Ebonheim gazed at the looming obelisk and took a steadying breath. Eight of those sentinels now guarded the structure's base. Four of them surrounded its outer perimeter while another four patrolled around its center. They swiveled their shadowy voids 'head' at random intervals like rotating searchlights.

  Any one of them would have been challenging to defeat, even for her companions. Against eight at once? Maybe more if they kept replicating from their attacks, like last time? Insanity. The word that came to mind. Not a viable option. No doubt.

  She activated her Divine Sight, scrutinizing the energies surrounding each automaton.

  [Analysis Unavailable]

  [Analysis failure due to incompatible entity format.]

  Hmm...how frustrating...she had hoped for more insight than this...

  She sighed loudly and returned her attention to her peers.

  Aetheron knelt on one knee beside her, staring intently at the constructs ahead. "I suspect that destroying the source of these sentinels will prevent them from continuing to multiply indefinitely. If we can reach the heart of the obelisk undetected and remove whatever sustains the mechanism, victory shall be ours."

  "Easy for thee to say," Nephri pointed out. "However, tis easier spoken than done."

  "I don't think direct assault works well anymore, considering the past events," Ebonheim added. "Not without knowing if we trigger more divisions or not."

  Aetheron inclined his head slightly towards her. "As I alluded to earlier, there is a connection between them and the structure itself. They're bound together. I felt it as we fought them."

  "Bound? How?” Ariastra asked.

  "When we attacked the sentinels, the obelisk pulsed in response. It was faint, but it was there. It means they share a lifeline—one that sustains both the obelisk and its guardians. If we destroy the obelisk, the sentinels should fall with it."

  "Should?" Nephri's serpentine form glided through the air, her liquid body shimmering with ripples of light. "Thou soundest unsure."

  Aetheron's gaze remained steady, though his aura's hue wavered briefly, betraying a hint of uncertainty. "It's not a perfect theory, no, but we've seen how attacking the sentinels directly only causes them to multiply. It stands to reason that the key to defeating them lies elsewhere."

  The others exchanged glances amongst themselves. Each appeared reluctant to disagree with his logic—which, in truth, seemed sound to Ebonheim. They had little information to go on, but what options did they have left? Only time would tell if his idea proved fruitful.

  "It'll be hard to destroy the obelisk when we're fighting eight of them at once," Ebonheim pointed out. "Does anyone have any attacks that can reach it from this range? My arrows can't do anything at this distance."

  Aetheron raised a hand. A ball of blue energy appeared above his palm. It hovered a meter above his extended arm, glowing with a soft radiance. It crackled and sparkled like an azure star.

  He sent the energy sphere arcing through the air towards the obelisk. As it passed overhead, the constructs reacted instantly. They tracked its trajectory, shifting positions and firing a barrage of dark blasts from their cores. Aetheron's magical attack disintegrated into motes of light.

  "As I surmised," Aetheron remarked as he watched the spectacle. "The sentinels recognize an attack on the obelisk itself and respond accordingly. Even at range."

  "That makes things trickier," Ariastra said, her fingers tapping lightly on her chin. "But if the goal remains to destroy the core of the obelisk, what alternatives do we have besides a brute force assault?"

  Ebonheim pondered this for a bit before saying, "Maybe some of us can distract them—keep them occupied while the others focus on the obelisk?"

  Aetheron turned toward her and nodded. "A fine idea. Providing a distraction ought to provide enough opportunity to attack the target. That does not mean we take our time however, so we must strike quickly. Once the damage begins, the sentinels will move to stop it."

  "Then let me play decoy," Syntris volunteered eagerly. "I can handle keeping them occupied, provided everyone else gets the job done fast enough."

  "Though you are the most battle-ready among us, Syntris," Aetheron said, casting an appraising glance at him, "we cannot count on your strength alone. Not against eight of them at once. Even you must admit to being overwhelmed under such conditions."

  "Perhaps," Syntris admitted, raising his metallic hands and flexing them as if stretching muscles, "but I'm used to fighting overwhelming odds. If others help keep the heat off me, I'll make sure they won't catch on quick to your scheme. Count on that at least."

  Aetheron seemed pleased by Syntris' words and responded in kind by giving a curt nod of agreement. "Then I'll aid in the task as well. Together, we should prove sufficient for holding back the tide."

  "I'll support you," Ariastra chimed in, raising her mahogany palms. "I do not have the offensive might capable of damaging a structure as imposing as the obelisk. But my powers can bolster the defensive capabilities of those in the vanguard. You'll appreciate its effect once we begin."

  "Then that leaves Ebonheim and Nephri," Aetheron said. "Do the two of you believe yourselves able to destroy the core of the obelisk?"

  Nephri's sinuous form slithered in mid-air as she drifted closer to Ebonheim. Her tail tip flicked back and forth slowly. "Between the two of us, perhaps we may succeed. Though tis quite a challenge thou propose."

  "No pressure or anything," Ebonheim muttered. She squared her shoulders and met Nephri's gaze squarely. "I'll do what I can. Let's see if we can pull this off."

  Aetheron seemed satisfied with their answers as he clapped his palms together with finality. "Good. Then let us commence. Our group will head out first. Once the sentinels are engaged with us, you two attack the obelisk. Move swiftly and act decisively. There will be no time wasted once the fight begins."

  With that said, the three of them headed out.

  Ebonheim looked up at Nephri. "Ready?"

  Nephri's response was a slow nod, her body undulating as she moved closer. "Climb upon me, Ebonheim. I shall carry thee skywards and deliver thee above our target."

  Ebonheim watched as Nephri's form shifted from serpentine to a gargantuan manta ray. Without delay, she clambered aboard and clung tightly to Nephri's slick skin. With a beat of her membranous wings, Nephri lifted off. She ascended into the cloudless heavens above before banking sharply toward the towering structure below.

  Ebonheim steadied herself atop Nephri's immense form as they soared upward, the wind tugging at her hair, threatening to dislodge her at any moment. She had to grab tight hold onto a spiky protrusion running down the middle of Nephri's back for stability as Nephri wheeled gracefully through the alien sky.

  The twisted geometry of the landscape below shifted, the horizon warping and collapsing in on itself as if the very concept of distance was a mere abstraction. The obelisk loomed ahead—black, monolithic, and untouched by the madness around it.

  From her vantage point atop Nephri's back, she could see the battle raging below. The sentinels swarmed around Aetheron, Ariastra, and Syntris. Both groups clashed violently in a tangled mass of frenzied activity. Energy bolts streaked through the air while golden sigils danced across the ground. Chunks of the red soil flew into the air in all directions. Sparks erupted wherever metal struck metal.

  Ebonheim could make out flashes of fire erupting sporadically, but her vantage point made seeing details difficult. Part of her wanted nothing more than to join them. But that was not her role at the moment. The responsibility to cripple the obelisk lay on her and Nephri.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Now, young one," Nephri urged, her voice echoing within Ebonheim's mind. Her great wings flared, catching the ethereal winds of this distorted realm, propelling them faster toward their target. "Unleash your arrows."

  Her Enchanted Essence Bolts could probably do the job, given enough hits. But that'd take too long...time they didn't have. Holding back wasn't an option.

  She leapt off Nephri, performing a twisting flip in the air. In her free fall, she closed her eyes for the briefest moment and reached into herself, to the core of her divine essence where Cepheid slumbered. The Aetherframe, an artifact of ancient power, lay nestled within her, a giant waiting to be awoken.

  "Cepheid," she called softly, her fingers brushing the edge of something both vast and intimate.

  The air around her shimmered, warping in a circle as if the very fabric of reality bent to accommodate her will. From the void beyond, she could feel Cepheid stirring, as if the ancient Aetherframe awaited her summons with the patience of a sleeping titan. The connection between them flared to life as she poured her power into the conduit forged between them.

  "I need you."

  From the rift above her, Cepheid emerged.

  The Aetherframe's massive wings unfurled in a burst of brilliant light as the rift closed. Its armor gleamed, reflecting the fractured light of the cracked celestial sphere above, and its crystalline core pulsed with life, a soft glow radiating from its center.

  Ebonheim landed smoothly on Cepheid's waiting hands. As she did, the Aetherframe's armor shifted, opening to receive her. She slipped into the cockpit as its walls closed around her like a shell, encasing her within its protective embrace. The sensation was immediate—the familiar rush of connection as her essence synced with Cepheid's core.

  Power flowed through her. Her body hummed with energy as the Aetherframe came to life, responding to her command. The screens flickered to life around her, illuminating the dark interior with an ambient blue light. Gently, she grasped the controls.

  [Aetherframe "Cepheid" Activated! Power Reserve: 40% available]

  With a single thought, Cepheid spread its wings, slowing its descent until it hovered several dozen meters above the obelisk.

  This was only her second time piloting the ancient Aetherframe, yet the commands came instinctively. The system was integrated into her senses as if the two had always been one.

  Every movement felt natural, as though the massive suit of armor was an extension of her own body. Her vision expanded, taking in a full 360-degree view of the battlefield through the Aetherframe's enhanced sensors. She could see the sentinels below, still locked in combat with Aetheron, Ariastra, and Syntris, the trio having succeeded in gaining the constructs' attention.

  But the obelisk—that was her target.

  Nephri glided beside her, the mantra rays body glistening beneath the fractured sky. "Ebonheim...? What is this...?"

  "Oh, just something I found while exploring," Ebonheim answered innocently. "Figured I could use the extra firepower against that thing."

  "Ah...very well then..."

  "Anyways, let's get this done!" Ebonheim's fingers curled around the controls, adjusting her flight trajectory. Since the target was immobile, she didn't need to focus on accuracy as much. Brute force would suffice.

  Her finger flicked over the firing button, and she unleashed a salvo of energy bolts from Cepheid's shoulder armaments. They crashed against the obelisk's surface like waves breaking upon the shore, carving deep furrows into its dark exterior.

  The impacts sent shockwaves reverberating through the structure. Deep fissures rippled across its surface, and fragments of stone crumbled to the ground in a torrential rain.

  Ebonheim continued her bombardment, unleashing another volley at the weakened area.

  Nephri's wings flared wide, and from her shimmering membrane, a cascade of energy beams lanced downward. The emerald projectiles tore into the damaged section of the obelisk, shredding through the weakened stonework.

  But just as another barrage of energy bolts slammed into its outer layer, dark blasts from the sentinels intercepted their efforts. Explosions rocked the air as the projectiles collided mid-flight.

  Ebonheim weaved to avoid the incoming barrage. Through her screens, she saw three of the sentinels breaking off from the melee and engaging them. Their obsidian forms swooped and darted through the skies, firing volleys of dark blasts in rapid succession.

  Nephri twisted and turned, dodging the attacks while simultaneously maintaining her own onslaught. However, she lacked maneuverability due to the cumbersome nature of her frame. One bolt struck her side, causing her to waver in mid-air, her body momentarily flickering as if destabilized by the impact.

  Ebonheim banked sharply, using Cepheid's increased speed to circle around to Nephri's rear. She fired several bursts of energy bolts to intercept the incoming shots while providing cover for her ally to regain composure.

  Nephri stabilized her flight pattern soon after. She arced away from the conflict and dove towards the obelisk again, her wings streaming behind her like a shimmering banner of aqua-colored light. As she descended, she cast a powerful beam attack at the wounded part of the structure. This time, none of the sentinels managed to intervene as she scored a direct hit.

  "Let's keep at it, Nephri. I'll cover us. I don't think this'll take long!" Ebonheim shouted encouragingly.

  "I concur," Nephri agreed. "We cannot allow our fellows to be overextended too long."

  Their combined effort soon bore fruit. The constant bombardment wrought havoc on the obelisk. Cracks spread throughout its surface as larger chunks began to detach themselves. Soon, the entire upper half toppled over and fell, crushing an unfortunate group of sentinels caught beneath its weight.

  Ebonheim cheered triumphantly inside her Aetherframe as she watched the destruction unfold. She looked at another screen to assess the situation below and saw Syntris cleaving through one sentinel with his sword, slicing it in two—and it didn't duplicate! Instead, the halves fell to the ground, crumbling to dust. Ariastra's spells and Aetheron's blasts ripped apart two more in quick succession, and neither duplicated either.

  Her confidence grew. The plan worked!

  With renewed vigor, Ebonheim directed Cepheid to assist them in dealing with the remaining few adversaries. Between the four of them, the battle ended swiftly. Within moments, the last sentinel fell, its broken remnants scattering across the red earth.

  The gods regrouped amongst the rubble.

  Ebonheim maneuvered Cepheid to land beside them. She disembarked and grinned widely. "Well...that went a lot better than expected."

  Instead of returning her cheer, Aetheron and the others regarded her with silence—one that unnerved her.

  After a lengthy pause, Aetheron finally spoke up. His tone lacked its usual poise and serenity. "Ebonheim...where did you get that Aetherframe?"

  Ebonheim froze. She gulped. How to answer? The truth would likely sound dubious at best. On the other hand, lying wouldn't be a good idea...not with someone who could likely tell whether she was being honest or not...

  "Ah...well...umm..." she stuttered. "It's a long story...but...you see...I happened to find this hidden in the ruins I mentioned earlier...I stumbled across it while exploring...was curious...I wanted to examine its workings...so...I fixed it up."

  Ariastra frowned. "Fix it up?" Her tone sounded skeptical. "You're talking about one of the lost Magitech designs of the ancient civilizations...and you claim to have fixed it like...like...a common tool?"

  "Actually, it fixed itself...and...ah...I don't know how to describe the whole process...it's kinda strange..." she trailed off. Why did her throat feel parched all of a sudden? "It bound to me somehow."

  Aetheron folded his arms and stared at her. His aura glowed with intense interest and suspicion. "And the reason you decided not to inform us earlier? I trust there isn't anything you're hiding?"

  She held both her palms in front of her. "Of course not! Why would I? I found it recently...just never got around to telling anyone because...well...it wasn't relevant till now."

  He seemed placated by her explanation for the time being. At least his aura dimmed, which meant she had stopped alarming him. He gave a curt nod. "Very well. Fortunately, you were the one who unearthed this artifice and not the mortals under you. The Akashic System has forbidden any more knowledge regarding this technology from being passed on. The current era of Aetherframes is the exception to this rule. I trust that you will enforce this restriction for the greater good?"

  Ebonheim's heart leapt into her throat. Did she hear him right? 'Forbidden'? But she had already let her Artificers tinker around with bits and pieces here and there. Was that already a violation? But the Akashic System didn't do anything about it, so...?

  She placed a hand on her chest as if swearing an oath. "Of course! Just like you all, I would never do anything against the Akashic System's dogma!"

  "Indeed. And you would do well to exercise caution with such discoveries. Anything else from you would risk the Akashic System enacting judgment—one that we all will bear as a collective burden." Aetheron paused and looked around at the destruction surrounding them. "Regardless, that must wait for another time. We still have more pressing matters at hand."

  She nodded hastily. "Yes, absolutely! More important things!" Relieved, she took a deep breath to steady her racing heart.

  Nephri glided nearby, her form shifting back to serpentine. "Might we continue our investigation? I assume thou intendeth to search the wreckage."

  Aetheron turned his attention to the broken structure, eyeing the debris intently. "No need to search the rubble. We continue following the trail of Quintessence."

  Ebonheim activated her Divine Sight once more, glancing in the direction Aetheron pointed at. The faint golden strands flowed outward from the collapsed obelisk, splitting into two distinct trails. Both paths led to cracks in space, similar to the one that led them into this dimension in the first place.

  "For efficiency, we'll split into two groups," Ariastra suggested. "Each party should investigate one trail independently."

  "I agree," Aetheron replied. He glanced at each person present and nodded to himself. "Ariastra and I will follow this trail."

  "And I shall accompany thou," Nephri said towards Ebonheim.

  "Syntris," Aetheron continued, "accompany Ebonheim and Nephri."

  "Fine by me," Syntris confirmed. He hefted his large blade over his shoulder and nodded toward Ebonheim. "You might have that gigantic hunk of armor and all, but you're still a fledgling god compared to me. Be sure to keep up."

  Ebonheim squinted her eyes at him.

  This was not going to be a fun excursion…