The Golden Hand That Burns the Gods – Battle on the Obsidian Bridge
The Obsidian Bridge trembled beneath the steps of the giant guardian—a hulking black figure with glowing blue eyes like dying stars. In its hand, a massive obsidian sword reflected the light from the blue abyss below. Each movement of the creature sent vibrations through the black stones under Lesendra's feet.
Seira stood at the edge of the bridge, holding her breath. "That's... the Throne Guardian. We must get past it or die here."
Lesendra stepped forward, his golden hand glowing brightly like a miniature sun. "I won't back down."
The Throne Guardian roared, swinging its sword toward Lesendra. The clash sounded like thunder, causing the bridge to shake. Lesendra blocked with his golden hand, but the creature's strength was overwhelming. He was pushed back, nearly falling into the abyss.
Lesendra rose, gritting his teeth. He punched the ground, shattering the obsidian stone, then leaped toward the Guardian. His golden fist struck the creature's chest, creating a large crack in its black armor. But the Throne Guardian merely growled, swinging its sword horizontally, slicing through the air and creating a shockwave that hurled Lesendra far, crashing into a stone pillar of the bridge.
Dust filled the air. Lesendra staggered, blood streaming from his temple. His golden hand trembled, its light dimming. His vision blurred, the blue abyss swaying around him. "No... I can't lose now," he whispered. He tried to stand, but his knees buckled, and the Throne Guardian approached with its sword raised, ready to strike.
At that moment, a soft yet firm voice rang out. "STOP!"
Seira leaped from the side of the bridge, drawing her long dagger, slashing at the Guardian's arm, disrupting its attack. Flashes of blue and red light exploded, creating a loud boom that shook the bridge. The Throne Guardian roared in anger, retreating briefly, its eyes glowing brighter.
Seira pulled the limp Lesendra to the edge of the bridge. "Don't die here. You're not someone who gives up easily," she whispered. Quickly, she bandaged the wound on his arm, pressing vital points to stop the bleeding.
Lesendra coughed, his breathing heavy, but his eyes regained their light. His golden hand began to glow again, brighter and vibrating. "Seira... why did you help me?"
Seira looked into his eyes deeply. "Because I know only you can destroy them all. Don't let your hand fade before that happens."
With Seira's help, Lesendra slowly stood. Before them, the Throne Guardian raised its sword high, ready to deliver the final blow. The blue light from the abyss below cast its towering shadow.
"Now or never," Lesendra murmured. Seira threw her silver dagger at the Guardian's eye, diverting its attention. In an instant, Lesendra surged forward with full strength, his golden hand striking the crack in the Guardian's chest, destroying the dark blue glowing core within its body.
The Throne Guardian screamed, its body shattering into flying obsidian shards that fell into the abyss, leaving behind a fading blue light.
The Obsidian Bridge fell silent once more. Seira and Lesendra stood upon it, gasping for breath, yet still upright. Lesendra held his now steadily glowing golden hand, whispering words barely audible. "I will finish this."
In the distance, the Dark Throne loomed closer, its shadow stretching high beneath the swirling sky of Mythra. Their path remained long and perilous, but a small light had ignited in the darkness.
---
"Is it... over?" Seira whispered.
Lesendra gazed at the remnants of the explosion where the Throne Guardian had fallen, but his heart felt uneasy. "No. Too easy."
Suddenly, a loud clanging sound broke the silence. From the blue mist at the end of the bridge, a massive shadow emerged—far taller, far more terrifying. Its steps were heavy and deliberate, causing the bridge to shake violently. The figure wore genuine obsidian armor that gleamed, reflecting bright blue light. In its hand, a true obsidian sword, twice the height of a man, emitted an aura that made the surrounding air chill.
"Foolish humans," its deep voice echoed, as if shaking space and time. "What you defeated was merely my shadow. I am the true Throne Guardian, and you... are mere insignificant pests."
Seira stepped back, her face pale. Lesendra clenched his golden hand, trying to prepare, but his wounded body couldn't withstand the opponent's aura. "Impossible..." he murmured.
The true Throne Guardian swung its obsidian sword, emitting blue light like a sea of stars. A wave of energy sliced through the air, destroying much of the obsidian bridge, sending stones flying and striking Lesendra with tremendous force. Lesendra was thrown, crashing into the stone wall at the side of the bridge, his body broken and bleeding.
"Aghh!" Lesendra screamed, blood flowing from his mouth. His golden hand trembled violently, nearly extinguished.
Seira ran to him, trying to pull him. "We must go! This isn't a battle we can win now!"
The true Throne Guardian approached slowly, its blue eyes emitting a sharp light. "Run... you will still die. The Dark Throne is no place for humans."
With all his remaining strength, Lesendra looked at Seira with a gaze full of anger and despair. "I... I can't lose now..."
Seira gritted her teeth. "You must live. If you die now, who will burn the gods?"
She forcefully pulled Lesendra, leaping back into a crack in the bridge. They fell onto a rocky slope, rolling hard until they entered a dark crevice beneath the bridge. The true Throne Guardian stood at the edge, looking down, but let them go with a disdainful gaze.
In the narrow, dark cave, Lesendra lay weak, his golden hand fading, nearly extinguished. Seira knelt beside him, pressing the wound on his chest. "You must survive, Lesendra. This is just the beginning. The Dark Throne will fall. But not today."
Above them, the sky of Mythra darkened again, blue light enveloping the patiently waiting Dark Throne. Lesendra's journey was not over, but for the first time, he had to retreat—and prepare to fight back with greater strength.
---
The Quest for the Obsidian Diamond Sword
In the silent, dark cave, the sound of dripping water echoed. Lesendra lay weak, his breathing heavy, his body covered in bruises and dried blood. The light from his golden hand was nearly extinguished, only a faint glow like dying embers.
Seira lit a small torch, her face pale but full of determination. "You must rise, Lesendra. If you die here, the gods will win without resistance."
Lesendra slowly opened his eyes, staring at the torch with a blank gaze. "I'm... too weak..." he murmured.
Seira shook her head firmly. "No. You haven't lost. But your hand alone isn't enough. We need a weapon that can match them."
Amid the ancient whispers in the cave corridor, Seira told an old legend—about the Obsidian Diamond Sword, a weapon forged from sky gems mined from the deepest chasm of Mythra. It was said that the sword could cut through anything, even shatter a god's body into dust. But it wasn't meant for ordinary humans—only those who could conquer the Bone Labyrinth and the Mirror of Self were worthy to wield it.
"Bone Labyrinth... Mirror of Self...?" Lesendra murmured, his eyes beginning to glow faintly.
Seira nodded. "Yes. A labyrinth at the base of Mythra filled with the bones of old rebels, and a mirror that reflects your weakest self, forcing you to face your own fears."
Lesendra groaned, trying to rise. His wounds felt like they were burning, but he clenched his golden hand, which began to glow brighter. "I will obtain it. Whatever the cost."
---
Journey to the Bone Labyrinth
After spending the night in the cave and recovering strength with medicinal herbs brought by Seira, they began their journey to the base of Mythra—to the Black Abyss, where the Bone Labyrinth lay. They descended slippery stone cliffs, followed winding underground rivers, facing attacks from wild creatures guarding the labyrinth's entrance.
The scent of damp earth mixed with the stench of old bones and blood. Before them stood a large gate made of piled human bones, adorned with ancient symbols glowing faintly. Above it, a carved stone dragon head with empty eyes stared straight ahead.
"This is it," Seira whispered. "Once inside, there's no way out except by bringing the sword."
Lesendra gripped his golden hand, now emitting a steady light. "If I fail, then I will be buried here with them."
---
The Bone Labyrinth and the Mirror of Self
They stepped inside, and the bone gate closed with a loud thud behind them. Inside the labyrinth, narrow corridors branched out, filled with human bones clinging to the walls and ceilings. Shadows moved at the corners of their eyes, faint whispers calling out.
In one corridor, Lesendra became separated from Seira. He entered a large room filled with human-sized black mirrors, reflecting his weak self—a small boy, kneeling before a god, crying and begging for mercy. The mirrors echoed with voices: "You are weak. You are a coward. You are unworthy of this power."
Lesendra closed his eyes, clenching his golden hand, which began to shine brightly, burning the surrounding air. "I may be weak, but I will never give up." He struck the mirrors with his golden hand, shattering them into glowing shards. With each mirror broken, the shadows of his fears faded.
Finally, in the deepest chamber, he saw the Obsidian Diamond Sword, embedded in a black stone veined with blue. The sword emitted a bright blue light, causing the entire room to tremble. But around it, the shadows of old rebels rose, ghostly figures resembling humans and gods.
"I must conquer them... and myself," Lesendra murmured.