The Reborn Luna: Claimed by the Billionaire Alpha

Chapter 13 – The Guardian's Challenge

Selene had no time to think—only to act.

The Guardian lunged at her, his sword ablaze with black fire. The air crackled with power, the heat of his blade suffocating. Selene barely had time to dodge, rolling to the side as the sword struck the ground where she had just stood. A burst of energy exploded outward, leaving a smoking crater in the stone.

Her heart pounded.

This was no ordinary opponent.

The Guardian wasn't just testing her—he was trying to break her.

Selene pushed herself up, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her own sword. She had conjured it instinctively, the silver runes along the blade glowing softly in response to her touch.

"Come, child of destiny," the Guardian rumbled, his voice echoing in the cavern. "Show me your strength."

Selene didn't hesitate.

She charged.

---

Clash of Power

Their swords met in a deafening clash, sparks flying as steel collided. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the cavern, causing dust and loose stones to rain from above.

Selene gritted her teeth, pushing against his strength. He barely budged.

With a flick of his wrist, the Guardian twisted his blade, nearly disarming her. She jumped back, narrowly avoiding his next strike.

He was faster than she expected. Stronger.

Her instincts screamed—she couldn't win with brute force.

Selene exhaled sharply, channeling her magic.

A gust of wind whirled around her, lifting her slightly off the ground. Sparks of energy crackled at her fingertips as she whispered an incantation.

The Guardian watched. Waiting.

Then—

She released a burst of magic.

A shockwave of white-blue light surged forward, aimed straight at his chest.

But the Guardian simply raised his hand.

And absorbed it.

Selene's eyes widened.

"Foolish," he murmured. "Power alone is not enough."

He stepped forward—faster than she could react—and slammed his fist into her chest.

Selene flew backward, slamming into the stone wall. Pain shot through her body, but she forced herself to stand.

Her magic… wasn't enough?

No.

There had to be another way.

---

The Test of Will

Selene took a deep breath.

If strength alone wouldn't defeat him, then she needed to fight smarter.

She focused—not on attack, but on observation.

The Guardian was powerful, but he wasn't invincible. His stance was rigid, his movements precise but predictable. He relied on power, expecting his opponents to falter in fear.

Selene's lips curled into a smirk.

If he expected her to break—she would do the opposite.

She lunged again, but this time, she didn't go for a direct attack. Instead, she feinted left—then twisted behind him.

He turned, slightly slower than before.

Selene saw her opening.

With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a chain of light and lashed it toward him. The Guardian raised his sword to block—but that was her trap.

The moment his sword touched the chain, Selene poured her magic into it—redirecting the force.

A shockwave exploded against him.

For the first time, he staggered.

Selene didn't stop. She pressed forward, striking again and again, not letting him recover. She weaved between his attacks, her magic reinforcing her blade.

And then—

She saw it.

A crack in his armor, right along his left side.

She struck.

Her blade pierced through the crack, embedding deep. The Guardian let out a roar, black mist spilling from the wound. His form shuddered, fading in and out.

Selene stepped back, panting.

Had she… won?

---

The Truth Revealed

The Guardian fell to one knee. His sword clattered to the ground, the black fire fading.

Then—he laughed.

A deep, knowing chuckle.

Selene tensed. "What's so funny?"

The Guardian raised his gaze, his ember-like eyes meeting hers.

"You have passed."

Selene's heart skipped a beat.

"What?"

The Guardian slowly stood, his form shifting. The darkness peeled away, revealing a man.

Not a monster. Not a mindless warrior.

A guardian of fate.

He placed a hand over his wound, and in an instant, it healed.

"You thought this was a battle to the death," he mused. "But this was never about defeating me. It was about proving yourself."

Selene's grip tightened on her sword. "Then why fight me?"

He smiled.

"Because the one who comes next… will not test you. They will seek to destroy you."

The words chilled her.

Before she could respond, the Guardian raised his hand. The cavern shifted, the walls melting away into golden light.

A new path appeared.

"Go, Selene," the Guardian said. "Your true journey begins now."

---

The Path Forward

Selene hesitated only for a moment.

Then, gripping her sword, she stepped forward into the unknown.

She had passed this trial.

But something told her…

The hardest part was yet to come.

I'll continue Chapter 13 and expand it with more action, depth, and tension.

Selene's breath came in ragged gasps as she stepped past the Guardian, her body still thrumming with the aftershocks of their battle. Her muscles ached, but she forced herself to move forward, deeper into the chamber beyond.

The air felt different here—thick with something ancient and powerful. The golden light that had illuminated the cavern behind her dimmed, replaced by a swirling mist of silver and black. It wasn't just fog—it was alive, shifting with whispers that danced at the edge of her hearing.

She was being watched.

Selene's grip on her sword tightened as she moved forward cautiously. The Guardian had spoken of a greater challenge ahead—one that wouldn't test her, but seek to destroy her.

A part of her still trembled from his words.

"The one who comes next… will not test you. They will seek to destroy you."

Who—or what—was waiting for her?

She didn't have to wait long to find out.

The mist in front of her suddenly thickened, swirling violently before solidifying into a towering figure.

It wasn't human.

It wasn't even a creature she recognized.

The being stood at least ten feet tall, cloaked in armor that pulsed with a dull, eerie light. A massive black sword was strapped across its back, but it didn't reach for it. Instead, it simply… watched her.

Selene swallowed hard, willing herself to stand her ground.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the fear curling in her gut.

The figure didn't answer immediately.

Then—its helmet shifted. A voice, deep and hollow, rumbled through the chamber.

"I am the Warden of the Abyss."

Selene's pulse spiked.

The Abyss.

She had heard the stories—whispers of an ancient prison, a place where time itself fractured, where the souls of the forsaken were sealed away.

And yet—here it stood before her.

The Warden tilted its head, as if assessing her. "You are not meant to be here."

Selene squared her shoulders. "I didn't come here by accident."

"No," the Warden agreed. "You came because you were foolish enough to follow the Guardian's path. Now, you must prove that you are worthy to survive what lies beyond."

Before she could react, the Warden moved.

Faster than anything that large should be able to move.

Selene barely had time to dodge as a wave of shadow erupted from its outstretched hand, shattering the ground where she had been standing. A jagged black fissure split the chamber floor, crackling with dark energy.

She rolled to the side, springing to her feet just in time to see the Warden draw its sword.

The blade was enormous—twice her height, and it pulsed with the same abyssal energy that had shattered the ground.

She barely had a moment to prepare before it swung.

Selene jumped back, but even the air itself seemed to tear apart as the blade passed through it. A gust of force slammed into her, throwing her backward into the cavern wall.

Pain lanced through her back, but she forced herself to push up.

She couldn't afford to hesitate.

The Warden's power was overwhelming—but she wasn't powerless either.

With a deep breath, she focused, feeling the magic in her veins respond. The energy inside her shifted, coiling like a storm waiting to be unleashed.

She raised her hand—and the cavern answered.

A blast of white-gold light erupted from her fingertips, streaking toward the Warden.

The blast hit—but the Warden didn't flinch.

Instead, it lifted its free hand, absorbing the magic as if it were nothing more than a candle's flame.

Selene's eyes widened.

Her magic… hadn't worked?

No. That wasn't it.

The Warden hadn't blocked her power—it had redirected it.

Before she could react, the energy she had unleashed was suddenly hurled back at her.

A shockwave of golden light exploded toward her.

Selene barely had time to throw up a barrier before the force struck.

The impact sent her skidding backward, her boots dragging against the stone. Her arms trembled from the sheer force of holding the barrier in place, but she clenched her jaw, refusing to let it break.

When the light finally dissipated, the Warden was still standing there—unmoved.

Selene panted, frustration burning through her.

"This isn't working."

She had to think.

She couldn't overpower it. She couldn't use magic against it.

That left only one option—finding its weakness.

She took a step back, shifting her stance. Watching.

The Warden stood still, waiting for her next move.

Selene's eyes darted across its massive frame—searching.

Then she saw it.

A faint crack along the left side of its armor. Barely noticeable—but it was there.

A weakness.

It wasn't much.

But it was enough.

Selene charged.

The Warden swung again, but this time, she dodged at the last second, twisting beneath the arc of its massive blade.

She was inside its guard.

With every ounce of strength she had, she drove her sword straight into the crack.

The blade sank deep.

The Warden let out a roar, staggering back as dark mist erupted from the wound.

Selene didn't hesitate.

She twisted the blade, forcing the wound open further, and then—

With a final burst of magic, she unleashed everything she had.

Light exploded from the wound.

The Warden shuddered, its form trembling, the abyssal energy surrounding it beginning to fracture.

Selene barely had time to leap back before the entire cavern shook.

A deafening crack split the air—

And then—

The Warden collapsed.

For a long moment, silence filled the chamber.

Selene stood frozen, panting, sword still glowing.

Had she… done it?

Slowly, the mist around them began to dissipate. The darkness that had once filled the cavern recoiled, fading away.

Then, the Warden's voice, now softer, rumbled one final time.

"You… are worthy."

The last of the shadows vanished.

And in their place—a new doorway appeared.

Selene exhaled, lowering her sword.

This wasn't the end.

It was only the beginning.

With a determined breath, she stepped forward.

And walked into the unknown.

Selene's heart pounded as she stepped through the newly revealed doorway. The air beyond was different—heavier, tinged with something ancient and powerful. The cavern behind her was silent now, the Warden's presence reduced to nothing more than a lingering echo in the shadows.

The path ahead was lit by a strange silver glow. It wasn't firelight, nor did it come from torches. Instead, the walls themselves seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly luminescence.

Selene's instincts told her to stay alert.

She had passed the Warden's trial—but this place still held secrets waiting to be uncovered.

As she moved forward, the tunnel began to widen, revealing an underground chamber.

A lake stretched before her, its surface as still as glass. The water reflected the cavern's silver light, creating an illusion of endless sky beneath her feet.

And at the center of it—a pedestal.

Something rested upon it.

Selene stepped closer, her boots barely making a sound against the ancient stone.

The object was a dagger.

Not just any dagger—it was unlike anything she had ever seen.

The blade was black as night, absorbing the light around it. Strange symbols ran along its hilt, glowing faintly with the same silver hue that filled the cavern. The air around it seemed to hum, as if the weapon itself was alive.

Selene extended her hand—but hesitated.

Her mother's words echoed in her mind.

"Power is never given freely. There is always a cost."

She knew this was no ordinary weapon.

It had been left here for a reason.

Her fingers hovered just above the hilt. The air was thick with energy, pressing against her like a silent warning.

Was she truly meant to take it?

Before she could decide, the cavern shifted.

A ripple spread across the lake's surface, distorting the reflection.

And then—a voice.

"Do you believe yourself worthy?"

Selene's breath caught.

The voice was neither male nor female—it was ancient, filled with something beyond human comprehension.

She swallowed hard and forced herself to stand tall.

"I have come this far," she said. "I will not turn back now."

Silence.

Then, the water at the center of the lake began to swirl.

A shadow rose from the depths—a figure, draped in flowing robes of darkness.

Its face was hidden beneath a hood, but two piercing silver eyes gleamed from within.

Selene's grip on her sword tightened.

"Who are you?" she asked.

The figure took a step forward, its movements unnatural, as if it were gliding rather than walking.

"I am the Keeper of the Abyss," it said. "And you stand at the threshold of a power that should not exist."

Selene's heart pounded.

"The dagger?"

The Keeper nodded. "This blade was forged in the time before time. It does not grant power—it devours it."

Selene's fingers twitched at her side. "Then why was it left here?"

"Because only one may wield it."

The air grew heavier, pressing down on her shoulders.

"And now, you must prove that one is you."

The Keeper raised its hand.

The cavern shook.

From the depths of the lake, shadows erupted—twisting, coiling, forming into monstrous shapes.

Selene had seconds to react before they attacked.

The first creature lunged—a massive hound-like beast, its body formed from pure darkness. Its eyes burned with eerie silver light as it snapped its fanged maw at her.

Selene dodged, rolling to the side just as the second creature struck—a serpent-like form that surged from the water, its body rippling with black mist.

She barely managed to block its strike, her sword clashing against its fangs. The impact sent shockwaves through her arms, forcing her to grit her teeth and hold her ground.

The Keeper watched, unmoving.

This was the trial.

Selene knew she had no choice.

With a deep breath, she focused.

Magic coiled within her, the energy inside her responding to the danger. She felt the familiar surge of power—a warmth that spread through her limbs, sharpening her senses.

The hound attacked again.

Selene moved faster.

She spun, her blade slicing through the creature's shadowy form. It let out a piercing wail, dissipating into nothingness.

But the serpent was still there.

And now—it struck with double the speed.

Selene barely had time to react before the beast's tail whipped around, catching her across the side.

Pain exploded through her ribs as she was sent flying across the cavern.

She hit the ground hard.

Her vision blurred, but she forced herself up, gasping for breath.

The serpent was coming for her again.

And this time—it wasn't alone.

Three more shadows had risen from the lake, their inhuman forms twisting and shifting as they closed in around her.

Selene's mind raced.

There were too many.

She couldn't fight them all—not like this.

Her gaze flickered to the dagger.

The Keeper's words echoed in her mind.

"This blade does not grant power. It devours it."

Selene's eyes narrowed.

She had no choice.

Ignoring the pain in her ribs, she lunged forward.

The shadows pounced, but she was faster.

Her fingers closed around the dagger's hilt.

The instant she touched it—power surged through her.

A force unlike anything she had ever known rushed into her veins, burning, twisting, consuming.

The shadows screamed.

The lake erupted.

A shockwave of silver and black energy exploded outward, obliterating the creatures in an instant. The cavern trembled, the very air rippling with the force of it.

And then—

Silence.

Selene stood there, her chest heaving.

The dagger pulsed in her grip, its dark energy now merging with her own.

She looked up.

The Keeper was still watching.

But this time—it bowed.

"You have passed."

The air shifted.

The lake's surface stilled. The cavern grew quiet once more.

Selene swallowed hard, staring at the blade in her hand.

She had won.

But at what cost?

She knew one thing for certain.

There was no turning back now.