The scream echoed through the Eternal Sanctuary.
It wasn’t merely a sound.
It was a wave of hatred.
The moment it burst from the Guardian Core, every torch in the cavern went dark.
The rivers of spiritual energy dimmed, and the air became unbearably cold.
Arjun felt the golden light beneath his palms falter.
The crystal heart trembled violently.
The system reacted at once.
EMERGENCY ALERT
Purification Interrupted
Target:
Unknown Corruption Entity
Status:
Awakening
Threat Level:
???
“…There’s something alive in there?”
Correction.
Something imprisoned.
The black half of the crystal expanded.
Dark tendrils slithered across Aegis’ stone body like living vines.
The guardian let out another agonized roar.
“Keeper…”
“Leave…”
“Before…
it…”
Its voice was swallowed by another, deeper one.
“Too late.”
A crack split the crystal from top to bottom.
A humanoid shadow stepped out as though walking through water.
It was cloaked in living darkness.
Its face was hidden behind a smooth black mask with a single crimson eye.
No spiritual pressure erupted from it.
Instead…
Its very presence seemed to erase the surrounding spiritual energy.
Even Sun Wukong’s smile disappeared.
“…So you’re still alive.”
The shadow slowly turned toward him.
“Monkey.”
“You have become slower.”
Sun Wukong twirled his staff once.
“And you’ve become uglier.”
Bruno nodded seriously.
“Much uglier.”
The shadow ignored them.
Its lone crimson eye settled on Arjun.
For a moment…
The world seemed to freeze.
The system flickered violently.
FORBIDDEN RECORD DETECTED
Entity Name:
Unavailable
Ancient Designation:
The Hollow One
Authority Level:
Restricted
“…Why is the name unavailable?”
Memory deleted by original Keeper.
Arjun frowned.
“I deleted it?”
Confirmed.
The Hollow One tilted its head.
“So…”
“You truly remember nothing.”
Its voice carried no anger.
Only disappointment.
“You sacrificed everything…”
“…and forgot even your greatest enemy.”
Aisha stepped protectively in front of Arjun.
“You’ll have to get through all of us first.”
The Hollow One looked at her for a single second.
Then looked away.
“…Insignificant.”
Those two words ignited Varkhaz’s temper.
Black flames erupted around him.
“My lord’s companions are not insignificant!”
With a roar, he hurled his flaming spear.
The weapon streaked through the air like a meteor.
The Hollow One simply raised a finger.
The spear stopped.
Hung motionless.
Then…
It crumbled into black dust.
Silence.
Varkhaz stared in disbelief.
“My spear…”
Marshal Liang’s grip tightened around his silver weapon.
“Reality manipulation…”
Ren’s face grew solemn.
“No.”
“Worse.”
“It erased the attack.”
The system immediately confirmed it.
ABILITY ANALYSIS
Skill Detected:
Null Authority
Effect:
Erases techniques below its authority level.
“…That’s unfair.”
Host’s observation is accurate.
Sun Wukong stepped forward.
At last, the playful expression vanished completely.
He planted the golden staff firmly into the ground.
The cavern shook.
“Everyone.”
His voice was calm.
“Get Arjun away from the Core.”
Bruno frowned.
“What about you?”
“I’ll keep our guest entertained.”
The Great Sage smiled.
“I’ve wanted a rematch for a very long time.”
The Hollow One slowly spread its arms.
Darkness gathered behind it.
Thousands of black swords materialized in the air. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Each one pointed toward Sun Wukong.
The monkey cracked his neck.
“Good.”
“I was getting bored.”
Golden light exploded from his body.
For the first time since arriving…
The seal suppressing his power began to crack.
The system trembled.
POWER LIMITER RELEASED
User:
Sun Wukong
Current Output:
18%…
22%…
27%…
The cavern couldn’t withstand the pressure.
Ancient pillars fractured.
The ceiling rumbled.
Marshal Liang looked upward in alarm.
“If they fight seriously…”
“The Sanctuary will collapse!”
Ren nodded grimly.
“Which is exactly what the Hollow One wants.”
Arjun looked at the crystal heart beneath his hands.
The purification progress remained frozen.
PURIFICATION STATUS
Progress:
4%
Remaining Time:
176 Seconds
Condition:
Resume Keeper Authority
Arjun clenched his fists.
“I can’t leave.”
Aisha looked at him.
“What?”
“If I stop now…”
“Aegis dies.”
He looked toward Sun Wukong, who was already facing the Hollow One alone.
“…And everyone else will be fighting for nothing.”
Sun Wukong glanced back and flashed his familiar grin.
“Keeper.”
“Trust your friends.”
Then he vanished.
A golden streak collided with a sea of black swords.
The explosion lit up the underground sky.
The true battle had begun.
The Eternal Sanctuary shook violently.
Golden light and endless darkness collided in the center of the cavern.
BOOOOM!
The shockwave swept across the ancient ruins like a hurricane.
Massive pillars cracked.
Marble temples crumbled.
The rivers of spiritual energy surged wildly, overflowing their stone banks.
High above, Sun Wukong spun through the air, his golden staff leaving blazing arcs of light with every strike.
Each swing was enough to split mountains.
Yet…
The Hollow One blocked them effortlessly.
A single finger.
A casual step.
A slight tilt of its head.
Every attack that could shatter kingdoms was neutralized with frightening precision.
The system immediately analyzed the battle.
COMBAT ANALYSIS
Sun Wukong
Power Released: 29%
The Hollow One
Power Released: Unknown
Battle Status:
Even
“…Even?”
Arjun muttered.
“He’s using almost thirty percent of his strength!”
The Hollow One has not yet revealed measurable limits.
A cold chill ran down Arjun’s spine.
Above him—
CLANG!
Sun Wukong’s staff struck the Hollow One’s arm.
For the first time…
The shadow slid backward.
The monkey grinned.
“There you are.”
“You can still bleed.”
A thin line of shimmering black liquid ran down the Hollow One’s wrist.
It stared at the wound in silence.
Then…
It smiled.
“Excellent.”
The wound vanished instantly.
Not healed.
Erased.
Sun Wukong sighed dramatically.
“You’re still using that annoying trick.”
Far below…
Arjun kept both hands pressed against Aegis’ Guardian Core.
Golden energy flowed continuously into the crystal.
The corruption resisted fiercely.
The countdown finally resumed.
PURIFICATION IN PROGRESS
Guardian:
Aegis – Stone Sentinel
Progress:
7%…
9%…
12%…
Time Remaining:
171 Seconds
The moment the percentage reached twelve…
Aegis let out a pained groan.
Its sapphire eye shone brighter.
“Keeper…”
“…forgive me.”
Arjun looked up.
“You don’t need forgiveness.”
“We’re bringing you home.”
The giant guardian slowly clenched its free hand.
Fighting against the corruption from within.
On the battlefield below—
Marshal Liang’s spear pierced another Memory Wraith.
“Dragon Division!”
“Yes, Marshal!”
Silver runes illuminated the battlefield as the elite officers formed overlapping defensive formations.
Meanwhile, Varkhaz stood like an immovable fortress.
His black flames formed a blazing wall that prevented the corruption from reaching the Keeper.
Every few seconds another shadow creature charged.
Every few seconds it vanished in black fire.
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf moved like silver moonlight.
Silent.
Elegant.
Lethal.
Wherever its claws passed…
Darkness disappeared.
Bruno…
Bruno had adopted a very different strategy.
He picked up enormous stone columns…
…and threw them.
One after another.
BOOM!
“Strike one!”
CRASH!
“Strike two!”
A Memory Wraith looked up just before an entire temple landed on it.
Bruno nodded proudly.
“Strike three.”
Aisha stared.
“…Is he using architecture as a weapon?”
Ren smiled faintly.
“It has worked before.”
The system quietly updated.
✔ TEAM STATUS ✔
Current Morale:
Very High
Guardian Cooperation:
Excellent
Host’s allies are performing above expectations.
“I’m lucky.”
Correction.
They chose you.
Those words lingered in Arjun’s mind.
They hadn’t followed him because of power.
Or because of destiny.
They followed because they believed in him.
He smiled.
“I won’t let you down.”
The golden light intensified.
PURIFICATION PROGRESS
18%…
24%…
31%…
The corruption shrieked.
Black cracks spread across the Hollow One’s mask.
It abruptly stopped fighting Sun Wukong.
Instead…
It looked directly at Arjun.
“…Enough.”
For the first time…
Emotion entered its voice.
Not anger.
Fear.
Sun Wukong immediately realized why.
His grin widened.
“So that’s it.”
“You don’t care about me.”
“You care about him finishing.”
The Hollow One remained silent.
The monkey laughed loudly.
“Hahaha!”
“Then you’re not getting anywhere near my Keeper!”
Golden flames erupted around his staff.
The ancient weapon grew larger and larger until it resembled a towering pillar holding up the heavens.
The system blared another alert.
LIMITER WARNING
Sun Wukong Output:
35%
Sanctuary Structural Stability:
62%
Recommendation:
Reduce power immediately.
Sun Wukong scratched his cheek.
“…Oops.”
Then he looked at the Hollow One.
“Worth it.”
He swung the giant staff downward.
The Hollow One finally moved with urgency.
Darkness erupted from its body, forming an enormous black sphere.
The two attacks collided.
For an instant…
The world became silent.
Then—
KAAAAAAAAABOOOOM!
The explosion illuminated the entire underground Sanctuary.
Ancient bells hidden beneath the ruins began ringing one after another.
Dong…
Dong…
Dong…
Ren’s eyes widened.
“The Guardian Bells…”
Marshal Liang turned toward the echoing sound.
“What do they mean?”
Ren’s expression was filled with disbelief.
“They only ring…”
“…when another Guardian is answering the Keeper’s call.”
Deep beneath the Sanctuary…
Far below Aegis’ chamber…
Something colossal slowly opened its eyes.
The system displayed a final message as the chapter came to a close.
SANCTUARY UPDATE
Unknown Guardian Response Detected.
Signal Source:
The Deep Vault
Status:
Awakening…
A low, ancient voice echoed through the depths.
“The Keeper…
has returned.”
“Open…
the Deep Vault.”
The entire Sanctuary trembled.
To be Continue….