The trio—Rem, Martin, and Nova—stood at the base of the ancient pyramid, marveling at its grandeur. The structure loomed over them, its weathered stone etched with intricate carvings of peacocks and celestial symbols, remnants of a civilization tied to the primordial titans. The pyramid’s entrance was flanked by towering statues of majestic peacocks, their stone plumage stretched wide as if in perpetual display. Above them, the sky shimmered with bursts of dancing lights, streaks of cosmic energy visible even in the broad daylight. The phenomenon bathed the ruins in an ethereal glow, as though the very air was alive with magic.

Martin tore his eyes from the surreal scene and glanced at his teammates. The cosmic lights above seemed to refract through Rem’s ombre hair, making the colors shift and dance like fire. Her usual striking blue eyes now glimmered with a violet hue, reflecting the light in a way that seemed almost otherworldly.

Nova, however, looked entirely different from her usual bookish self. She had traded her scholarly robes for a rugged outfit of leather boots and a sturdy utility belt, looking every bit the experienced treasure hunter. Her dark curls were tied back tightly, revealing a determined expression. Martin couldn’t help but notice the stark transformation and found himself staring a little too long.

Nova raised an eyebrow, catching his gaze. “What are you looking at, perv?” she quipped, her tone sharp.

Martin flushed, quickly looking away. “Nothing! Just… surprised, that’s all. You look—uh—ready for anything.”

Nova smirked and shrugged, pulling her backpack to the front. “You’ll see how ready I am,” she murmured, rummaging through her belongings.

She began pulling out devices one by one, setting them on the ground. First came a metallic orb that glowed faintly with runic inscriptions. “This,” Nova explained, “is my latest invention. Think of it as a magical metal detector. It’ll sense hidden mechanisms or traps nearby.”

Next, she carefully removed a small, humanoid golem from her bag. Its tiny body gleamed with faint golden lines etched along its surface, and its joints were crafted from polished steel. “Substitute golems,” Nova announced, holding it up. “If we trip a trap, this little guy will activate in our place. Hopefully, we won’t need it, but… better safe than sorry.”

Finally, she produced a glass bottle filled with a strange jelly-like substance that shimmered faintly. “And these are defensive pods. If you throw one, the jelly will expand on impact, creating a protective barrier. One for each of you.” She handed one to Martin and another to Rem, her expression serious. “Use it wisely. This stuff doesn’t grow on trees.”

Martin examined the bottle, impressed. “You’ve really thought of everything, haven’t you?”

Nova shrugged, tucking the remaining supplies back into her pack. “I hope we won’t need to use any of it, but you can never be too careful.” She then pulled out a well-worn notebook, flipping through its pages until she found a crude sketch of a beast.

The drawing was undeniably ugly: a lanky creature with a featherless, bald body resembling an oversized emu, its sunken eyes and elongated limbs adding to its eerie appearance. Nova tapped the page with her finger. “This is the guardian of the ruins. According to my research, it’s ancient, fast, and incredibly dangerous. Worse, it has the ability to mimic our powers. If we run into this thing, we don’t fight—we run.”

Rem and Martin exchanged uneasy glances.

“Sounds… manageable,” Rem said, her tone laced with sarcasm.

“Let’s hope we don’t see it,” Martin muttered, tightening the straps on his pack.

With a nod of agreement, the trio turned toward the pyramid’s entrance, their expressions shifting to one of steely resolve. They stepped forward cautiously, the air growing heavier with each step as the ancient power within the ruins seemed to stir, anticipating their intrusion. The Cosmic Plumage—and its challenges—awaited.

The trio stepped into the ruins, their footsteps echoing in the cavernous chamber. Faded frescoes adorned the walls, ancient scenes painted with colors long dulled by time. The central figure of the fresco was a majestic cosmic peacock, its head crowned with a metallic diadem that seemed to shimmer faintly even in the dim light. Its plumage, a deep, almost black shade, was painted with intricate images of the Milky Way and swirling galaxies. The titan sat regally atop the pyramid, surrounded by depictions of ancient civilians, their postures reverent as they offered tribute. The scenes showed the titan teaching the people the mysteries of the stars, mathematics, and celestial navigation—knowledge that seemed almost divine.

Nova’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she pulled out her compact camera, the faint click of its shutter breaking the silence as she captured the fresco. “Titan Coeus,” she murmured, her voice reverent, “one of the eight primordial beings, born of Gaea and Uranus. It taught wisdom to humanity, guided them to the stars... and yet, it was sealed away.”

“Because it sought to claim the very heart of our world,” Martin said grimly. He glanced at the fresco, his hand brushing the hilt of his Tuning Blade as he spoke. “The story’s old, but every Elysian knows it. The eight primordials, born from Gaea and Uranus, were wise, yes, but their wisdom and power turned to greed. They sought to seize the heart of Gaea herself, our world’s life force. The Heavenly Father and the First Founder of our kingdom fought valiantly to seal them away, but at a great cost—the Heavenly Father sacrificed himself to save us.”

He paused, his expression firm. “That sacrifice is why we fight to this day—to protect the legacy they left behind.”

Rem rolled her eyes, breaking the solemn air. “That’s all very inspiring, Martin, but we don’t have time for a history lesson. Let’s keep moving.”

The trio ventured deeper into the ancient ruins, their breaths fogging in the increasingly cool, heavy air. It felt as though the walls themselves were alive, silently observing every step they took. Shadows danced eerily along the cracked stone, cast by the faintly glowing runes that had replaced the frescoes. The jagged carvings pulsed with cosmic energy, their light shifting like distant stars.

Martin came to an abrupt stop, his ring, Humming Sun, humming faintly against his skin. He raised his hand in a silent signal, his voice low but steady. “There’s a trap ahead. Pressure plates—about ten feet in front of us.”

Drawing his Tuning Blade, he focused his power. A low, melodic hum rippled outward as he sent a pulse of sound cascading through the air. The vibrations returned to him, mapping the danger like an unseen radar. “It’s a grid pattern,” he said grimly. “Step on the wrong plate, and we won’t be leaving here in one piece.”

Nova smirked, her confidence growing as she activated her ring, allowing her feline hybrid form to take over. Her boots, made for stealth, made no sound against the stone floor. Her sharp feline eyes gleamed, taking in every detail as her body moved with predatory grace. “I’ll take point,” she murmured, her voice laced with a low, feline purr.

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With a powerful leap, she cleared the trap’s danger zone, landing softly on the other side. Nova crouched low, her sharp gaze locking onto the glyphs etched into the far wall. Each carving glimmered faintly with an otherworldly light, and as she examined them closer, she realized their purpose.

“It’s some kind of puzzle,” she called out, her voice echoing slightly in the still air. “We’ll need to solve it to deactivate the trap.”

Martin approached cautiously, his Tuning Blade still vibrating in his hand. The blade hummed faintly as he channeled his resonance power, sending gentle sound waves into the glyphs. The carvings flickered in response, the light growing brighter with each adjustment of the blade’s frequency.

“Hold on,” Martin muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration. The glyphs began to glow in sequence, responding to the harmonic frequency of his power. With a final surge of energy, the mechanism clicked into place, and the faint glow of the pressure plates faded away.

Martin let out a breath, a small grin tugging at his lips. “Trap disabled.”

Nova stood, brushing her hands against her leather pants. “Not bad, sound boy,” she said with a smirk before turning her attention to Rem. “How are you holding up?”

Rem’s cosmic energy shimmered faintly around her dagger, ready to erupt at a moment’s notice. Her eyes glimmered with anticipation as she responded, “I’m fine. Just wondering when this ruin’s real challenges will show up.”

The air grew heavier as they moved further into the temple, the runes on the walls glowing brighter and the hum of ancient energy growing louder. Martin’s sound pulses uncovered hidden pressure plates, concealed tripwires, and false doors that led to certain doom. Nova’s modified metal detector buzzed quietly, guiding them away from metallic triggers buried beneath layers of stone.

At one point, a blade trap sprang from the wall, its mechanism nearly impossible to spot. Nova’s substitute golem, tucked into Martin’s satchel, activated instantly, its small, humanoid form leaping into action and taking the hit. The sound of metal against stone echoed through the chamber as the trap reset, leaving the group shaken but unharmed.

“That was close,” Martin muttered, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he handed the spent golem back to Nova.

She scowled as she handed him another, her voice tight. “Try not to use up all my toys, alright? I’ve only got a couple left, and I don’t fancy facing this ruin’s guardian unarmed.”

They exchanged wary glances, a shared unease settling over the group as they ventured deeper. The traps became more intricate, more deadly, but they pressed on, driven by the faint hum of cosmic energy that grew stronger with every step. Somewhere ahead lay the heart of the ruins—and the treasure they sought.

——

After navigating countless traps and winding corridors, the trio finally reached a cavernous chamber, its high ceilings vanishing into darkness. In the center, an altar pulsed with otherworldly energy, and atop it lay the treasure they sought: the plumage. The iridescent feather glimmered with cosmic light, its form flickering as though it was alive. A faint barrier shimmered around it, protecting it from intruders.

“Finally,” Nova breathed, her feline eyes glinting with anticipation. “That plumage is ours.”

Martin, still gripping his Tuning Blade, approached cautiously. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Something about this feels… off.”

Rem, her cosmic energy already shimmering faintly, nodded in agreement. “We’ve come this far. Let’s not ruin it by being reckless.”

Using their combined skills, they dismantled the seal around the plumage. Martin’s resonant sound waves disrupted the magical frequencies, Nova’s sharp eyes pinpointed the intricate mechanisms, and Rem’s cosmic energy surged to break the final barrier. As the seal collapsed, the altar glowed brighter, the air thickening with tension.

Martin stepped forward, his hand outstretched toward the plumage. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, a violent surge of cosmic energy erupted. The feather shot into the air, twisting unnaturally as it transformed mid-flight. Cosmic light burst forth, warping the very air around them.

From the light emerged a grotesque monstrosity—a featherless emu-like creature that defied logic. Its rubbery, stretched flesh gleamed under the flickering cosmic glow, its elongated legs twisted and uneven, and its beakless face featured only a gaping maw. Where its eyes should have been, hollow sockets stared emptily, oozing faint trails of shimmering light. The guardian radiated an aura of warped energy, each movement accompanied by sickening creaks as if its form struggled against its own unnatural existence.

It screeched, a distorted, guttural sound that echoed painfully in the vast chamber, and with uncanny speed, it lunged forward.

“Trap!” Nova hissed, leaping back as the guardian slammed into the ground where she had been standing, its rubbery flesh rippling on impact.

The battle began in earnest.

——

Martin charged first, sending out a resonant blast from his Tuning Blade. The sound waves struck the guardian, and for a moment, it quivered unnaturally. Then its hollow sockets flared with light, and it emitted an eerie, harmonic hum. A perfect imitation of Martin’s resonance power erupted from its grotesque form, the blast throwing him backward. He grunted, his body slamming against the stone floor.

“It’s mimicking us!” Nova shouted, darting around the guardian. Her feline reflexes barely kept her ahead of its strikes as its movements grew disturbingly fluid, mirroring her agility. It twisted unnaturally to swipe at her, its rubbery limbs stretching further than seemed possible.

Rem stepped forward, cosmic energy flaring as she launched a barrage of bolts at the creature. The bolts struck its rubbery surface, causing it to screech and shudder. But as the energy dissipated, it turned its hollow gaze on her. Cosmic light gathered around its malformed body, and it retaliated with a perfect replica of her power. A blast of energy hurtled toward her, forcing her to erect a shimmering shield. Even so, the force drove her to one knee.

“This thing is relentless!” Martin growled, staggering back to his feet. “And it’s getting better at copying us.”

Nova somersaulted out of the creature’s reach, her mind racing. “We can’t beat it by doing what it expects. If it copies us, we need to outthink it.”

Nova’s sharp eyes darted between the guardian and her satchel as the grotesque guardian lashed out again, its mimicked cosmic energy searing through the air. Her mind raced, and an idea took shape—a risky one, but it was their best shot.

“Rem!” Nova shouted, leaping back as the creature lunged. “Do you know any protective defensive arts?”

Rem, crouched low with cosmic energy swirling around her hands, nodded. “Why?”

Nova’s feline hybrid form tensed, her tail flicking with determination. “When I shout, chant the best one you know. We’ll need all the protection we can get.”

Without waiting for a reply, Nova turned to Martin. “Keep it busy just a little longer!”

“On it!” Martin called back, already unleashing a resonant wave with his Tuning Blade to disrupt the creature’s focus. The guardian twisted toward him, its rubbery form rippling unnaturally as it prepared another mimicry attack.

Nova rummaged through her satchel, pulling out every glass container filled with the jelly-like substance. Her hands moved quickly, checking each one for cracks. “This is going to get messy,” she muttered, gripping the vials tightly.

“Now, Rem!” Nova shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Rem planted her feet firmly on the ground, her eyes glowing with cosmic energy. She raised her arms and began chanting, her voice resonating with ancient power:

"Guardians of the stars, weave your light to shield us,Form a barrier unyielding and pure.Let no shadow breach, no harm endure.Astral Aegis, rise and endure!”

Golden light surged from Rem’s outstretched hands, splitting into three streams that coalesced into shimmering barriers around each of the trio. The radiant shields pulsed with celestial energy, deflecting the guardian’s attacks as they launched toward them.

Protected by the barrier, Nova sprang into action. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled the first vial. It struck the guardian’s rubbery body and exploded in a sticky wave of expanding jelly. The creature screeched, thrashing as its movements were slowed by the substance.

“One’s not enough,” Nova muttered. She threw the second, then the third, each glass shattering on impact. The jelly spread rapidly, binding the guardian’s grotesque limbs and body in a tightening grip.

“Martin, Rem, hold steady!” she called, hurling the final vial with pinpoint precision. The substance surged, consuming the guardian in a thick cocoon of translucent, expanding jelly.

The moment the jelly fully engulfed the guardian, it triggered a cascade of chaos. The ancient traps in the room activated in unison—arrows fired from hidden panels, blades swung down from the walls, and bursts of energy erupted from glowing glyphs. The guardian, trapped and vulnerable, bore the full brunt of the traps.

Its rubbery body convulsed, pierced and burned by the onslaught. With a final, guttural screech, the creature collapsed, disintegrating into fragments of warped light that flickered out of existence.

The room fell silent, the deadly traps spent. The golden barriers around the trio shimmered for a moment longer before fading.

Nova straightened, brushing a smear of jelly off her sleeve. “That’s how you stop a mimic.”

Rem exhaled, her cosmic energy dimming as she lowered her hands. “Next time, maybe warn me before you decide to activate every trap in the room.”

Martin grinned despite himself, his Tuning Blade humming faintly as he sheathed it. “Remind me never to underestimate your knack for chaos, Nova.”

The three glanced at the altar as the real cosmic plumage descended, its glow serene yet brimming with otherworldly energy. A slight grin appeared on their faces, a mix of relief and triumph.

But before they could make a move, the sharp echo of clapping rang out, reverberating through the chamber.