Iron Sovereign: I Hunt the Apex

Chapter 3: The Ancient Sentry

Aiden took a step back, his boots grinding against loose glass on the sidewalk. The heat radiating from the construct's red blade washed over his face, dry and suffocating. The machine stood seven feet tall, its dark metal frame covered in sharp angles and glowing red lines. It did not breathe or growl like the stone hide beasts. It just stared at him with its single red eye, analyzing his presence with cold logic.

Aiden held his iron pipe in two hands, keeping his body low. The pipe felt sturdy, but he knew a normal piece of scrap metal would not block a blade made of pure energy. He needed to rely on his speed and the reflexes he had just absorbed.

The construct moved without warning. It did not take a wind-up stance or make a sound. It simply glided forward, sweeping its red energy blade in a fast horizontal arc aimed directly at Aiden's waist.

Aiden reacted instantly. His heightened reflexes allowed him to read the trajectory of the strike early. He ducked below the glowing blade, feeling the intense heat singe the tips of his hair. The weapon sliced cleanly through a concrete pillar behind him, cutting the thick stone like a hot knife through butter.

Aiden lunged forward while the construct was finishing its swing. He drove his iron pipe toward the machine's knee joint, putting all his increased physical strength into the blow.

The heavy iron pipe slammed against the metal joint with a loud bang. Sparks flew into the air, and the construct stumbled sideways as its leg joint buckled under the force. But the metal frame was far tougher than the flesh of a monster. The pipe bent from the impact, curving like a bow in Aiden's hands.

The construct corrected its posture within a fraction of a second. It brought its left arm around in a heavy backhand strike. The metal fist hit Aiden squarely in the chest, sending him skidding back across the dusty asphalt.

Aiden hit the ground, coughing hard as he slid several feet. His chest burned from the blow, but the rock armor structure he had absorbed earlier absorbed most of the blunt force. His ribs did not break. He scrambled back up to his feet immediately, dropping the ruined, bent iron pipe.

The machine turned its single red eye back onto him, its energy blade humming with a sharp, high-pitched frequency. It was clear that brute force alone would not destroy this thing. The armor on its chest and limbs was too thick. He needed to target a weak point, just like he did with the stone hide beast.

Aiden watched the red lines glowing along the construct's joints. Whenever the machine prepared to move, the red energy surged brightly near its shoulder and hip connections. That was where its power flowed from the central core to its limbs.

The construct charged again, raising its blade for a vertical downward chop.

Aiden stood his ground until the last possible second. As the red blade descended toward his head, he leaped to the right, rolling across the hard ground. The blade struck the pavement, melting a deep trench into the street.

Before the construct could pull its weapon free from the molten pavement, Aiden pulled his short hunting knife from his belt. He sprang off the ground, using all the explosive power in his legs to vault onto the machine's back.

He wrapped his left arm around the construct's neck frame to secure his position. The metal body felt scorching hot against his skin, but Aiden ignored the pain. He raised his hunting blade and slammed the tip directly into the glowing joint behind the machine's left shoulder.

The blade pierced the glass seal, severing the core line inside. Bright red sparks exploded from the wound, showering Aiden's arms. The construct let out a harsh, static screech as its left arm went completely limp, dropping the energy blade onto the street.

The machine began thrashing wildly, trying to throw Aiden off its back. It slammed itself backward against the ruined wall of the mall, trying to crush him against the concrete.

Aiden saw the wall coming up fast behind him. He unclasped his grip and kicked off the construct's back, flipping backward through the air. He landed heavily on his feet as the machine smashed into the concrete wall, sending dust and stone fragments flying everywhere.

The impact disoriented the construct for a brief second. Aiden did not miss the opportunity. He sprinted forward, scooped up the dropped red energy blade from the ground, and gripped its cool metal hilt.

The blade felt surprisingly light in his hand, humming with raw power. As the construct turned around to face him with its remaining good arm, Aiden drove the energy blade straight through the center of its glowing chest plate.

The red blade pierced the core easily. The construct stiffened, its red eye flickering rapidly before turning dark. The red lines across its body dimmed, and the giant machine fell forward, crashing onto the pavement in a heavy heap.

Aiden pulled the energy blade out and stood over the fallen machine, breathing heavily through his nose.

Target slain: Ancient Sentry Construct.

Trait absorbed: Metal Core Energy.

Physical endurance and weapon mastery increased.

A surge of warm, dense power rushed from the hilt of the energy blade into his arm, spreading throughout his entire body. His muscles felt denser, and his hold on the weapon became natural, as if he had trained with swords for years.

Aiden looked down at the glowing red blade in his right hand. It was a high-tier weapon, far superior to anything low-tier porters were ever allowed to carry. With his new stats and this blade, he had a real chance of surviving the deeper levels of the rift.

He walked past the fallen construct into the dark lobby of the shopping mall. The interior was quiet, but he could see a faint blue glow coming from the far end of the hallway. It looked like a rift portal, an exit back to the real world.

Aiden walked cautiously toward the light, keeping his guard up.

Just as he reached the center of the dark lobby, a heavy iron gate slammed down from the ceiling behind him, blocking his path back to the street. At the same time, the blue portal at the end of the hall flared brightly and turned a deep, blood-red color.

The red portal pulsed, and a tall man wearing the black and gold uniform of the Iron Vanguard stepped out from the light. He held a curved dagger dripping with dark poison, and his eyes locked onto Aiden with a cold, cruel grin.