Ascension: Rebirth in a World of Powers-Chapter 16 - : The Descent

The entrance to the ruins was hidden in plain sight, concealed behind an unused storage room near the academy's archives. The informant met them there at midnight, his grin sharper than usual.

"Ready to see what's been hiding under your feet?" he asked, pushing aside a decrepit bookcase to reveal a narrow staircase spiraling downward.

Kaelena shot him a wary glance. "Just lead the way."

The descent was silent, save for the echo of their footsteps. The air grew colder with each step, and a faint, unnatural glow began to illuminate the walls. Eren's System activated unprompted, displaying an alert.

[System Alert: High-Energy Signature Detected Below. Caution Advised.]

"Looks like we're on the right track," Eren muttered, earning a raised eyebrow from Kaelena.

The stairs ended abruptly, spilling them into a massive underground chamber. Pillars carved with ancient runes reached toward a ceiling that seemed impossibly high, disappearing into darkness. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, and atop it rested another shard. This one was larger than the last, its light pulsing like a heartbeat.

Kaelena's breath hitched. "That's it. Another Shard."

The informant's grin widened. "Told you I knew where to look."

But before anyone could approach the pedestal, the ground trembled. Eren's System blared another warning.

[System Alert: Hostile Entities Incoming.]

Shadows peeled away from the walls, coalescing into vaguely humanoid forms. Their eyes burned with an otherworldly light, and their movements were eerily silent.

"Guardians," the informant said grimly, drawing a blade. "This is where the fun begins."

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