Chapter 191: Chapter 190- Guardian

Adrian was lying in his tent, reading a diary.

It wasn’t anything important—just his usual notes to help him stay focused.

Right now, there was only one thing on his mind, and the notes helped keep it from drifting.

The night was quiet. Every now and then, strong winds brushed against the tent, making strange, eerie sounds.

He waited calmly for another hour. Then, it happened.

“Come out,” came Ruby’s clear voice from outside.

Smiling, Adrian placed the diary inside the Time Chamber and stood up.

When he stepped outside, he saw Ruby holding some protective gear.

“Wear this,” she said.

Adrian was about to say he didn’t need it, but then she added, “It’ll help hide your identity if someone sees you.”

He nodded without arguing and took the bodysuit.

As Adrian put on the protective gear, he heard Ruby say,

“I’ll create a smoke blanket around the area, but be careful. Don’t wander too far, and try not to make too much noise.”

“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind,” he replied with a small hum.

He had already put on the helmet—only the back zipper was left.

Ruby stepped behind him and slowly pulled it up.

Just as Adrian was about to move forward, he felt a slight weight on his back.

Her small hands held the sides of his suit, and her face gently pressed against him.

“If something happens to you, I won’t be able to forgive myself,” she whispered.

Feeling the emotion in her voice, Adrian reached back and held her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“I’ll come back without a scratch. Trust me.”

Ruby didn’t say anything at first. Then, without a word, she stepped away.

Adrian looked at her once before giving a firm nod and hurrying toward the crater.

Left behind, Ruby held her elbow with one hand and quietly muttered,

“I didn’t make a mistake… right?”

——-**——-

It was early morning, and as usual, Allen was jogging around the academy grounds.

He had made it a habit to train for at least two hours every morning.

When he first entered the academy, he’d become a little cocky. But after being reminded of his weaknesses—twice—he finally understood what he needed to do to shape a better future for himself.

That’s why, along with his regular training, he had also started taking on a few hunting jobs on the side.

The academy didn’t allow students to work outside, but Allen knew that if he didn’t break a few rules, he’d never grow.

At this point, I think I can take that hound down myself… he muttered under his breath, coming to a stop.

He remembered watching the headmistress during the last invasion—how she had fought off several monsters on her own.

Some of them were terrifying creatures, ones his old self—the version of him that had been asleep—couldn’t have even imagined standing against.

But now… now he believed he had changed. He had grown stronger.

“What are you doing, staring at the ground like that?” a voice cut through his thoughts.

Allen looked up, snapped out of his daze.

“Elizabeth…” He called out, “What do you need from me?” The cocky young miss from Grimvale had turned completely silent for the past few days.

It seems having her ass whooped by Professor Adrian erased all that ego she had.

She glared at him, “Why do I feel like you are thinking something rude about me?”

Allen sighed, “Well, you are right bout that. Now, can we skip the chit-chat? I need to train.”

Elizabeth pouted…no one talks so rudely to her. But well, “Can you teach me swordsmanship?”

——**——

“This is messed up…” Adrian muttered as he traced the glowing symbols on the cube. His senses picked up two more cubes nearby—both about a hundred meters away.

They formed a triangle.

Which meant… whatever these things were guarding had to be in the center.

Do I have enough time?

It was almost morning, though the sun hadn’t risen yet. Thanks to Ruby, the whole area was hidden beneath a dark veil—her magic blending seamlessly with the eerie night of the Wasteland. But once daylight broke, that darkness would stand out like a stain. People might start asking questions.

I need to move fast.

Adrian climbed out of the shallow crater and began heading toward the center point between the three cubes.

He kept his revolver close to his chest, quietly attaching a silencer to the barrel. Something he’d gotten from Forgelet the last time he asked for bullets.

Sweet girl. Always knew what he needed—sometimes before he even asked.

He pointed the muzzle at the ground and pulled the trigger.

TWEEK

The silenced shot barely made a sound as the bullet struck the dirt. A small puff of dust burst up on impact.

Adrian shut his eyes out of habit, even though he didn’t need to.

The bullet did exactly what it was meant to—digging deeper and deeper into the earth.

Until—

TING

It hit something solid. Something it couldn’t break through.

Adrian opened his eyes—and through the narrow opening in the soil, he saw it.

A steel door.

Heart quickening, he reached into his pouch, pulled out another bullet, and began clearing the dirt and rocks that blocked the way. His hands moved fast, driven by a mixture of fear and hope.

Once the path was clear, he jumped down and landed on top of the hidden door.

His chest thudded with every heartbeat.

This might be it.

The door that would finally lead him to the truth—his real identity.

He bit his lower lip, steadying his breath. Then he grabbed the handle with both hands, planted his feet against the wall for support, and pulled.

CLINK.

The metallic sound echoed louder than he expected.

He froze.

Not a sound followed. No footsteps. No creaking above.

No one had been here in a long time. That much was clear.

He gave it another slow pull. The panel shifted, revealing a narrow stairway descending into pitch black.

’This is stupid…’ he thought, but he couldn’t turn back now.

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a white stick from the Time Chamber. The moment he pulled it, a soft glow spread around him—pale and cold, but just enough to see.

The stairs were steep. The air was thick and old.

He raised his revolver, already fitted with a teleportation bullet, and began to descend.

One slow step at a time.

Into the dark.

Into the unknown.

The stairs just kept going.

Step after step, deeper and deeper.

Adrian counted under his breath.

By the time he reached the thirtieth step, his boots finally touched solid ground.

“Huu… let’s see.”

He lifted the glowing stick and looked around.

He was standing in a wide gallery—so wide that even a minotaur could’ve walked through without brushing the walls.

He crouched and touched the floor. It wasn’t metal. No rust. No decay.

It felt… stronger. A material he couldn’t name, but it had held up for what must’ve been centuries.

The air was still, but he could feel it.

A pulse.

Mana—dense and old—coming from ahead.

He moved forward, holding the glowing stick out like a torch. His eyes scanned every corner, every inch of shadow.

The gallery opened into a large chamber—almost like a hall.

Just as he stepped inside—

CLINK.

The entire space lit up, bathed in a soft golden glow.

Adrian’s breath caught.

Something stood at the far end of the hall.

White limbs. Circular head. Cylindrical core. Eight feet tall.

A golem.

It raised its head slowly, its golden eyes locking onto him.

Adrian tensed.

Then—those golden eyes turned red.

“Shit.”

The golem lunged.

Adrian barely rolled aside in time, hitting the ground hard as the golem’s massive arm slammed down where he’d just stood.

Without wasting a second, he pulled out his revolver and fired at its foot.

The bullet burst on impact, spreading into a web of ice that snapped around the golem’s leg, locking it in place.

The golem paused, struggling.

But then—glowing runes lit up across the golem’s midsection.

Adrian’s eyes widened.

Hisssss!

Steam erupted from the ice as the runes activated, melting his spell in seconds.

His gaze sharpened, focusing on the inscription as the lines rearranged themselves with purpose.

’It’s a fucking armament?!’

That explained everything—the durability, the mana surge, the versatility.

CRACK!

The golem shattered the ice holding it back, breaking free with a violent twist of its leg.

Before Adrian could react, it extended its left arm—which snapped off from the shoulder, transforming into a spinning projectile.

FWOOOSH!

It came hurtling toward him like a cannon shell.

“Shit—!” Adrian threw himself sideways, his back scraping against the stone floor as the detached limb smashed into the wall behind him, leaving a crater.

He rolled and came up on one knee, already loading another bullet.

With quick precision, he fired—this time aiming at the golem’s head.

The spell-infused bullet whistled through the air.

But the golem didn’t even flinch.

Its red eyes flared briefly… and then, with a low hum, it summoned a small black portal right in front of its face.

The bullet vanished into it—swallowed whole.

Adrian froze, still crouched low. His heart pounded.

“…”

What is he even fighting?

°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.

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