Edwin Lunar Chapter 28: The Flame Lock

Read chapter 28 of Edwin Lunar by MananTayal on NovelPedia.

The underground world beneath Lunar Dominion Academy shook violently. Explosions echoed behind Orion Team while Guardian Atlas battled the corrupted Eidolon machines inside the collapsing tunnels above. Silver and crimson Flame energy lit the darkness in flashes as ancient war cries and mechanical screams thundered through the underground sectors. But Edwin and the others kept moving deeper. Because the Eclipse Vault was still opening. ECLIPSE VAULT: 68% OPEN The warning echoed repeatedly through hidden speakers along the ancient corridors. Carl looked completely exhausted already. "I would like history to stop waking up." Lucien moved ahead cautiously through the dim tunnels. "We're close." The pathways beneath Sector Zero had become stranger the deeper they descended. Ancient black walls stretched endlessly around them while giant Flame conduits pulsed beneath transparent floors like rivers of molten silver. Massive symbols covered the ceilings, some glowing faintly as Orion Team passed beneath them. Edwin's ring pulsed constantly now. Like it recognized this place. Or remembered it. Iris checked her holographic scanner again. "The Flame Lock chamber is directly beneath the Vault." Carl blinked. "So the terrifying ancient prison has another terrifying ancient room below it?" "Yes." "…Wonderful." The tunnel ahead suddenly widened into an enormous underground bridge suspended above a gigantic abyss. Everyone stopped. Far below the bridge— A sea of red Flame energy moved endlessly through the darkness. And at the center of the abyss floated the Eclipse Vault itself. Carl stared downward speechlessly. "…That's not a vault." It looked like a giant mechanical moon suspended beneath the academy. Ancient black metal covered its surface while massive silver chains stretched from the structure into the surrounding walls of the underground abyss. Crimson cracks pulsed across the vault while giant circular doors slowly rotated open at its center. Like something inside was trying to escape. ECLIPSE VAULT: 71% OPEN Lucien's expression hardened. "We're running out of time." Edwin stared at the enormous structure silently. The ring burned hotter the closer they moved toward it. Then suddenly— The bridge trembled. Massive mechanical sounds echoed beneath them. Iris looked upward sharply. "Movement." The walls around the bridge exploded apart. Corrupted Eidolon Guardians burst through the tunnel entrances from both sides, their red eyes glowing violently in the darkness. At least twenty. Carl looked ready to collapse emotionally. "WHY ARE THERE ALWAYS MORE?!" The machines charged. Lucien reacted instantly. "MOVE!" The bridge erupted into chaos. Energy blasts exploded across the ancient pathway while Orion Team sprinted forward between collapsing sections of the structure. Lucien fought directly through the front line of Guardians while Iris projected shield routes across the unstable bridge. Carl narrowly avoided an explosion beside him. "I MISS REGULAR SCHOOL!" Edwin turned suddenly as a Guardian lunged toward him— The ring flashed silver again. But this time— Nothing happened. The Guardian kept attacking. Iris's voice became urgent immediately. "The corruption is overpowering the command link!" The machine slammed into Edwin hard enough to throw him across the bridge floor. Pain shot through his shoulder. The Guardian raised its weapon again— Then Carl tackled it sideways with absolutely no strategy whatsoever. "GET AWAY FROM MY FRIEND!" Both crashed through a damaged section of the bridge railing. Carl grabbed the edge at the last second while the corrupted Guardian disappeared into the red abyss below. Edwin rushed forward instantly and pulled Carl back onto the bridge. Carl lay there breathing heavily. "…I think I'm becoming brave against my will." Before Edwin could answer— The bridge shook violently again. Something massive moved beneath the Eclipse Vault. Then a giant red eye opened below them. Everyone froze. A colossal mechanical cr