The underground chamber trembled violently.
Stone pillars cracked as ancient dust rained from the ceiling.
A deep rumbling sound echoed across the enormous hall.
Lyra immediately stepped back into a combat stance.
"Everyone get ready!"
Borin gripped his axe tightly.
"What the hell is happening now?"
The glowing runes on the ancient gate pulsed brighter and brighter.
Blue energy spread across the chamber floor like lightning.
Arin felt it clearly.
The same strange power he had felt inside the ruins before.
The system began flashing rapidly.
[Warning.]
[Ancient Defense Protocol Activated.]
Sel looked around nervously.
"Defense protocol…?"
Then the floor in the center of the chamber suddenly split apart.
A massive shape slowly rose from beneath the stone platform.
At first only fragments of ancient armor were visible.
Then enormous stone arms.
A giant torso covered in glowing runes.
Finally, a massive helmet-like head lifted into the light.
The creature stood nearly ten meters tall.
A gigantic stone warrior.
Its body looked like a statue carved from black granite, but glowing lines of blue energy flowed through the cracks in its armor.
The system analyzed it instantly.
[Target Identified.]
[Ancient Trial Guardian]
[Level: 35]
[Threat Level: Extreme]
Borin stared with wide eyes.
"…That thing is HUGE."
Lyra's voice was serious now.
"This isn't a normal dungeon monster."
The guardian slowly turned its head.
Its glowing eyes locked directly onto Arin.
The mechanical voice echoed through the chamber again.
"System bearer confirmed."
Sel whispered quietly.
"…System bearer?"
Borin looked confused.
"Wait… what system?"
But Arin already understood.
This guardian wasn't reacting to the team.
It was reacting to him.
The ancient voice spoke again.
"Qualification trial begins."
The guardian suddenly moved.
Despite its enormous size, the creature's speed was terrifying.
Its giant arm swung down like a falling mountain.
"MOVE!" Lyra shouted.
The team scattered instantly.
BOOOOM.
The stone floor shattered where the guardian struck.
Chunks of rock exploded across the chamber.
Arin rolled across the ground and quickly stood up.
Future Sight activated.
A faint vision appeared before his eyes.
The guardian's next movement.
A sweeping attack.
"Duck!" Arin shouted.
Borin barely managed to crouch as the massive stone arm passed above his head.
The wind pressure alone nearly knocked him down.
Lyra attacked immediately.
Her sword flashed toward the guardian's leg joint.
CLANG.
The blade struck the stone armor.
But barely left a scratch.
Lyra jumped back instantly.
"…That armor is insane."
Sel raised his staff.
"Trying magic."
A glowing spell circle formed in the air.
"Ice Lance!"
Three sharp spears of ice shot toward the guardian's chest.
CRASH.
The attack exploded against the stone body.
For a moment frost covered the guardian.
Then the ice shattered harmlessly.
The creature wasn't even slowed.
Sel's face turned pale.
"…That didn't work."
Borin charged next.
The giant warrior roared as he swung his axe with full strength.
"COME ON!"
The axe slammed into the guardian's knee joint.
CLANG.
The impact echoed across the chamber.
But again…
Barely any damage.
Borin jumped backward immediately.
"That thing is made of solid mountain!"
The guardian raised its massive arm again.
Arin watched carefully.
Future Sight flickered again.
But this time something felt strange.
The visions were… incomplete.
Like the guardian's movements were partially hidden.
The system displayed a message.
[Future Sight partially obstructed.]
[Ancient energy interference detected.]
Arin frowned.
"That's new."
The guardian attacked again.
This time its giant foot slammed toward Arin.
CRASH.
Arin dodged barely in time.
Even with Future Sight…
The creature was incredibly dangerous.
Lyra regrouped beside him.
"Any ideas?"
Arin quickly analyzed the situation.
The monster's armor was nearly indestructible.
But ancient machines always had weaknesses.
The system began scanning again.
[Analyzing structure…]
Then suddenly—
A glowing mark appeared on Arin's vision.
Behind the guardian's back.
At the center of its spine.
[Core Detected.]
Arin's eyes narrowed.
"There."
Lyra followed his gaze.
"You see something?"
Arin nodded.
"The power core."
Borin approached them quickly.
"So we break the core?"
"Exactly."
Sel adjusted his grip on the staff.
"But how do we reach its back?"
The guardian roared again.
Blue energy gathered around its arms.
The entire chamber began shaking violently.
Arin looked up at the enormous monster.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I'll create an opening."
Lyra frowned.
"That thing can crush you."
Arin cracked his knuckles.
"Not if I move first."
Future Sight activated again.
Even if the guardian interfered with it…
A small glimpse of the future was still enough.
Arin stepped forward.
Directly toward the giant monster.
The guardian immediately focused on him.
Its massive arm rose into the air.
Lyra shouted behind him.
"ARIN!"
But Arin kept walking calmly.
Because he had already seen what would happen next.
The guardian's arm began falling.
And the real battle…
Was only just beginning.