"What the Guardians Left Behind" [Part 18] Tengu Origins - An Infinity Kingdom Story

🔷 Introduction

Welcome to part 18 of my new Tengu series.  This will be inspired by the new release of Tengu in our game and incorporating his legend within the realm of Norheim.  His story will be roughly based on his historical legend with a twist from within the game we know and love.  I will be bringing 1 or 2 new episodes per week so stay tuned for more!

🔷 Recap Part 17:  “Truth at Last”

Ninetails finally reveals the truth about the ancient guardian spirits and the devastating war against the Devourer, a powerful being that consumed the strength of other guardians. Tengu learns that a fragment of the Briar Titan's soul lives within the Thorn Armor, and at the end of the chapter the titan awakens briefly, warning that the darkness is stirring once more. 

🔷 Part 18:  “What the Guardians Left Behind ”

The forest remained silent after the ancient voice faded.

Tengu's heart pounded against his chest. The Thorn Armor had grown still once more, but the warning continued to echo inside his mind.

The darkness stirs once more.

He looked toward Ninetails.

"What does it mean?"

The fox spirit lowered her gaze.

For a moment she seemed older than he had ever seen her.

"There was a prophecy," she said quietly.

Tengu waited.

Ninetails drew a slow breath.

"The guardians believed that if the Briar Titan ever awakened again, the Devourer would not be far behind."

A chill ran through him.

"You think that thing is returning?"

"I do not know," Ninetails admitted. "But the titan's soul was never meant to awaken. Something has changed."

Before Tengu could respond, another voice spoke from the darkness.

"What has changed?"

Both turned sharply.

The village elder stood among the trees.

Tengu frowned.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough."

The elder stepped forward, his expression unusually serious.

"I heard enough to know that this is no ordinary matter."

Ninetails studied him carefully.

To Tengu's surprise, she did not object when the elder continued.

"There are records beneath the village shrine."

The elder's eyes drifted toward the Thorn Armor.

"My family has protected them for generations."

Hours later, the three stood beneath the village shrine.

The elder carried an old lantern as he led them down a narrow stone staircase hidden beneath the floor.

The passage opened into a forgotten chamber.

Dust covered every surface.

Ancient scrolls rested within wooden shelves.

Stone tablets lined the walls.

The air smelled of age and history.

Tengu stepped forward.

Immediately, the armor reacted.

A pulse spread through the black metal.

Green light flickered between the thorns.

Ninetails noticed at once.

"It feels something."

The pulse came again.

Stronger this time.

Tengu followed the sensation deeper into the chamber until he stopped before a cracked stone tablet.

The armor vibrated against his chest.

The elder carefully brushed away centuries of dust.

Ancient symbols emerged from beneath the dirt.

Ninetails translated as she read.

Her expression darkened with every line.

"The final battle did not destroy the Devourer."

The room fell silent.

Tengu stared at her.

"What?"

"The guardians sealed it away."

The words hit harder than he expected.

A second tablet stood nearby.

This one was more damaged.

The elder lifted the lantern closer while Ninetails examined the faded markings.

She read slowly.

"Whenever the seal weakened, signs appeared throughout the world."

Her voice grew tense.

"Corrupted creatures."

She moved to the next line.

"Dying forests."

Then another.

"Vanishing spirits."

Tengu immediately remembered the strange corruption they had encountered during their travels.

Ninetails had gone pale.

She had reached the same conclusion.

The signs had already begun.

The warning had not been about some distant future.

It was happening now.

For several moments nobody spoke.

Then Tengu noticed something hidden behind the damaged tablet.

A corner of old parchment protruded from the stone wall.

Carefully, he pulled it free.

It was a map.

Ancient symbols covered its surface.

Ninetails' eyes widened.

"I know this place."

Her finger traced a distant mountain range.

"These ruins belonged to the guardians."

Hope flickered within Tengu for the first time since the warning.

"If answers exist, they are there."

The elder nodded.

"Then your path is clear."

As Tengu rolled up the map, the Thorn Armor suddenly pulsed.

His vision blurred.

Towering ruins appeared before him.

Broken statues stood beneath a dark sky.

A massive stone gate rose from the center of the ancient city.

Then he saw it.

Two glowing red eyes staring from the darkness beyond the gate.

The vision vanished.

Tengu staggered backward.

Neither Ninetails nor the elder noticed the fear in his eyes.

Because far away, hidden within forgotten ruins, something had already awakened.

📄 Recap Questions

1. What secret did the village elder reveal was hidden beneath the village shrine?
2. What shocking truth did the ancient records reveal about the fate of the Devourer?

🔷 Conclusion

Guided by the village elder, Tengu and Ninetails uncover ancient records that reveal the Devourer was sealed away rather than destroyed. Their search leads them to a map pointing toward forgotten guardian ruins, but a final vision warns Tengu that something within those ruins may have already awakened. 

See you next week!

🔷 Hades, Press Officer.

Important Links

My YouTube Channel

HadesPressOfficerIK

Discord Server

Infinity Kingdom Discord

Links to Download the game

Game Download Link  

Game Download Link Korea

Game Download Link Tw/Hk

Infinity Kingdom / 無盡城戰