Gateway to the Past
Kael and Aveline's footsteps echoed down the long hallway they had entered after defeating the Hound Despair. The walls around them had changed drastically. Where once they had been filled with ancient carvings, the hallway now looked like the interior of a spaceship.
The metal walls gleamed with blue light, filled with wires that pulsed like veins. The floor beneath them felt cold, and a low humming sound hung in the air, as if a giant machine was operating far beneath them.
"This is no ordinary magic," Aveline murmured, her eyes glued to a holographic screen that appeared on one of the walls. "This technology… is long gone. Like a relic from a more advanced civilization."
Kael nodded. "This tower is full of surprises. Could this be the technology that keeps it going?" was the likely answer.
In one corner of the room, they found a small medical station with a green light flashing slowly. Aveline pulled Kael into a metal chair, forcing him to sit down.
"Sit still. I need to make sure your wound doesn't get infected," she said in a commanding tone.
Kael raised his hand. "I'm fine, really."
"Shut up," Aveline interrupted, taking a device from the table that looked like an auto-injector. She pressed it against Kael's wound, and it emitted a blue light before the wound felt a little lighter.
Kael looked at Aveline who was busy treating him, a smile appearing unconsciously. "You're always worried about me, huh?"
Aveline glanced at him briefly, then looked away, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You're just too careless."
"Maybe, but I'm also quite lucky to have someone like you here," Kael replied, his voice softer than usual.
Aveline remained silent, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Enemy
As they continued their journey, Prisma suddenly let out a warning sound.
"Energy source approaching. Detection: Cybernetic Sentinel. Risk: High."
From the end of the hallway, the sound of metal crackling could be heard. A humanoid creature, two meters tall, with a body made entirely of gleaming metal, emerged. Its eyes glowed red, and on its arm was a plasma gun that hissed deadly.
"What is that?" Kael asked, gripping his sword tightly.
"Guards. This technology is used to protect ancient facilities," Prisma replied. "Be careful. Their weapons are far beyond conventional power."
Kael and Aveline immediately prepared. Kael charged with his sword, trying to slash the metal body. However, his attack bounced off like it had hit pure steel.
"It's no use!" Aveline shouted, creating a magical arrow that struck the Sentinel's head. The arrow managed to disrupt its systems, but only for a moment.
"We have to attack its energy part!" Prisma shouted. "They have a core in their chest."
Kael jumped to the side to avoid the plasma shot, while Aveline distracted the Sentinel with her light magic. "Aveline, hold it off for a little longer!" Kael shouted, sneaking up behind the creature.
Aveline raised both hands, creating a holographic illusion that confused the Sentinel's sensors. "Hurry, Kael! I can't hold this for much longer!"
Kael jumped onto the Sentinel's shoulder, stabbing his sword into the creature's chest. As his sword pierced the energy core, sparks and energy waves destroyed the Sentinel's body from the inside.
The creature collapsed, leaving behind a bright blue energy core.
"We did it!" Aveline exclaimed, running over to the panting Kael.
New Discovery
Kael picked up the energy core. Prisma quickly analyzed it.
"New Item: Cybernetic Core. Usage: Integration with Prisma's system for enhanced analysis and access to ancient technology."
"This could be very useful," Kael said. "There must be more secrets to this tower that only technology like this can access."
Aveline nodded, though her eyes remained wary. "We must be careful. The further we go in, the more dangerous the enemies we face."
Kael smiled. "Dangerous or not, we're still going together."
Aveline rolled her eyes, but the slight smile on her face showed that she agreed.