Edwin Lunar Chapter 18: The Royal Rival

Read chapter 18 of Edwin Lunar by MananTayal on NovelPedia.

The storm above the simulation ruins intensified. Artificial lightning flashed across the dark skies while rain struck the shattered stone structures around Tactical Unit 07. Far in the distance, explosions echoed from other student battles throughout the combat sector. But Edwin barely noticed any of it. The whisper still echoed faintly inside his mind. "…below…" Carl waved both hands in front of him dramatically. "Hello? Edwin? Please return to reality before the haunted ruins kill us." Edwin blinked. "I'm fine." "You said that while staring into darkness like a cursed prophet." Iris continued analysing the battlefield map projected from her wrist device. "The Sigma Core should be beneath the central ruins." Edwin looked toward the largest broken structure ahead. Ancient black towers leaned dangerously above the forest while glowing cracks spread across their surface like silver veins. And somehow— He felt pulled toward them. The ring warmed again. Iris noticed immediately. "It's reacting stronger now." Carl looked nervous. "I personally think we should ignore whatever mysterious underground nightmare is calling him." Before anyone could answer, movement appeared above the ruins. Several students landed across the broken platforms nearby using aerial stabilizers. At the centre stood Lucien Vale. His silver-lined combat coat moved sharply in the rain while Lunar-rank insignias glowed faintly beneath the storm light. Carl sighed instantly. "Of course he arrives dramatically." Lucien's team spread across the ruins carefully. Unlike most students, they moved with military-level coordination. Lucien noticed Edwin immediately. "So the stories were true." Edwin folded his arms slightly. "What stories?" "That Unit 07 entered the Shadow Ruins." Carl pointed around them. "To be fair, we didn't really have a choice." Lucien stepped closer. Rainwater moved down the silver markings on his combat Armor while distant thunder echoed behind him. "You should leave this sector." Iris narrowed her eyes. "Why?" Lucien activated a holographic warning map. Red danger markers spread beneath the ruins. "Multiple combat teams disappeared here during earlier simulations." Carl froze. "…DISAPPEARED?" "It's probably a systems malfunction," Lucien replied calmly. "That sentence did not help." Edwin studied the map carefully. The danger markers formed a circle around the exact area where his ring kept reacting. Something was definitely hidden below the ruins. Lucien noticed Edwin staring toward the underground readings. Then his expression sharpened slightly. "You feel it too." Edwin looked up immediately. For a moment neither of them spoke. Carl slowly pointed between them. "This conversation feels deeply concerning." Suddenly the entire ruins sector trembled violently. Stone debris crashed from above while cracks spread across the ground beneath the teams. WARNINGUNAUTHORIZED SYSTEM ACTIVITY DETECTED The holographic warning flashed across the skies. Then the ruins changed. Massive hidden structures began rising from beneath the ground itself. Ancient black towers emerged slowly while glowing red lines spread across the stone platforms like awakening circuitry. Students throughout the area stopped fighting instantly. "What is happening?" "That wasn't part of the simulation!" Edwin's ring burned hot. The whispers grew louder now. "…find us…" Carl backed away nervously. "I officially dislike this place." Suddenly combat drones across the ruins malfunctioned simultaneously. Their scanners flickered from red— To silver. Then every machine turned toward Edwin. TARGET IDENTIFIED Lucien reacted instantly. "All units defensive positions!" The drones attacked. Blue energy blasts erupted across the ruins while students scattered behind collapsing structures. Edwin barely dodged the first explosion. Stone shattered beside him. Carl grabbed a fallen combat rifle from the ground. "WHY DO MACHINES KEEP HATING YOU?" "They hated us before him," Iris corrected while acti