The relief that had settled over the group after the defeat of the Terracotta lasted for less than a heartbeat before...

CLICK!

Another sound echoed across the crypt...

Just like earlier, the noise was soft and subtle, yet within the oppressive silence that followed the destruction of the guardian, it might as well have been a thunderclap.

The comabatants immediately tightened their grips around their Soul Essences while the others felt their hearts sink into their stomach.

Slowly, and almost mechanically, they all turned toward the rows of statues...

CRACK!

A fracture suddenly appreared upon the helmet of one knight, then...

CRACK!!

Another fracture spread across its shoulder.

Before they fully process what was happening, another sound echoed through the chamber.

CRACK!!!

This time, it came from a different statue. One of its stone fingers twitched slowly; the movement was miniscule, yet every single one of them saw it clearly.

Regaleon’s golden eyes narrowed immediately. Fighting against a single Terracotta had already pushed them further than he would have like.

The construct had possessed the strength of a Rank One Anima, immense durability, and an unnatural regenerative ability.

One of them had been manageable, but two would be very dangerous. And a dozen...?

That frightening thought alone was enough to make his chest tighten.

It was at this tense moment that Aureleah finally spoke. Her voice remained calm as she turned toward the failed Gnost.

"Kaeloris. Isn’t there a way for us to stop the animation process?"

At first, the others didn’t understand what she meant until she elaborated.

"I mean, Valmyr stepping into the Mummification Array was what activated all of this. It that action started it, then shouldn’t there be a way for us to stop it?"

Valmyr was almost ready to defend against the accusation, but the failed Vanguard immediately had a second thought. After all, he wouldn’t want to provoke the Maiden of Death.

Kaeloris maintained a thoughtful silence as he shifted his gaze toward the glowing formation spread across the dais. The crimson lines running through the crypt continued to pulse rhythmically, like veins carrying blood through a living body.

Eventually, he let out a sigh. His voice carried an unusual heaviness as he answered.

"I don’t know guys. When Valmyr stepped into the Array, he activated a dormant detection mechanism. That mechanism likely transmitted a signal through the formation and into the Terracottas themselves."

He pointed toward the glowing crimson current stretching across the obsidian avenue and continued.

"You see those lines? If I were to make an educated guess, those channels are carrying commands from the Array to the platforms housing the Terracottas."

"Basically, the statues aren’t awakening on their own, right?" Caelestra asked.

"Exactly. The Array initiated the whole sequence. Which means if we can somehow interrupt whatever is transmitting those commands, then in theory, the animation process should cease."

For a brief moment, hope kindled in their eyes as they realized that it was quite a simple process to stop all of this... Until Kaeloris spoke again.

"However, there’s a problem..."

CRACK!

Another statue split apart...

That sound sent a chill down Veyrath’s spine as he asked agitatedly. "What’s the problem now?"

Kaeloris exhaled softly. "You see, disabling the Array would require foundational knowledge of its internal structure. And though I possess surface knowledge regarding Mummification Arrays and I also happen to understand some of their functions, I wasn’t the one that built this formation so I don’t know how to dismantle it."

"Seriously?" Vaelorin groaned. "Isn’t there something that could be done?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Kaeloris shook his head. "I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do. Because even if I somehow understand the inner workings of the Array completely, I still wouldn’t be able to deactivate it."

"And why is that?" Veyrath asked perplexingly.

The failed Gnost adjusted his glasses before replying. "Because I’m not an Artisan. I don’t have the necessary Soul Essences required to manipulate the formation itself."

Veyrath looked as though he was about to collapse. "So basically, we are just sitting ducks, right?"

Kaeloris’ gaze returned to the formation before he spoke after a few moments of thoughtful silence. "Not necessarily."

Those two words immediately drew everyone’s attention back to him.

Kaeloris observed the eight crystal nodes surrounding the Array before he pointed at them and explained.

"There might actually be another way to disable the Array. You see, those crystals weren’t glowing brightly until Valmyr stepped into the formation. Perhaps if we destroy them, we might be able to sever the Array’s connection to the Terracottas."

"Might?" Caelestra’s brows furrowed. "That’s not very reassuring."

Kaeloris simply shrugged. "At this point, that is our best shot."

CRACK!!!

Finally, the second knight broke free from its stone shell. Chunks of rocks tumbled from its body and beneath this fractured exterior, an ancient metallic armour gleamed.

Two crimson lights ignited beneath its visor as the Terracotta raised its head. Then without hesitation, it stepped toward the edge of the platform and jumped.

BOOM!

The construct landed upon the obsidian floor with enough force to shake the entire chamber...

Regaleon’s expression hardened. Then he turned hastily toward the failed Gnost and spoke. "There’s no time, Kaeloris. Do what you have to. We’ll buy you as much time as possible..."

He was about to move when Kaeloris suddenly shouted.

"Wait! If we’re going to destroy the nodes, then all eight must be destroyed simultaneously..."

He pointed toward the formation and spoke further. "If even one remains intact, then the Array could simply reroute the connection."

"Can’t it be done one after another?" Aureleah asked.

"No. Doing it simultaneously is our best shot."

With this, the situation became infinitely more complicated. Regaleon’s eyes darted between the glowing pylons and the advancing Terracotta...

CRACK!

Another statue was already fracturing. In fact, the third statue was almost becoming fully animated.

The silver-haired Knight maintained a grim silence... Then, he finally made a decision.

"You guys handle the Array..." He said, turning to the rest of them.

Then his grip around the Halberd tightened as he spoke further. "...And I will deal with the statues.

Aureleah’s silver eyes gleamed as she stepped forward. "You know you can’t handle them alone."

Her tone was matter-of-fact as she declared. "I would come with you."

Regaleon’s golden eyes observed her for a brief moment before he nodded.

His gaze shifted to Kaeloris as he instructed. "Make sure to get it done..."

Then without another word, Regaleon launched himself down from the dais. Aureleah also dissolved into shadows as she followed after him...

The remaining six watched the pair rush toward the approaching Terracotta for a few moments before Kaeloris turned towards them.

Suddenly, the failed Gnost was feeling a kind of pressure he had never felt before since arriving in the Nether Lands. This was the pressure of leadership...

He let out a weary sigh before speaking. "This is going to take a while. So let’s hope that both of them would stall the Terracottas long enough for what we want to do..."