All Chapters of Iron Sentinel: The Shadow Crown: Chapter 1
- Chapter 10
11 chapters
CHAPTER 1: THE LAST DANCE OF THE QUEEN
“They have reached the door of the throne room, my Sentinel. This is my final dance.”Empress Elara Alaric's voice was calm. So calm, like the center of a storm, that even the thud of Vexxos's sledgehammer against the bronze door echoed throughout the marble-floored chamber.Outside, the Annual Gear Festival had transformed from a celebration of industrial progress into a whirlwind of screams and mass slaughter. Thick, jet-black smoke billowed from the park pavilions, carrying the ozone smell of energy weapons and the coppery tang of blood.“This door will hold for another 7.4 minutes, Your Majesty,” Grimbolt reported.Its three-meter-tall chassis glinted in the light of the crystal chandelier. It stood between the throne and the door like a motionless fortress of steel and bronze. Its yellow optics scanned every corner while its machine's processors raced inside.“The evacuation protocols have been activated,” Grimbolt said again. “Prince Valerius is safe in the chamber behind the th
CHAPTER 2: THE RAT MABYRINTH
“Mom, don’t leave me, Mom.” Valerius held Elara’s chest which was leaking a lot of thick red fluid.Elara didn't move. Her eyes were open with tears flowing."Mom?" Valerius shook his mother's body but there was no movement. "Mom!" The shaking on Elara's body became stronger but there was no response from the Empress.His world was shattered. He didn't know what to do without Elara.“Mom, what will happen to me?” Valerius cried sadly.Within Grimbolt's dying processing core, the robot recorded everything. The sound of the energy shot. The Empress's body falling to the marble floor. Commander Kael's cold laugh. And Elara's final command. That promise. He had failed to protect everyone.Kael let the little prince cry over Elara's body while he laughed heartily. As Kael turned to give his soldiers further orders, a small black flash shot from the back of the Empress's throne.“Traitor! Rust eater!” screamed a shrill, mechanical voice.A mechanical crow the size of an eagle, its eyes made
CHAPTER 3: BATTLE AT THE VALVE JUNCTION
“Again,” Grimbolt growled.He attacked once more with all three tons of weight pushed by pistons powered by desperation and promise.This time, a sharp cracking sound was heard. One of the giant hinges at the top snapped, sending a shower of rust dust down. The gate tilted slightly, creating a small gap on one side.“He broke through!” the Vexxos team shouted again.Grimbolt didn't stop. He struck again a third time, hitting the exact same spot. A painful metallic screech, and finally, the second hinge broke.The giant gate fell, crashing into the tunnel on the other side with a deafening crash. The impact even created a makeshift bridge over the deep sewer.Meanwhile, Valerius remained hunched over, closing his eyes and holding his head to prevent the rain of rust dust from hitting him.Grimbolt stumbled forward with smoke billowing from his dented shoulder.“Continue,” Grimbolt ordered Valerius.Valerius raised his head. The fallen gate opened before him.“We move,” Grimbolt said ag
CHAPTER 4: DANCE OF VIBRATING BLADE
“I… I will never tell you anything, monster!” the soldier stammered back.“Answer acceptable,” Grimbolt replied. With steady pressure, he crushed the soldier’s chest armor.Valerius peered through the valve. He stared in horror at the cold violence. Grimbolt dropped the limp body and turned around. Amidst the rain of boiling sewage and surrounded by steam and shadows, the robot looked like an ancient demon.“We have to go now,” Grimbolt said, his voice calm again. “That explosion is sure to attract more attention.”He then helped Valerius to his feet. As they prepared to run into one of the now-empty tunnels, a new voice rang out from the darkness ahead.“Not so fast.”From one of the dark tunnels, a shadowy figure emerged. He wasn't wearing the usual soldier's armor. He wore a long black trench coat over a lighter uniform.In one hand he held a pair of long daggers whose vibrating blades were enveloped in some kind of hissing pale blue energy field.“Team Echo, reporting in,” the man
CHAPTER 5: THE PRINCE METEOR
“I told you. You’re just a dinosaur waiting to die,” Jax said again. This time he smiled cruelly. “And I’m the meteor.”Jax's triumphant voice echoed through the damp valve junction. He raised his vibrating dagger, the pale blue blade reflecting in his hate-filled eyes.Beneath his feet, the dying Grimbolt's optics flickered. And its light dimmed rapidly, almost to the point of extinction.“An overblown metaphor,” Cogs squealed from Grimbolt’s grasp, his voice hoarse with fear but still sharp. “Meteors are blind and stupid things. At least it suits you.”Cogs's words reminded Valerius of Elara. The bird's words seemed to be something Elara would say when she didn't like something. It either amused him or made him even sadder. He couldn't decide how he felt at the moment.Jax ignored the mechanical bird's words. The man savored the moment of victory over a legend.“I’ll tell Commander Kael that you fought bravely,” he said to the still-defenseless Grimbolt. A moment later, he chuckled
CHAPTER 6: THE DOOR OF THE SET SUN
“Probability…of survival…below…one percent,” Grimbolt replied. His optics flickered wildly. “Laser usage…depleted…last reserves. Power status…1 percent.”The rubble didn't just bury Jax. It completely blocked his way back.“We have to find another way out,” Valerius said, his voice now strained. He turned on the small flashlight that had been lying near his feet. Its weak light pierced the darkness.Just as Valerius did so, the light stopped on something hidden behind the pillar where Jax had previously been hiding.It was a door. It was a distinct shape. It was made of reinforced steel with a symbol Valerius recognized engraved on it: the faded sun symbol of Alaric's Kingdom.“Grimbolt… look,” he whispered in a voice full of wonder.Grimbolt, barely able to lift his head, followed the flashlight's beam. He knew the place.“An… old… era… emergency… shelter… post. Built… by… your… grandfather.”That was the shelter Elara had prepared. The old workshop had been found. That was what Elar
CHAPTER 7: THE FIRST SPLASH
“Don't even think about taking him,” Valerius whispered breathlessly.A sudden thought occurred to him, and it was all he could do. He grabbed Jax's second vibrating dagger from the floor, which the man had thrown earlier, activated it, and threw it like a spear at the unstable pile of pipes above Jax's head.It was a weak throw, but enough. The trembling blade struck a fragile support pipe, and another section of the ceiling collapsed. This time, it landed directly in front of Jax, temporarily cutting off his path.“Now, Cogs!” Valerius ordered.Inside the workshop, Cogs used all his strength to try and peck at the lever labeled “Crane.” A loud buzzing sound was heard. The crane sprang to life and began moving along its tracks toward the door.Valerius frantically hooked the giant crane hook onto one of Grimbolt's shoulder plates.“Pick it up, Cogs!” he ordered again.The crane tensed. Its motor roared in protest. Slowly, inch by inch, the crane began to lift Grimbolt's body off the
CHAPTER 8: FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Then his eyes fell on a heavy lead pipe. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.Valerius then stood between the door and Grimbolt's helpless body. He was now the last line of defense.Valerius's heart was beating erratically. At times like this, he couldn't think of anything else. He only thought about his life, Grimbolt's, and Cogs's. Even though he was annoyed with Grimbolt and disliked Cogs' sarcastic remarks, he would still defend them. Because they were now his family.Valerius glanced at Grimbolt. Grimbolt's core pulsed brighter.Buzz… buzz… buzz.Then Valerius' gaze shifted to the door. The hole in it was now the size of a fist. He could see sparks coming from the other side.Buzz… BUZZ… BUZZ.Valerius swallowed hard.“This is the time,” he muttered, holding the lead pipe tightly in his trembling hands.Suddenly with a soundKLANGWith a loud bang, a square section of the door fell off, revealing Lieutenant Jax's charred, triumphant face. Valerius stared in horror at Jax
CHAPTER 9: FIRST LESSON IN METAL AND FAT
“For now,” Grimbolt said. He tried to stand, and this time with great effort, he managed to rise and lean heavily against the workbench. “But he’ll definitely be back. And he’ll bring more friends.”Valerius stared at the shattered door. They had won the battle, but they had turned the fortress into a marked target. The peace only lasted a few minutes.“So, what do we do now?” Valerius asked. He felt more tired than before and thirsty.“Now,” Grimbolt replied. His optics scanned the damage to his own leg. “You’re learning to be a mechanic. And you’ll learn fast.”“Me?” Valerius replied, his voice choked with shock. “I’m a prince, not a mechanic. I don’t even know how to change a light bulb.”Valerius looked at the still-sitting Grimbolt and then at the shattered door. The reality of the situation hit him with renewed force. They weren't safe for long, and they were only buying time.“A plain and sad fact,” Cogs screeched from his perch atop the control lever. He then flew down and lan
CHAPTER 10: SECOND LESSON IN CHEMISTRY AND CHAOS
Every bang on the door made the entire wall vibrate, sending vibrations through the concrete floor and dancing dust in the lamplight.“Making improvised explosive devices is a complex discipline,” Grimbolt replied. His steady optics were fixed on the dented door. “It requires an understanding of chemistry, chain reactions, and containment design. Introductory courses typically take a few weeks.”Valerius blinked as he listened to Grimbolt's story. The banging on the door made him realize that time was running out.“We only have about ten minutes!” Valerius said, frantically looking around the workshop. “There’s got to be something in here, right?! Gunpowder? Nitroglycerin?”“This workshop is a mechanical facility and not a weapons laboratory, Prince,” Grimbolt said. “Stable explosives are not found here.”A small crack appeared on one of the door hinges, briefly distracting Valerius.“Then make an unstable explosive!” Valerius hissed urgently.“Yes,” Grimbolt replied quietly. He turne