The crash of the shattered blades still echoed when a golden beam roared skyward from the hall, tearing through the brooding clouds.
Mid-air, it exploded into tens of thousands of shards that poured down like a torrential storm upon Jared and Everett.
Jared’s eyes flashed. He drew the Dragonslayer Sword without hesitation, its steel gleaming cold. With a thunderous shout, drove his spiritual energy to the limit, unleashing a matching storm of sword lights.
The twin tempests collided, drowning heaven and earth in blinding radiance as shockwaves ripped outward. Stones tore free of the ground, whirled aloft, then slammed back to earth.
After that brief, ferocious clash, every sword light vanished, leaving only ruin behind.
Wasting no time, Jared dragged Everett inside the hall. Yet once across the threshold, they found it utterly empty, save for broken pillars and shattered walls, not a soul remained.
“How is this even possible? That Ten Thousand Sword Array was strong enough to flatten a city… Why is there no one around?” Everett blurted. His face had gone sheet-white, and the words trembled with naked confusion and fear.
Jared’s brows knitted so tightly they almost touched. His eyes swept the silent hall, every nerve on edge. He said quietly, “Someone is pulling the strings from the shadows. We just haven’t spotted them yet…”
While spoke, pushed his spiritual sense outward in a wide, invisible wave, hoping to sniff out the hidden master. As that probing consciousness glided through every corner, it brushed against something strange at the very heart of the chamber, a stone statue.
The figure stood motionless, weathered by ages, an ancient sword held with both hands as though it had sworn an eternal vigil.
Cracks riddled its rough surface, time-worn gouges crossing like a web of scars, yet the simple blade it gripped glimmered faintly, as though an endless reservoir of power slumbered inside the dull metal.
Jared‘s heart skipped. He focused his spiritual sense on the statue, and the impossible happened.
The once-lifeless eyes flashed with razor light, stone joints grinding awake. In the next breath, the sword lashed out like lightning, stabbing straight for Jared’s chest.
Reflexes honed by countless battles took over. The Dragonslayer Sword whipped up to intercept.
Clang!
Sparks sprayed everywhere. The impact slammed through Jared’s arms, a Sledgehammer of force that left his hands numb.
Damn, this thing hits harder than I expected!
The stone golem pressed its advantage, its swordwork shifting and swelling like a living tide. Every cut carried a murderous sword intent meant to slice in two.
Jared answered blow for blow, the Dragonslayer Sword sweeping arcs of silver light as unleashed every refined form knew. But sheer skill could not bridge the gulf in raw might. Stroke by stroke, the statue drove backward. Then its tempo doubled.
Sword shadows overlapped in a dizzying net, one misstep and felt stone steel kiss flesh.
Thin cuts opened across his ribs and shoulder. Blood seeped through his clothes, blooming crimson roses against the fabric. Jared reeled, shocked, his body had been tempered countless times and was hard as fine steel. Yet a statue had injured with ease.
On the sidelines, Everett’s guts twisted with helplessness. He longed to charge in, yet knew would only become a liability. All could do was shout encouragement and keep a wary eye on the surroundings in case another threat appeared.
Jared drew a deep breath, forcing himself to be calm.
If this drags on, I’m dead. Think, Jared, think!
While dodging the relentless blade, studied the statue’s technique. Beneath the exquisite facade, detected minute flaws, barely perceptible hitches in footwork, infinitesimal pauses at the end of a thrust.
Seizing one such pause, gathered every ounce of power, the Dragonslayer Sword blazed, hurling a gigantic sword shadow toward the golem.
