Chapter 14

The Twin Sentinels

Miguel descended deeper into the labyrinth, his footsteps echoing through the dimly lit corridor. The air grew colder, and a faint hum of energy pulsed through the walls. He had come to expect each floor of this hidden trial to test him differently, and he doubted this next challenge would be any easier.

A system prompt appeared before him:

[Fourth Trial Activated: The Twin Sentinels]

[Objective: Overcome the Sentinels and claim the fourth piece of the Legacy Set.]

Miguel stepped into a vast chamber, the ceiling arched high above, lined with massive stone carvings of armored warriors. At the center of the room stood two towering figures, their massive shields resting against the ground, their weapons poised for battle. Each Sentinel was clad in ornate, silver-and-onyx plate armor, and their eyes burned with an eerie blue glow.

[Boss Encounter: Twin Sentinels of Equilibrium]

A new prompt flashed:

[Warning: The Twin Sentinels share a life force. When one is harmed, the other heals. Separate them to weaken their bond.]

Miguel tightened his grip on his spear. "Great, now I have to break up a tag-team."

The first Sentinel moved instantly, lunging forward with a sweeping slash of its colossal blade. Miguel barely managed to [Flash Step] out of range before the second Sentinel followed up with a crushing shield bash. The sheer force sent cracks rippling through the stone floor.

Miguel rolled to the side, eyes darting between them. Their movements were synchronized, a perfect harmony of offense and defense. He thrust his spear forward, aiming at the nearest Sentinel's exposed joint, but the moment his attack landed, the other Sentinel glowed faintly, instantly reversing the damage.

"That's going to be a problem."

Miguel needed to split them up. His gaze flickered to the environment—massive stone pillars supported parts of the chamber. If he could use those…

Ducking another overhead slash, he sprinted toward the farthest pillar. The Sentinels followed, moving in tandem. At the last moment, Miguel feinted, changing direction and [Flash Stepping] behind the nearest Sentinel. He planted his feet and channeled his power into a devastating thrust.

[Skill Activated: Storm Pierce]

Electricity surged through the spear's tip as it drove into the Sentinel's back. The attack hit cleanly, sending cracks splintering through its armor. For a brief moment, Miguel saw the second Sentinel stagger slightly, its glow faltering—but then it surged forward, slamming its shield into the ground, and the damage reversed again.

Miguel cursed. "Not enough. I need to separate them farther."

Then, an idea. If they couldn't heal each other instantly, maybe he could force them apart for longer.

He dashed toward a weakened pillar and struck at its base.

[Skill Activated: Titan's Strike]

The pillar groaned and toppled just as one of the Sentinels charged. The falling debris crashed between them, dividing the battlefield. The first Sentinel stumbled back while the second was forced to take a wider path around the rubble.

Miguel wasted no time. He lunged at the isolated Sentinel, striking fiercely.

[Skill Activated: Arc Chain – Precision Variant]

Lightning arced through his spear, searing through the weakened armor. The Sentinel shuddered as its glow flickered violently. For the first time, it did not instantly recover.

"That's more like it."

But the battle was far from over. The second Sentinel roared, shattering the rubble with a single strike, freeing itself. Miguel's window was closing fast.

He gritted his teeth and readied his next attack.

The fight was only beginning.

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Outside the Game – Observation Room

The hum of machinery filled the observation room as a group of researchers and analysts monitored Miguel's progress on various screens. Data scrolled rapidly across multiple monitors, tracking his reactions, movement efficiency, and the complex calculations driving the Sentinels' AI.

Dr. Halloway leaned forward, resting his elbows on the console. "He figured it out faster than expected," he muttered, watching as Miguel successfully separated the Sentinels.

A junior technician tapped at his tablet. "Most testers would have brute-forced this fight or given up after a few failures. He's adapting at an incredible rate."

One of the system engineers frowned. "That's what's concerning. His growth curve is abnormal for a beta test environment. The Tower's AI is responding to him differently than it does to the other players. It's like… it recognizes him."

Halloway's eyes darkened. "The AI is supposed to be reactive, not selective."

The technician hesitated. "Unless… unless it's evolving in response to him specifically."

A tense silence settled over the room before another analyst spoke up. "Sir, I think you should see this." He pointed at a separate monitor displaying an external satellite feed. A massive storm system was building rapidly over the facility, swirling with unusual electrical activity.

Halloway's jaw tightened. "It's getting worse."

The junior technician swallowed hard. "If this keeps escalating, we might have to consider an emergency shutdown."

Halloway exhaled slowly, eyes still locked on the storm outside. "Not yet. But prepare for contingencies. Whatever is happening, we need to control it before it controls us."

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