**Chapter 16: The Sentinel's Watch**
The staircase led them into an open chamber unlike any they had seen before. Massive statues of beasts and warriors stood in eerie silence, their glowing eyes casting faint light across the expansive hall. The air was thick with tension, and the faint hum of energy vibrated through their bones.
"This feels... ancient," Rynna said, her Seraph floating closer to one of the statues. The runes etched into the stone seemed alive, shifting slightly as though whispering secrets.
Kaelen gripped his weapon tightly, his Fenrir growling low. "Ancient or not, it's too quiet for my liking."
Erythion studied the Sovereign System's overlay, which was alight with warnings.
**[Danger Level: High. Sentinel Detected. Potential Reward: Labyrinth Fragmentation Map.]**
"Sentinel?" he murmured, his eyes scanning the hall. His grip on the Warden's Key tightened as the faint sense of being watched grew stronger.
The sound of stone grinding against stone echoed through the chamber. One of the massive statues began to move, its glowing eyes intensifying as it stepped down from its pedestal.
**[Entity Identified: Labyrinth Sentinel. Rank: Low-Boss Tier. Attributes: Defense, Area Denial. Weakness: Exposed Runes (Back).]**
---
The Sentinel loomed over them, easily three times their height. Its stone body radiated an aura of impenetrability, and the runes on its surface glowed brighter as it took its first step forward.
Rynna's Seraph pulsed with energy, readying for combat. "We need to hit those runes," she said, her eyes narrowing. "It's the only way to weaken it."
Kaelen smirked, his Fenrir bristling with lightning. "Big and slow. My kind of fight."
The Sentinel raised its arm, and a massive stone blade emerged from its forearm. With a deafening roar, it slammed the blade into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
"Move!" Erythion shouted, diving to the side as the ground beneath them cracked and buckled. Obsidian leaped gracefully, avoiding the worst of the impact.
---
The group scattered, attacking the Sentinel from different angles. Kaelen charged in first, his Fenrir's lightning-coated claws slashing at the stone beast. Sparks flew, but the Sentinel seemed unaffected.
"It's too tough!" Kaelen shouted, dodging a backhanded swing that sent chunks of stone flying.
Rynna called on her Seraph, which unleashed beams of concentrated light at the Sentinel's head. The attack managed to stagger it slightly, but the beast retaliated with a devastating swipe, forcing her to retreat.
Erythion analyzed the battlefield, the Sovereign System highlighting weak points on the Sentinel's back.
**[Tactic Recommendation: Distract and Flank.]**
"Kaelen, keep its attention on you!" Erythion called. "Rynna, aim for the runes on its back. I'll find an opening."
Kaelen gritted his teeth, stepping forward with a wild grin. "Fine, but you owe me for this!"
The Fenrir howled, unleashing a surge of lightning that enveloped the Sentinel. The massive creature turned its focus on Kaelen, its attacks growing more precise and relentless.
---
Rynna moved carefully, her Seraph illuminating the Sentinel's back. The runes pulsed rhythmically, and she focused her attacks on them. Each strike weakened the glowing symbols slightly, but the Sentinel's movements made it difficult to land a decisive blow.
Erythion activated **Shadow Step**, teleporting to the far side of the chamber. He commanded Obsidian to flank the Sentinel, the direwolf moving silently through the shadows.
As the Sentinel raised its blade for another devastating attack, Erythion saw his chance. "Obsidian, Abyssal Rend!"
The direwolf howled, unleashing a wave of dark energy that struck the Sentinel's exposed runes. The stone beast roared in pain, staggering forward and leaving its back fully exposed.
"Rynna, now!"
Her Seraph charged a concentrated beam of light and fired, shattering one of the runes completely. The Sentinel let out a guttural roar, its movements growing sluggish.
---
Despite its weakened state, the Sentinel refused to fall. Its attacks became more erratic, the stone blade swinging wildly and creating massive shockwaves.
Erythion leaped onto its back, using the cracks created by Rynna's attack to climb higher. The Sovereign System highlighted the final intact rune, glowing faintly on the Sentinel's shoulder.
"Obsidian, cover me!" he shouted, gripping his blade tightly.
The Sentinel twisted violently, trying to shake him off, but Obsidian leaped onto its arm, biting down hard and anchoring the beast in place.
Erythion raised his blade, the Sovereign System channeling energy into the weapon. With a single, decisive strike, he shattered the final rune.
The Sentinel froze, its body glowing faintly before crumbling into a pile of rubble.
---
As the dust settled, a pedestal rose from the center of the chamber, holding a glowing scroll.
**[Reward Acquired: Labyrinth Fragmentation Map.]**
- Effect: Reveals the structure and potential exits of the labyrinth.
Erythion picked up the scroll, the Sovereign System instantly integrating its data. A partial map of the labyrinth appeared in his vision, showing pathways and hidden chambers they hadn't explored yet.
"This will make things easier," he said, handing the scroll to Rynna for safekeeping.
Kaelen groaned, sitting heavily on a chunk of rubble. "Easier? You call that mess easy?"
Rynna smiled faintly, her exhaustion evident. "It's a good start."
Erythion's gaze drifted back to the ruined Sentinel. The whispers that had haunted him since entering the labyrinth returned, louder this time.
**"You're growing stronger, but the true test is yet to come. The shadow watches, and it is patient."**
A chill ran down his spine, but he pushed the feeling aside. Whatever was waiting for them, they would face it together.
But even with that thought, he knows that it is there weakness that stops them from going any further because they will be killed if they face another creature or shadow's in the current state they are in, so they reached there cross road .
Either to keep moving forward or to go back and come again.
*End of Chapter 16.*