The silence that followed the introduction grew so heavy that the only remaining sounds were the whistles of the valley wind hitting the huts of the settlement, and the bolts of electricity escaping from Seraphina's spear as she glared with suspicion at the intruder.
Ethan did the same, though his eyes were fixed on Lyra with an intent entirely different from that of his beautiful Valkyrie. He could feel it through the Void System: the woman before him, in some way, was his equal. She was someone whom the System of the Great Tree desired to erase.
"My Lord, allow me to tear out her tongue before she continues speaking nonsense." Seraphina's wings vibrated with murderous intent.
"Patience, Seraphina." Ethan stopped her with a hand and walked toward Lyra, stopping only two meters away. Both Seraphina and the Void Sentinels remained on maximum alert at his back.
Lyra remained motionless, her emerald eyes scanning the tattoos on Ethan's body with curiosity. It was as if she feared nothing that stood before her.
"You are interesting, Ethan Thorne. The System says you are a calamity; it even tries to make me attack you. The Tree truly detests you. I like it."
"You said you brought a gift from Aleskra." Ethan ignored her words. "Where is it?"
Lyra widened her smile, revealing her pearly white teeth. "The Guild does not trust someone like me. Marcus installed a safety measure in my assassination contract. If I do not fulfill my objective, or if it detects that I have allied with you… well, the safety activates."
In that precise instant, a deafening roar shook the gorge. The fog that had previously receded before the Altar was split by an enormous mass of metal and charred flesh, three meters high, that fell from the upper cliffs.
[INTRUSION ALERT!] [Entity detected: Executioner of the great tree - Model Judgement golem][Rank: A+ (Siege Grade)] [Status: Purge protocol activated]
The golem landed with such force that the ground sank under its weight. A crack extended outward, stopping right in front of the group. Its body was an amalgam of rocks imbued with the mana of the Great Tree, reinforced steel plates, and charred flesh protruding from the edges of the armor.
In its chest, a massive green crystal shone with an eerie light, emitting a hum that caused nausea in everyone present.
"There is your gift," laughed Lyra, leaping backward with agility. "It is supposed to kill us both if I fail. Isn't it romantic?"
"Blasphemy!" Seraphina roared, taking off forward like a bolt of lightning.
The Valkyrie crashed against the golem, her spear impacting the crystal on its chest with a metallic roar that deafened the weak.
However, the golem did not back down. An emerald energy shield activated, absorbing the impact and returning it in a shockwave that sent Seraphina flying.
Tsk.
'That crystal...' Ethan's eyes combed the zone before stopping on Malphas.
"Malphas, protect the villagers and the quarry." He turned toward the soldiers. "Sentinels… distract it!" he shouted, summoning his tattered robe from the system as he prepared to fight.
The nine Sentinels advanced, striking their tower shields against the ground to attract the colossus's attention.
'It's working.' In the next moment, the golem approached and lifted its massive arm, only to discharge it against the formation of soldiers.
However, this time it was the golem's turn to back down.
With perfect efficiency, the soldiers interlocked their shields and absorbed the impact completely. In an instant, the force dissipated, and the void creatures pushed back with all their superhuman strength, forcing the colossus to retreat.
"They are… good," Lyra murmured, playing with her dagger, apparently unconcerned.
"You'd better move too, Red Plague," Ethan spoke, running toward the golem's right flank. "If that thing isn't broken soon, it's going to level the whole valley with us in it."
Ethan did not attack directly. Instead, he used all his strength to perform an explosive jump, leaning on one of the Sentinels' shields to rise above the massive golem.
In the air, an old and worn sword manifested in his hand just before being wrapped in a darkness that distorted the light around him.
"Seraphina!"
Upon hearing her Sovereign's voice, the Valkyrie extended her wings completely, releasing a burst of light that momentarily blinded the golem.
It was only a moment, but it was all Ethan needed.
Descending like a hawk, Ethan drove his void-imbued sword into the flesh protruding between the metal plates and the stone at the neck of the colossus.
The golem emitted a thundering roar and turned violently, throwing Ethan through the air. Even so, the damage was done.
A small purple crack began to spread, corroding the mana of the Great Tree and opening a breach in the rock.
Lyra saw the opportunity and disappeared into the shadows. In less than a blink, she emerged behind the golem, spinning her dagger playfully before becoming a blur and slicing the exposed flesh on the creature's heels.
Then, as if the three had entered a state of absolute understanding, they moved in a dance of three powers.
Seraphina maintained the frontal pressure, destabilizing the creature with her devastating attacks; Lyra used her mobility to divert and cut the creature; and Ethan organized the Sentinels while striking every time he saw an opening.
The golem stood no chance. Though that did not mean it was easy; on the contrary, any false move could break the harmony of the combat and condemn the group.
If Ethan's assumptions were true, the crystal in the colossus's chest was a powerful time bomb capable of leveling the entire valley.
This meant they didn't just have to defeat the golem—they had to do it before it exploded.
Soon, the crystal began to flicker, alternating between red and green as if confirming his thoughts.
'Dammit.' Ethan clenched his teeth. "Faster! Stronger! Let's go!"
Seraphina took to the air, ramming the colossus with all her force, striking it with her spear and slicing its exposed skin with her metallic wings.
Ethan moved through impossible angles while his sword corroded the rock armor, creating openings for Lyra to slice with her daggers.
The battle was grueling and exhausting; it lasted only a few minutes, but they felt like an eternity. Finally, the golem fell to its knees.
Its central crystal, which had been oscillating between red and green, was now tinged a constant, intense red.
Ethan spat blood upon hearing the intensified hum. However, he did not stop. He lifted his head and ordered:
"Finish it!"
Seraphina and Lyra moved in unison. The Valkyrie's spear pierced the crystal from above at the same time Lyra's dagger sank in from below.
Then, an explosion of energy sent both flying; the shockwave extended through the entire valley, and even the purple light of the Altar flickered out for an instant.
When the dust settled, only the inert remains of the Executioner remained.
[You have defeated: Executioner of the Great Tree (Rank A+)] [Experience shared with the legion…] [Soul Essence obtained: 15,000 units] [Level 27 → Level 29!]
Ethan stood up and walked toward the remains, breathing with difficulty. A few meters away, he found Seraphina recovering her breath. Then he saw Lyra, covered in blood, getting up with effort.
When their eyes met, she smiled slightly.
"Good job," Ethan praised.
"It was… acceptable," responded Seraphina, returning to his side. She threw a warning look at Lyra. "But do not think this changes anything, rat. You remain a threat."
Lyra sheathed her daggers and approached with difficulty, ignoring the Valkyrie. "That was only a warning. The Guild will send more. They will not stop until we both are dead."
She stopped and looked at the Void Altar, which was beginning to shine again as it absorbed the energy of the golem. "Thorne… That system of yours. It is interesting."
Ethan observed her coldly. "Goran, lock our guest in the hut closest to the quarry. Let the Sentinels watch her. If she tries to leave without my permission, cut off her legs."