socalfunplaces Chapter 276: The Crack in the Anchor of Fate
Chapter 276: The Crack in the Anchor of Fate
The guardians ascended the staircase deep within the temple, entering the core area. The staircase wound downwards, leading to a vast space. The shimmering runes on the walls shifted with each step, as if recording their arrival. The atmosphere here was ancient and oppressive, each step carrying an invisible pressure.
“This doesn’t seem like an ordinary temple; it’s more like the interior of some kind of…life form,” Selena said softly, her gaze fixed on the ever-changing runes around her.
“It is the embodiment of the rules, and may have already surpassed our understanding.” Ares gently stroked the rune sword, feeling the faint tremor emanating from its blade. “The crack is here. It has already seeped into the very foundation of the rules.”
“Then we have to uproot it.” Wagner gritted his teeth, hoisting his battle axe. “I don’t like these things that lurk in the shadows.”
The three finally reached the top of the stairs, where a vast hall lay before them. A huge sphere of light floated in the center of the hall, its surface covered with intricate runes and cracks, shimmering with alternating golden and purple light.
“That is the Anchor of Destiny.” Ares’s gaze was fixed on the orb of light, his voice deep and firm, “but the power of the rift has already eroded it.”
Just as they approached the sphere of light, it suddenly trembled violently, and a powerful energy surge emanated from it, forcing the three of them to retreat several steps. Then, a huge phantom emerged from the sphere of light. Its form constantly changed, sometimes humanoid, sometimes a beast, and sometimes a distorted vortex of energy.
"You actually found this place." The Rift's voice was deep and evil, carrying an indescribable mockery. "Guardians, your resistance is truly tiresome."
"The Rift!" Ares raised his rune sword, its light resonating with the energy within the sphere of light. "Your will has been shattered. You will not succeed!"
"Shattered?" The rift sneered. "Your so-called victory is nothing more than delaying fate. I have already merged into the foundation of the rules, and the anchor of destiny is becoming a part of me. And you are nothing but futile interference."
"Enough talk!" Wagner roared as he charged toward the phantom, his battle axe slashing at the rift with ferocious energy. However, his attack was completely absorbed the moment it touched the phantom, leaving not a trace.
“Foolish,” Rift said coldly. “I have already mastered the power of the rules, and your weapons are useless against me.”
Selena quickly adjusted her sniper rifle, aiming a high-energy bullet at the core of the rift. But as soon as her bullet was fired, it was blocked by the runic barrier surrounding the phantom, even bouncing back in her direction. She immediately rolled to dodge, a bead of cold sweat beading on her forehead.
“Its defense isn’t an ordinary energy barrier; it’s the rules themselves,” Selena said through gritted teeth. “We can’t break it using conventional methods.”
Ares gripped the runeblade, focusing his mind on the fluctuations of the phantom. He quickly realized that the rift was using the rules of the Anchor of Fate as a shield, rules that were themselves key to maintaining the balance of the universe.
“It’s using the power of the Anchor of Fate to strengthen itself,” Ares said. “We can’t defeat it unless we sever its connection with the Anchor of Fate.”
"What should we do then?" Wagner roared, his battle axe practically useless, which infuriated him.
Ares gazed at the suspended sphere of light, his expression hardening. "We need to enter the Anchor of Fate and directly disrupt the rift's manipulation of the rules."
The phantom seemed to sense Ares's intention, and it suddenly unleashed a powerful shockwave in an attempt to force the guardians back. However, Ares used his rune sword to create a barrier that blocked the shockwave.
"Cover me! I need to get close to the orb!" Ares shouted.
Selena quickly adjusted her tactics, using her sniper rifle to continuously attack the outer area of the phantom, creating interference. At the same time, she released several energy-guiding devices in an attempt to weaken the phantom's power.
Wagner charged straight at the phantom, no longer attempting a direct attack, but instead slamming his battle axe into the ground, creating a shockwave that disrupted the phantom's balance.
Ares seized the opportunity and swiftly approached the Anchor of Destiny. He plunged his rune sword into the surface of the sphere of light, attempting to establish a connection with the very essence of the rules. Instantly, a powerful surge of energy rushed into his body, almost knocking him off his feet.
"Ares! Watch out!" Selena shouted.
"I'm fine!" Ares gritted his teeth. He felt the power of the rules trying to repel the rift, but at the same time, he also felt the will of the rift fighting back, trying to pull him into the endless void.
"The rules... are not something you can control!" Ares roared, channeling all his energy into the runic sword, merging it with the power of the rules within the sphere of light. His sword began to emit a blinding light, charging directly towards the illusory figure in the rift.
The phantom emitted a piercing shriek as its form began to crumble, revealing a black core. The core's surface was covered with cracked runes, radiating intense, distorted energy.
"This is its true form!" Selena quickly aimed at the core and fired a series of precise shots with her sniper rifle.
The core, attacked, trembled violently but was not completely destroyed. The rift's voice grew even more ferocious: "Your power cannot destroy me! The rules of the universe are part of me!"
"Then sever your connection with the rules completely!" Ares shouted, raising his rune sword, concentrating all his power at the tip, and thrusting the sword into the core.
The core of the rift emitted a piercing scream, its surface began to crack, and countless runes were torn apart. However, at that very moment, the sphere of light of the Anchor of Destiny also trembled violently, as if the entire rule itself had been impacted.
The rift core finally collapsed, its remaining power shattering into countless fragments that dissipated into the void. The light of the Anchor of Fate gradually returned, but its energy was noticeably weaker than before.
"We did it." Ares gasped for breath, having used almost all his strength.
“But the price is high.” Selena looked at the cracks on the sphere of light with a complicated expression. “The anchor of destiny is damaged, and the rules of the universe may no longer be stable.”
Wagner shouldered his battle axe, a hint of unease in his voice: "Have we really solved the problem? Or has this just allowed the rift to continue lurking in a different form?"
The Observer's voice then rang out: "Guardians, your efforts have saved the foundation of the rules, but the threat of the rift has not been completely eliminated. The balance of the universe needs time to be restored, and your mission is not yet over."