The new construct was different. Humanoid, its sleek, metallic frame shimmered faintly with an aetheric glow. Long, swept sword-like arms extended from its elbows, and arcs of faint energy trailed behind the blades with each step. Its head was featureless except for a single, piercing blue light where its face should have been. It was an immediate difference from the others which all had red lights.
Bjorn growled low, stepping in front of Tanisha protectively, his tail lashing in anticipation.
The golem stopped, its single glowing eye scanning them both before it suddenly darted forward with a Flash Step. Tanisha barely had time to react, raising her bardiche just in time to block one of its sweeping strikes. Tanisha didn't think any of them could use magic but this one was somehow different.
Sparks erupted as its blade clashed with her weapon, the force of the blow sending her skidding back. Her arms stung from the impact and were forced up leaving her vulnerable. The golem was already moving to capitalize, its blades were inches from cutting her down.
Bjorn lunged, his form becoming a blur as he slipped into the shadows but the golem didn't hesitate. It turned sharply, its blade arcing through the air in a glowing crescent of energy. Bjorn growled in pain as the slicing arc hit, revealing his position as he stumbled out of the darkness, a deep gash across his shoulder.
"Bjorn!" Tanisha shouted.
The golem was relentless. It closed the distance to her in an instant, forcing her to raise her bardiche again. The construct's speed was blinding, its strikes precise and unyielding. Every time Tanisha tried to counter, it would parry her attacks with effortless precision, its glowing blades ringing against her weapon.
She attempted an Arcane Shift to get behind it, but the golem anticipated her move, twisting at the hip in a way that would be impossible for a human. It struck with lightning speed to deliver a sweeping strike. The blade narrowly missed her neck, instead slicing clean through her left pauldron, the metal shattering into pieces. With the armor piece destroyed the magical retaliation didn't activate.
Tanisha gritted her teeth as a follow-up strike grazed her arm, drawing blood. The pain was sharp, but she forced herself to stay focused, darting back to create some distance.
Bjorn roared, charging again despite his injury. He managed to lock his jaws around one of the golem's arms, but it reacted instantly, slamming its other blade into his side. It effortlessly stabbed through his Aetheric Scales and threw him across the hallway, sending him crashing into the wall with a thud.
"Damn it!" Tanisha growled.
Her breathing ragged as she pushed more power into her bardiche. The weapon flared with energy, and she launched herself forward, aiming a powerful overhead strike at the golem.
It sidestepped with ease, its blade flashing upward to meet hers. The impact sent a shockwave through her arms, and she felt the haft of her bardiche crack under the strain. Before she could recover, the golem's other blade slashed across her chest, the edge slicing through her armor and leaving a deep, burning gash.
This time golden feathers erupted in retaliation. The golem used a Flash Step to back up and avoid. Tanisha stumbled back, blood seeping from the wound. Her breaths came in heavy gasps as the golem advanced. She glanced at Bjorn, who was struggling to his feet, blood dripping from his side. They couldn't keep this up. This thing was faster, stronger, and smarter than the others.
"Bjorn," she said through gritted teeth, her mind racing. "We're pulling back. Now."
As the golem lunged, Tanisha shifted at the last moment, reappearing beside Bjorn. Her hand trembled as she placed it on his broad shoulder, her fingers slick with her own blood. Channeling what aether she had left, she activated Arcane Shift again, teleporting them both in rapid succession to the far end of the hallway.
The air snapped with energy as they landed, Tanisha nearly collapsing from the effort. Her head swam, and her knees buckled, but she forced herself to stay upright.
"We can't beat it here," she muttered. "We need a better plan."
The golem paused, its glowing blue eye locking onto them from across the corridor. It didn't pursue but instead remained still, as if calculating its next move. Its unblinking gaze sent a shiver down Tanisha's spine.
Wasting no time, Tanisha stumbled to the nearest terminal panel. Her blood-slick fingers fumbled over the controls, but she managed to seal the heavy door separating them from the relentless construct. The faint hiss of the door sliding shut was the only reassurance she had as she slumped to the ground, finally letting herself rest.
She uncorked a lesser healing potion with shaking hands. The earthy liquid burned as she drank it, the warmth spreading through her body as her wounds began to close. She grimaced as the bloody gashes across her torso and arms slowly knit themselves together, but the process was far from painless.
Her armor was so heavily damaged she could see through missing sections to her skin. The breastplate, chainmail shirt and helmet disappeared into her inventory so she could examine herself. When she touched the wound across her chest, she realized with a sinking feeling just how close she'd come to death.
The cut had cleanly sliced through armor plate and chainmail then her ribs and pierced both lungs, leaving her breathing ragged and shallow. If not for the Blood Gate Fuyumi had activated during the Mana Baptism, she wouldn't have made it through that fight.
The thought sobered her as she uncorked a second potion and downed it. The pain began to fade as her ribs fused back together in her chest and she coughed out the blood in her rapidly healing lungs. Surprisingly she didn't feel as bad as she should have and could have kept fighting. She didn't fully have a mage body yet but what she did have was worlds better from where she started.
"Are you okay? That sucked," she muttered, peeling off her blood-soaked undershirt. The fabric clung stubbornly to her skin, sticking to the drying wounds beneath. "It's like we were cheated out of a win."
She summoned water with her hydromancy, the liquid swirling in the air before cascading over her and Bjorn. The cool stream washed away the blood and grime in moments, leaving them both clean but no less battered. She slipped her damaged armor back on, the pieces shifting uneasily over her bruised and tender skin which was still healing as the potions worked on the most egregious internal wounds first.
She looked at her bardiche, its blade was chipped where it clashed with the golem. The haft cracked and was in need of repair. Her armor was no better off but she would have to worry about it later. For now the most important thing was to find out what in the Infernal Planes that thing even was.
"Doxy," she called out, her voice sharp, "what was that thing? The golem with the blade arms that could use aether?"
The disembodied, monotone voice responded. "Query: Mecha-doll S Series. The S Series mechanized dolls are advanced combat units designed to neutralize magic casting intruders in close quarters. The S Series includes twenty variations categorized as Android-Type, Insectoid-Type, Animal-Type, and Titan-Class. Titan-Class units operate with independent power cores. User Tanisha Scalebound encountered an S-04 Shard Android-Type unit. Sleek, fast-moving, and equipped with bladed arms capable of harnessing main facility aether for combat. Additional information is restricted due to insufficient clearance level."
Tanisha frowned as she processed the response. "Are you not upset that I'm wrecking your security?"
"Query: The Site Manager has disabled punishment protocols for destruction of site property following the activation of evacuation orders," Doxy replied, its tone devoid of any semblance of emotion.
"Well, that's convenient," Tanisha said dryly. She shifted her weight and shot a glance at Bjorn, who was still rumbling quietly to himself. "Okay, Doxy, last question. Destroying these security units—does it help the facility conserve aether?"
"Query: Affirmative. Disabling security units reduces power consumption. Current estimated core meltdown in thirty days."
Tanisha froze, "wait, what? Thirty days? I thought we had three years."
"Query: Recalculating… If all security units were disabled, the estimated core meltdown extended to one thousand two hundred eighty-one days."
Tanisha groaned, dragging her hand down her face. "Fantastic. Your mom told us how long we'd have only if we destroyed all of the security." She looked at Bjorn who was still grumbling. "Let's go back to the others, Big Man."
Tanisha opened her status menu and saw that she leveled up four times in just that one encounter. Well, Fuyumi will be able to see her and Bjorn use their points this time.
***
The pair arrived at the barracks and were greeted by an unexpected aroma. The air was thick with the rich, savory scent of roasted meat and spices which was a sharp contrast to the sterile, metallic tang that typically dominated the extraction site.
In the center of the room sat a large, flat device, its surface now doubling as a makeshift dining area. Plates piled high with food, succulent animal haunches glistening with juices, aromatic broths, and a few less tempting vegetable dishes were arranged neatly across it. The scent alone was enough to make Tanisha's stomach growl.
Fuyumi and Aurelius were seated a few steps away, both in the lotus position. Fuyumi's voice was soft but commanding as she guided Aurelius through a meditation cultivation session, her tone steady and rhythmic. Neither seemed to notice as Tanisha and Bjorn entered.
"Get something to eat," Fuyumi instructed, her eyes remaining closed as she gestured lightly toward the food. "Then join us."
Tanisha and Bjorn didn't need to be told twice. They moved to the table, tearing into the assortment of meats, with near ravenousness. Bjorn gnawed on a massive haunch, his sharp teeth making short work of it, while Tanisha stuck to smaller cuts, savoring the well-seasoned flavors. They both ignored the vegetable dishes entirely.
As they finished their meal, Fuyumi's eyes slowly opened, her serene expression breaking the moment she spotted Tanisha. Her gaze widened in shock as she stood abruptly, her calm demeanor replaced by concern.
"Tanisha! What in the name of the Divines happened to you?" Fuyumi exclaimed, her voice sharp with worry.
The sudden disruption snapped Aurelius out of his trance. His eyes flew open, immediately narrowing as he took in Tanisha's battered appearance.
"I knew I should've gone with you." Aurelius stated.
Tanisha glanced down at herself. Her armor was a mess, shattered pauldron, deep cuts across the plates, and dried blood staining the cracks. She had forgotten to clean the blood off the armor when she washed herself. It probably looked like she just stepped off the battlefield.
"It looks worse than it is," she said, attempting a smile. "Look, let's focus on your training first, and then we can talk about my little misadventure. That and I am sure you two have some things to tell me."
Fuyumi's expression didn't soften, but she didn't press further for an explanation. Instead she motioned for a place for Tanisha to sit and join the training session. Tanisha's armor vanished into her inventory all at once leaving her in her more comfortable tunic and pants as she sat down.
As she settled in she said, "I think I'm going to need to get a lot stronger if I'm going to make it through this place."