The Iron Mountains loomed ahead, their jagged peaks piercing the storm-darkened sky. Elias clutched his chest, wincing as another wave of pain shot through his body—side effect of using Elemental Harmony during the escape from the Crystal Forest. The system interface displayed his current status:
[HEALTH: 75% (STABILIZED)]
[MANA: 48/50 (REGENERATING)]
[ACTIVE EFFECT: ELEMENTAL HARMONY (50% REDUCED MAGICAL DEPLETION)]
[WARNING: CONTINUED USE MAY CAUSE PERMANENT ORGAN DAMAGE]
Lena adjusted the bandage on her arm, where a bullet had grazed her during their narrow escape from the Council's airship. "The Brotherhood safe house is in an abandoned mining outpost," she said, consulting a tattered map. "We'll need to cross the gorge at Blackvein Pass—"
Her words were cut off by a mechanical whirring sound echoing through the mountains. Elias's system flared to life:
[DETECTED: MECHANICAL HOUNDS (3 UNITS)]
[DISTANCE: 1.2 KILOMETERS AND CLOSING]
[RECOMMENDATION: ENGAGE AT THE NARROW PASS TO LIMIT THEIR MOVEMENT]
Lena cursed, pulling her rifle from its case. "Council prototype units. They track magical signatures like bloodhounds." She checked her ammunition, then grimaced. "I only have two silver bullets left."
Elias focused on the system interface, searching for a solution. The new Harmony ability offered a possibility:
[ELEMENTAL HARMONY UPGRADE AVAILABLE]
[NEW COMBINATION SKILL: METAL BINDING]
[EFFECT: TEMPORARILY FUSE MAGICAL ENERGY WITH METALLIC OBJECTS]
[COST: 15 MANA + 5% HEALTH]
[DURATION: 3 MINUTES]
"I can trap them," he said, pointing to the narrowest part of the trail where metal ore veins glinted in the rock. "If I infuse those veins with magic, we can create a cage."
Lena nodded, though her expression remained skeptical. "Your call, mage boy. But if this doesn't work, we'll be dog food."
They took positions on opposite sides of the pass, waiting as the mechanical hounds' growls grew louder. The creatures emerged from the mist—metallic constructs with glowing red eyes, their bodies a nightmare fusion of gears and flesh, jaws lined with serrated steel teeth.
[TARGETS LOCKED ON MAGICAL SIGNATURE]
[ESTIMATED TIME TO ENGAGEMENT: 10 SECONDS]
[INITIATE METAL BINDING? Y/N]
Elias closed his eyes and whispered "Y," feeling his magic flow into the mountain itself. The ore veins began to glow, their metallic surfaces rippling like liquid mercury. The first hound lunged forward, then yelped as the ground suddenly erupted, metal tendrils wrapping around its legs and torso.
"Now!" Lena shouted, firing at the second hound's optical sensor. The creature staggered, temporarily blinded, giving Elias time to ensnare it as well. The third hound skidded to a halt, its head swiveling between the trapped companions and the humans.
[WARNING: TARGET ANALYZING ESCAPE ROUTE]
[RECOMMENDATION: FINISH IT BEFORE IT BREACHES THE TRAP]
Elias channeled more magic into the binding, but the effort sent a sharp pain through his chest. He collapsed to his knees, coughing up blood as the system warned:
[HEALTH DROPPED TO 68%]
[ELEMENTAL HARMONY OVERLOAD IMMINENT]
The third hound chose that moment to charge, leaping over its trapped companions with a metallic roar. Lena tackled Elias out of the way, the creature's jaws clamping shut where his head had been milliseconds before.
"Finish it!" she screamed, grappling with the hound's mechanical legs. Elias forced himself to stand, focusing on the creature's exposed power core. With a final surge of magic, he sent a concentrated beam of energy into the core, causing it to overload and explode in a shower of sparks.
As the smoke cleared, Lena helped Elias to his feet, her mechanical eye scanning the area for more threats. "That was too close," she said, though there was a hint of admiration in her voice. "You're getting better at controlling that system."
[SYSTEM COOLDOWN ACTIVATED]
[ELEMENTAL HARMONY WILL BE UNAVAILABLE FOR 1 HOUR]
[HEALTH: 65% (SLOW REGENERATION INITIATED)]
The mining outpost came into view an hour later—a collection of weathered wooden buildings surrounding a central shaft. Lena approached cautiously, making a series of hand signals that received no response.
"Something's wrong," she said, drawing her pistol. "The Brotherhood always posts guards."
They found the first body in the main cabin—Brotherhood member Marrick, his throat slit, a Council insignia pinned to his chest. The safe house had been compromised.
[DETECTED: MULTIPLE HUMAN SIGNATURES IN BASEMENT]
[WEAPON SIGNATURES IDENTIFIED: 12 RIFLES, 2 MAGIC WANDS]
[HIGH-POWERED MAGICAL SUPPRESSION FIELD DETECTED]
Lena cursed, backing away from the door as footsteps echoed from below. "It's a trap. They knew we were coming."
The basement door burst open, revealing Councilor Marcus flanked by six soldiers. His eyes fixed on Elias, a cold smile spreading across his face. "Well, well. The system's chosen one. We've been expecting you."
Behind him, Elias noticed something that made his blood run cold—a crystal cage containing what appeared to be a smaller version of the amethyst serpent from the forest, its body glowing dimly as its life force was drained into a collection device.
[EMERGENCY QUEST: FREE THE CAPTURED GUARDIAN]
[REWARD: SYSTEM OVERDRIVE MODE]
[FAILURE: DEATH OF LAST REMAINING CRYSTAL SERPENT]
[TIME LIMIT: 5 MINUTES BEFORE LIFE FORCE EXHAUSTION]
Marcus raised his hand, and the soldiers raised their weapons. "Surrender the Moonstone, and I might let your friend live. Though I make no promises about the serpent."
Elias felt the system interface shift, a new option appearing:
[SYSTEM OVERDRIVE PROTOCOL LOCKED]
[ACTIVATION CONDITION: HEALTH BELOW 50%]
[WARNING: WILL CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL]
Lena's mechanical eye suddenly glowed red as she whispered, "I'm sorry," before shoving Elias backward. As he fell, she activated a device on her belt—a flashbang grenade that erupted in a blinding light.
[VISION IMPAIRED FOR 30 SECONDS]
[ENEMY FORCES DISORIENTED]
[RECOMMENDED ACTION: RETREAT TO BASEMENT SHAFT]
Elias scrambled to his feet, grabbing Lena's hand as they raced for the open shaft. Bullets whizzed past them as Marcus shouted orders, but they reached the safety of the darkness just as the Councilor's magic struck the entrance, collapsing the tunnel behind them.
They were trapped in the basement with no way out—and the captured serpent's life force was fading fast.