Chapter 7: The Guardian's Hunt
The Guardian's screech echoed through the swamp, a terrifying sound that clawed at Noah's nerves and set his heart pounding like a war drum. Its many legs scraped against the cracked glass stones, sending shards flying in every direction, while its segmented body writhed like a living nightmare.
Noah stumbled back, trying to get his footing in the thick mud. His hand was still gripping the silver coin, its cold surface pressed against his palm like a lifeline. Lyra stood beside him, eyes sharp and blade glowing blue with raw power.
"This thing's like a tank," Noah gasped, wiping sweat from his forehead. "How do we even beat it?"
"You use your head," Lyra said without hesitation. "And the coin."
Noah looked down at the rune-engraved coin and sighed. "Easier said than done. This thing's way bigger than me."
Lyra's eyes narrowed. "Size doesn't matter if you hit the right spot."
"No pressure, then." Noah's voice cracked.
The Guardian lunged again, snapping its jagged mouth close to Noah's face. He dodged just in time, feeling a rush of cold swamp water splash against him. The creature reared back, its glowing eyes fixed on Lyra.
"Go left!" she yelled. "Distract it!"
Noah didn't wait for a second command. He sprinted toward the tangled trees, dodging roots that grabbed at his boots. His lungs burned, and every muscle screamed, but adrenaline drowned out the pain. He glanced back: the Guardian had turned, eyes following his movement, jaws clicking menacingly.
"This is insane," Noah muttered. "I'm so not cut out for this."
He slid behind a moss-covered boulder and crouched, trying to steady his breath. The coin pulsed faintly in his palm, almost like it was alive. Noah closed his eyes and focused. Hit. Not panic. Hit.
The silver light flared, bright enough to cast eerie shadows. Noah thrust the coin forward, imagining a blade slicing through the creature's armored hide.
A beam of silver energy shot out, striking the Guardian's side. The creature shrieked in pain, lashing out wildly. Noah's heart pounded in his ears. Did that do anything?
Lyra appeared at his side in a blur, swinging her rune blade and carving glowing blue lines across the Guardian's legs. "Keep it up, Vale! You're breaking its armor!"
Noah nodded, mouth dry. He raised the coin again, focusing all his fear and hope into it. Another blast of silver light struck the creature's midsection, and cracks appeared in its glassy scales.
The Guardian howled in fury, thrashing its massive tail. Noah barely dodged a crushing blow that smashed into the boulder, sending shards flying like deadly missiles.
"Too close!" Noah shouted, scrambling back. "This thing's trying to kill me!"
Lyra grinned, eyes fierce. "Good. Means we're doing damage."
Noah's breath came in ragged gasps. His muscles burned, but something inside him tightened—a strange determination, like the coin wasn't just a tool, but a part of him.
The Guardian charged, faster this time. Noah felt the earth shake beneath its heavy legs. He braced himself, holding the coin out as the creature slammed into him.
The impact threw him backward, mud splattering everywhere. He gasped, feeling the breath knocked from his lungs, but the coin was still in his hand, glowing steadily.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Lyra dart forward, blade blazing. She sliced at the Guardian's exposed neck, and the creature reared, roaring in agony.
Noah pushed himself up, blinking away mud and sweat. "Your turn," he muttered to the coin.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, sending a wave of silver light that wrapped around the Guardian's neck like a constricting serpent. The creature shrieked, staggering, its many legs trembling.
Then, with a deafening crack, the glassy armor shattered. The Guardian collapsed, its body dissolving into a cloud of black mist that drifted away with the swamp's eerie breeze.
Noah sank to his knees, chest heaving, hands trembling. "Did we just… kill it?"
Lyra sheathed her blade and smiled faintly. "We broke its hold on this part of the swamp. For now."
Noah wiped his face with his sleeve, laughing shakily. "For now? You make it sound like it's just taking a coffee break."
Lyra shrugged. "It probably is."
The swamp seemed to settle around them, the whispering fading into silence. The cracked sky above dimmed, but the lingering sense of danger remained.
Noah looked at the coin in his palm, now cool and quiet. "So, what now? We find this breach and close it?"
Lyra nodded. "Exactly. And you've just earned your place in this fight."
Noah smiled, exhaustion and excitement mingling. Maybe he didn't believe in magic before—but now, standing in the heart of the Netherveil, with the coin burning faintly in his hand, he was ready to try.