Chapter 23 – The Temple of the Lost Scrolls – Part 2:
Monster:
— "Intruders seeking sacred knowledge… You are unworthy! Burn with me for eternity, in the flames of the damned!"
Adrian (smirking):
— "What a surprise… You're the first ugly monster I've met that can actually speak. But sorry, we're surpassing you and finding the answers we came for!"
Without hesitation, Adrian dashed forward at impressive speed, the stone floor cracking slightly beneath his feet.
Adrian:
— "Sonic Kick!"
His strike hit the creature square in the chest, causing it to stagger backward with a furious roar that ignited the embers along the temple walls. The air around them shimmered with heat.
Monster:
— "Burn with me, sinners!"
With a guttural chant, it summoned a massive fireball, hurling it at them with both hands.
Adrian:
— "Too slow!"
He spun in the air, launching another Sonic Kick that intercepted the fireball. The resulting explosion lit the grand hall like a flash of lightning. For a brief moment, ancient carvings on the walls became visible—depictions of epic battles, divine sacrifices, and truths lost to time, forever etched in stone.
Monster (furious):
— "Flaming Chains!"
Chains made of searing fire whipped through the air toward Adrian. He leapt high, narrowly avoiding them as they scorched the ground, melting stone and leaving molten trails.
Cordelia (eyes glowing):
— "Now it's my turn! Take this! Lamb's Divine Kick!"
She jumped gracefully, spinning in the air like a dancer wrapped in light, striking the monster with a brilliant white kick. The impact shattered the floor, launching the creature into a pillar, which collapsed and scattered embers across the hall.
Monster (raising a defense):
— "Flame Barrier!"
Adrian:
— "You forgot about this side!"
He appeared at the monster's flank, his fist crackling with power.
— "Sonic Punch!"
The blow shattered the flame barrier and hurled the creature into another stone column, which crumbled under the impact with a thunderous crash.
Adrian (shouting):
— "Now, Cordelia! Don't let it recover!"
Cordelia:
— "Got it!"
She surged forward, divine energy growing beneath her feet.
Cordelia:
— "Lamb's Divine Kick!"
Adrian:
— "And take this too! Sonic Kick!"
They both leapt simultaneously, delivering a perfectly synchronized double strike. The fusion of divine and sonic energy triggered a deafening explosion. The ground shook violently, dust and embers engulfing the hall in a storm of chaos. For a moment, it seemed the temple itself trembled from the force.
Cordelia (catching her breath):
— "Did we… get him?"
Adrian (watching the rubble):
— "I think so…"
The creature's body began to dissolve into ash, its flaming eyes still locked on them in its final moments.
Monster (dying):
— "You may have defeated me… but the knowledge you seek… may only bring pain… Farewell…"
Its ashes scattered like ghostly mist. A sacred silence fell over the temple, as if the very stones were judging—or mourning—what had just occurred. Then, slowly, an ancient door creaked open before them.
Cordelia:
— "What do you think he meant by that?"
Adrian:
— "Only one way to find out."
They stepped through the door and entered a vast chamber. Shelves rose into the darkness, stretching beyond the visible horizon, filled with scrolls of all kinds. It was as if they had entered the very heart of forgotten wisdom—a sanctuary of time, where the world's history waited in silence for those brave enough to seek it.
Cordelia (in awe):
— "Adrian… look at all these scrolls!"
Adrian:
— "This is more than an entire library. How are we supposed to find the right one among all of this?"
Cordelia:
— "The monster mentioned 'sacred knowledge'… Maybe something stands out. Let's split up. If either of us finds something, call the other, okay?"
Adrian:
— "Deal. I'll go left."
Cordelia:
— "I'll go right."
Cordelia walked among the dusty shelves, inspecting each scroll carefully. The flickering light of her torch cast eerie shadows along the aisles, as if ancient spirits watched her silently from the darkness.
Cordelia (to herself):
— "So many scrolls… How will I know which one's the right one?"
Then her eyes lit up. At the center of the chamber, on a stone altar, lay a large golden scroll, faintly glowing under the weak torchlight.
Cordelia (excited):
— "Adrian! I found something!"
Adrian landed beside her with a swift leap.
Adrian:
— "Where?"
Cordelia (pointing):
— "There… that golden scroll."
They approached reverently. The scroll's glow seemed to pulse, as if it were alive, reacting to their presence.
Adrian (examining the script):
— "This… this isn't a normal language. I can't read a single word."
He turned to Cordelia, looking serious.
Adrian:
— "Your divine spirit was inherited here—maybe you can understand it."
Cordelia:
— "Alright. Let's try…"
She took a deep breath and gently touched the scroll. Her eyes glowed as the energy in the room flowed through her. The symbols on the scroll shifted, rearranging beneath her fingertips.
Cordelia (shocked):
— "This is…"
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