Chapter 1351
Chapter 1351:
Inside, nestled carefully to align with its shape, lay a scepter.
The legendary sacred artifact naturally emitted a gentle, ethereal glow—soft, almost divine. But the one in my hand? Cold. Dim. Lifeless. Identical in form to the one I’d seen Makenna wield… and yet, it reeked of deception.
I lifted my gaze, fixing it on Bryan. “You’re toying with me, aren’t you? This thing doesn’t hold a whisper of spiritual power!”
Moonlight bathed his face in silver, but his eyes remained shadowed—bottomless pools of mystery. “Are you that naive?” he asked. “The artifact’s already chosen its master. It only responds to Makenna.”
A mocking smirk ghosted across his lips. “What—did you think I’d risk Makenna’s life on a bluff?”
My stare didn’t waver. Beneath his cool exterior, the tension was real—palpable. There it was: the flicker of fear, the silent urgency.
No question—Bryan would sooner walk into fire than let harm touch Makenna. “Very well.” I exhaled slowly, then closed the box with a soft click, my lips curling into a grin. “In that case… I’m afraid you won’t be walking out of here alive.”
As I spoke, I made a subtle motion behind my back. In an instant, my hidden guards emerged from the shadows, crossbows raised. Dozens of arrows now aimed squarely at Bryan’s heart.
But instead of panic, he laughed. That laugh slithered down my spine like a blade dipped in frost. “What a coincidence,” he murmured. “I wasn’t planning to let you leave either.”
Before I could respond, the temple’s ruined roof exploded in a roar of splintering stone and dust.
Chunks of debris rained from above as silver-armored warriors descended. At the helm, Amon dropped from the heavens, twin blades flashing in the moonlight—one stopping mere inches from my throat.
“Bryan, you—” I staggered back, clutching the box tight against my chest with my iron hand.
L𝑎t𝑒st ch𝑎pt𝑒rs in gαl𝑛ovels.cøm
Bryan stepped forward slowly, every stride deliberate, his gaze never leaving the box in my grasp.
“Did you really think I came unprepared?” he said, eyes gleaming. “You should’ve known better.” Then came the final blow, cutting to the bone. “The artifact you’re clinging to… is a fake.”
My vision flashed red. “You dare deceive me?” I bellowed, voice ragged with fury. “You insolent, treacherous bastard!”
I roared to my men. “Now!”
In a flash, my guards surged forward, blades drawn, arrows loosed.
Bryan’s POV:
Amon’s warriors crashed into Antoni’s guards like opposing storm fronts, transforming the abandoned temple into a symphony of clashing steel and desperate battle cries.
Through the deadly dance of spinning weapons and gleaming metal, my gaze found Antoni’s contorted features and held them in a grip of pure hatred. Ancient wolf instincts roared to life within my bloodstream, demanding transformation and violence.
From somewhere primal and untamed, a bone-deep howl tore itself free from my chest.
.
.
.