Golden light cleaved through the howling blizzard like the blade of dawn. Wrapped in surging winds, the guardian dragon's massive body descended steadily into the center of the ruins. The instant its wings spread wide, a violent gale swept across the battlefield. Several guards who failed to dodge in time were flung into the air, smashing into icy walls and falling unconscious.
The dragon's amber, slit pupils fixed coldly on the shadow guard. Its deep roar shook the entire ruin, sending tremors through stone and ice as icicles rained down from the ceiling. The shadow guard's face turned deathly pale, his grip on the dagger trembling uncontrollably. He could clearly feel it—the crushing pressure born of ancient bloodlines was something his mortal body simply could not withstand.
"Cringing vermin, daring to covet the power of the Starcore," the dragon thundered, its voice echoing like a great bell. It raised a massive claw and slammed it down toward the shadow guard, the force of the strike shattering the frozen ground into fragments.
The shadow guard did not dare to resist. His body dissolved into a plume of black smoke, fleeing toward the ruin's exit in desperation. The dragon snorted coldly and exhaled a stream of golden flame. The fire carried no heat, yet it radiated overwhelming binding power, instantly enveloping the smoke. A scream rang out. When the smoke dissipated, the shadow guard crashed to the ground, his chest scorched and his body completely immobilized.
Seizing the moment, Kai rushed to the stone platform. He took a deep breath and gently placed his palm against the silver-white Starcore fragment. The instant his fingers touched it, a surge of icy energy flowed up his arm, resonating violently with the Starcore power already within him. The positioning crystal at his neck flared with brilliant blue light, intertwining with the fragment's silver glow to form a towering pillar of light.
"So that's how it is…" Kai murmured. At last, he understood—Starcore fragments were intrinsically linked, and only a chosen guardian could awaken and unite them.
Carefully, he lifted the fragment from its socket. It was icy cold at first, but gradually warmed in his palm. At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the ruins, accompanied by the thunderous hum of steam-powered machinery.
"Victor's main force!" Ironhammer's expression darkened as he tightened his grip on the ice-breaking axe. "They must've detected the fragment's energy surge. They've brought heavy weapons!"
Kai turned toward the entrance. Rows of black mechs advanced relentlessly, their cannon barrels glowing with dangerous red light. At the forefront stood a man atop a massive mech, dressed in a crisp black suit, his features cold and his eyes filled with malice.
Victor.
"Kai Leonard," Victor's voice boomed through an amplifier, dripping with arrogance. "Hand over the Starcore fragment, and I might grant you a dignified death. Do you really think a wounded dragon can protect you?"
The guardian dragon roared in fury, beating its wings and charging straight at the mech army. Golden flames erupted, instantly annihilating several mechs at the front line. But there were too many. Cannons rose in unison, and a storm of artillery fire rained down upon the dragon.
Though its scales were immensely tough, they could not fully withstand such overwhelming firepower. A blast struck its wing, golden blood splashing onto the ice and sizzling as it fell. The dragon let out a pained roar, yet it refused to retreat, planting itself firmly at the entrance of the ruins, shielding Kai and Ironhammer behind its colossal body.
"Dragon…" Kai's eyes burned red. Guilt surged through him. If not for protecting him, the dragon would never have been injured.
"Focus!" Ironhammer barked. "We have the fragment—now we leave!"
Kai clenched his teeth. Ironhammer was right. He glanced at the silver fragment in his hand, then at the positioning crystal at his neck. A sudden realization struck him. Gripping the fragment tightly, he guided the Starcore energy within his body and poured it into the shard.
The silver fragment erupted with blinding light, merging seamlessly with Kai's energy. In the next instant, it transformed into a streak of silver radiance and flew into the pocket watch at Kai's chest. The watch's dial flared brilliantly, its engravings growing more intricate. Of the seven slots, two now glowed with power.
"The fragment's returned!" Kai cried out in astonishment.
At that very moment, Victor's massive mech unleashed a beam of violet energy—a laser brimming with destructive force—straight at the dragon. There was no time to evade. The beam struck the dragon squarely in the chest.
"No!" Kai shouted.
The dragon let out a heart-rending roar as its enormous body collapsed. Yet even in its final moments, it summoned its remaining strength to block the ruin's entrance, preventing a single mech from advancing.
Victor's cold laughter echoed. "Foolish beast. Kai Leonard, now it's your turn."
The giant mech's cannons slowly pivoted toward Kai, their red glow intensifying. Facing the advancing machines and the fallen dragon, Kai's heart grew eerily calm. He tightened his grip on the meteor-iron wrench as the pocket watch burst with blue light. Power far greater than before surged out, flooding into the wrench.
"Victor, you want the Starcore fragments?" Kai said evenly, his voice carrying undeniable resolve. "Then come and take them."
He raised the meteor-iron wrench and charged straight at the massive mech.
The blizzard continued to howl across the icefields, and within the ruins, the battle had only just reached its boiling point.