Ruin Core first.
One of the Level-C members panted. "Sir, should we set up traps behind us? Slow them down?"
The leader shook his head. "No. That wastes time. We keep moving."
They didn’t know how close Jade and his men were.
As they neared the massive stone statue of the Ruin Core Chamber, the Dark Alliance leader raised his hand and signalled his men to stop.
"We’re here."
Before them stood two gigantic stone figures covered in ancient runes. These pulsed with faint, ominous energy unlike anything they had ever seen.
The leader turned to his men. "This is it. The Core Chamber."
Jade Monroe smirked from the shadows. "Walk right in, idiots."
As soon as the Dark Alliance crossed the stone statues, a wave of thick spiritual energy flooded the air.
The chamber started to shake, with towering pillars and a raised altar at the center, where the Ruin Core pulsed with a deep red glow.
Something big started to materialize in front of them.
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ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRR!!!
A monstrous growl echoed through the chamber as a shadowy figure moved in the darkness.
The Dark Alliance members froze. The leader narrowed his eyes. "So this is the final test…"
From the shadows, two massive glowing eyes flickered to life. A colossal beast, shrouded in black mist, stepped forward, its claws scraping against the stone.
Its body shifted between physical and ethereal as if it existed in multiple planes of existence at once. "The Ruin Guardian had awakened."
Outside the chamber, Jade smiled in satisfaction.
Tyler whispered, "Now what?"
Jade’s fingers tapped against the hilt of his sword.
"We wait." The Dark Alliance was about to fight for their lives… And when they are at their weakest… we will strike.
Meanwhile, Kent rubbed his hands together as he stood before a pile of broken spiritual tools, weapons, and rusted armor pieces. His storage and bag were already overflowing with loot, but there was no way he was leaving behind valuable materials.
Ding!
System Notification:
Architect Skill Activated!
Hellfire can now be used to refine and restore spiritual tools.
Kent’s eyes widened. "Hell yeah!" Kent grinned, cracking his knuckles. First he grabs an Ore. Then….
FWOOSH!
He summoned his Hellfire, the black flames crackling ominously around his hands. He grabbed a broken spiritual sword, its once sharp blade now chipped and covered in rust.
"Time for some crafting magic!" Holding the weapon firmly, Kent channeled his flames into it.
SIZZLE!
The rust melted away instantly, revealing a polished silver blade beneath. Cracks and dents vanished as if time had reversed. The sword glowed faintly, the inscription on its hilt reappearing.
Ding!
+1 Restored Spiritual Sword (Rank-E) Added to Inventory.
Kent whistled. "Now that’s what I’m talking about! These things will sell for a fortune!" With renewed excitement, he continued fixing dozens of weapons at lightning speed.
CLANG!
CRACKLE!
WHOOSH!
Ding!
Restored Spiritual Tools (Rank-E) Added to Inventory.
Spiritual Armors (Rank-D) Added to Inventory.
Kent chuckled, stuffing the items into his storage. "Alright, time to head back and make some serious money!"
The energy radiating from the guardian was dense and suffocating as if the very essence of the battlefield’s past wars had been compressed into this one place.
But the Core wasn’t unguarded.
ROOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!
A bone-chilling roar echoed through the chamber, making the ground tremble beneath their feet.
Then… the shadows moved. It was unlike anything the Dark Alliance had faced before. It stood on four jagged legs, its claws sharp enough to carve through stone.