Dawn greeted the seekers'' refuge with the quiet shimmer of a bluish fire. Ando woke up earlier than the others and discovered that Hop was already sitting by the entrance, observing the slowly brightening purple sky of the artifact.


    "Morning. Can''t sleep?" he asked, sitting down beside her.


    "Just thinking about what''s waiting for us," Hop replied, not taking her eyes off the horizon. "The Guardian will be stronger than anything we''ve faced before."


    Ando twirled his blade fragment in his hands. Within a day, he had grown accustomed to the strange weapon—light as a feather, yet deadly in combat.


    "We''ll manage somehow," he shrugged carelessly. "We''ve got four parts of this super-sword and five seekers. What could pawsibly go wrong?"


    Hop snorted, but a smile still touched her lips.


    "Are you always such an optimist?"


    "Why not?" Ando tossed his sword up and deftly caught it by the handle. "Either we get him, or he gets us. But I''d much rather we''re the ones doing the getting."


    Gradually, the others woke up. Mark built the fire stronger and began preparing a strange liquid that resembled coffee but had a bluish tint.


    "It''s an essence of energy crystals," he explained, pouring the drink into makeshift cups. "It''ll help restore your strength before the battle."


    "What does it taste like?" Ando asked suspiciously, accepting a cup.


    "Like crap," Kir answered honestly after taking a sip, grimacing. "But it works without fail."


    Nika spread a handmade map on the ground and began explaining the final attack plan for the Guardian.


    "Here we''ll split into two groups. Kir and I will approach from the left, Mark and you two from the right. Our job is to distract his attention while you get close to the vulnerable point on his chest."


    "And if he notices us?" Hop asked.


    "Then you run like hell," Mark replied. "The main thing is to stay together and—"


    His words were interrupted by a sudden vibration. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and small stones fell from the refuge ceiling.


    "What the—" Ando didn''t finish his sentence.


    The rumbling grew louder. Nika was the first to rush outside, with the others following her. What they saw made them freeze in place.


    Hovering above the artifact, cutting through the purple sky, was a strange black aircraft resembling a cross between a helicopter and a futuristic drone. On its side, a logo stood out clearly—a stylized letter "H" in a hexagon and the inscription "Hyper Dynamics."


    "Where''d a helicopter come from?" Ando exclaimed.


    Mark''s face darkened.


    "That''s not just a helicopter. Looks like a military modification."


    "Who cares!" Ando interrupted him. "How did it get here? We''re inside an artifact!"


    "Exactly," Nika nodded. "But any objects that a person is holding or touching when entering an artifact cross over with them."


    "And you didn''t think to mention this before?" Ando asked in surprise.


    "Never really came up," Mark grimly confirmed. "Corporations often use this feature to deliver equipment and weapons into artifacts."


    The aircraft descended and hovered about ten meters above the ground. A ramp extended from its underside, and six people in black high-tech uniforms descended. Their gear looked impressive—light armor with some built-in devices, helmets with visors, and weapons completely unlike ordinary knives or swords.


    Leading them was a middle-aged woman with short graying hair and a cold, hard gaze. Her shoulder bore patches with the same emblem as the aircraft.


    "Lieutenant Cole," Mark whispered. "Elite unit ''Mirror.''"


    "Friends of yours?" Ando joked nervously.


    "I wish," Mark shook his head. "Some of the most dangerous corporate seekers."


    The woman stopped a few meters away from them, evaluating the group. Her people spread out in a semicircle, keeping their hands on their weapons.


    "Interesting company," she said with slight mockery. "Three experienced loners and... children? Are you taking schoolkids on trials now?"


    "What do you want?" Nika asked coldly, stepping forward.


    The woman smiled, but the smile didn''t reach her eyes.


    "I officially declare that this artifact falls under the jurisdiction of Hyper Dynamics Corporation according to the decree of the Consortium of Seven."


    She raised her hand, on which was fastened a small device. Pressing a button, Cole activated a holographic projection of a document with numerous seals and signatures.


    "What''s this Snore-sortium?" Ando whispered to Hop. "Who the heck are these people anyway?"


    "Seven major corporations controlling artifact research," she whispered back. "But I thought they were just legends."


    Cole put away the hologram and took another step forward.


    "I have information that you''ve discovered and removed the Fragmented Blade from the Temple of the Four Guardians. This artifact is of special interest to the corporation."


    "We found it first," Kir objected. "By seeker rules, it belongs to us."


    Cole laughed.


    "Seeker rules? Sweet boy, those romantic nonsense stayed in the last century. The world of artifacts is now ruled by those with more resources and better weapons."


    One of her subordinates, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward.


    "Lieutenant, permission to take the blades? We''re wasting time."


    "Patience, Ryker," Cole checked him. "I prefer to resolve issues peacefully... when possible."


    She addressed Ando''s group again:


    "You have three options. First: voluntarily hand over all four fragments of the blade and peacefully leave the artifact. We''ll even provide safe escort. Second: we take the blades by force, and you... have an unfortunate accident. Third: I don''t care about your opinions, I''ll take them anyway."


    Hop instinctively clutched the handle of her dagger. Ando noticed Mark discreetly activating the symbol on his hand, while Kir repositioned himself to better see all the corporate seekers.


    "Isn''t that too many options?" Ando asked with feigned nonchalance. "Maybe we could join forces against the Guardian and split the reward?"


    "Unfortunately, Hyper Dynamics doesn''t practice joint ventures," Cole replied coldly. "Especially with civilians. Particularly snotty ones."


    "Listen," Nika intervened. "Why complicate things? We can join forces. The Guardian is dangerous even for your group."


    "We have the necessary equipment," the lieutenant cut her off. "And I''m not used to repeating myself twice. Decide."


    Mark coughed, drawing his companions'' attention.


    "Unfortunately, we cannot accept your proposal," he stated in an official tone. "The blade fragments were obtained by us during an honest completion of the trial and are our property."


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Cole sighed with feigned regret.


    "Well, you''ve made your decision."


    She gave a barely noticeable nod to her people, and they instantly changed stance, preparing to attack. But before anyone could make a move, two corporate seekers activated some devices on their wrists. The air around them shimmered, and Ando suddenly felt dizzy—as if all the space around him had distorted.


    Taking advantage of the confusion, one of Cole''s people lunged forward and grabbed Nika, twisting her arm behind her back. Another pressed a strange dagger with a shimmering bluish blade to her throat.


    "What the hell are you freaks doing!" Ando shouted, but Mark held him in place.


    "Quiet, don''t make it worse," he whispered.


    Cole slowly approached Nika.


    "This is a blade from a red artifact," she explained, running her finger along the bluish blade. "The poison it''s infused with kills in seconds, and there''s no antidote. Now I''ll repeat one last time: blades on the ground, and your friend stays alive."


    Ando saw Kir and Mark''s faces pale. The situation seemed hopeless. But then he noticed Hop slowly moving a step to the right, catching his gaze and nodding almost imperceptibly, shifting her eyes to the man holding Nika.


    Mark seemed to understand her plan too. He discreetly lowered his hand to one of his symbols.


    "Alright," Kir said loudly, stepping forward. "We''ll give you the blades. Just don''t hurt her."


    He slowly lowered his hand to his blade fragment, diverting attention to himself.


    "Smart decision," Cole nodded. "Put the weapons on—"


    Everything happened in a split second. Mark activated his symbol, creating a bright flash of light. Simultaneously, Hop threw her dagger with amazing accuracy. The blade plunged right into the head of the man holding Nika at knifepoint. He cried out and collapsed to the ground, dropping his poisoned dagger and releasing his grip.


    Ando, not wasting a moment, lunged forward and struck Cole''s leg with his blade fragment. The blade cut through the armor, and the woman fell to one knee with a cry. But despite her injury, she instantaneously parried Ando''s second attack with her weapon, knocking him back.


    "Kill them all!" she screamed to her people.


    The air filled with the whistle of energy discharges. One of the corporate seekers fired from a strange weapon at Mark, but he managed to create a protective barrier. Kir threw his boomerang, knocking down another opponent.


    Nika, now free, drew her blade fragment and jumped into the battle. Hop appeared next to Ando, covering him from an attack from the side.


    "There are too many of them!" she shouted, dodging an energy discharge. "We can''t hold out!"


    Ando saw that she was right. Despite their successful start, the advantage lay with the corporate seekers. They had better equipment, more experience, and numerical superiority. Mark had already received a shoulder wound, and Kir was barely standing after a powerful blow.


    Cole, despite her injured leg, regrouped her people. One of them activated some device that created an energy shield around them.


    "We only have one chance," Kir said, struggling to his feet. "We need to unite the blades."


    "But we''re not ready!" Mark objected. "The combined power might be too great for us."


    "We have no choice," Nika cut him off, deflecting another attack. "Either we risk it, or we die here."


    One of the corporate seekers broke through their defense and swung at Hop. Ando barely managed to push her aside and block the strike with his blade. The force of the collision threw him back, and he fell to one knee.


    "Ando!" Hop cried, rushing to him.


    "I''m fine," he exhaled, rising. "How do we unite the blades?"


    Mark, maintaining a protective barrier, nodded:


    "Stand close together and connect the fragments by their handles to each other!"


    They quickly formed a circle—Ando, Hop, Nika, and Kir—holding their blade fragments with the blades facing outward. Mark covered them, deflecting attacks from the corporate seekers.


    "On the count of three!" Nika commanded. "One... two... three!"


    They simultaneously connected the handles of the fragments. For the first moment, nothing happened. And then everything around was flooded with blinding light. Ando felt a powerful energy surge running from his hands throughout his body. The air exploded with a wave of force, throwing the corporate seekers in different directions.


    When the light dispersed, Ando was no longer holding a fragment, but a complete sword—long, with a curved blade of incredible beauty. The blade emitted a bluish glow, and symbols of the four elements shimmered on its handle.


    "It worked..." Hop exhaled, looking at the weapon in Ando''s hands.


    "Why do you have the sword?" Kir asked in surprise. "We all connected the parts."


    Ando himself didn''t understand why the united blade appeared in his hands. But the weapon felt so natural in his grip, as if it had been created specifically for him. The blade vibrated slightly, and with each movement, it left a trail of glowing mist in the air.


    "We''ll figure it out later," Nika said, seeing that the corporate seekers were beginning to rise. "Use it, Ando!"


    Cole, leaning on her weapon, got to her feet. Her face was distorted with a grimace of pain and fury.


    "Fire to kill!" she ordered. "Get that blade at any cost!"


    The corporate seekers opened fire with their energy weapons. But to everyone''s amazement, Ando intuitively swung the sword, and the blade absorbed all the discharges, becoming even brighter.


    "Holy blade!" he exclaimed, feeling power filling him. "I''m like..."


    He didn''t finish his sentence. Instinctively obeying some inner knowledge, Ando pointed the blade toward the opponents and imagined a wave of energy. The sword responded instantly—a powerful stream of glowing force erupted from the blade, which knocked all the corporate seekers off their feet and destroyed their protective devices.


    "How did you do that?" Hop asked in amazement.


    "I... don''t know," Ando answered honestly. "It''s like it told me how."


    Cole, seeing the changed balance of power, activated the communicator on her wrist.


    "All groups! Red code! I repeat, red code! Requesting immediate reinforcements!"


    She looked at Ando with hatred:


    "You don''t know what you''ve gotten yourself into, boy. Hyper Dynamics doesn''t forgive those who stand in its way."


    "Couldn''t care less," Ando replied defiantly, raising the blade. "Go back to your Hyper Lame-amics and leave us alone."


    The ground beneath their feet suddenly trembled harder than before. A strange metallic sound echoed around the area. And then, from behind the nearest hill appeared a huge pack of metallic dogs led by a gigantic leader—twice the size of normal ones, with bright green eyes and spikes along its back.


    "Well, damn," Kir whispered. "That''s all we needed."


    But instead of attacking them, the dogs lunged with growls at the corporate seekers. The leader emitted a piercing whistle, coordinating its pack''s attack.


    "They seem to have sensed the blade and came running," Mark said, approaching Ando. "Maybe they feel threatened and are defending themselves."


    The corporate seekers opened fire on the approaching creatures, but they were too fast and numerous. One by one, Cole''s people fell under the onslaught of metallic jaws.


    "Retreat to the chopper!" Cole shouted, fighting off two dogs at once. "Ryker, call for evacuation!"


    Taking advantage of the battle chaos, Nika grabbed Ando''s arm:


    "We need to go while they''re distracted!"


    "What about the dogs?" Ando asked. "What if they attack us too?"


    "I don''t think so," Hop shook her head. "They only attacked the intruders."


    The group hurriedly moved in the opposite direction from the battle, circling the hill. Ando still firmly clutched the united blade in his hands, which now glowed with a steady, calm light.


    They had almost reached a safe place when an angry shout was heard behind them. Turning around, Ando saw Cole pursuing them despite her injured leg and the general retreat of her squad. Her face was distorted with hatred, and in her hand, she held some unfamiliar weapon.


    "Think you''ll escape so easily?!" she shouted. "Hyper Dynamics never forgets its enemies!"


    She aimed the weapon at Ando and fired. The energy charge was so powerful and fast that it penetrated the protective barrier that Mark had managed to create. The last thing Ando saw before the explosion was Hop throwing herself in front of the charge, trying to push him aside.


    Then everything was enveloped in smoke and dust. The ground beneath their feet cracked, and they fell down. Ando felt himself falling, tightly gripping the blade and holding Hop''s hand. But Nika, Kir, and Mark were on the other side of the collapse.


    "Mark! Nika!" Ando shouted, but his voice was drowned in the rumble of falling rocks.


    He and Hop continued to fall until they landed on some ledge deep underground. The dust slowly settled, revealing an unfamiliar part of the artifact—a cave with crystalline walls, dimly glowing from within.


    "Are you alive?" Hop asked, getting up and dusting herself off.


    "I dunno, I''m pretty beside myself," Ando examined himself. "How about you?"


    "You and your jokes," she looked up, where a small piece of purple sky was visible. "Looks like we took quite a fall."


    Ando looked around:


    "Where''d we end up?"


    "The others must still be up there," Hop sighed. "The collapse separated us."


    Ando lowered his gaze to the blade in his hands. The weapon was still glowing, but slightly differently—it seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat.


    "What do we do now?" he asked.


    Hop sat on a rock, gathering her thoughts.


    "First, we need to find a way out of here. Then we''ll try to find the others."


    Ando nodded and tried to separate the blade back into fragments, but nothing happened.


    "Strange," he muttered. "I can''t separate it."


    Hop came closer, carefully studying the united blade.


    "Yes, something''s changed," she touched the blade. "Look how much brighter it glows when you''re tense or worried."


    And indeed, as soon as Ando thought about the upcoming dangers, the sword''s glow intensified. When he tried to calm down, the light became more even and muted.


    "It''s like it''s connected to you," Hop said thoughtfully. "Reacting to your emotions. That might be why you were able to control it, not one of us."


    Ando turned the sword in his hands, trying to make sense of everything that had happened in the last hour.


    "It''s so crazy," he said finally, "when I was running from that dog in the forest, I thought the worst that could happen was getting a couple of bites. And now we''re in some parallel world, for blade''s sake, fighting with some military types, and I''m holding a magical sword that I really like."


    Hop unexpectedly laughed:


    "Welcome to the world of seekers. You never know what awaits you tomorrow."


    Ando smiled too, feeling a strange relief. Despite all the dangers, in this crazy world, he felt... in his place.


    "Alright, let''s get out of here," he stood up decisively. "We''ll find a way out of this cave, then find our friends, and decide what to do with that glass beast."


    "You mean the Guardian?" Hop clarified.


    "Yeah. If these Hyper Whatever-ics want its energy so badly, then I guess we should hurry."


    Hop pondered:


    "Are you sure? We could just find a way out of the artifact and return to the real world."


    Ando raised the blade, and it responded with a bright glow.


    "Just look at this! What real world? The real fun''s just beginning here! And I really want to understand what''s happening. Why do artifacts exist? Why can I see them? What happened to my parents? No way I''m running away!"


    Hop silently nodded, acknowledging the fairness of his words.


    "Then let''s go," she rose. "First, we need to get out of this cave and find the others. And then... we''ll decide if we''re ready to face the Guardian."


    They moved deeper into the crystalline cave, lighting their way with the glow of the united blade. New dangers and mysteries awaited them ahead, but now Ando was sure of one thing—there was no going back. He had become a seeker, and his journey was just beginning.