The City's Judgment

The cloaked figures didn't speak, didn't move aggressively. But the silence—the way their empty, masked faces turned in unison toward Liam—sent a deeper chill down his spine than any battle ever had.

Iris's fingers twitched toward her dagger. "I hate this," she muttered.

Ileana narrowed her eyes at the figures. "They're not attacking."

Liam wasn't sure that was a good thing.

Then, as if responding to an unheard command, the figures moved.

All at once.

Their motions were too smooth, too synchronized as if they weren't human at all. They stepped forward in absolute unison, their robes billowing despite the still air. Their presence pressed down on Liam's chest, an invisible weight growing stronger with each passing second.

And then—the first strike came.

---

The Sentinels Awaken

A wave of black mist lashed out from the lead figure, twisting into the shape of jagged spears. Liam barely had time to throw himself to the side before they impaled the ground where he had just stood.

Iris reacted instantly, her dagger already flashing toward the nearest figure. The blade struck—and passed right through.

Her eyes widened. "They're—"

The figure's arm lashed out, a pulse of energy bursting forth. Iris was blasted backwards, crashing against a fallen pillar.

Liam grits his teeth, ink swirling at his fingertips. These things weren't normal enemies.

Ileana had already figured that out. She twisted mid-air, flipping onto a broken ledge, an arrow notched in her bow. With a sharp breath, she loosed it—but the arrow froze in mid-air, shattering as if hitting an unseen wall.

Their attacks weren't working.

And the figures were still advancing.

Liam glanced at the fortress doors behind them—the ones they had originally come for. They remained sealed, pulsing with an ancient, unreadable power. He knew it in his gut:

They weren't ready. They couldn't go further.

And these figures?

They weren't going to let them stay.

---

Fight or Flee

"We need to move!" Liam shouted, dragging his brush through the air. A wave of barrier runes flared to life, pushing the figures back—but the moment his ink touched them, the runes dissolved.

Iris coughed, pushing herself up. "So we can't fight them, and we can't block them. That's great."

Ileana clicked her tongue. "We need an exit."

Liam's mind raced. If the fortress was closed, then the only way was—

The way they came.

His eyes snapped toward the collapsed ruins behind them—the flooded tunnel they had fallen through.

It was their only shot.

"We go back up," he said. "Now."

Iris gawked at him. "Up? Are you insane?"

But there was no time to argue.

The figures had stopped walking.

Instead, their robes unravelled, dissolving into shadow.

And from beneath the tattered fabric, jagged, angular bodies of stone emerged.

These weren't just cloaked figures.

They were Sentinels of the Lost City.

And they were done waiting.

To Be Continued in Chapter 29...