The Secret Weapon

Kael and Mieza stood side by side, their gazes locked in silent determination. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and quartz and the faint traces of dark magic. The source of Veridian's dark magic lay deep inside the vault—until now.

"It's here," Kael whispered, his voice barely audible. "I can feel it."

Mieza nodded, her expression unwavering. "Me too."

The heart of the vault was vast and dimly illuminated by the eerie blue glow of a massive crystal that hung suspended in the center of the room radiating an otherworldly aura. The crystal was approximately the size of a human fist. Around it, several racks of arrows, their tips glinting menacingly, lined the walls. The atmosphere was oppressive, thick with the malevolent presence of dark magic.

Kael's eyes shifted colours immediately from its initial glowing green to glowing gold as he was more cautious and ready for a fight. He could feel the energy radiating from the crystal. Its surface shimmered with an ethereal glow, as if infused with the essence of the stars. He whispered, his voice steady as he stepped closer to inspect it. "The crystal wreaks of powerful magic and the arrows are enchanted,"

Mieza joined him, her blue eyes narrowing as she reached out with her senses. "The arrows... they're laced with a venomous curse," she said, her voice laced with concern. "Perhaps it's the same one that was used on Ethel by that Naja assassin. This curse is designed to weaken the Garudas' physical and magical defenses. It's a slow poison that will sap their strength and could potentially kill them."

Kael's jaw tightened. "Veridian has prepared these specifically to kill the Garudas. If they're hit by these arrows, they'll be left vulnerable, unable to defend themselves and they'll die slowly unless saved by an antidote."

Mieza's gaze shifted to the glowing crystal, its surface glowing as it pulsated with a gentle, rhythmic energy, as if it contained the heartbeat of all the realms. "And that," she said, pointing to the crystal, "is even more powerful."

Kael turned to face the crystal, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the power emanating from it. "I know. It's a Celestial Gem," he said grimly. "It has the power to control the forces of nature. If Veridian uses this against the Garudas, he could even control gravity, rendering the Garudas unable to fly. The Garudas' greatest strength is their ability to dominate the skies—without that, they'll be at the mercy of the Nagas and they may have a hard time defeating the Nagas if they can't fly."

Mieza's expression darkened. "If the Garudas can't fly, they won't stand a chance. Besides this gemstone could unleash worse—the entire forces of nature and totally destroy the Garudas."

Kael nodded, his mind racing as he considered their options. "We have to destroy the crystal and neutralize these arrows. Veridian's forces will have an overwhelming advantage with these weapons. Good thing we came here to prevent that."

Mieza glanced around the chamber, noting the intricate wards that lined the walls. "Yes, but this place is heavily protected. The moment we attempt to destroy anything, it will alert Veridian. We need to be quick and precise."

Kael stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We split up. I'll handle the crystal; you take care of the arrows. We need to move fast, before Veridian or his forces can detect our presence."

Mieza didn't hesitate. "On it," she said, already moving toward the racks of arrows. She began chanting a spell softly, "Zi-ki-ru-ud-da, ku-ru-ub-ta, ša-za-qa-ru-um,

Ní-gul-la-ke4, kur-ru-ub-ta, nu-ku-ru-ub-ta,

Dab-bi-ru-ud-da, za-qa-ru-um, ku-ru-ub-ta,

Šul-mu-u₂, zi-ki-ru-ud-da, ku-ru-ub-ta."

Her hands started glowing with a soft purple light as her magic started to dismantle the curses woven into the arrows.

Kael approached the crystal, his eyes narrowing as he drew closer to its surface. An overwhelming sense of peace washed over him, as if the crystal's presence calmed the turmoil him. The magic within it was ancient and powerful, but he was powerful enough to handle it.

Extending his hands, he began absorbing the energy of the crystal into his body, the crystal humming with power. A brilliant flash of blue light engulfed him and the crystal as he started absorbing all its energy. The aura of the crystal contained hints of ancient knowledge, and as Kael began to absorb the crystal's energy, an intense wave of searing pain coursed through his entire being.

The raw power of the celestial gemstone surged into him, overwhelming his senses as if his very essence was being torn apart and rebuilt. His muscles clenched, his veins burned with molten fire, and his vision blurred as ancient knowledge, buried for eons, flooded his mind. The weight of countless ages pressed down on him, nearly driving him to his knees, but Kael endured, his willpower ironclad as he forced himself to master the relentless torrent of power and wisdom coursing through him.

The chamber erupted in a surge of energy but Kael absorbed everything. The crystal's glow intensified, but Kael was relentless, draining every ounce of its power. The crystal began to crack.

Across the chamber, Mieza's work was nearing completion. She had neutralized the arrows, unraveling the venomous curses with precision and speed. But as she reached for the final rack, the ground beneath her trembled, and she knew time was running out.

"Kael, hurry!" she called out, her voice strained with urgency.

Kael gritted his teeth, his focus unwavering as he absorbed the final energy from the crystal. With a deafening crack, the crystal shattered, its fragments scattering across the chamber in a shower of blue light. The oppressive weight of its power absorbed, and the chamber was plunged into a sudden, unnatural silence.

After the agonizing ordeal, Kael staggered back, his body trembling from the sheer force of the energy he had absorbed. The pain had receded, leaving him with a profound sense of power and clarity. His mind buzzed with newly acquired ancient knowledge, a reservoir of wisdom and strategies from forgotten eras.

His body, though drained, felt stronger, as if the crystal's energy had fortified him, enhancing his already formidable abilities. A deep, unshakable resolve settled within him, and he knew that this newfound power would be crucial in the battles ahead. Yet, beneath the strength, he could still feel the lingering echoes of the torment he had endured, a reminder of the price he had paid for this ancient gift.

Mieza finished her task just as the last echoes of the crystal's destruction faded. She turned to Kael, her expression one of grim satisfaction. "We did it. Now we need to leave."

Kael picked up his sword and sheathed it, nodding in agreement. "We've bought the Garudas some time. Veridian will soon be here."

As they prepared to teleport back to Kragnir, Kael took one last look at the chamber. They had struck a significant blow against Veridian's plans. They had reduced the chances of the war happening between the Nagas and the Garudas, and for now, the Nagas wouldn't stand a chance if they were to start the war.

Without another word, Kael held Mieza as he prepared to teleport. A swirl of blue light enveloped them, and with a flash, they vanished from the chamber, teleporting and leaving behind only the shattered remnants of the weaponry.