The Titanic shuddered as the iceberg bell tolled louder, a harbinger of the reset looming over the fragment. Shadows twisted and writhed at the edges of the deck, drawn toward the malevolent presence that descended with a thunderous impact.
The Sentinel stood tall, his jagged crimson-veined armor glowing faintly in the eerie light. His blade ignited with dark energy, casting flickering shadows across the deck. He exuded an overwhelming malice, his presence suffocating and oppressive. The enforcers, who had fought valiantly alongside the group, faltered in his wake.
Silva floated forward, her light steady but dim. "Sentinel, you don't have
"Understand?" The Sentinel's deep, guttural laugh cut through the tolling bell. His voice was sharp, dripping with disdain. "You understand nothing. You're a hollow husk, a pale reflection of what the Core is. You know emotion, Silva, but you cannot feel it. Your words are as empty as you are."
His words struck Silva visibly, her glow flickering. She opened her mouth to respond, but the Sentinel's blade ignited, and his gaze turned toward the enforcers.
"You've fought bravely," he said, his voice now cold and commanding. "But stand in my way, and you will perish. Do not mistake survival for courage."
The enforcers exchanged wary glances, their grips tightening on their weapons. One stepped forward, hesitating before bowing his head. "We can't defeat him," he admitted, stepping back. "This is beyond us."
Amara, Kieran, and Rowan exchanged looks of understanding. Kieran nodded toward the enforcers. "It's okay. We understand."
The enforcers retreated, their postures tense but resigned. The group stood alone.
The Sentinel tilted his head, his smirk deepening. "Wise choice. Pity your friends don't share your self-preservation."
Rowan stepped forward, gripping her spear tightly. "You think you can just waltz in here and intimidate us?" she snarled. "Think again."
She lunged with a battle cry, her spear glowing brightly as she aimed for the Sentinel's core. He caught the spear mid-thrust with a single hand, his grip like iron. With a twist of his wrist, he wrenched the weapon from her hands and flung it aside. His free hand shot forward, seizing her by the throat and lifting her off her feet effortlessly.
"Predictable," the Sentinel said, his crimson eyes glowing brighter. Rowan clawed at his hand, struggling against his grip. "Charging in like a rabid beast? You'll never get anywhere with brute force alone."
Amara fired a shot from her rifle, the glowing bullet whizzing past the Sentinel's head by inches. He turned his crimson glare toward her, his shadowed helm seemed to smirk twisting into a sneer.
"Pathetic." He growled.
Kieran charged next, his shield glowing as he used it like a battering ram. The Sentinel met him with a powerful front kick, sending him stumbling back. Without hesitation, the Sentinel hurled Rowan full force at Amara. Instinctively, Amara dropped her rifle and caught Rowan, the impact knocking them both to the ground.
The Sentinel closed the distance in an instant, his blade crackling with dark energy. He brought it down in a devastating arc, forcing Kieran to block with his shield. The sheer force drove him to his knees, the shield's glow flickering under the strain. The Sentinel's laughter rang out, cold and merciless.
"You underestimate me because of our last encounter," he said, his voice filled with contempt. "I held back then. Now, I show you what true strength looks like."
With a brutal strike, the Sentinel disarmed Kieran, sending his shield skittering across the deck. He turned to Amara, who struggled to her feet, her breathing ragged.
"And you," he said, his voice low and venomous. "One-dimensional. Useless at close range. So rigid, so limited. Unlike Darya. She was special." He sneered, his gaze piercing. "You're just a shadow of her potential."
He struck her with the flat of his blade, sending her sprawling across the deck. "Trash," he spat, turning his attention toward Silva. "Defeating you will tilt the balance in the Core's favor. It's time Yggdrasil's dominance ended."
Amara lay on the ground, her body aching, her mind swirling with doubt. She had failed to protect Rowan, Kieran, and now Silva. The Sentinel's words cut deeper than his blade ever could.
Useless. One-dimensional. Trash.
Memories of Darya flooded her mind—her strength, her leadership, her grace. Amara clenched her fists, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm not like her," she whispered. "I'm not enough…"
But then, fragments of Captain Smith's words to Aiden surfaced in her mind: "It's not about the cycle, boy. It's about what you do within it. Darkness doesn't define you—it's the choices you make that matter. Even in despair, you can find light." And Darya's voice, warm and steady, echoed through her thoughts: 'Lead with your heart, Amara. It'll guide you when nothing else can.'
A spark ignited within her.
Amara pushed herself to her knees, focusing on the faint glow of her rifle. She closed her eyes, reaching deep into her emotions—her greatest anguish, her most cherished memories. Her love for her town, her loyalty to her friends, her grief for Darya. The rifle trembled in her grasp, light and shadow intertwining as it began to change.
The weapon twisted and reshaped itself, the barrel folding into ornate fan blades. The transformation completed with a burst of energy, and Amara held Darya's fan in her hands—a weapon infused with light and dark, a testament to both her mentor's legacy and her own growth.
The Sentinel turned, sensing the surge of power. He froze, his crimson eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of Amara standing, her new weapon glowing faintly.
"Interesting," he said, his tone unreadable. "Let's see if you're worth my time."
Amara raised the fan, the blades shimmering with a soft glow. She took a steadying breath, her resolve firm. "I'm not Darya," she said, her voice steady. "But I'll fight for what she believed in. And I'll prove you wrong."
Silva floated behind her, her light flickering as she retreated. "Amara…"
The Sentinel's blade ignited once more, the shadows around him surging. He grinned, his malice palpable. "Then show me what you've got."