Aelin and Borin stood just outside the dungeon, their weapons at the ready.
“This might actually work,” Borin said, his tone grudgingly impressed.
“Don’t get cocky,” Aelin replied, her eyes scanning the treeline. “The Stormhammer Guild doesn’t take prisoners.”
Victor’s core pulsed with tension. He knew the guild would come, and they would come in force. But he'd be ready for them.
The Stormhammer Guild arrived like a thunderstorm, their presence announced by the rhythmic pounding of boots and the clatter of armor. Victor’s sensors picked up their approach long before they emerged from the treeline. The faint glow of their torches grew brighter, casting long shadows across the clearing.
At their head was Thrain Ironvein, a dwarf whose reputation preceded him. His armor was a patchwork of brass and steel, adorned with trophies from fallen dungeons—crystal shards, monster teeth, and even a few dungeon cores, their light long since extinguished. His hammer, Stormbreaker, crackled with magical energy, its head glowing with runes that pulsed in time with his steps.
“There it is,” Thrain said, his voice booming through the clearing. “The mobile dungeon. Bring it down!”
The delvers fanned out, their movements precise and practiced. They were a well-oiled machine, each member playing their part in the siege. Mages took up positions at the rear, their staves glowing with arcane energy, while heavily armored warriors formed a shield wall at the front. Scouts darted through the trees, their crossbows loaded and ready.
Victor’s core pulsed with tension. He had faced threats before—wild monsters, rogue dungeons, even the occasional delver—but this was different. The Stormhammer Guild was a force of nature, and they had come prepared.
The battle began with a volley of arrows, their tips glowing with enchanted fire. Victor activated his Steam Jets, filling the air with scalding vapor. The arrows hissed as they passed through the steam, their flames extinguished before they could strike the brass walls.
“Hold the line!” Thrain shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Mages, focus on the defenses!”
The mages raised their staves, their chants rising in unison. Bolts of lightning arced through the air, striking the dungeon’s walls with deafening cracks. Victor’s Arc Casters absorbed some of the energy, redirecting it into the ground with a series of blinding flashes.
“We can’t take much more of this!” Pip shouted, her voice barely audible over the din.
Victor didn’t respond. His focus was on the delvers charging toward the entrance. With a mental command, he activated the Piston-Jump Traps, sending heavy brass pistons slamming into the ground. The force of the impact sent several delvers flying, their armor crumpling under the pressure.
But the guild was relentless. Their warriors pressed forward, their shields raised to deflect the traps. Victor’s Steam Sentinels stepped into the fray, their piston-powered fists slamming into the delvers with bone-crushing force.
The first Sentinel, S-01, moved with deliberate precision. Its brass-plated body gleamed in the torchlight, its glowing Aether Core pulsing in time with Victor’s heartbeat. A delver charged at it, his sword raised high. S-01 sidestepped the blow, its piston-powered fist slamming into the delver’s chest with a sickening crunch. The man flew backward, his armor dented and his sword clattering to the ground.
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“Fall back!” one of the delvers shouted, his voice filled with panic. “These things are too strong!”
But the guild’s warriors were well-trained. They regrouped, forming a tight formation with their shields locked together. S-01 charged, its fists slamming into the shield wall with enough force to send shockwaves through the ground. The delvers held their ground, their shields creaking under the pressure.
Victor watched, his core pulsing with tension. The Sentinels were strong, but they weren’t invincible.
Across the battle field, Thrain watched with a calculating eye. He had faced dungeons before, but this one was different. It was smart, adaptable, and far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
“Focus on the core!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Take out the heart, and the rest will fall!”
A group of delvers broke off from the main force, their movements swift and precise. They carried Aether Disruptors—devices designed to destabilize dungeon cores. Victor’s sensors picked up their approach, his core pulsing with alarm.
“They’re going for the core!” Aelin shouted, her voice filled with urgency.
“Not on my watch,” Borin growled, hefting his hammer. He charged into the fray, his movements a blur of brute strength and precision. The delvers didn’t stand a chance.
But Thrain wasn’t done. He raised Stormbreaker, the runes on its head flaring to life. With a roar, he brought the hammer down, sending a shockwave rippling through the ground. The force of the impact shattered the dungeon’s outer defenses, sending gears and pipes flying.
Victor’s core flared with pain as the shockwave reverberated through his structure. The hologram flickered, its text warping as the System struggled to compensate.
Warning: Structural Integrity Critical.
Mana Reserves: 40/100.
Victor knew he couldn’t hold out much longer. The guild’s assault was relentless, and his defenses were crumbling. But he wasn’t alone.
Aelin stood at the entrance, her bow singing as she picked off delvers with unerring accuracy. Borin fought like a man possessed, his hammer crushing anything that got too close. Pip worked tirelessly in the workshop, her hands a blur as she repaired damaged traps and reinforced the walls.
“We need to buy time!” Victor shouted, his voice echoing through the dungeon.
With a mental command, he activated the Kinetic Shockwave Tower, a larger, more powerful version of the piston jump traps, slamming the ground with enough force to send the delvers stumbling backward. The guild’s formation broke, their ranks thrown into disarray.
“Fall back!” Thrain shouted, his voice filled with rage. “Regroup and press the attack!”
But Victor wasn’t about to give them the chance. The dungeon’s treads groaned as it began to move, its brass walls creaking under the strain.
The guild’s pursuit was relentless, but Victor’s mobility gave him an edge. He led them on a chase through the Wildwood, using the terrain to his advantage. The Clockwork Falcons swooped down from above, their blade wings slicing through the delvers’ ranks.
By dawn, the guild had fallen behind, their shouts fading into the distance. Victor’s dungeon rolled to a halt in a secluded valley, its brass walls battered but intact.