Regaleon’s words sent a chill through the group...

A Rank One Anima was not some insignificant creature that could be dealt with casually. Just yesterday alone, it had taken the combined effort of Regaleon, Vaelorin, Valmyr, and Kaeloris to merely bring one down.

Even then, the battle had left them exhausted and battered to the extent that Veyrath had to spend the better part of the day healing their injuries.

And now, they were facing another opponent of the same level; well... Almost the same level.

The only consolation was that this enemy was not a genuine Rank One Anima but a Terracotta Guardian that merely possessed comparable strength.

If Kaeloris’ theory was correct and this thing was truly some ancient puppet, then it had to possess weaknesses that could be exploited.

Or at least, he hoped that it would.

The warning had barely left Regaleon’s lips when the Terracotta moved once more...

BOOM!

The obsidian beneath its feet shattered as the construct charged forward toward the Forgotten Knight.

Its crimson eyes burned beneath the visor as it crossed the distance separating it from Regaleon in a heartbeat.

A sharp whistle tore through the air as its sword came sweeping horizontally toward him...

Regaleon lowered himself instinctively, ducking beneath the blade that passed mere inches above his head.

Then without hesitation, he thrust his Halberd forward decisively, seizing that small opening...

CLANG!

Metal struck armour and sparks exploded outward. The Terracotta staggered backward half a step from the impact, but that was it.

There was no cut, no dent, nor any form of damage whatsoever on its armour as it remained fine.

Regaleon’s expression darkened upon seeing this. His Halberd was a literal Soul Essence and beneath that strike, even steel would have folded completely.

Yet the construct’s armour had endured it without any issue...

Before he could further process what he had witnessed, the Terracotta retaliated. A gauntleted fist shot forward with a a speed that was practically absurd...

Regaleon’s instincts flared, and without hesitation, he abandoned his position and leapt backward...

The punch connected with the surface of the dais...

BOOM!

The entire platform trembled violently, before chunks of obsidian went flying haphazardly in all directions...

Watching this, Aureleah’s silver eyes narrowed as she realized something critical. The battle had barely begun and it was already obvious that Regaleon could not handle this thing alone...

Without a second thought, dark shadows flowed around her body as her Shadow Cloak manifested, and with lethal elegance, her twin Daggers appeared within her hands.

One moment she stood beside her younger sister, the next, she was nowhere to be seen...

The Terracotta was about to resume its advance when Aureleah appeared before it suddenly...

Silver flashed...

SHING!

And a dagger carved cleanly across the guardian’s chest. The strike was perfect as a deep gash opened across the armour.

For a brief moment, it seemed that would do something, then... The wound began closing.

The damage metal shifted unnaturally as the torn sections pulled together and within seconds, the slash had already disappeared. As it turns out, the Terracotta could also regenerate...

Aureleah barely had time to process what she saw when a sword swept toward her...

But before the attack could connect, the silver-haired Assassin already dissolved into the shadows. And at that same instant she vanished, flames erupted suddenly...

Vaelorin stood several meters away with his staff raised. Fiery Aether surged through the Soul Essence as he activated "Solar Lance."

WHOOSH!

A torrent of blazing fire engulfed the guardian, wrapping around it like a blanket made of flames.

Thankfully, unlike Aureleah’s attack, this one achieved certain results.

The outer layer of the knight’s armour began softening; sections blackened, molten fragments dripped onto the floor, and cracks spread across portions of its body.

Seeing this, Vaelorin was delighted and without hesitation, he increased the intensity of his flames.

But this delight of his was short-lived as in the next instant, the Terracotta suddenly turned. Its burning crimson gaze locked onto the failed Pyromancer, and then, even through the flames, it charged...

"Oh no, you don’t!" Valmyr roared and sprinted forward...

His broadsword swung sideways with enough force to split a man in half as he activated "Cataclysmic Strike."

The Terracotta reacted immediately as it left hand shot outward to intercept the attack...

CLANG! 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Valmyr’s eyes widened.

The guardian had actually caught his sword barehanded. He had thought that a full-powered strike combined with his Essence Rune would at least do some damage, but the puppet had halted it effortlessly.

He barely had time to register what happened when the Terracotta’s sword descended...

Valmyr raised his Shield instinctively to defend himself against the attack.

CLANG!

His boots scraped against the floor as he was forced backward several steps from the point of impact.

The guardian didn’t falter in its advance and like a machine designed solely for battle, it lunged straight for the failed Vanguard...

But Aureleah had already seen an opening she could take advantage of. Darkness gathered behind the Terracotta as she emerged from the shadows.

Her Essence Rune "Mark Of Darkness" activated and a Dagger plunged directly through the back of the knight’s helmet.

The blade pierced so deep that its tip emerged from the forehead...

One would think that was enough damage to stop it, but the puppet was relentless as it continued moving despite the damage...

"Just what is that thing made of?" The failed Alchemist was gobsmacked at this point.

Throughout the battle, Kaeloris had been unusually silent. His eyes never left the puppet as he analyzed the battlefield.

Their attacks were working, that much was clear; however, the problem was that the guardian kept recovering from them.

Also, unlike living creatures, it felt neither pain nor exhaustion which means it could fight for as long as it wished without faltering. And if this continues, then they would lose the battle sooner or later.

This realization caused Kaeloris’ thoughts to race as he observed the construct deeply. There had to be a weakness somewhere; perhaps a power source, or an off switch that could be taken advantage of.

After all, every construct possessed either of the two. His mind raced through countless books and records he had read in the past as he thought hard about a weakness. Suddenly, his eyes widened as something click...

"The chest!" He shouted. "Attack its chest! That’s where its Aether Heart should be!"

Hearing that, Regaleon reacted immediately. His Halberd gleamed brilliantly as he activated "Silver Sheen." Then, the failed Knight burst into a sprint...

The Terracotta noticed him but it was too late...

Regaleon crossed the distance immediately and thrust his Halberd forward. The axe blade pierced cleanly through its chest; resistance met him, but Regaleon didn’t stop...

With a wild roar, he forced the weapon deeper...

CRACK!

Something shattered within the construct.

The Terracotta froze; its crimson eyes flickered wildly while the sword it had been raising halted midway...

The construct remained motionless for several heartbeats, then in the next moment, fractured appeared on it. The cracks spread across every part of its armour, and then...

CRASH!

The Terracotta collapsed inward and thousands of fragments scattered across the obsidian dais...

For a few moments, nobody spoke. It was only after some seconds that they collectively released the breath they had been holding.

Caelestra turned toward Kaeloris and asked. "How did you know that the chest was its weak spot?"

Kaeloris adjusted his glasses before explaining.

"You see, Terracottas or puppets in general are actually artificial lifeforms. And just as humans possess Aether Veins, and Animas possess Aether Cores, they also possess something known as the Aether Hearts..."

His gaze shifted toward the shattered remains of the construct before he spoke further.

"This Aether Heart serves as both a power source and a control center. So if you destroy it, the construct ceases to function."

Hearing his explanation, understanding finally dawned on their faces. They were about to ruminate over his words when...

CLICK!

A sharp sound echoed across the crypt once more...