The Guardian's molten core pulsed like a second sun.
Its body had shifted — cracks widened, limbs elongated, heat intensified. Phase Two wasn't just stronger. It was smarter. Its movements were less predictable, its strikes more precise.
Arlen's analysis struggled to keep up.
The system whispered:
Situational Analysis: Overload risk. Data stream unstable.
He gritted his teeth. "Not now. I need you."
The countdown ticked in the corner of his vision.
22:02:58
Two minutes and change.
The Village Holds
The granary's defenders braced for the next wave. Arlen's commands came rapid‑fire:
"Tailor — bind its left leg again!"
"Baker — Flour Burst, now!"
"Blacksmith — use the forge tongs, aim for the glowing joints!"
They moved. Not perfectly. Not like soldiers. But they moved.
The Guardian roared and charged.
Arlen saw it coming — too fast, too direct. He shouted, "Scatter!"
The villagers dove aside as the Guardian slammed into the granary wall. Stone cracked. Dust exploded outward.
The system chimed:
Granary integrity: 68%.
Arlen's heart pounded. "We won't last another hit like that."
Mira's Return
Mira limped forward, sweat streaking her face, shield scorched and dented.
"I'm not sitting this out," she said.
Arlen started to protest — but stopped. Her eyes were clear. Her stance was steady.
He nodded. "Then we do this together."
She grinned. "Like always."
The Guardian turned toward them, molten eyes narrowing.
Arlen's analysis flared — a flicker of insight.
"Wait," he said. "Its core. It's destabilizing."
Mira frowned. "So?"
"So if we hit it hard enough, we might trigger a collapse."
She raised her shield. "Then let's hit it."
The Final Minute
22:01:12
The Guardian charged.
Arlen and Mira moved as one — Mira drawing its attention, Arlen flanking. He spotted a fallen crystal shard, still humming faintly.
He grabbed it.
The system whispered:
Unstable Element Acquired. Risk: High.
He didn't care.
"Mira!" he shouted. "Shield slam — now!"
She leapt, driving her shield into the Guardian's chest.
Arlen followed, slamming the crystal shard into the exposed core.
The explosion was instant.
Light. Heat. Sound.
The Guardian screamed — a sound like stone tearing and fire dying.
The system chimed:
Core destabilized. Guardian collapse imminent.
Arlen and Mira were thrown backward, skidding across the dirt.
The Guardian staggered, molten light flickering wildly.
Then — it fell.
A thunderous crash.
Silence.
The Countdown Ends
22:00:00
The system spoke:
World Quest Complete: Defend the Village.
Status: Success.
Rewards Distributed.
Unknown Bonus Granted.
Arlen lay on his back, staring at the cracked sky.
Mira groaned beside him. "Did we win?"
Arlen laughed — a tired, broken sound. "I think we did."
The villagers emerged slowly, blinking, coughing, crying.
The granary still stood.
The monsters were gone.
The Guardian was dead.
And the sky… was still cracked.