Chapter 22: Relics, Ruin, and Rising Power


    <hr>


    <blockquote>


    [WARNING: RELIC ACTIVATION IMMINENT.]


    </blockquote>


    The moment my fingers brushed the floating artifact, the chamber shook violently.


    The runes along the walls flared to life, pulsing like a heartbeat.


    I staggered back as the relic rose higher, black energy spiraling around it.


    And then—


    Something answered.


    <hr>


    Summoning the Guardian


    A tear in reality split open at the far end of the chamber.


    The air hummed, thick with an unnatural pressure.


    And from the void, something stepped through.


    <blockquote>


    [BOSS-LEVEL ENTITY DETECTED.]


    [NULLBORN TITAN: THE WARDEN OF THE FORGOTTEN.]


    </blockquote>


    Iris cursed. "You had to touch it."


    I ignored her.


    Because we had bigger problems.


    The Titan loomed before us, its form a shifting mass of metallic tendrils and abyssal plating. Its four glowing eyes locked onto the relic—then onto me.


    A deep voice rumbled through the chamber.


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    "UNWORTHY."


    And then it attacked.


    <hr>


    A Battle for Survival


    The Titan moved with terrifying speed, its limbs splitting apart like blades as it lunged.


    I dodged, barely avoiding the impact as the ground shattered beneath its strike.


    Iris countered, ice lances forming in midair, launching them at the Titan’s core.


    The spears hit—


    And did nothing.


    The Titan turned to her, its body shifting, adapting.


    Then it lashed out.


    Iris barely blocked, a wall of ice forming just in time—but cracks spread instantly.


    Emilia grabbed my arm. "We need to weaken it first!"


    I nodded. "Then let’s give it something to fear."


    <blockquote>


    [CALL OF THE VOID: SUMMON NYX & NOCTIS]


    </blockquote>


    The air rippled as my summons appeared.


    Nyx, blade in hand, smirked. "Another beast that thinks it’s untouchable."


    Noctis grinned, tail flicking. "Oh, this will be delicious."


    And just like that—


    The real fight began.


    <hr>


    The Final Blow


    It wasn’t an easy battle.


    The Titan was relentless, adapting to every attack we threw at it.


    Iris kept its movements restricted, freezing its limbs.


    Emilia kept us standing, healing wounds as fast as they appeared.


    Nyx and Noctis tore through its defenses, forcing it into a corner.


    And me?


    I waited.


    For one perfect moment.


    Then—


    <blockquote>


    [NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: VOID REQUIEM]


    </blockquote>


    A pulse of pure abyssal energy surged through my body.


    My blade darkened, wreathed in black flames that devoured light itself.


    The Titan screeched, sensing the shift—but too late.


    I slashed downward, reality warping around the attack.


    The moment my strike landed—


    The Titan collapsed into nothingness.


    <blockquote>


    [BOSS DEFEATED: NULLBORN TITAN.]


    [REWARD GRANTED: LEVEL UP!]


    [VOID SUMMONER – LVL 4]


    [NEW RELIC ACQUIRED: ???]


    </blockquote>


    The relic dropped into my hands, now dark and silent.


    The battle was over.


    But the real consequences had yet to begin.


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