The wind howled as they climbed higher, snow swirling like shards of glass. The path had narrowed to a ledge barely wide enough for one person. Beneath them, the mountain fell away into endless mist.
Eiji gripped the rocks, shivering. "Whoever designed this place clearly had no sense of safety."
Kael moved ahead, his sword glowing faintly to cut through the mist. "The summit is close. The Guardian's presence grows stronger."
Lyra pulled her cloak tighter. "I can feel it too. Like the air itself is watching us."
The group pushed through the storm until the narrow ledge widened into a circular plateau. In the center stood a massive stone gate covered in runes that pulsed faintly with blue light. Beyond it, a faint aura shimmered like starlight trapped behind glass.
Selene stopped, her expression grave. "That's the Gate of Oaths. The Guardian resides beyond it. Only the chosen can pass."
Eiji stepped forward cautiously. "Chosen by who? The mountain?"
"The mountain," Selene said softly, "and the truth of your heart."
The runes on the gate flared suddenly, reacting to Eiji's presence. The wind stopped. Silence filled the air. Then a deep, resonant voice echoed through the plateau.
"Oracle reborn… you stand again before the threshold. Do you seek to restore what you once destroyed?"
Eiji froze. "That voice—"
The air shimmered, and from the gate emerged a colossal figure of stone and light. The Guardian of the Peaks towered above them, its eyes glowing like molten stars. It carried a staff carved from crystal, and its voice rumbled through the mountain itself.
Kael drew his blade but did not attack. "We come seeking passage, Guardian. The Oracle must reach the next seal."
The Guardian's gaze fixed on Eiji. "He carries the medallion, but not the wisdom of the Oracle before him. His spirit is fractured. His will, unproven."
Eiji clenched his fists. "Then test me."
The Guardian's expression shifted, almost sorrowful. "You do not understand. This is not a trial of strength or courage. It is a trial of truth. Speak, Oracle—what drives you now? Redemption or revenge?"
The question hit him like a blow.
He thought of the illusion earlier, the ruined city, the voice of his past self accusing him. He thought of the Shadow Guild, of the chaos they spread in his name. He thought of his friends beside him—Kael, Lyra, Selene—risking everything to help him.
Eiji took a slow breath. "Neither. I don't want redemption or revenge. I just want to break the cycle. I want to stop history from repeating itself."
The Guardian was silent for a long moment. Then it lowered its staff, the runes along its body dimming. "Your answer is imperfect, yet honest. That is enough."
The gate opened slowly, revealing a vast chamber filled with floating shards of crystal. Each one hummed with energy, forming constellations in midair.
Lyra's eyes widened. "It's beautiful…"
Selene stepped closer, awe in her voice. "This is the Heart of the Peaks. The seal lies within."
Eiji approached the center, where a single crystal floated above an altar. The medallion around his neck began to glow, drawn toward it.
As he reached out, the Guardian spoke again. "Know this, Oracle. The power you awaken here will bind you to the mountain. You will carry its weight within you. Are you prepared for that burden?"
Eiji hesitated, then nodded. "If it means protecting this world, yes."
The moment his hand touched the crystal, light burst outward, flooding the chamber. The storm outside ceased. The mountain trembled, and for a moment, everything was still.
When the light faded, the medallion had changed—new runes now glowed along its edge, and a faint warmth pulsed from its core.
Kael stepped forward. "The seal is restored."
Selene smiled faintly. "And the mountain has accepted him."
But before they could celebrate, the ground shook violently. A shadow rippled across the chamber, darkening the light.
Lyra gasped. "What now?"
A sinister voice echoed through the air, cold and mocking. "You've done well, Oracle. You've saved me the trouble of finding the seal myself."
From the shadows emerged a cloaked figure—the same assassin who had attacked them in the forest, the one with the crimson eyes.
Kael raised his sword instantly. "You again."
The figure smirked. "The Guild thanks you for unlocking the second seal. Now, hand over the medallion."
Eiji stepped forward, eyes blazing. "You'll have to take it from me."
The figure laughed. "Gladly."
The Guardian turned, its massive form moving between them. "No trespasser may defile this sacred ground."
The assassin's cloak flared with dark energy. "Then I'll shatter the ground itself."
The mountain roared as their powers collided—light against shadow, fire against frost. The battle for the Peaks had begun.