"SCATTER!"

In an instant, all of us jumped away from the inner area.

With a deafening roar, the marble sarcophagus erupted in a blinding flash, showering us in splinters of stone and a wave of scorching heat.

The ground shook violently, and the air filled with the acrid smell of burning stone.

Chunks of broken stone and marble flew through the air as the pillars crumbled under the force of the powerful blast, shaking the entire sanctuary to its core.

I glanced upward just in time to see a massive chunk of debris hurtling toward my face.

Reacting swiftly, I raised my sword and brought it down with precision, the blade slicing effortlessly through the rock, splitting it cleanly in two.

The two halves soared past me, creating a rush of wind that tousled my hair.

"Is everyone alright?" Iris's voice cut through the ringing in my ears.

"Apart from nearly being blown to bits? Yeah, we're peachy," Ava grumbled, brushing off tiny pieces of debris from her uniform.

A cloud of dust billowed from the inner area, obscuring our vision, but I could discern the outline of a tall figure moving amidst the haze.

I turned to Iris, a wry grin forming on my lips. "Looks like your jinx came through."

Her eyebrows shot up in mock indignation. "Oh, now it's my fault?"

"Focus, everyone!" Carlo's urgent voice broke through the chaos, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of metal boots clanging against stone.

A potent aura descended upon us, overwhelming and oppressive, forcing everyone to their knees, including Iris and me.

The air seemed to thicken with each step of the approaching figure, and the ancient runes on the walls flared brightly, straining to contain the immense power unleashed within.

Gritting my teeth, I summoned every ounce of my own aura, struggling against the invisible force to rise to my feet.

Iris and Carlo followed suit, their efforts palpable as they pushed against the weight bearing down on us.

The sound of metal boots echoed ominously on the stone floor as the imposing silhouette drew nearer.

Amidst the haze of white smoke and the remnants of shattered pillars, I discerned two fierce points of blue light emanating from the figure.

With each step, the aura radiating from our approaching adversary intensified, sending shivers down my spine.

As the figure emerged from the inner area, the overwhelming pressure abated, and the smoke dispersed, revealing the identity of our foe.

I used my Omni contacts to scan the being before us only to swear loudly.

"We are screwed."

"Oh. We are absolutely fucked," Iris said, her daggers at the ready as tendrils of darkness rose around her.

Standing tall before us was a knight adorned in pristine white armor, intricately detailed with accents of silver and gold.

The four-pointed star symbol of the Order of Lux glowed brightly on the breastplate, while wisps of glowing white smoke emanated from the crevices between the metal plates.

A tattered cape trailed behind the figure, and atop the jagged helmet sat a long plume, adding to its imposing presence.

Through the narrow slits of the helm, two intense blue eyes regarded us, their glowing gaze shifting from one member of our group to the next with calculated precision.

Finally, the knight's piercing gaze settled on me, and a momentary paralysis gripped me, anchoring me in place.

With deliberate movements, the knight flexed their clawed gauntlets before pointing directly at us.

"Who is it?"

A deep male voice muffled by the helm resonated around us.

"Which dumbass opened my journal? The one intended for my brother?"

Not the words I expected to hear from an ancient knight.

I mean, "dumbass"? Was that even a term five thousand years ago?

Immediately, all hands pointed at me in unison.

"Oh, come on!" I exclaimed.

Whatever happened to camaraderie and loyalty among Deathwalkers?

The knight's intense gaze bore into me once more as they extended a clawed finger, sending a chilling wave of ardor washing over me.

"Boy with eyes of blood. Do you presume yourself worthy to peruse that tome? Do you dare place yourself on equal footing with my brother to unlock its secrets?" he asked, his deep voice echoing all around.

My eye twitched and I clenched my jaw.

Am I worthy to delve into a dusty old journal?

What in the name of the Incarni is this ancient Tin man blathering about?

Unworthy?

Preposterous!

I, who once held the mantle of a king, am questioned about my worthiness.

"Of course I am worthy," I declared, meeting the knight's gaze with steely resolve.

Reluctantly, I decided to reveal my true identity, though I despised resorting to such measures.

"I am Mordred Pendragon, the second High Prince of the Kingdom." I leveled my sword at him, my voice unwavering.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

"Still think I am unworthy?"

Iris nudged me slightly, "Um, Mordred. I don’t think he knows about the Pendragons. They didn’t exist five thousand years ago."

The knight's glowing eyes flared with recognition. "Pendragon? So you are his blood. I can see the resemblance," he said.

"And there goes my knowledge of ancient history down the drain," Iris sighed.

Artemis looked bewildered, her brow furrowing deeply. "The Pendragons existed five thousand years ago? That’s something we never learned," she murmured, her mind racing to reconcile this new information with her training.

"Let's worry about that later," I said, turning my attention back to the knight, "Does that answer your question?"

"It seems so," the knight nodded solemnly, "But I cannot forgive you for taking the journal." He held out his hand, and a huge longsword flew out of the inner chamber into his outstretched hand.

"Defeat me, and you will be forgiven."

"A terrible proposition," I said, looking at Iris and nodding, "I guess this is our cue to leave."

A resounding thud echoed through the chamber as the colossal entrance doors slammed shut.

"Nobody leaves."

Iris surveyed the sealed doors before turning back to our group with a resigned expression, "Looks like we're in for it now."

With determination in her eyes, she addressed the knight, "Very well. We accept your challenge."

The knight cocked his head, addressing Iris directly. "Child of the Darkness, do you truly believe that your combined strength can overcome mine?"

"Nope," Iris answered, "We don't have an S-ranked with us. So defeating you is out of the question. We just have three A-ranks and four B-ranks."

"What we have," her lips curled into a sinister smile, "is an ace in the hole to kill you."

"Kill me?" the knight sounded amused.

Iris confidently nodded and gave me a knowing look.

I widened my eyes and asked, "Are you sure about that?"

"A hundred percent," was her answer.

I was afraid of that. I sighed inwardly. When Iris set her mind to something, there was little I could do to dissuade her.

"Just be careful," I cautioned and readied my sword.

She chuckled, "Of course."

"Listen up, guys!" her voice boomed.

"We're facing an S-ranked being! Me, Mordred, and Carlo will engage in direct combat. The rest of you, provide us with all the support you can!"

Ava voiced her concern, flexing her claws nervously, "Will you protect us? The power gap between us and that knight is significant."

"We will," I promised her and looked at Carlo. "Will you help us?"

Carlo looked nervous but his abyssal black eyes burned resolutely, "Could we even kill him? He's an S rank."

"Iris can, and she will," I affirmed, glancing at Iris, who exuded confidence.

"Just trust in me!" she declared.

"That's what I am worried about," Carlo sighed and activated his strand. Red lightning enveloped him and he pointed his claymore at the knight. "Let's do this."

"Very good!" the knight lifted his longsword and pointed at us, "I am the spirit of Isaac Zierhart, a High Ranked Paladin and servant of the Incarnus of Lux!"

"Oh! I thought you were my long-lost Uncle Bob from five thousand years ago," I quipped and activated Haema.

Blood swirled around me and then around my blade.

"By the way. How are we understanding each other?" Iris asked as darkness seeped out of her body and swirled around her.

"Ardor is the medium through which I speak to you," with that cryptic answer, Isaac leaned forward and disappeared.

Shit! He's quick.

Instantly, I activated my Triquetra state.

Blood surged through my veins, and ardor heightened my senses until time seemed to slow around me, each heartbeat echoing like a drum in my ears.

Except for Isaac.

Sparks flew and blood spattered as my blood-coated sword intercepted a strike aimed at Artemis's neck.

The clash sent a shockwave rippling through the chamber, propelling both Artemis and me backward.

I quickly extended my blood tentacles to grab hold of the young Fray and prevent us from colliding with the chamber wall.

"You alright?" I asked Artemis who snapped out of her shock.

She nodded fiercely, "Thank you."

"Mordred! Behind you!" Iris's urgent warning reached my ears.

Whirling around, I spotted Isaac swinging his sword toward my head.

"Not so fast!" Krystal's voice echoed across the chamber as the temperature dropped.

Two enormous ice spikes materialized above Isaac, hurtling downward toward him.

With reflexes faster than lightning, Isaac redirected his strike, cleaving through the ice spikes with a single swing and sending icy shrapnel flying in all directions.

Seizing the opportunity, I turned to Apollo.

"Apollo! Catch!"

Raising my blood tentacle holding Artemis, I tossed her toward her brother.

"Hey!" Artemis exclaimed as she soared through the air.

I couldn't see if Apollo caught her, as Isaac redirected his attention to me, launching a powerful downward slash.

Gritting my teeth, I raised my sword to intercept the blow, using all my strength to slide the blade of the longsword against mine and avoid being overwhelmed by its force.

The impact of the strike shattered the floor beside me, throwing me off balance momentarily. Isaac wasted no time, thrusting his sword toward me.

Reacting instinctively, I deflected the attack with my blood tentacles.

But the power of the Paladin was immense. My tentacles exploded upon contact with the sword, forcing me to duck to the side as the blade embedded itself in the stone wall.

I am an intermediate A rank and in my transcendent state, but I barely avoid his attacks.

And worst of all, I am cornered.

Isaac shifted his grip on the sword, dragging it through the stone wall, slicing it like cheesecake as he swung toward me.

I braced myself, blocking the strike with my sword as Isaac pulled the blade free from the wall, aiming to cleave me in half.

Bones cracked and I gritted my teeth as the sword pushed me along its swing arc, my boots sliding on the smooth floor.

Good news. I am out of the dangerous spot.

Bad news. Isaac wasn't done.

The paladin spun his sword around and executed a downward strike. I looked at the blade ready to turn me into a split banana.

I won't be able to avoid it.

Suddenly, a surge of energy filled the air, and a crackling sensation enveloped us.

A powerful bolt of red lightning struck Isaac directly in the head, sending a shower of sparks cascading around him and engulfing his form in a thick, acrid cloud of smoke.

The crackling of electricity echoed through the chamber, punctuated by the hiss of vaporizing metal.

"Mordred!" I heard Iris's voice and saw her extending her hand toward me. One of my tentacles shot forward and grabbed her hand, pulling me toward her.

"Old Tinhead is bloody insane with the sword!" I exclaimed.

"I noticed!" Iris replied with a nod. "We need to hit him with the big guns!"

I nodded in agreement.

As Carlo joined us, the three of us raised our hands.

Black runes surrounded Iris's arm, electric blue runes encircled Carlo's, and crimson runes enveloped mine as we activated our codes.

{Tenebris: Death Rods}

{Fulgur: Ultra Bolts}

{Haema: Vortex Bloodlances}

A powerful surge of ardor radiated from us as solid rods of darkness, spinning blood lances, and crackling bolts of red lightning materialized in the air around us.

The combined power of our codes reverberated through the chamber, shaking the very foundations of the sanctuary.

Isaac looked on at the projectiles aimed at him and a ghostly chuckle escaped from his helmet.

"This will be interesting."

With a collective yell, we unleashed our attack.