Ruins loomed before them as ancient stone structures preserved by stable zone's protective magic showed crystalline formations catching afternoon light while weathered architecture stood defiant against corruption's decay.
But something felt wrong.
Draven paused at entrance as instinct screamed warning while bearer's senses detected wrongness he couldn't identify, atmosphere heavy with unnamed threat.
Genesis Codex's green-gold light flickered with unusual behavior as cosmic artifact responded to something.
Adhivar's presence manifested briefly. *"Dimensional resonance disrupted. Stable zone's protective magic altered. Contaminated somehow. Proceed with extreme caution."*
Contaminated?
Pack surrounded bearer as Velnar's massive Everthorn Scorpion form tensed with thorned carapace bristling, Sylvara's druid elegance poised for combat, Feyra's horse-sized Fennec form showed nervousness with golden eyes wide, Zor circled overhead as ten-meter wingspan shadowed entrance while Storm Sense detected atmospheric wrongness.
All sensing danger.
Stepping inside showed corridors darker than remembered as crystalline walls that should glow softly with stable zone magic pulsed with wrong colors.
Veins.
Elemental veins ran through crystal architecture with orange-red like magma, electric blue crackling faintly, aqua-cyan flowing, brown-green root-like, silver-white swirling.
Corruption spreading through ruins themselves.
Velnar's Leyline Instinct detected disturbance. "Ground feels infected. Ley-lines twisted. Something corrupting stable zone from within. Never sensed this before, unnatural."
Zor's Storm Sense confirmed. "Atmospheric mana tension spiking. Pressure building. Storm forming but wrong. Elemental chaos converging."
Feyra's Radiant Instinct shuddered. "Life force signatures ahead but wrong. Not living. Not dead. Corrupted. Something moving toward us—"
Footsteps.
Heavy.
Multiple.
Crystal footsteps echoed through corridors, grinding, scraping, approaching fast.
Combat incoming.
Twelve crystal golems stepped from side corridors as four meters tall transparent crystal bodies crackled with elemental corruption while veins glowed through see-through forms like infected blood vessels.
Three fire golems showed orange-red magma veins pulsing with heat radiating as crystal fists burned.
Three thunder golems displayed electric blue veins crackling as sparks arced between joints with eyes blazing white.
Two water golems had aqua-cyan veins flowing while moisture condensed around crystal bodies.
Two earth golems showed brown-green veins spreading root-like as stone-dust fell from movements.
Two air golems displayed silver-white veins swirling as wind gusted from crystal forms.
All advancing.
Hostile immediately.
Eyes formerly empty now burned with elemental corruption, focused on Draven, on pack, on intruders.
No hesitation.
Attacking.
***
Zor shrieked.
Voice of Thunder detonated through corridor as concussive thunderous blast disrupted golem coordination, disorienting crystal constructs while rallying pack instantly.
Ten-meter wingspan exploded into motion as Storm Crown activated with permanent storm halo above Thunder Raven blazing while continuous lightning arcs cascaded from corona, disrupting golem movements.
Three thunder golems responded as electric blue veins flared while lightning bolts fired from crystal hands, crackling energy converging on aerial target.
Zor's Tempest Shroud deployed.
Spiraling storm wrapped around massive raven form, deflecting lightning attacks, redirecting energy harmlessly as flight speed doubled instantly.
Sovereign Strike.
Lightning-charged dive attack screamed downward as Zor plummeted like celestial bolt with thunder crackling along wingspan, impact detonating against fire golem's chest with storm-level force.
Explosion.
Crystal shattered as fire golem's torso fragmented, orange-red veins ruptured, magma-corruption sprayed while construct collapsed into crystalline shards.
First kill.
But eleven remaining.
Zor ascended immediately as wings beat powerfully while Storm Sense detected more attacks incoming, repositioning for next strike while maintaining aerial superiority.
Chainbreaker's Bond activated as lightning surged through connection to Draven, empowering bearer's physical capabilities while thunder energy crackled along Draven's arms.
Velnar roared.
Massive scorpion body charged as thorned carapace glittered while tail capable of uprooting trees lashed, earth element resonating with corrupted earth golems.
Soilshaper Pulse detonated.
Tremor exploded through ruins floor as ground reshaped instantly, stone rising into protective walls while floor dropped into pits beneath three golems, terrain transforming into battlefield advantage.
Two earth golems fell as brown-green veins flared while constructs tumbled into sudden pit, crystal bodies cracking against stone.
But rising again as corrupted guardians climbed, damaged but functional.
Thornburst Barrage launched.
Hardened explosive thorn-shards fired from Velnar's carapace as spread attack covered wide area, thorns detonating against crystal bodies while constricting vines erupted on impact, wrapping around golem limbs, immobilizing.
Water golem wrapped as aqua-cyan veins pulsed, trying to dissolve vines with moisture while struggling against organic restraints.
Everthorn Arsenal activated.
Living thorn-vines generated continuously as hardened bark armor layered across scorpion form, creating shields blocking incoming elemental blasts from air golems' wind attacks.
Velnar tanking as massive form absorbed punishment while Verdant Regeneration began as scorpion touched soil, wounds healing rapidly when grounded.
Sylvara's Groveheart Blessing expanded.
Natural healing area manifested as three-meter druid form glowed with vine and bark armor shimmering while allies recovered faster, stamina replenished as Velnar's wounds closed accelerated.
Verdant Bind activated.
Vine-chains erupted from ruins floor, targeting fire golem as green energy wrapped around crystal legs, immobilizing, choking while restraints proved effective on corrupted creatures.
Fire golem struggled as orange-red veins blazed with heat attempting to burn vines, but druidic magic persisted, regenerating faster than flames consumed.
Feyra's Lifelight Surge released.
Wave of warm life-energy washed over pack, healing minor wounds, strengthening stamina, stabilizing everyone's condition.
Blessing of the Dawn stayed active as golden Fennec presence radiated while wounds closed faster in her vicinity, exhaustion faded as minor corruptions from golem attacks were suppressed.
But combat intensified.
Dawnflare Beam fired.
Concentrated living light cut from Feyra's eyes, blazing through corridor while striking air golem's chest as cleansing beam attempted to purify corruption, crystal body cracking under life-element assault.
Air golem shrieked as silver-white veins flickered while wind attacks weakened, construct damaged but fighting.
Lifebloom Catalyst activated.
Sylvara amplified Feyra's healing as dual support synergy combined life and nature magic, creating powerful regeneration field while pack's minor injuries vanished rapidly.
***
Draven moved.
Chainbreaker's Bond surged with Zor's lightning as thunder energy crackled along arms while physical strikes empowered, bearer's speed enhanced.
Fire golem charged as crystal fist blazed, orange-red veins pulsed while four-meter construct swung massive burning strike.
Draven dodged as bearer reflexes enhanced by bonding meant ducking under crystal fist while Bloomscript activated.
Inscribing pattern mid-combat.
Luminous magical script traced through air as defensive barrier formula manifested with ancient symbols appearing, shield materializing between Draven and incoming water golem's pressurized blast.
Water attack deflected as aqua-cyan stream splashed against a barrier while magical shield held, pattern dissipating after absorbing impact.
Fragment power channeling.
Cosmic energy flowed through Genesis Codex connection as Draven's eyes glowed briefly while Fragment-bearer abilities activated, enhanced strength surging.
Striking fire golem as Fragment-empowered punch connected with crystal knee joint while cosmic force detonated, golem staggered as crack spread through leg.
Genesis Codex pulsed.
Adhivar's tactical analysis transmitted instantly. *"Thunder golems targeting Zor specifically. Coordinated strategy. Fire golems prioritizing Velnar, heat attempting to counter plant element. Water golems targeting Feyra, corrupted guardians identifying threats systematically."*
Tactical awareness.
*"Golem cores located center-mass. Crystalline heart structures containing elemental corruption. Destroy cores, constructs collapse. Peripheral damage insufficient, regeneration capability present."*
Weakness identified.
Cosmic knowledge provided combat advantage as bearer was armed with information, understanding enemy vulnerabilities.
Draven shouted to pack. "CORES! CENTER-MASS! SHATTER THE CORES!"
Pack adjusted tactics immediately, targeting crystalline hearts visible through transparent bodies as attacks focused on glowing core structures.
Eight golems damaged as fire golem destroyed by Zor, fire golem immobilized by Sylvara, water golem wrapped by Velnar's vines, air golem cracked by Feyra, earth golems in pit, thunder golems dodging Zor while four actively fought.
But corridor shook.
More footsteps.
Heavy, numerous.
Three more golems emerged from deeper ruins as two fire, one thunder showed crystal bodies blazing with corruption, advancing to reinforce weakened guardians.
Fifteen total now.
Pack surrounded as corridor front and rear blocked while golems coordinated, overwhelming numbers pressed advantage.
Velnar's clicking was urgent. "TOO MANY! POSITION COMPROMISED!"
Zor shrieked from above. "MORE SIGNATURES DETECTING, STORM SENSE READING ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTS DEEPER IN RUINS!"
How many total?
Trap.
Ambush.
Ruins infested with corrupted guardians.
***
Velnar roared to Sylvara. "FOREST NOW!"
Earth plus nature synergy activated.
Soilshaper Pulse detonated simultaneously with Sylvan Surge as Velnar's tremor reshaped stone floor while Sylvara's druidic energy erupted.
Instant forest.
Trees exploded from ruins floor as massive roots tore through stone while trunks rose rapidly, branches spread, leaves manifested as entire corridor transformed into dense woodland instantly.
Golems disrupted as crystal constructs tangled in sudden forest while movements hindered, coordination broken by terrain transformation.
Velnar's Root Dominion activated.
Commanding earth and plant aligned creatures as root serpents emerged from sudden forest floor while bramble wolves manifested from undergrowth, hundreds of minor beasts swarmed golems.
Not powerful individually but overwhelming numbers, distracting constructs while giving pack breathing room.
Sylvara's Nature's Command joined.
Woodland beasts obeyed druid as vine wolves and treants emerged, attacking golems coordinately while buying time.
Draven assessed as pack fought effectively but outnumbered while more golems incoming meant position untenable.
"FALL BACK! FIGHTING RETREAT! CONSERVE ENERGY!"
Tactical withdrawal, not fleeing but repositioning while seeking better terrain, avoiding encirclement.
Zor provided cover as Sovereign Strikes targeted pursuing golems while lightning attacks disrupted advance, Storm Crown arcs scattered constructs.
Velnar rear guard as massive scorpion blocked corridor while Thornburst Barrages kept golems distant, Barkplate Overgrowth absorbed elemental blasts.
Feyra and Sylvara maintained healing auras as injuries remained minimal so far but stamina drained while sustained combat exhausted, regeneration essential.
Pack withdrew deeper, seeking defensive position, choke point, anywhere reducing numerical disadvantage.
But ruins vast.
Golems persistent.
How many total?
Corridor opened into larger chamber as ruins central hall showed high ceiling with multiple exits while crystalline pillars supported structure.
And thirty more golems.
Standing motionless.
Crystal bodies glowed with elemental corruption as fire, thunder, water, earth, air showed all elements represented while four-meter constructs filled chamber, transparent forms crackling with wrongness.
All activating simultaneously.
Eyes blazing.
Turning toward intruders.
Draven's blood chilled.
"How many are in these ruins...?"
Genesis Codex pulsed urgently. *"Bearer, stable zone's protective magic inverted. Not preserving ruins against corruption. Generating corruption. Feeding it to guardians. Entire stable zone compromised. Source unknown. Recommend immediate—"*
Forty-five golems charging.
All at once.
Pack surrounded.
Nowhere to run.
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