The ruins were silent.
The massive body of the Ancient Guardian Beast lay motionless on the broken stone floor.
Kael stood there breathing heavily, the glowing War Relic Fragment resting in his hand.
The energy coming from it felt ancient… powerful… almost alive.
Lyra walked over, wiping blood from her sword.
"You actually did it," she said.
Kael looked at the fragment.
"It looks like this place was guarding something."
The other mercenaries slowly gathered around them.
One of them pointed toward the center of the ruins.
"Hey… look at that."
The ground where the beast had fallen was beginning to move.
Crack… crack…
Stone pieces slid apart, revealing a dark staircase leading underground.
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
"A hidden chamber…"
Kael felt the relic in his hand grow warm again.
"It's reacting."
Without hesitation, he stepped toward the stairs.
Lyra followed closely.
"Everyone stay alert," she told the mercenaries.
The group slowly descended into the darkness.
Torches along the walls suddenly lit up as they reached the bottom.
The underground chamber was enormous.
Ancient pillars stood tall, and strange symbols were carved into every surface.
At the center of the room stood a massive stone statue.
A warrior wearing heavy armor… holding a giant spear.
The statue radiated an overwhelming presence.
One of the mercenaries whispered in shock.
"That… that must be…"
Kael stepped forward slowly.
"The War God."
As he approached the statue, the War Relic Fragment began to glow brighter.
Then suddenly—
The ground trembled.
The statue's eyes lit up with a deep red light.
A powerful voice echoed through the chamber.
"Who dares enter the sanctuary of the War God?"
The mercenaries froze.
Even Lyra looked tense.
But Kael stepped forward calmly.
The relic in his hand shone brightly.
"I am Kael," he said.
"The one who carries the War God's Legacy."
The chamber fell silent.
Then the voice spoke again.
"Then prove your worth."
Suddenly, the statue moved.
Stone armor cracked as the massive figure stepped down from its pedestal.
BOOM!
The entire chamber shook.
The Trial of the War God had begun.
To be continued…