The path to the fourth fragment was treacherous. Jagged cliffs rose sharply around them, mist swirling through the peaks like ghosts of long-forgotten battles. Sera's golden aura flared intermittently, wolf coiling beneath her skin, senses alert to the faintest disturbances.
Theron moved beside her, silver-golden threads extending into the cliffs, probing for traps and hidden energy signals. "This fragment," he said quietly, "is more unstable than the last. Kieran has likely prepared it with wards and guardians. He won't leave it unprotected."
Sera's golden eyes narrowed, wolf growling softly. "Then we stay focused. No mistakes. He's preparing something… I can feel it."
Theron's expression was grim. "I've detected traces of crimson energy around the ruins, but it's fragmented, almost… like bait. He's drawing us in."
Sera's jaw tightened. "Then we proceed carefully. The moment we enter the ruins, we treat everything as a threat."
---
Arrival at the Ruins
The ruins sprawled before them, blackened stone and jagged towers twisted against the dimming sky. Faint crimson pulses shimmered from cracks in the stone—traps designed to destabilize hybrids unprepared for Kieran's assaults.
"This is worse than Ebon Peak," Theron whispered, eyes scanning the energy signatures. "He's set traps to manipulate hybrid energy. One misstep and we could be incapacitated—or worse."
Sera's wolf growled low beneath her skin. "Then we move slowly. Focused. We've faced him before, but this… this is different."
The two advanced cautiously, golden and silver-golden auras weaving together, forming a protective bubble as they navigated collapsing corridors and jagged stone floors. Every step was calculated, every movement precise.
---
The Fragment Revealed
At the heart of the ruins, the fourth fragment awaited. Unlike the others, this one was jagged, fractured, veins of dark energy pulsing violently through its surface. Crimson energy flickered, coiling like living tendrils, lashing outward when approached.
Sera's golden aura flared as she stepped forward. "It's… unstable. We need to synchronize our energy carefully."
Theron extended his silver-golden threads, weaving them into the fragment's unstable veins. "We stabilize it long enough to contain it safely. But Kieran is likely watching. He won't allow us to leave easily."
Sera's wolf growled, instincts alerting her to a presence lurking just beyond the shadows. "I can feel him. And not just him—guards, constructs… or worse."
---
The Trap is Sprung
Before they could begin the stabilization, the ground beneath them trembled violently. Crimson energy erupted from the walls, tendrils lashing outward in a coordinated assault.
Kieran's voice echoed through the ruins, cold and mocking. "I've been waiting for you. Did you really think you could take what is mine so easily?"
From the shadows, hybrids loyal to Kieran surged forward, energy crackling violently. Some wielded jagged constructs, others manipulated elemental forces, all designed to overwhelm their defenses.
Sera's wolf growled ferociously, golden aura flaring. "Hold the fragment! Nothing else matters!"
Theron's threads extended, neutralizing smaller attacks, while Sera directed her golden energy outward, repelling the initial wave. But the sheer number of attackers and the intricacy of the traps forced them back, fragment trembling under the unstable energy.
---
A Deadly Gamble
Sera's golden eyes narrowed. "We need a strategy. One misstep, and this fragment could explode—or worse, Kieran could absorb its energy."
Theron's voice was calm but tense. "We combine our energies fully, focus on stabilizing the core of the fragment. Once it's stable, we can create a protective conduit to shield ourselves from his assault."
Sera nodded, wolf coiling beneath her. "Then we do it. Full synchronization."
The golden and silver-golden auras merged into a spiraling vortex, threading through the fragment. Crimson tendrils lashed outward, striking their energy bubble, but the combined aura held firm, stabilizing the fragment slowly.
Kieran's voice grew more furious. "Impossible! No one can resist me!"
---
A Desperate Defense
The ruins shook violently as Kieran intensified his attack. Energy constructs collided with Sera's protective aura, shattering stone and sending debris flying. Wolves of energy howled through the corridors as hybrids charged with lethal precision.
Sera's wolf surged, guiding her movements with unerring accuracy. Golden pulses shot from her hands, dismantling constructs midair and striking attackers with precision. Theron's threads weaved expertly, neutralizing traps and redirecting energy away from the fragment.
One of Kieran's hybrids lunged directly at Sera, blades of jagged crimson energy extending from his arms. Wolf growled, guiding her strike as golden energy coiled around her fists. She intercepted him, sending him crashing into the stone wall, incapacitated.
The corridor trembled again as Kieran unleashed a concentrated surge of energy aimed directly at the fragment. "Stop this! It will all be mine!"
Sera's golden aura flared, wolf roaring beneath her. "Not while we're here! We protect the fragment—no matter what!"
---
The Turning Point
Sera focused fully, wolf coiling beneath her, golden energy forming a precise spiral that threaded through the fragment. Theron synchronized, weaving silver-golden threads into the pulse, stabilizing it against Kieran's attacks.
The crimson tendrils faltered, energy recoiling as the fragment pulsed steadily within the protective aura. Sera's wolf roared in triumph, guiding her final energy surge. "Now! Stabilize it completely!"
The ruins shook violently, but the fragment's energy settled into a calm pulse, fully stabilized. Kieran's crimson aura flared in frustration as his attacks were repelled, forcing him to retreat into the shadows.
---
A Moment of Revelation
As the dust settled, Sera noticed something alarming. Faint inscriptions glowed along the fragment's veins—ancient runes she hadn't seen before. Theron leaned closer, silver-golden threads probing them carefully.
"These are instructions… a blueprint," he murmured. "Kieran isn't just collecting fragments. He's planning to merge them in a specific sequence. If he succeeds… the Obsidian Core will become more powerful than we imagined."
Sera's golden eyes narrowed, wolf growling softly. "Then we must move faster. The next fragment is our priority, and Kieran will stop at nothing to get it."
Theron's expression darkened. "The last two fragments are guarded differently—one by hybrids loyal to him, the other in a ruin even older and more unstable than this one. Our path will be deadly."
---
Preparation for the Final Race
Sera stood, wolf coiled beneath her, golden aura flaring in determination. "We've stabilized this fragment. But time is against us. We secure it at Crescent Peak, then immediately move to the next."
Theron nodded, silver-golden threads pulsing. "We cannot fail. Kieran's obsession has escalated. Every second counts."
Sera's eyes glimmered with resolve. "Crescent Peak depends on us. The hybrids, the fragments, everyone we protect… we cannot let him win."
The ruins were quiet once more, but the faint crimson pulse in the distance reminded them both: Kieran's obsession was closing in. The shadows were growing stronger.
Wolf growled low beneath her skin. "We're ready," Sera whispered. "And next time… he won't get away with anything."
---
The Northern Mountains stretched before them, jagged peaks casting long shadows as dusk fell. The fourth fragment was secure, but Kieran's plan was accelerating faster than they had anticipated. Sera and Theron knew that the coming confrontations would test every ounce of their skill, strength, and resolve.
And they were ready to fight—no matter the cost.