The explosion lit up the mountains like a second sun.
A massive shockwave spread across the ruins of Velkar Temple.
Stone pillars shattered.
Broken walls collapsed completely.
Even the storm clouds above the battlefield were pushed apart by the impact.
For a moment—
everything was covered in blinding light.
The royal knights shielded their eyes.
The cultists were thrown backward by the shockwave.
Captain Leon was forced to stab his sword into the ground just to remain standing.
"What… power…"
At the center of the explosion—
two enormous forces continued clashing.
The Void Guardian's dark beam pushed forward like a raging river.
Saksham's fusion attack burned with swirling gold and black energy.
The two attacks struggled against each other.
The ground beneath them cracked apart.
The entire temple courtyard began collapsing.
Saksham gritted his teeth.
The pressure from the attack was enormous.
His arms trembled as he tried to hold the fusion energy together.
Inside his mind, the system flashed warnings repeatedly.
SYSTEM ALERT
Mana Output Exceeding Safe Limits
Fusion Stability: 63%
Recommended Action: Reduce Energy Flow
Saksham ignored the warning.
"If I stop now…"
The Void Guardian roared again.
The monster poured even more dark energy into its beam.
The attack grew stronger.
Saksham slid backward across the broken stone floor.
His boots scraped across the ground.
He could feel the energy tearing through his body.
Behind him, Captain Leon shouted.
"Hold on!"
But Saksham barely heard him.
All of his focus was on the fusion sphere.
Golden light.
Darkness.
Balance.
Orion's voice echoed in his memory.
"Do not force the elements."
"Let them balance each other."
Saksham inhaled slowly.
Instead of pushing more power into the attack—
he stabilized the rotation of the two elements.
The fusion energy suddenly became smoother.
The sphere stopped shaking.
Then—
something unexpected happened.
The golden-black energy began growing stronger.
Without becoming unstable.
Inside Saksham's mind, the system reacted instantly.
SYSTEM UPDATE
Fusion Efficiency Increased
Energy Output: Rising
Saksham's eyes widened.
"So that's how it works…"
The fusion beam suddenly pushed forward.
The Void Guardian's attack began weakening.
The monster roared angrily.
Dark lightning struck its body as it tried to force more power into the beam.
But it was too late.
Saksham stepped forward.
The fusion energy surged.
"FUSION BREAKER!"
The golden-black beam blasted through the monster's attack.
BOOOOOM!
The Void Guardian's dark beam shattered.
The fusion attack continued forward.
And struck the monster directly in the chest.
The impact was devastating.
A massive crack spread across the Guardian's crystal armor.
Then another.
And another.
Black energy burst from the fractures like steam escaping from a broken engine.
The monster roared in pain.
The entire battlefield trembled.
At the temple steps—
the cult leader's eyes widened.
"No…"
The cracks across the Void Guardian's body spread rapidly.
The crystal armor began breaking apart.
Chunks of dark crystal fell to the ground.
The monster took one step backward.
Then another.
Its glowing red eyes flickered.
The dimensional vortex above the battlefield began shaking violently.
Orion looked up at the sky.
"The gate is destabilizing…"
The cult leader clenched his fists.
"This cannot be happening!"
At the center of the battlefield—
Saksham pushed the last of his energy into the fusion attack.
The beam expanded one final time.
BOOOOOOM!
The Void Guardian's chest completely shattered.
The dark core inside the monster exploded in a burst of shadow energy.
The creature let out one final roar.
Then its enormous body collapsed.
The ground shook as the monster crashed into the ruins.
For a moment—
no one spoke.
Then the dark vortex in the sky began collapsing.
The swirling clouds slowly faded.
The storm above the mountains weakened.
Inside Saksham's mind—
the system interface appeared again.
SYSTEM MESSAGE
Enemy Defeated: Void Guardian
Mission Status: Complete
Dimensional Breach: Prevented
Saksham's legs finally gave out.
He dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
The fusion energy faded from his hands.
Captain Leon stared at the fallen monster in disbelief.
"He… actually defeated it…"
The surviving knights slowly began cheering.
"The Guardian is dead!"
"We won!"
But the celebration didn't last long.
At the temple steps—
the cult leader stood silently.
His calm expression had disappeared.
His eyes burned with fury.
Orion stepped forward.
"It's over."
The cult leader laughed quietly.
"No."
"This was only the beginning."
He raised his hand.
Dark energy began swirling around his body.
"If the Guardian failed…"
"Then I will open the gate myself."
The air suddenly became heavy again.
Saksham looked up slowly.
Even after defeating the monster—
the real enemy was still standing.
And the battle wasn't over yet.
To be continued…