Kei stood in the aftermath of the purified Nexus, breathing heavily as the calm energy settled around him. Despite the victory, his body ached, and his stamina reserves were low. He sat on a nearby rock, using [Renewal Pulse] to restore a fraction of his strength. The glow of the Resonant Core in his satchel offered a moment of solace.
> System Notification: Zone Survival Progress: 50%
“Halfway,” Kei muttered, staring at the notification. “But something tells me the next half won’t be this easy.”
His instinct proved correct. A deep, reverberating growl echoed through the shattered terrain, shaking loose small stones from the jagged cliffs. Kei jumped to his feet, Fang Dagger in hand, as the ground trembled beneath him.
From the shadows emerged a massive construct, far larger than the Guardian Sentinels he had faced. Its crystalline body shimmered with streaks of chaotic energy, and its arms ended in jagged blades that hummed with power.
> System Notification: Zone Event: Corrupted Sentinel Champion Level: 10 Affinity: Chaos Recommended Strategy: Adapt and survive.*
“Adapt and survive?” Kei scoffed. “You’re really helpful, System.”
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THE SENTINEL ADVANCES
The Corrupted Sentinel Champion wasted no time. It charged forward, closing the distance faster than Kei expected. He tried activating [Precision Throwing], aiming the Fang Dagger at its glowing core. The blade flew true, but the Sentinel raised an arm, deflecting the attack with a sharp clang.
Kei cursed under his breath as the dagger returned to his hand. The Sentinel’s speed and aggression left no room for ranged combat. It slashed at him with one of its blade-like arms, forcing Kei to dive to the side.
“Guess I’ll have to get up close,” Kei muttered, gripping the dagger tightly.
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CLOSE-QUARTERS COMBAT
The Sentinel’s next attack came fast, a downward slash that cracked the ground where Kei had stood moments before. He dodged to the side, circling the construct and searching for an opening. Sending out a pulse of resonance, he mapped its movements. The vibrations revealed faint cracks in its shoulder joints and a slight instability in its left leg.
Stolen novel; please report.
Kei lunged forward, aiming for the Sentinel’s left leg. The Fang Dagger struck the weak point, sending a small ripple through its crystalline frame. The construct staggered but quickly recovered, retaliating with a horizontal slash. Kei ducked, the blade whistling over his head.
He activated [Harmonic Pulse], sending a focused wave of resonance at the Sentinel’s shoulder. The vibrations destabilized the joint, causing the construct’s arm to falter. Seizing the opportunity, Kei leapt onto its back, gripping the jagged surface for balance.
The Sentinel thrashed, trying to dislodge him. Kei held on tightly, driving the Fang Dagger into the cracks at its shoulder. The blade pierced deeper with each strike, the construct’s movements growing more erratic.
> System Notification: Critical Hit! Corrupted Sentinel’s Left Arm Disabled.
With a final pull, the Sentinel’s left arm shattered, its crystalline fragments dissolving into glowing particles. Kei jumped down, landing with a roll as the construct turned to face him, now relying on its remaining blade.
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THE TURNING POINT
The Sentinel’s attacks grew more ferocious, its movements fueled by desperation. Kei’s stamina was running low, and his vision blurred with exhaustion. He activated [Renewal Pulse] again, feeling a surge of energy restore some of his strength.
“Just a little more,” Kei muttered, circling the construct.
The Sentinel lunged, driving its blade into the ground. Kei sidestepped and activated [Resonant Overload], channeling amplified resonance into the Fang Dagger. The blade vibrated intensely, glowing with raw energy.
Kei sprinted forward, dodging another swing, and drove the dagger into the Sentinel’s chest. The resonance erupted, sending cracks spidering through its crystalline body. The construct let out a piercing screech, its frame collapsing inward as the chaotic energy dissipated.
> Beast Defeated: Corrupted Sentinel Champion Reward: +300 Experience Points, +5 Strength, +4 Endurance
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AFTERMATH
Kei dropped to his knees, his chest heaving as he stared at the shattered remains of the Sentinel. The Fang Dagger glowed faintly, the resonance within it stabilizing. A new notification appeared:
> System Notification: Item Acquired: Sentinel Core Effect: Enhances physical durability and increases resonance efficiency.
Kei picked up the glowing core, its energy thrumming softly in his hand. He placed it in his satchel, checking his updated stats:
> Status Update: Level: 8 Health: 160/160 Stamina: 100/100 Stats:
>
> * Strength: 20
>
> * Agility: 22
>
> * Intelligence: 9
>
> * Endurance: 15
>
> * Perception: 16
Kei leaned back against a rock, staring at the fractured sky above. The trial was pushing him harder than he ever imagined, but each victory brought him closer to understanding his potential.
“One step at a time,” he murmured, the Sentinel Core’s glow reflecting in his eyes. The Zone’s challenges were only growing more intense, but Kei was determined to face them head-on.