But Victor knew this was only a temporary reprieve. The goblins had been driven back, but they would regroup and the Stormhammer Guild was still out there, hunting him.
As the hologram flickered to life, Victor’s core pulsed with anticipation:
Battle Complete.
Mana Absorbed: 150.
Dungeon Level Up!
The dungeon shuddered, its walls groaning as new sections materialized. The workshop expanded, its anvils and tool racks replaced with sleek, steam-powered machinery. The Boiler grew larger, its pipes thicker and more efficient.
New Upgrades Unlocked:
Brass Reinforced Walls: Increased durability against physical attacks.
Steam Sentry Turrets Mk. II: Enhanced range and firepower.
Clockwork Falcons Mk. III: Upgraded scouts with reinforced blade wings and improved agility.
Victor’s core pulsed with satisfaction as he surveyed the changes. The dungeon was stronger now, more resilient. But he knew the challenges ahead would require more than just brute strength.
The scrapyard had been a success, but Victor knew it was only the beginning. The haul of brass, gears, and scrap metal his team had gathered would help reinforce his defenses, but it wasn’t enough. The goblins, though temporarily driven off, would return in greater numbers, and the Stormhammer Guild—ruthless and relentless—would not stay away forever. Victor’s consciousness pulsed within his core, the faint hum of his energy resonating through the chamber. The walls around him were lined with salvaged parts and half-finished constructs, a testament to his growing power, but it was clear he needed more.
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“We need to fortify,” Victor said, his words carrying the weight of his determination. “The goblins will regroup, and the Stormhammer Guild won’t stay away forever. If we’re going to survive, we need better defenses, more resources, and stronger constructs.”
Aelin leaned against the wall, her arms crossed and her expression grim. Her bow was slung over her shoulder, and her eyes flicked to the piles of scrap metal scattered across the floor. “We’ll need more than just brass and gears,” she said, her voice steady but tinged with concern. “If we’re going to survive, we need to think bigger. Better weapons, stronger barriers, maybe even traps. We can’t just keep patching things together and hope for the best.”
Pip, who had been tinkering with a small mechanical device in the corner, perked up at the mention of resources. Her eyes lit up with excitement, and she jumped to her feet, nearly knocking over a stack of gears in the process. “There’s an old factory not far from here,” she said, her voice quick and eager. “It’s been abandoned for years, but there might be something useful left. If we’re lucky, we could find intact machinery, power cores, maybe even blueprints or schematics. It’s worth a look.”
Victor’s core pulsed with a brighter glow, a sign of his growing determination. “An old factory, you say?” Victor’s voice rumbled from the Sentinel’s speakers. “If it’s been abandoned, it’s likely to be dangerous—collapsing structures, rusted equipment, maybe evan a trap set up by the goblins. But if there’s a chance we can find something valuable, it’s a risk we’ll have to take.”
Aelin pushed off the wall and straightened, her hand instinctively brushing the hilt of the dagger at her side. “If there’s even a chance we can find something to give us an edge, we have to try. We can’t afford to sit around and wait for the next attack.”
Pip nodded enthusiastically, already gathering her tools and stuffing them into her satchel. “I’ll start preparing the gear we’ll need. If we’re going into an old factory, we’ll need light sources, climbing equipment, and maybe some extra tools for dismantling anything we find.”
Victor’s core pulsed again, a steady rhythm that seemed to mirror his resolve. “If we'll be going into tight quarters I'll a more compact body” Victor remarked. “Let me try something.”
Through the eyes of S-01, one of his Steam Sentinels, Victor observed the room. The Sentinel’s mechanical body stood tall and imposing, its piston-powered fists resting at its sides. Victor’s presence within S-01 allowed him to interact with the physical world, and he used the construct to address his allies, he turned to face the map spread out on the table. The factory was marked in faded ink, a relic of a bygone era. It was a place of mystery and danger, but also of potential. The Sentinel’s mechanical hand hovered over the map, tracing the path they would take.
The Sentinel’s voice, deep and resonant, echoed through the chamber as Victor spoke.
“Then, sounds like we have our next destination,” Victor said, his voice filled with determination. “We’ll leave at first light. Aelin, make sure we’re stocked on arrows and supplies. Pip, double-check your tools and see if you can rig up anything that might help us navigate the factory. We don’t know what we’ll find in there, but we need to be ready for anything.”
As the others moved to prepare, Victor’s consciousness remained within S-01, his mechanical body standing guard over the core chamber. The factory was an opportunity, but it was also a gamble. If they could find what they needed, it could mean the difference between survival and defeat. But if they failed, or if the factory was as picked clean as the scrapyard had been, they would be no better off than before. Still, Victor knew they had no choice. The goblins and the Stormhammer Guild would not wait for them to be ready. They had to act now.
The faint hum of his core filled the room as S-01's glowing eyes scanned the map. The factory was a place of mystery and danger, but also of potential. Victor's consciousness pulsed with resolve. "We'll find what we need," he murmured through S-01, his voice low but resolute. "We have to"