The tunnel shook as Veyra ran, the rumble growing louder. The Sanctum's defensive protocols were activating, and she could feel the energy in the air—raw, unyielding, and dangerous. The gene-seeds in her pack pulsed in sync with the Sanctum's power, guiding her forward. She didn't know what the defenses entailed, but she knew they'd be as deadly as the trials she'd faced. She had to stay sharp, to survive long enough to reach the Sanctum's core.
The tunnel opened into a large chamber, its walls lined with glowing crystals that pulsed with a red light. In the center was a massive construct—a towering figure made of crystal and metal, its body humanoid but faceless, its arms ending in sharp blades. The construct's eyes glowed with the same red light as the crystals, and it turned to face Veyra, its movements slow but deliberate. The voice spoke, its tone cold. "Intruders will be eliminated," it said. "Prove your worth, or perish."
Veyra's heart raced. This was one of the Sanctum's guardians, designed to protect its secrets. She raised her hands, her glowing light ready, but the construct was fast, its blades slashing through the air. Veyra dodged, her enhanced reflexes saving her, and fired a burst of light, the beam striking the construct's chest. The impact left a crack, but the construct didn't slow, its blades coming for her again.
She ducked, rolling to the side as one of the massive blades smashed into the stone where she had stood a moment before. Shards of rock exploded outward, stinging her arms and legs. The construct pivoted, adjusting instantly, and brought its second blade down in a wide arc. Veyra leaped backward, barely avoiding the lethal edge, her breath coming in sharp gasps.
The construct advanced, stepping through the debris with mechanical precision. Its attacks were relentless, forcing Veyra on the defensive. She needed to find a weak point, something she could exploit. She fired another concentrated beam of light at its leg, but the construct twisted at the last second, the attack glancing off harmlessly.
It lunged again, and this time, Veyra wasn't fast enough. The blade grazed her side, the heat searing through her suit. Pain flared through her ribs, but she grit her teeth and forced herself to keep moving. If she slowed down now, she was dead.
She changed tactics, darting to the side rather than retreating. The construct swung again, but this time she anticipated its motion, ducking under its arm and slipping behind it. Before it could turn, she struck, aiming her light directly at the cracks she had made earlier. The beam burned into the weakened metal, widening the damage, but still, the construct did not fall.
With a grinding sound, it twisted its upper body unnaturally, bringing a blade sweeping toward her at an impossible angle. Veyra barely managed to dive out of the way, rolling across the rough stone floor. She scrambled to her feet, sweat dripping down her back. This thing wasn't just strong—it was learning.
The crystals lining the chamber pulsed faster, as if responding to the battle. The energy in the air thickened, making her skin tingle. The construct's glowing eyes flickered, and suddenly, it moved even faster.
Veyra barely had time to react as it lunged, both blades slicing toward her in a vicious cross-slash. She threw herself backward, landing hard on her elbows, and fired another burst of light. The attack hit its mark, striking the construct's damaged chest. Cracks spiderwebbed outward, and for the first time, the machine hesitated.
She didn't waste the opportunity. Summoning every ounce of strength, she charged, dodging one final desperate swing before slamming her hands directly into the construct's fractured core. A surge of light erupted from her palms, burning into the crystal and metal, and with a final, shuddering screech, the construct collapsed.
The chamber's crystals dimmed, and a new tunnel opened. Veyra stood panting, one hand pressed to her injured side. She had won—but the battle had cost her.
She couldn't afford to slow down. The Gene Lords were still coming, and she had to reach the Sanctum's core before it was too late. Clutching her side, she ran, disappearing into the darkness ahead.