In the shadows of history, beyond the reach of mortal eyes, the Immortals have waged their secret wars, bound by the sacred code: *There can be only one*. "Eternal Duel: Untold Chronicles of the Immortals" brings to light the hitherto unseen sagas o...
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The sun beat down mercilessly on the rocky hillside, its harsh rays glinting off the blade of the katana. The Sentinel stood motionless, his muscular frame poised in a ready stance, dark eyes scanning the valley below. For centuries he had kept watch over this remote stretch of the ancient Silk Road, an unseen guardian ensuring safe passage for the caravans and travelers who passed through the treacherous mountain passes. Few knew of the Sentinel's existence, and none had glimpsed his face. Such was the way of an Immortal tasked with a sacred duty.
A hawk cried out overhead, circling lazily in the thermals. The Sentinel tracked its path, senses attuned to any disturbance in the natural order. All seemed tranquil... until a glint of metal far below caught his eye. Vehicles. Three of them, kicking up dust as they navigated the winding track.
The Sentinel frowned. It had been decades since any motorized transport ventured this way. The old Silk Road held little draw in the modern age. Which could only mean one thing. Trouble.
He sheathed his blade and set off down the hillside with preternatural speed and agility. As he drew closer, shouts reached his ears, carried on the wind. Then the staccato crackle of gunfire.
The Sentinel crested a ridge and surveyed the scene below. The vehicles, sturdy all-terrain models, were arranged in a loose circle. Armed men, at least a dozen, had taken up positions behind them, weapons trained outward. They fired sporadic bursts at unseen attackers.
"Where are they?" one of the men yelled, panic edging his voice. "I can't see a damn thing!"
"Shut up and keep watching those rocks!" another barked. "Ivan assured us the relic would be here. Just keep them pinned down until the chopper arrives."
The relic. The Sentinel tensed. Could it be? After all these centuries, had it finally been found?
A primal roar shattered the air as a figure burst from cover beyond the vehicles. He moved with blurring speed, twin short swords flashing. Gunfire erupted but the attacker weaved between the bullets as if they were merely raindrops.
The Sentinel recognized him instantly. Xavier St. Cloud. A shiver ran down his spine. What was another of his kind doing here? And one with so dark a reputation?
In a matter of seconds, Xavier had cut down four of the men. He paused, blades dripping blood, and turned to face the Sentinel's position. A cold smile played across his angular features.
"I know you're there!" he called mockingly. "The legendary guardian of the Silk Road. I've waited a long time for this meeting."
The Sentinel rose to his full height. "You don't belong here, Xavier. Leave now and I won't have to kill you."
Xavier threw back his head and laughed. "You can try, old man. But I'm just getting started. That relic is mine. Along with your head!"
He charged. The Sentinel leapt to meet him, katana singing from its sheath. Blades clashed in a scintillating blur. A normal human would already be dead, but these were Immortals, warriors with centuries of experience in their muscle memory.
