Noel wiped Revenant Fang against his sleeve, black steel gleaming faintly in the pale light of the sanctuary. The corpse of the automaton lay in pieces at their feet, its inner core sputtering out until only silence remained. For a heartbeat, it almost felt like they had bought themselves peace.

Then came the sound.

It was faint at first, like the turning of a single cog. But as seconds stretched, it multiplied—gears grinding, plates scraping, synchronized footsteps echoing through the hollow corridors. The noise rolled toward them from every direction, a metallic tide that made the walls seem alive.

Selene's eyes narrowed. Frost began to gather at her feet, spreading in hairline cracks across the stone. She shifted her wand into position, her breathing steady but her shoulders tense.

"More," Noel muttered, tilting his head toward the shadowed hall. He tightened his grip on Revenant Fang, sparks flickering briefly across the blade. "Guess one wasn't enough of a warm-up."

Shapes emerged from the darkness—first two, then four, then more. Gleaming armor that radiated a cold white glow, masks blank and eyeless, each step measured and perfectly in sync. There was no voice, no cry of challenge, only the steady march of machines built to kill.

Noel's smirk faded into something sharper. 'If the first one was already this much trouble…'

The air thickened with tension as the new wave closed in. Selene angled her wand, frost hissing in the air as mana pulsed through her veins. "We hold them here," she said simply, her voice cutting through the clamor of gears.

Noel rolled his shoulders, letting Ignition Surge spark faintly to life across his sword. "Fine by me. Let's see what these tin cans are really made of."

The first automaton lunged, its sword cleaving down in a perfect arc of light. Noel's instincts screamed, but Revenant Fang moved faster than thought, intercepting with a ringing clash that rattled the chamber. Sparks cascaded, steel grinding against cursed black.

More followed, stepping with mechanical precision, their glowing blades carving patterns through the air. Noel slid back, boots scraping the stone, forcing one construct away while Selene's frost erupted in jagged walls that slowed two more.

'Too many angles—'

The thought sharpened into crystal clarity as Revenant Fang pulsed in his hand.

[Trait: Harrowed Focus – Active.]

The world narrowed. Every swing of the enemy became clearer, every step predictable. Time itself felt stretched thin, the chaos of the fight untangling into threads he could grasp. Noel twisted under a strike, Revenant Fang snapping upward to slice clean through a joint, severing an arm with brutal precision.

Another closed in on his flank. Noel exhaled, pivoting just enough to meet it head-on, blade vibrating with Ignition Surge.

Beside him, Selene's wand pulsed. "Glacial Thrust!" A massive shard of ice pierced one automaton through the chest, pinning it against the wall before it shattered. But she staggered—the recoil of her own spell catching up to her.

Noel stepped forward instinctively, sword raised.

[Trait: Will of the Forgotten – Active.]

Heat flooded his limbs, Revenant Fang burning with unnatural sharpness. His strikes blurred, each one faster than the last, driving the machines back in a storm of steel and flame. For a fleeting moment, he was more than himself—faster, stronger, relentless.

But the cursed blade vibrated oddly in his hand, as if reminding him: there would be a cost.

The chamber shook with every clash. Three automatons pressed in, their movements mechanical but perfectly timed, blades weaving together like gears in a clock. A single mistake would mean a fatal strike.

Noel's breath came sharp, but his body moved like it wasn't his own. Revenant Fang cut through the air in fiery arcs, the cursed steel carrying Ignition Surge across its edge. Every swing left a trail of sparks and flame.

"Selene, left!" he shouted.

She didn't hesitate. "Permafrost Halo!" A ring of frost exploded outward, locking the nearest construct in sluggish motion, its limbs coated in brittle ice. Noel darted past, green eyes flaring with adrenaline as he drove Revenant Fang upward. The blade sheared through its neck, molten light spraying before the head clattered across the stones.

The system's response was immediate:

[You have slain Ascendant Automaton (Common – Ascendant). You received 0.30%.]

[Current Core Progress: 14.03% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

'Good. Keep going.'

Another construct lunged, stabbing with blinding precision. Noel ducked, sliding beneath its thrust. His sword ignited again. "Flamethrower!" Fire erupted from his free hand, washing across the machine's chest. Selene followed instantly, wand snapping forward. "Frozen Lance!" The spear of ice shattered through the weakened armor, skewering its core. The construct twitched once and collapsed in a heap.

Two remained, their glowing visors flashing as if analyzing the sudden shift in battle. Noel straightened, Revenant Fang humming in his grip. His body felt untouchable—driven by Will of the Forgotten. Every second was sharper, faster. He could almost see their openings before they moved.

Selene cast him a quick glance, cyan eyes narrowing. "You're pushing hard."

Noel spinning Revenant Fang in a ready stance. "And it's working."

The last automaton staggered back, its chest split wide open by Selene's Glacial Thrust. It faltered, gears grinding, before Noel's Revenant Fang cleaved down in a decisive arc. The head fell, light fading from its visor, and the construct collapsed in a ringing heap of steel.

[You have slain Ascendant Automaton (Common – Ascendant). You received 0.30%.]

[Current Core Progress: 14.33% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

For a moment, the chamber fell silent except for their ragged breaths. The heat from Noel's flames clashed with the lingering frost Selene had unleashed, leaving the air heavy with steam.

Selene lowered her wand, her shoulders rising and falling with uncharacteristic effort. Her usually precise steps wavered, and a sheen of sweat glistened on her pale skin. She exhaled slowly, lips parting just enough to betray her fatigue.

Noel wasn't doing much better. Revenant Fang felt heavier in his grip than ever, his arms burning from the constant strain. Harrowed Focus had sharpened his mind in battle, but now that it dulled, the weight of what they'd faced sank in. He let out a long breath, leaning briefly on the sword before forcing himself upright.

"Enough," Selene said quietly, almost reluctant to admit it. "We can't keep going like this without rest."

"Yeah," Noel agreed, scanning the corridor ahead. Nothing moved, but the faint echo of shifting gears in the distance promised more would come. "We need to pick a spot. Recover. Then figure out what the hell these things are."

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