Chapter 7

                                                                 The Fury of the Sentinel

The cavern echoed with the Sentinel's footsteps, each one laden with the weight of age-old might. The ground shook beneath Zara's feet, as though the earth itself were yielding to the creature's will, and she could feel it in her bones. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps, and her pulse thumped in her ears.

Not much had ever scared her. She had, after all, fought against the perils of this broken planet, scavenged among ruins, and survived the fall of an empire. But the horror clutched at her, a deep, gnawing emotion that threatened to suffocate her, as she stood before the Sentinel, an old, living weapon.

She was dragged back towards the cavern's shadows by Kael's firm grip on her arm. "Zara, get moving!" he yelled, his voice full of desperation.

She didn't require two reminders. They fled into the cave's darkness, Kael at the forefront, avoiding the dazzling light that the Sentinel's presence seemed to evoke. Zara's feet slipped on the uneven ground and she fell over loose rocks, her pulse thumping terribly in her chest. The Sentinel's breathing became more rapid and louder, as if it could sense their presence and follow them across the tunnel like a predator following its prey's scent.

"We must reach the surface," Kael stated in a sombre tone. "This isn't where we can fight it."

Zara nodded, her thoughts whirling. She didn't know the location of the surface or how they were going to get away from the beast that appeared to be everywhere at once. In her hand, the crystal she had awakened remained warm, its light flickering in an eerie rhythm. She could sense the force within it every time she looked at it, as though it were calling to the exact thing they were attempting to avoid.

Zara murmured in a barely audible whisper, "We're not going to make it," but Kael could hear her.

He answered in a stern, even harsh voice, "Don't say that." "We'll succeed. Simply keep going.

They raced ahead, running through the narrow passages of the demolished building. The vault's once-grand hallways were now dim and dilapidated, with crumbling and broken stone walls. They were forced to keep going even though every turn appeared to be a trap and every shadow to be a threat.

Zara's mind whirled in confusion. She wasn't sure if they would survive or even if they could outrun the Sentinel. However, there was no doubt that the Sentinel was pursuing them and would not give up.

Kael slowed his speed ahead and motioned Zara to halt. Glancing over the corner, she could see the entrance, a thin, cramped passage leading to the surface. A glimmer of optimism was provided by the light from the outside world that filtered through the gaps. However, a low, guttural growl resounded from behind them just as they believed they had discovered a way out.

The Guard.

Zara turned in time to see the shape of the beast towering in the doorway from which they had just emerged. It was enormous, nearly twice as big as a man, with a body armoured with crystalline, dark plating that glinted in the low light. Its movements were robotic and deliberate, and its eyes radiated an odd crimson light. Zara could feel the pressure rising in her chest, as if the air itself were being drawn out of her lungs, while the air around it sparked with energy.

Kael stated in a low, nearly dejected voice, "It won't let us go."

Zara's thoughts were racing. She looked at Kael, then at the doorway directly in front of her. They were unable to remain here. However, they also needed a plan in order to combat this issue. They lacked the weaponry necessary to defeat it. Their speed was the only advantage they possessed, and it wouldn't last long.

"Kael," she continued urgently, "we must use the crystal." It is the only thing capable of preventing it.

Kael's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he shook his head. The Empire sought to control the Sentinels by using the crystal. We can't take the chance. We have no idea what it will do.

Zara looked back at the gem that was shining in her hand. In her hands, it buzzed as though it were alive. "We have no other option. We die if we don't use it. Instead of allowing the power to govern us, we must take charge of it.

Kael's jaw tightened as he paused. "You're correct. But we must move quickly. There is no way that creature will wait for us to solve it.

Zara gave a nod, already experiencing the pressure of the choice. She didn't know if the crystal would work at all, let alone how to utilise it. However, she and Kael were both running out of time.

Zara quickly lifted the crystal over her head, causing its light to flare brilliantly. She felt the energy flood through her and concentrated on it. She took a moment to gather her strength and closed her eyes. Like the thing that stood between them and their escape, the power within the crystal was old and terrifying.

The world appeared to be shifting as if time itself were bending, and the air around her seemed to spark when she opened her eyes once more. As the crystal's light intensified, Zara briefly experienced a sense of being a part of something far greater than herself—something deep, wide, and strong. She sensed it even though she didn't understand it.

With a low growl, the Sentinel narrowed its red eyes and started to approach them. Zara gripped the crystal tighter, the heat radiating from her fingers scorching. Now she needed to do something.

She let out a piercing shout and pushed the crystal forward, launching an energy shockwave in the Sentinel's direction. It was knocked back with a howl as the blast's energy struck it squarely in the chest. Zara could see the Sentinel's armoured shape cracking, the crystal plating breaking in parts, exposing the black energy within, as the crystal's light flared again.

However, the Sentinel remained upright. It stumbled yet remained intact. Instead, Zara heard an unnatural howl that was so shrill that it rang in her ears. The noise was so loud that she staggered back, confused.

"Get moving!" With a cry, Kael grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the small opening. "We've enraged it, but we can't stop it—not in this manner."

Zara didn't require two reminders. The sound of the Sentinel's furious screams reverberated in the distance as she and Kael ran towards the surface, her heart thumping in her chest. They were unable to stop as the walls closed in around them and the cramped corridor seemed to go on forever.

They had nearly arrived.

Nearly free.

Zara, however, knew in her heart that this was far from finished. The Sentinel was only the first step. It was simply a question of time until it arrived for them all, regardless of the force that had been roused or the strength that they had released.