Chapter 161: The Shield of the Fallen
The heat in Server 108 was unbearable. Ash fell from the dark sky like gray snow, coating everything in a layer of soot. Aki, Rena, and Sai were moving through the Fields of Ember, where the very ground beneath them pulsed with unstable energy.
"Stay close!" Sai roared, planting his copper shield firmly as a barrage of flaming arrows rained down from the fog. The arrows didn't just hit; they sizzled, draining the durability of his armor.
Rena was chanting under her breath, her staff emitting a soft blue aura to protect the team from the toxic fumes. "The mana levels are dropping, Aki! We need to find the exit before the server collapses!"
Suddenly, the ground shook. From the mound of ash, the Ember Colossus emerged. It was a titan made of molten iron and scorched stone. Its eyes were two burning pits of white fire. With a deafening growl, it swung a massive club of obsidian toward Sai.
The impact sent a shockwave through the ground. Sai was forced to his knees, his shield cracking under the immense pressure. "Aki... I can't... hold him back!"
Von hovered near Aki's ear, his sensors flashing red. "Aki! Sai's data integrity is dropping! If he fails here, he'll be permanently deleted from the grid!"
Aki's heart raced. He saw his friend struggling, his armor glowing red from the heat. He pulled out the Platinum Pen. This wasn't just about a game anymore; it was about the lives of those who stood by him.
He didn't wait. He slashed the pen through the air, writing in bold, glowing letters: [THE UNBREAKABLE WILL].
As the words manifested, they wrapped around Sai's shield like golden vines. The cracks disappeared, and the shield expanded, glowing with a divine light that pushed the Colossus back. Aki didn't stop there. He began to write a description of Sai—not as a character, but as a brother.
"The warrior who stands when the world falls. The shield that never breaks. The heart that defies the flame."
The power of the description became a reality. Sai felt a surge of energy. He stood up, his shield now ten times stronger. He let out a battle cry and slammed his shield into the Colossus, staggering the giant.
Aki finished the chapter with one final, crushing command: [SHATTER].
The Ember Colossus froze. Thin lines of blue light appeared across its molten body. With a sound like breaking glass, the titan exploded into a thousand harmless embers. The path ahead cleared, revealing the entrance to the Final Sanctum.
Sai breathed heavily, looking at his glowing shield. "Thanks, Aki. I thought I was a goner."
Aki put his pen away, his hand still trembling. "We don't leave anyone behind, Sai. Not now, not ever."
They walked forward, the ash finally stopping as they approached the end of the server.