"Some doors are meant to remain closed, for the ones who open them are often not prepared for what lies beyond."
---
Moria stood frozen, her fingers still hovering above the hilt of her weapon. The figure before her radiated an overwhelming presence, an aura that felt like it could crush her with a mere thought. His eyes—molten gold—were locked onto hers, unwavering, unblinking.
Li Yuan and Jiang, ever alert, immediately tensed, their hands going to their own weapons. But the guardian made no move to attack. He simply watched them with a calm, predatory gaze, as if the very idea of resistance was laughable.
"The Heart of the Sleeping Flame," the guardian spoke again, his voice like the rumble of distant thunder. "Many have sought it, but none have been worthy. Do you think you are the ones who will succeed?"
Moria narrowed her eyes, trying to steady the rapid beat of her heart. She had been prepared for challenges, but this—this was something else. The power this guardian exuded was unlike anything she had ever felt before. He was not just a mere obstacle. He was a test, a trial that would either break them or lead them to their goal.
"We're not here to play games," Moria said, her voice steady but tinged with the determination that had carried her this far. "We came for the Heart of the Sleeping Flame, and we will leave with it."
The guardian tilted his head slightly, as if amused by her words. "Such confidence... How delightful. But confidence alone will not save you. The Heart is not simply a relic to be claimed. It is a curse, a force beyond comprehension. And you," he said, his gaze flickering to Moria, "are not prepared for it."
A tense silence hung between them, thick and suffocating. Moria could feel the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had heard the legends, knew the dangers of the Heart of the Sleeping Flame. But hearing it from the guardian himself made the danger feel all too real.
"We've come this far," Li Yuan said, his voice calm but firm. "We're not turning back now."
The guardian's eyes flickered to him, and a slow, predatory smile curved his lips. "Very well," he said, stepping forward. "But know this: you will not leave this place the same as you entered. The Heart will change you... and it may destroy you."
Moria took a step forward, meeting the guardian's gaze with unwavering resolve. "We will see about that."
And with that, the battle began.
---
The guardian moved first, a blur of motion. His speed was inhuman, faster than any of them had anticipated. He lunged at Moria with a swift, brutal strike, his hand glowing with a strange, otherworldly power. Moria barely had time to react, instinctively raising her weapon to deflect the blow.
The clash of their weapons rang through the temple, echoing off the stone walls. Sparks flew as Moria and the guardian engaged in a fierce duel, their strikes fast and precise. She could feel the strength behind each of his blows, each one testing her limits.
Li Yuan and Jiang, seeing that Moria was engaged with the guardian, immediately took action. They moved to flank him, attempting to catch him off guard. But the guardian was no fool. He spun around with fluid grace, his golden eyes locking onto them even as he fought Moria.
"You're wasting your time," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "You cannot defeat me. None have ever been able to."
Moria gritted her teeth as she parried another strike, sweat beading on her brow. She couldn't afford to hesitate. They needed the Heart. They needed to survive.
But the longer they fought, the more she realized something: the guardian wasn't just protecting the Heart. He was testing them, pushing them to their limits, and even beyond. Each strike he made wasn't just physical—it was a test of their will, their resolve, their very essence.
She felt it in her bones, the weight of his power, the overwhelming pressure that seemed to flood the very air. Her vision blurred for a moment, her senses overwhelmed by the sheer force of his presence.
And then, something snapped.
A surge of power erupted from within her, a force unlike anything she had ever felt before. It was as if the Heart itself was calling to her, awakening a dormant power deep within her. The flame inside her flared, its heat searing through her veins, filling her with strength she didn't know she had.
Moria pushed forward, her eyes glowing with newfound power. The guardian's eyes widened in surprise as she met his strike with an intensity that sent shockwaves through the temple.
"You're not the only one with power," she said, her voice fierce and unwavering.
The guardian grinned, his golden eyes glimmering with something almost... eager. "Impressive," he said, stepping back slightly. "You are not as weak as I thought."
But Moria wasn't finished yet. She focused all of her energy into a single, devastating strike, channeling the power of the Heart and the flame within her. The impact sent the guardian staggering back, his form flickering like a mirage before him.
He laughed—a deep, resonant laugh that echoed through the temple.
"You are not ready," he said, his voice now tinged with something darker. "But you will be soon."
With that, the guardian disappeared into the shadows, his form dissolving into the very walls of the temple. The air grew still, the oppressive weight of his presence lifting, but the silence that followed was even more suffocating.
Moria stood in the center of the room, breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling with every ragged breath. Her heart still pounded in her chest, the power of the Heart thrumming within her.
"He's gone," Jiang said, his voice a mixture of disbelief and relief. "What now?"
Moria didn't answer immediately. She was still reeling from the battle, still feeling the aftershocks of the power she had unleashed. The Heart had responded to her, but what did that mean?
"We move forward," she said at last, her voice calm but tinged with uncertainty. "We're close. We'll find the Heart, no matter what it takes."
Li Yuan and Jiang nodded, though they still seemed unsettled by what had just transpired. The guardian's words lingered in the air, like a dark omen they couldn't shake.
Moria turned toward the inner depths of the temple, the flickering light of the torch casting long shadows on the stone walls. The Heart of the Sleeping Flame awaited them, and despite the challenges, despite the danger... she wasn't about to back down now.
They would find it.
And nothing would stop them.
---
End of Chapter 28