The Forgotten Forest was alive with sound. The groaning of ancient trees, the soft hum of dormant machines, and the faint rustle of unseen creatures created a cacophony that made the air feel alive. Astra followed Korin closely, their heart ticking faster with every step. The glowing shard of Aetherium Korin carried in his hand provided a dim light, casting flickering shadows that danced like ghosts across the twisted landscape.
"What's out here?" Astra whispered, their voice barely audible over the steady thrum of the forest.
"Everything the Clockmaker left behind," Korin replied, his tone grim. "Prototypes, experiments, and failures. Machines like the Enforcer—and worse."
Astra shivered, gripping the strap of their satchel tightly. The forest felt wrong, as if the very ground beneath their feet were alive and watching. The ticking in their chest grew louder, syncing with the strange energy that seemed to pulse through the trees.
"Why would he leave all of this?" Astra asked, their voice trembling.
Korin stopped, turning to face them. His sharp eyes glinted in the dim light. "Because even geniuses make mistakes. The Clockmaker's machines weren't perfect—they were dangerous. When he couldn't control them, he abandoned them here, hoping no one would ever find them."
"But someone did," Astra said, their thoughts drifting back to the Enforcer. "Someone sent that thing after me."
Korin nodded. "And they'll send more if we don't figure out what they want."
---
They pushed deeper into the forest, the air growing heavier with every step. Strange shapes loomed in the shadows—hulking, rusted machines with limbs like skeletal branches, their gears frozen in mid-motion. Astra's hand brushed against one of the machines, and a faint spark of light flickered across its surface.
"Careful," Korin warned, pulling them back. "Some of these things are still active."
"How do you know?" Astra asked, their pulse quickening.
"Because they're reacting to you," Korin said, his voice tinged with worry. "Your Core is waking them up."
Astra stared at the dormant machine, their chest tightening. The ticking grew louder, a relentless rhythm that seemed to echo through the forest. "What does that mean?"
"It means we're running out of time," Korin said, his tone sharp. "The Core isn't just a power source—it's a signal. And whatever it's signaling, we're heading straight for it."
---
The clearing appeared suddenly, the dense trees giving way to a wide expanse of open ground. At its center stood a massive machine, its design unlike anything Astra had ever seen. It was shaped like a giant clock, its face covered in intricate gears and symbols that glowed faintly with Aetherium energy. Long, spindly arms extended from its sides, each tipped with a sharp, blade-like appendage.
"What is that?" Astra asked, their voice barely above a whisper.
"The Titan," Korin said, his expression dark. "One of the Clockmaker's most ambitious creations. It was supposed to guard the Chronosphere, but something went wrong. He left it here to rust."
The Titan was still, its massive frame covered in vines and moss. But as Astra stepped closer, the ticking in their chest grew deafening, and the faint glow of Aetherium spread across the machine's surface.
"It's waking up," Korin said, his voice urgent. "Astra, get back!"
Before Astra could move, the Titan's eyes snapped open, blazing with red light. The ground shook as it rose to its full height, its limbs creaking and groaning with effort. The machine let out a deafening roar, its voice a chorus of grinding metal and rushing steam.
"Run!" Korin shouted, grabbing Astra's arm and pulling them back into the trees.
The Titan moved with surprising speed, its bladed arms slicing through the air. Astra stumbled, their heart pounding—or ticking—as the machine closed in. The glow of Aetherium spread through the forest, lighting up the dormant machines that littered the ground. One by one, they began to stir, their gears grinding to life.
"This way!" Korin shouted, dragging Astra toward a narrow path that wound through the trees.
The Titan's roar shook the ground, and Astra risked a glance over their shoulder. The massive machine tore through the forest, its limbs carving through the trees like paper. The smaller machines followed, their glowing eyes fixed on Astra.
"What do they want?" Astra shouted, their voice breaking.
"You," Korin replied, his tone grim. "Your Core is the key. They're programmed to protect the Clockmaker's work—and you're part of it."
---
They burst into another clearing, this one dominated by a massive stone structure. The carvings on its surface matched the designs on the Titan, intricate patterns of gears and stars that glowed faintly in the darkness.
"That's it," Korin said, his breath ragged. "The Clockmaker's main workshop. If there's a way to stop this, it's in there."
The Titan roared again, its massive frame looming at the edge of the clearing. Astra felt the ticking in their chest quicken, a sharp, relentless beat that echoed in their ears. Their hands tingled, the strange warmth spreading through their veins.
"Korin, I can't—" Astra began, but their words were cut off as the Titan lunged forward, its bladed arm slicing through the air.
Korin pushed them aside, the blade missing Astra by inches as it slammed into the ground. "Get inside!" he shouted, throwing a small, glowing device at the Titan. The explosion sent a shockwave through the clearing, but the machine barely flinched.
Astra stumbled toward the stone structure, their legs trembling as the ticking in their chest grew louder. The door was carved with symbols that seemed to pulse with light, and as Astra reached out, the patterns shifted, forming a spiral that glowed brighter with every beat of their heart.
"It's responding to you," Korin said, his voice urgent. "Open it!"
Astra pressed their hand to the door, and the spiral flared with light. The ticking in their chest synced with the glow, and with a low rumble, the door slid open. Astra stumbled inside, Korin close behind them as the Titan roared in frustration.
The door slammed shut, cutting off the sound of the machines outside. Astra collapsed to the floor, their chest heaving as the ticking in their Core began to slow.
"What… was that?" Astra gasped, their hands shaking.
"The start of something bigger," Korin said, his expression grim. "And we're right in the middle of it."
---