Mother of Midnight

Chapter 127 – Sentinel

"Well, what now?" Vivienne asked, her voice light but tinged with impatience as she scanned their surroundings once more. "Still haven’t seen anything of Tarric so far."

Rava shot Vivienne a glance, her lips pressed into a thin line. She wasn’t thrilled about the uncertainty either. "I know. But we’re here to find him, not to go on a wild chase after ancient relics. Still…" She turned to Elira, who had been closely studying the large automaton. "You speak as if you know what it is. Can you provide any information on it?"

Stared up at the automaton’s frame, her expression focused, almost reverent. “This isn’t just any automaton,” she said, her tone low and serious. “It’s one of the old sentinels. Pre-Sundering artifice, built by the fallen far beyond what we can manage today. As far as we know, they were designed to protect things of immense importance, with layered enchantments and advanced artifice. Some were said to be self-repairing, able to endure centuries without maintenance.”

She glanced over her shoulder at the others, her eyes thoughtful. “There are almost no records on how they worked, though. Whatever knowledge existed about their creation was lost during the Sundering.”

Vivienne snorted softly, stepping closer as her claws tapped rhythmically against the stone floor. Her black eyes flicked over the sentinel with mild curiosity, the faint hum of its dormant power reverberating in the air. “So, what you’re saying is, we’re looking at some kind of ancient mystery death machine.” She tilted her head, the corners of her mouth curling into a smirk that didn’t quite hide her underlying tension.

“You speak as though you’ve seen something like it before,” Ivor said, his voice steady but probing. His eyes never left the sentinel, wary but intrigued.

Vivienne gave a casual shrug, her tail flicking lazily behind her. “Familiar? I wouldn’t go that far. But where I come from, we had automatons too—smaller, more practical things. Nothing this ridiculous.” She gestured toward the towering machine. “People tinkered with the idea of making larger ones for war, sure, but turns out big machines are just walking targets. Too easy to take down if you know what you’re doing.”

Elira blinked, her brow furrowing deeper as she looked between Vivienne and the towering sentinel. "That? Easy to destroy?" Her tone was almost incredulous, as though dismissing the idea outright.

“When you have the right weapons, yes,” Vivienne said simply, her voice calm but carrying the weight of experience. She didn’t elaborate further, leaving Elira to puzzle over whether she was boasting or simply stating a fact. Her tail flicked once, betraying her growing impatience. “So, are we sneaking past it, finding another route, or searching for some clue of where Tarric’s been?” she asked, her gaze shifting to Rava.

Rava crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. “Sneaking past it could work, but it’s risky. If it wakes up, we might not have time to react.”

Ivor glanced at the sentinel, his brow furrowing in thought. “We could take it down preemptively if it’s inactive. A swift strike before it has a chance to react. Though if Vivienne’s right, we’d have to hit the core. Assuming we can find it.”

Elira stepped forward, still eyeing the sentinel warily. “If this is an ancient sentinel, its core would be well-guarded—buried deep in its structure. But…” She crouched, her eyes narrowed in concentration. “If I can detect the flow of aether through its body, I might be able to pinpoint something critical. Maybe even disable it before it powers up.”

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Fancy. I take it you’ve done this before?”

Elira gave her a sidelong glance. “Not exactly with something this old, but similar principles should apply.”

Vivienne stepped back, her claws tapping lightly against the floor. “Alright, do your thing. If this goes sideways, I’ll handle the heavy lifting. Or smashing, depending on how things go.”

“Thanks for the reassurance,” Elira muttered, kneeling down and focusing her energy. The faint hum of the ruins seemed to grow louder as she worked, tiny pulses of aether flickering across the sentinel’s surface like veins of light.

Rava, meanwhile, kept a wary eye on their surroundings. “Let’s not take too long. If Tarric came through here, we’re bound to find some sign soon. I just hope we find him before something else does.”

“Assuming he’s still alive,” Ivor added grimly.

Rava’s expression didn’t change, but her tone grew sharper. “He’s alive,” she said immediately, as if there were no other alternative. The conviction in her voice left little room for doubt, silencing Ivor’s grim speculation.

Elira gave a quick nod, pressing forward cautiously. The floor beneath them felt cold and unyielding, the ancient stone worn smooth by centuries of neglect. The sentinel loomed ahead, its lifeless eyes dark, its massive frame motionless—a sleeping titan in a forgotten tomb. Every step echoed in the silence, heightening the sense that they were trespassers in a place that had long ceased to welcome life.

Vivienne’s claws tapped absently against her sides as they closed the distance. Her gaze flicked over the sentinel’s form, taking in its thick plating and the faintly glowing lines of ancient aetheric circuitry. "Gotta hand it to whoever built this thing," she muttered. "They didn’t skimp on the intimidation factor."

Rava raised a hand, signaling for them to stop. “Elira, do your thing. Everyone else, stay alert.”

Elira approached the sentinel carefully, kneeling near its base once more. Her fingers hovered just above the surface, a faint glow gathering at her fingertips as she prepared to disrupt the flow of aether. “I just need a few seconds…”

Before she could finish, a deep, resonant hum filled the air, and the lines of aether running through the sentinel’s frame flared to life. Its eyes ignited with a cold, blue light, and a low, grinding sound echoed through the chamber as it began to move. Massive arms unfolded with the hiss of ancient hydraulics, and the sentinel took a thunderous step forward, shaking the ground beneath them.

“Shit!” Elira scrambled back, barely avoiding the automaton’s massive foot.

“So much for sneaking past,” Vivienne growled, baring her claws. Her form shimmered, dark energy gathering around her as she began to change. Bones cracked, muscles expanded, and her already imposing figure grew larger and more monstrous. Black scales gleamed under the flickering blue light of the ruins as her horns elongated, curling like jagged spires, and her tail thickened, its obsidian blade gleaming ominously.

Within moments, Vivienne towered over her companions, her colossus form fully unleashed. She was now slightly taller than the sentinel, her eyes blazing with anticipation. "Guess we’re doing this the fun way," she said with a wicked grin, flexing her massive claws.

The sentinel lunged first, its arm swinging in a wide arc. Vivienne caught the blow with both hands, digging her heels into the stone floor as the force of the strike sent cracks spiderwebbing beneath her feet. “Oh, you’re strong,” she muttered through gritted teeth. 

Without waiting for a response—though none would have come—Vivienne twisted, using her immense strength to force the sentinel’s arm aside. She surged forward, wrapping both arms around its torso in a crushing grapple. The automaton’s metal frame groaned under the pressure, but it didn’t falter. Instead, it retaliated, one massive hand gripping Vivienne’s shoulder as the other swung up toward her face.

Vivienne ducked just in time to avoid the sentinel’s massive hand, but the automaton didn’t relent. With a sudden burst of speed, it twisted its torso, wrenching free from her crushing grip. Its glowing eyes pulsed once, and it retaliated with a thunderous backhand, slamming into Vivienne’s side and sending her skidding across the stone floor.

She grunted as she came to a stop, cracks spreading out from where she landed. "Alright," she muttered, pushing herself to her feet. "That actually stung."

The sentinel charged forward, each step pounding the ground like a drumbeat. Vivienne barely had time to react before it was on her again, its heavy fist crashing down. She raised both arms to block, but the sheer weight behind the blow forced her to one knee, her claws scraping against the stone as she braced herself.

"Self-repairing and hits like a damn mountain," she growled through gritted teeth. "I’ve fought things bigger, but this is ridiculous."

Before she could recover, the automaton seized its advantage, delivering another strike—this time an open-handed shove that sent Vivienne sprawling onto her back. The impact left her momentarily dazed, the world spinning as she tried to regain her footing.

Rava’s voice cut through the chaos. "Vivienne! Stay with it!"

With a snarl, Vivienne rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the sentinel’s next crushing stomp. Her tail lashed out instinctively, the obsidian blade at its tip slashing across the automaton’s leg. Sparks flew, but the cut barely slowed the sentinel down.

"This thing’s tougher than my last ex," Vivienne spat, rising to her feet once more. She shook her head, black eyes narrowing as she focused on the towering construct. Her form flickered, the dark energy surrounding her growing more intense as she prepared for a renewed assault.

Meanwhile, Elira was circling around the sentinel, her hands glowing with aether as she analyzed the machine’s movements. "There’s a core somewhere near its center," she called out. "If I can get close enough, I can try to disable it, but it’s going to take time!"

Rava darted forward, slamming a fist into one of the smaller mechanisms at the automaton’s base, hoping to create a distraction. "Vivienne, keep it focused on you!"

"That’s what I’m doing" Vivienne muttered, rubbing her jaw. 

The sentinel’s eyes locked onto her, recognizing the greatest threat in the room. It lunged forward, its movements faster than before, as if adapting to the battle. Vivienne braced herself, this time ready for the incoming blow. She caught the sentinel’s fist again, though the sheer force of it drove her back a few feet.

"Come on, big guy," she taunted, grinning through the strain. "Let’s see what you’ve got."

With a roar, Vivienne twisted her body, using the sentinel’s momentum against it. She heaved, throwing the massive construct off balance. It stumbled but didn’t fall, its stabilizing systems compensating for the shift almost instantly.

Ivor and Rava moved in, taking advantage of the opening to strike at its legs, hoping to hinder its mobility. Their blows chipped away at the ancient plating, exposing some of the inner mechanisms. Sparks flew, and for a moment, the sentinel faltered.

Elira seized the moment, sprinting toward the sentinel’s exposed back. "Keep it occupied just a little longer!" she shouted, the glow around her hands intensifying as she prepared to unleash her spell.

Vivienne gave her a thumbs-up before dodging another strike. "No pressure, right?" She lunged forward again, grappling with the sentinel once more, determined to keep it focused on her. This time, however, it was ready. Its other arm swung up, catching Vivienne off guard and slamming her into the wall with bone-rattling force.

She coughed, struggling to pull herself free from the cracked stone. "Okay… definitely feeling that one."

Vivienne shook off the dizziness and forced herself upright, eyes blazing with renewed determination. The sentinel moved toward her again, its footsteps echoing ominously through the chamber. She flexed her claws, irritation mixing with exhilaration as dark energy rippled across her form. This time, she wasn’t just going to hold it off—she was going to tear it apart.

“Alright, big guy,” she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. “Let’s see how you handle someone who fights back.”

The automaton swung its massive arm again, aiming to pin her against the wall, but Vivienne was ready. She sidestepped with surprising speed for her size, her claws raking along the sentinel’s side as she moved. Sparks exploded from the gouges she left in its armor, the deep grooves exposing a web of intricate mechanisms beneath.

The sentinel staggered slightly, adjusting its stance, but Vivienne didn’t give it a chance to recover. She surged forward, slamming her shoulder into its midsection with a force that sent it skidding back several meters. The impact shook the floor beneath them, and chunks of debris rained down from the ceiling.

“Not so indestructible now, are you?” Vivienne taunted, circling the automaton like a predator eyeing its prey.

But the sentinel wasn’t done yet. Its eyes flared brighter, and a high-pitched whine filled the air. Without warning, a blade of pure, crackling energy extended from its forearm with a sharp hum, glowing a fierce orange.

"Ah, great," Vivienne muttered, narrowing her eyes at the glowing weapon. "Because fists the size of boulders weren’t enough."

The automaton slashed at her with alarming speed, the energy blade cleaving through stone as though it were paper. Vivienne leapt back, narrowly avoiding the searing edge. She could feel the heat radiating from the weapon even at a distance.

“Careful!” Elira called out from behind cover, her hands still glowing as she worked on her spell. “That thing can cut through almost anything!”

“Yeah, I got that part, thanks!” Vivienne shot back, ducking under another swing. She pivoted sharply, using her tail to whip around and strike the automaton’s side. The obsidian blade on her tail sliced deep into its already-damaged plating, sending another shower of sparks into the air.

The sentinel faltered for a moment, its movements becoming slightly more erratic. Vivienne capitalized on the momentary hesitation, lunging forward and slamming her clawed hands into its chest. With a primal growl, she dug her claws in deep, the obsidian edges scraping against the machinery within. Twisting with all her might, she wrenched a large chunk of its chest plating free, revealing a complex network of glowing circuits and whirring components.

“Now we’re getting somewhere!” she shouted triumphantly.

But her victory was short-lived. The sentinel retaliated with a swift kick, catching Vivienne square in the stomach and sending her hurtling across the chamber. She hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop near Rava and Ivor.

"Vivienne!" Rava barked, stepping forward as if ready to jump into the fray.

"I'm fine!" Vivienne grunted, forcing herself to stand. She was thankful she didn’t have a very strong sense of pain. The thought brought a fleeting moment of reassurance—one that was shattered an instant later.

The sentinel moved faster than she anticipated. With a sudden blur of motion, the crackling energy blade swept through the air. She barely had time to react before it connected, slicing clean through her left shoulder. Her severed arm hit the ground with a sickening thud, black ichor spraying across the stone floor.

Pain erupted in an overwhelming wave, blinding and relentless, making her stagger. Despite her previous bravado, she couldn’t ignore this. It wasn’t just pain—it was a violent, searing jolt that spread like wildfire through every nerve, her dark blood pooling rapidly beneath her feet.

"Vivienne!" Rava’s voice cut through the haze, sharp and alarmed. "Fall back!"

But Vivienne barely heard her. Her vision swam, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Gritting her teeth, she clutched the stump of her shoulder, the edges of the wound already beginning to harden and crystallize—a slow, agonizing process that would eventually regenerate the lost limb, but not quickly enough to make a difference in this fight.

"Like... hell," she growled through clenched teeth, refusing to fall back or show weakness. Her black eyes narrowed on the sentinel, her remaining hand flexing as dark energy crackled around her claws. "You think I need two arms to rip you apart?"

The automaton advanced, its eyes gleaming with that eerie, lifeless glow, the energy blade humming ominously as it raised it for another strike. But Vivienne wasn’t about to let it get the upper hand again.

With a feral snarl, she lunged forward, channeling every ounce of her strength into a single, devastating strike. Her claws, charged with raw aetheric energy, met the sentinel’s chest. This time, they didn’t just scratch the surface—they punched through, shattering the exposed circuits and tearing apart the intricate mechanisms within. Sparks flew in every direction, the automaton jerking violently as if in shock.

The sentinel retaliated, its remaining arm swinging toward her like a hammer, but Vivienne twisted her body at the last second, avoiding the brunt of the impact. The blade barely grazed her side, leaving a shallow, sizzling cut.

“Elira! Now would be a great time to finish that spell!” Rava barked, keeping her eyes locked on the battle.

“I’m almost done!” Elira snapped, beads of sweat forming on her brow as she concentrated on stabilizing the energy matrix she was working on. "Just keep it distracted a little longer!"

“I’m on it,” Vivienne spat, her voice strained but defiant. She didn’t have time to worry about her missing arm or the pain searing through her body. All that mattered was keeping the sentinel’s attention on her—and surviving long enough for Elira to pull off whatever miracle she had in mind.

The automaton’s energy blade flickered for a moment before flaring back to life, brighter and more unstable than before. The sentinel raised its weapon, intent on finishing the fight.