Inoue and Guill approached the gate, an ominous feeling looming over the two of them. Guill glanced over at Inoue and noticed her hand trembling as she held her short sword. He sighed and gently patted her head, saying, "Don't worry, we'll just look at what's inside, then we'll leave." Inoue let out a sigh of relief, and they both pushed the gate open.
As the gate creaked open, a blinding light flooded their vision, momentarily overwhelming their senses. Blinking rapidly, Guill squinted against the glare, his eyes slowly adjusting to the brilliant radiance that emanated from within. When his vision cleared, Guill's breath caught in his throat, his heart hammering in his chest. He looked in shock and said, "What in Elle's name is that?" Before them stood a sword unlike any he had ever seen, its blade bathed in a mesmerizing blue light that seemed to dance and shimmer with otherworldly energy. Mana leaves drifted lazily from the ceiling, their delicate forms casting ethereal shadows on the ground below.
Beside the sword stood two guardians, their mechanical forms imposing yet inert. Guill felt a shiver of apprehension run down his spine as he studied the guardians, their unmoving presence a silent warning of the dangers that lay ahead. "Inoue," he said, his voice tinged with concern, "I think we should go."
Ignoring Guill's request, Inoue started approaching the sword. Guill sighed loudly and followed her closely, taking his spear out just in case. As she walked towards the pedestal and approached the sword, she reached out a trembling hand, her fingers brushing the cool blade. Instantly, the brilliant blue light faded to a dull gray, and the ground beneath them began to tremble ominously. "Inoue, we have to go now!" Guill cried, his voice tinged with urgency.
Inoue hurried towards Guill, but before they could flee, a deafening crack split the air, the sound echoing like thunder in the confined space. One of the guardians sprang to life, its blue eye glowing with malevolent intent as it locked onto them. With a mechanical whir, it powered up its mana cannon, the air crackling with arcane energy.
In a panic, Guill scooped up the petrified Inoue and dashed towards the exit. "Shit, I knew this was a bad idea!" he said, his heart pounding in his chest. Behind them, the guardian lurched into motion, its serpentine body writhing with unnatural speed as it gave chase. With a thunderous crash, it burst through the gate, its mechanical limbs tearing through the ancient wood as if it were paper.
Guill ran to the stairs and started climbing. Inoue, mustering up her courage, used one of the attacks Sister Marry had taught her, a Hydro Slash. She summoned a spinning hydro disc and shot it at the guardian, hoping to slice it, but it was immune to magic.
While Guill ran as fast as he could, he started screaming in frustration. Meanwhile, Inoue continued to fire her magic at the machine, hoping to at least slow it down. Suddenly, the machine stopped. Guill laughed and said, "It stopped following us!" But his joy was short-lived as the machine pointed a laser at him and started to charge its attack.
Inoue yelled, "Hurry up, it's aiming at us!" Guill sarcastically replied, "Oh, really? I didn't know." Inoue, aggravated, retorted, "Now is not the time for sarcasm, Guill!"
When they reached the top of the staircase, Guill jumped to the grass and narrowly dodged the powerful mana blast shot by the guardian. The sky darkened from the amount of energy it shot up from its eyes. Guill and Inoue got up swiftly and ran to the town, the guardian's screech echoing loudly through the woods as it followed them.
As the two of them ran away, they saw the town gates, the gate guards looking at them in disbelief as they realized that a guardian was heading towards the town. One of the guards yelled at them, "Why did you bring that thing here, you idiots?"
Inoue and Guill stopped at the gates to catch their breath. Inoue, catching her breath, said, "Sound the horn, tell the people to evacuate! That thing is immune to magic!" As the soldier used his horn to warn the others, the town's bells started ringing, signaling the impending danger heading towards them.
The townsfolk started to close their shops and head inside their houses in fear of the incoming killing machine. Inoue looked back and saw the guardian approaching the town, a look of despair and regret on her face. As the guards slowly gathered at the town gates, a voice could be heard around the town – it was the Adventurers Guild calling all the adventurers to help the guards protect the town from the approaching danger.
Guill patted Inoue's head and said, clearly out of breath, "Let's head inside the town and get prepared, shall we?" Inoue nodded and ran inside the town with Guill, heading towards the guild hall to get potions, as he thought they might be useful for their impending fight.