Chapter 204: How to Activate Your Guardian
I leaned in slightly and asked, “What kind of plan?”
Ana didn’t answer right away. Instead, she stood up and said, “Come on. I’ll show you.”
I glanced at Steve, who shrugged. We both got to our feet and followed her out of the house.
As we walked along the winding stone path, Ana spoke over her shoulder.
“This realm… the one we’re in right now—it’s different. I think it used to belong to someone very important from the Naga race. Maybe even one of their high elders.”
We moved past the garden, where wind rustled the tall grass and soft light filtered through the houses. A calm washed over me as we neared the temple.
There was something different about this place. The Essence here didn’t swirl violently like it usually did, it was serene, quiet. The elements felt balanced, almost like they were at peace.
The temple came into view—a structure carved from white stone, its surface smooth and polished despite the passage of time. Oddly, there were no doors or gates, just an open archway that led directly into the interior.
We stepped inside.
The temperature dropped slightly, not cold, just… cooler. Calmer. The hall was a single vast chamber, with high walls stretching nearly ten meters tall. Everything – walls, floor, and ceiling was made from gleaming white marble that caught and reflected every flicker of light.
At the center of the hall stood a massive statue. It was the only object in the entire space.
The statue depicted a serpent, coiled tightly into itself.
Thick, overlapping scales covered its body, each one detailed with almost lifelike precision. Its coloration was striking—deep black streaked with veins of red, like molten lines frozen in stone. The head of the serpent rested atop its coils, its eyes closed in what looked like an eternal slumber.
I found myself staring, unable to look away.
There was something ancient about this place—sacred, even.
Even Steve, who usually had something to say, stood silently beside me, hands in his pockets, gaze locked on the statue.
Ana turned around to face us.
“This,” she said quietly, “is where the plan begins.”
I tore my eyes away from the massive serpent statue and turned to Ana, curiosity growing.
She met my gaze and continued, “Well, the statue behind me isn’t just a statue. It’s the guardian of this realm.”
My brows shot up. “Guardian?”
Ana nodded.
“Yes. One of the reasons the Nagas are considered the strongest race in this galaxy is because of their war weapons. And what you’re looking at behind me—that’s one of them. The moment I saw it, I recognized the signs. I’ve heard my elders talk about guardians like this many times.”
I blinked, my thoughts racing. What kind of technique could create something like that? A war weapon disguised as a statue?
Steve tilted his head and asked, “But it’s made of stone? If it were metal, maybe I could believe it’s a weapon, but this…”
Ana turned to him.
“It’s stone now, yes. But once it’s awakened, it transforms into a disaster causing weapon. These guardians are built from the preserved bodies of fallen Nagas, Grandmaster rank beings. Their essence lingers. When awakened, they become living weapons.”
A chill ran through me.
I asked, “And how do we activate it?”
Ana’s shoulders lifted slightly in a helpless shrug.
“That’s the problem. There’s no clue in this temple about how to activate it. I’ve searched this entire realm several times. If we want to use it, we’ll have to find the method ourselves. But if we do, we’ll have something strong enough to face a Grandmaster of the Holts.”
I slipped my hands into my pockets and stared at the floor, letting the thoughts swirl.
There were a few options. The first and most reliable would be to contact Arkas. If I could get a message out using the communicator, maybe they could dig up some ancient records or techniques for awakening a guardian like this.
Another possibility was the Holts’ base, where the Ferans were being held. If the Holts were aware of the guardian’s presence, they might have hoarded activation clues or relics without even knowing what they were.
And finally… those floating buildings high in the sky, etched with glowing runes. I’d seen them earlier, hovering above this realm like watchful eyes.
I turned back to Ana and asked, “Do you know anything about the floating buildings up there? Or the runes on them?”
Ana shook her head. “No, but from their shape and design, they look like residential buildings I’ve seen in Naga cities. Why? Do you think the activation process could be hidden there?”
“It’s a possibility,” I said. “We don’t have much to go on, so we’ll have to follow every lead.”
Steve stepped closer and asked. “How are we supposed to get up there?”
Ana lifted her hand, and with a sudden shimmer, her wings spread out—wide, majestic, and white as fresh snow. The light caught on them just right, and for a moment, she looked like an angel pulled straight from an old myth.
“I can fly up there,” she said with a small smile.
I shook my head.
“No. You’ll be too exposed. If someone is watching from the sky or monitoring aerial movement, you’ll get spotted instantly.”
She chuckled softly.
“Not like this, obviously. You do remember that Ferans have two forms, right? This is just my humanoid form.”
That made me pause. I hadn’t really thought about what her other form might be.
I crossed my arms. “Alright. Then let’s hear it. What exactly is your other form?”
She made a cute smile as she said.
“I come from the Whitefeather Roc tribe of the Roc clan,” Ana said, her tone casual but proud.
“So in my beast form, I can change my size. I can fly up there like a small bird if needed.”
I let out a low whistle. “Whoa… the Roc clan? I’ve read they’re one of the strongest clans in your world.”
She nodded.
“Among the flying clans, we’re the second strongest. At least, that’s what I was always told.”
Steve raised an eyebrow.
“Second strongest? Who’s first?”
Ana smiled, almost wistfully.
“The Skyrazor Griffins.”
I thought over her proposal in silence, turning it around in my mind from every angle.
It wasn’t a bad idea. If the guardian worked the way she claimed, it could be our best shot at leveling the playing field. But rushing into it would be foolish.
After a moment, I nodded slowly and spoke.
“We can move forward with your plan,” I said.
“But not yet. First, we deal with the collars. Once that’s done, we lie low and watch. Give it a few days. Let’s see how the Holts react to our disappearance. Only then will we decide our next move.”
Ana gave a small nod, understanding the caution behind my words.
Creation is hard, cheer me up!