Chapter 28: Clash with the Sentinel
The Dominion Sentinel loomed in the chamber, its massive frame crackling with energy drawn from the Keystone itself. It was a towering fusion of machinery and raw Fragment power, with sharp, angular limbs that glowed with molten veins of energy. Its singular, glowing eye locked onto Nathan, as though recognizing the power within him.
"Stay back," Nathan ordered, stepping forward. His blade ignited with dark flames, his Fragment resonating with the Keystone's energy.
The Sentinel's mechanical voice boomed. "Access denied. Surrender the Fragment or face termination."
Lyra smirked, flipping a dagger in her hand. "Guess negotiation's off the table."
Kael hefted his weapon. "It never was."
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The Fight Begins
The Sentinel attacked first, slamming one of its colossal arms into the ground. The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, forcing the team to scatter.
Nathan dodged to the side, slashing at the arm with his blade. The dark flames bit into the Sentinel's armor, but it quickly retaliated, swiping at him with surprising speed.
"Selene, find a weak spot!" Lyra shouted, hurling her daggers at the Sentinel's joints. The weapons bounced harmlessly off its reinforced plating.
Selene frantically scanned the construct with her tablet. "Its core is linked directly to the Keystone's energy. We need to disrupt the flow somehow!"
Kael roared, charging at the Sentinel with his energy hammer. He brought the weapon down on one of its legs, creating a dent but failing to topple the machine. The Sentinel countered with a burst of energy, sending Kael flying into a wall.
"I'm fine!" Kael grunted, pulling himself up. "Just keep hitting it!"
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Nathan's Stand
As the battle raged, Nathan felt his Fragment pulling him closer to the Keystone. The energy coursing through the chamber was overwhelming, but he focused on the task at hand.
"Cover me!" he shouted, dashing toward the Keystone.
The Sentinel immediately shifted its focus, releasing a torrent of energy beams aimed at Nathan. Lyra and Kael intercepted, using their weapons to deflect the blasts while Selene activated a shield projector.
Nathan leaped onto the Sentinel's arm, using his blade to climb toward its chest. The Fragment in his gauntlet flared, feeding him bursts of power as he struck at the Sentinel's core.
The construct roared, its movements becoming erratic. Sparks flew from its joints as Nathan's attacks disrupted its energy flow.
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Disrupting the Keystone
Selene's voice cut through the chaos. "Nathan! The Keystone's energy field is destabilizing. If you get close enough, your Fragment should be able to disrupt it!"
Nathan jumped from the Sentinel's chest, landing near the Keystone. The energy field around it crackled, reacting violently to his presence.
"Do it now!" Lyra yelled, dodging another swipe from the Sentinel.
Nathan extended his hand toward the Keystone, his gauntlet glowing brighter than ever. The Fragment resonated with the Keystone, creating a harmonic wave of energy that filled the chamber.
The Sentinel froze, its movements stuttering as the energy link between it and the Keystone was severed. Nathan gritted his teeth, pouring all his focus into stabilizing the flow.
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The Keystone's Power
With a final surge of energy, the Keystone's field shattered. The glowing crystal dimmed, and the Sentinel collapsed to the ground, lifeless. The chamber fell silent, save for the hum of residual energy.
Nathan fell to his knees, his gauntlet still glowing faintly. He felt a new surge of power within him, as though the Keystone had transferred part of its energy to his Fragment.
Selene rushed to his side. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Nathan said, his voice strained. "But I think the Keystone… it's connected to me now."
Kael approached, his weapon slung over his shoulder. "Let's hope that's a good thing. We need to move before the Dominion figures out what happened."
Lyra knelt by the Keystone, studying it closely. "If the Dominion was willing to guard this place with a Sentinel, they won't give up that easily. We've made ourselves a target."
Nathan stood, his determination renewed. "Let them come. We're not stopping here."
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The Next Step
As the team prepared to leave, Alaric's voice came through their comms. "You've done it. The Keystone's energy is stabilizing the Fragments you carry. This is a critical step, but the Dominion won't let this go unanswered."
Nathan looked back at the Keystone, now a dormant shard of its former self. "What's next?"
"There are more Fragments scattered across the world," Alaric replied. "If we can find and stabilize them, we can stop the Nexus Protocol for good. But be warned—the further you go, the stronger the opposition will become."
Nathan nodded, his resolve unshaken. "We'll face whatever comes. This is just the beginning."
With the Keystone secured and their mission far from over, the team left the Abyssal Spire, ready to face the challenges ahead.