Chapter 176: The Heart of the Obsidian Forge
The Guardian of the Forge loomed over them, its obsidian skin glowing with the heat of the planet's core. Every time it stepped forward, the ground cracked, releasing plumes of sulfurous smoke. But the Alpha and Omega didn't back down; they had already conquered their internal shadows, and this physical trial was the only thing standing between them and the planetary shield.
"To claim the anchor, you must match the heat of the forge with the fire of your souls!" the Guardian bellowed, swinging a massive arm made of molten rock.
The Alpha intercepted the blow with his radiant blade, the impact sending sparks of white and orange light flying across the cavern. "Omega, the center!" he shouted, straining against the Guardian's immense weight. "The anchor isn't the Guardian itself—it's the core behind it!"
The Omega sprinted past the clash, her eyes locked on a pulsating sphere of pure white energy embedded in the back wall. It was the Second Anchor, but it was encased in layers of cooling magma. She began to hum her celestial frequency, her hands glowing with silver light as she touched the scorching surface.
The heat was unbearable, but she didn't let go. She felt the Alpha's strength through their bond, a steady anchor of his own. As their energies synchronized, the magma began to shatter like glass.
The Guardian froze, its molten eyes widening. "The resonance... it is pure." With a final, satisfied roar, the Guardian dissolved into a shower of harmless embers, leaving the Second Anchor fully exposed and glowing with a brilliant, steady silver light.
The planetary shield was now at 66%. But as the light intensified, the crimson star in the sky let out a deafening shriek that could be heard even in the depths of the earth. The Star-Eaters were no longer just watching; they were descending.