Chapter 35 (Part 07)
The massive hall seemed to pulse with anticipation, the shadows stretching unnaturally along the walls. The black chain at the center of the room throbbed faintly, as if alive, matching the rhythm of Alok's racing heartbeat.
Rihan tightened his grip on his sword. "These aren't like the Sectreps we fought before… look at them they're armored, more… real."
Alok's chains whipped around him, sensing the surge of danger. "Focus. We survive. Then we find the truth behind this labyrinth."
The Charge
Without warning, the armored Sectreps lunged from the shadows, their blades ablaze with black fire. Each strike sent shockwaves through the stone pillars, shaking dust from the ceiling.
Alok lashed out with chains, wrapping around two soldiers, snapping them back against the ground. Sparks flew, their armor cracking but not shattering.
"Keep moving!" Alok shouted to his friends.
Namea conjured a barrier of fire, halting a charging Sectrep, while Ceya launched a volley of enchanted projectiles. Lielle and Serina fought in tandem, back-to-back, carving a path toward the black chain.
The battle was relentless. Each armored Sectrep that fell seemed to vanish only to be replaced by another, stronger than the last.
"This is insane… they're endless!" Rihan yelled, slashing through another soul soldier.
Alok gritted his teeth, feeling the pendant thrumming like a heartbeat against his chest. The chains extended farther than ever before, striking at enemies before they could even move.
The Chain Awakens
Suddenly, the black chain pulsed brighter. Blue light erupted along its length, reacting to the pendant. Alok felt a strange pull, almost like the chain was calling to him, urging him closer.
"It's… responding to me," he whispered.
As he approached, the armored Sectreps seemed to hesitate. Their eyes flickered red, confused by the sudden surge of energy from the chain.
Alok reached out, chains wrapping around the black chain, and as his hands touched it, a jolt surged through his entire body. Blue light flooded from the pendant, coursing through the chains, striking the armored Sectreps.
They screamed in unison, staggering back as if the light burned their essence.
"It's… not just a weapon," Alok realized. "It's… a key. A seal. And it's bound to me."
Clues in the Hall
The murals around the hall shifted again. Ancient inscriptions flickered into view:
"Only the bearer of chains can bind the lost. The Extera's soul waits beyond, but the path is forged by courage and flame."
Alok's chest tightened. "The Extera… it's not just the soul soldiers. It's waiting for me. And this… chain… is the key to facing it."
Rihan nodded, determination blazing in his eyes. "Then we fight through them. All of them. And we get closer to the truth."
The Battle Continues
The group pressed forward, moving through waves of armored Sectreps. Each strike, each dodge, tested their stamina, their magic, and their willpower. Alok's chains and the pendant reacted to every movement, carving paths through the chaos, giving them slight advantages, but the soldiers never stopped coming.
At the far end of the hall, a shadow shifted a familiar silhouette perched upon a throne of darkness. The Extera's glowing eyes locked on Alok, measuring him, anticipating his every move.
"So… the bearer of chains arrives," a voice echoed, cold and ancient.
Alok swallowed hard, feeling both fear and resolve. "I'll find the truth. I'll uncover my father's secrets. And I'll survive… no matter what you throw at me."
The Extera's laugh reverberated through the hall. "Then let the chains break… and the soul feast begin."
The armored Sectreps surged forward once more, and the battle intensified, shadows and light clashing in a storm that would decide everything.