The alliance between Victor, Aelin, Borin, and Pip had brought a fragile sense of stability. The delvers helped defend the dungeon from wild monsters, while Pip upgraded its defenses. Victor, in turn, provided them with Aether Crystals and other rare materials. It wasn’t perfect—Borin still grumbled about “trusting a pile of gears,” and Aelin kept her bow at the ready—but it was a start.

  For the first time since his rebirth, Victor felt a flicker of hope.

  That hope was shattered one evening as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the Wildwood in hues of orange and gold. Victor’s dungeon was parked in a secluded glade, its brass walls gleaming in the fading light. The Ticktocks patrolled the perimeter, their movements smooth and efficient, while Pip tinkered with a new trap design in the workshop.

  Aelin and Borin sat by a small campfire just outside the dungeon, their voices low as they discussed their next move.

  “We can’t stay here forever,” Borin said, poking the fire with a stick. “Sooner or later, someone’s going to notice us.”

  “We’ll move soon,” Aelin replied, her eyes scanning the treeline. “But we need to be careful. The Stormhammer Guild has eyes everywhere.”

  Victor’s core pulsed with unease. The Stormhammer Guild—a name that had come up more than once in their conversations. A powerful and ruthless group of delvers, they specialized in dungeon raids and were known for their relentless pursuit of rare cores.

  Before Victor could ask for more information, a faint flapping sound caught his attention. Through one of his many cameras, he spotted a small bird landing on a nearby branch. Its eyes glowed with a faint red light, and its wings were made of delicate ebony feathers.

  What is that? Victor thought, his core flaring with alarm.

  The bird tilted its head, its glowing eyes fixed on the dungeon. Then, with a soft flick of it's wings, it took flight, disappearing into the trees.

  Victor immediately alerted his companions. “We’ve been spotted,” he said, his voice echoing through the dungeon’s speakers.

  Aelin and Borin were on their feet in an instant, their weapons drawn. Pip emerged from the workshop, her goggles reflecting the orange glow of the fire.

  “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

  “Scout,” Victor replied. “Some type of hawk. It saw us.”

  Aelin’s expression darkened. “Stormhammer,” she said, her voice grim. “They use flying scouts to track dungeons. If they’ve found us, we don’t have much time.”

  Borin cursed under his breath. “I told you this would happen. We should’ve moved days ago.”

  “We’ll deal with it,” Aelin said, her tone sharp. “Victor, can you track the scout?”

  Victor focused his sensors, scanning the area for any sign of the bird. But it was gone, leaving no trace behind.

  “It’s too late,” he said, his core pulsing with frustration. “It already reported our location.”

  The scout’s departure left a heavy silence in its wake. Victor’s core pulsed with urgency as he processed the implications. The Stormhammer Guild knew his location, and they would come in force. He had hours, maybe less, to prepare.

  Aelin, Borin, and Pip gathered in the core chamber, their expressions grim.

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  “We need to fortify,” Aelin said, her voice sharp and commanding. “If they’re coming, we need to be ready.”

  “Fortify?” Borin snorted. “Against the Stormhammer Guild? We’ll be lucky to last five minutes.”

  “We don’t have a choice,” Victor replied, his voice calm but firm. “I’ll upgrade the defenses. Pip, I need your help with the minions.”

  Pip’s eyes lit up. “Help? What kind of help did you have in mind?”

  Victor’s core pulsed with determination. “The kind that can allow them to hold their own against a guild.”

  Victor’s workshop was a chaotic blend of brass, steam, and scattered blueprints. Pip dove into the chaos with glee, her hands moving with practiced precision as she sorted through gears, pipes, and coils.

  “Alright,” Victor said, his voice echoing through the workshop. “We need something stronger than the Ticktocks. Something that can take a hit and keep going.”

  Pip nodded, her goggles reflecting the glow of the forge. “What about Steam Sentinels? Humanoid bots with piston-powered fists. They’re tough, and they pack a punch.”

  Victor considered the idea. “Do we have the materials?”

  Pip grinned. “We’ve got enough brass for two, maybe three. And if we cannibalize some of the older traps, we can add armor plating.”

  “Do it,” Victor said.

  The workshop came alive with the sound of clanking metal and hissing steam. Pip worked tirelessly, her hands a blur as she assembled the Sentinels. Victor focused on the core programming, his mind racing as he uploaded combat protocols and tactical algorithms.

  The first Sentinel stood over six feet tall, its body a blend of brass and steel. Its arms ended in piston-powered fists, and its chest was reinforced with salvaged armor plating. A glowing Aether Crystal served as its power source, pulsing in time with Victor’s core.

  “Beautiful,” Pip murmured, her voice filled with awe.

  Victor activated the Sentinel, its eyes glowing with a soft blue light. It took a step forward, its movements smooth and deliberate.

  “Let’s hope it’s as tough as it looks,” Borin said, his tone skeptical.

  While Pip worked on the Sentinels, Victor turned his attention to the dungeon’s defenses. He reinforced the walls with Wolfbone Plating, the warg’s bones providing a surprising amount of durability. The Tesla Coils were upgraded to Arc Casters, their range and power increased to deal with heavily armored foes.

  But Victor knew traps alone wouldn’t be enough. He needed something more.

  “What about Clockwork Falcons?” Pip suggested, her voice tinged with excitement. “They’re fast, they’re agile, and they can scout the battlefield.”

  Victor considered the idea. “Do we have the materials?”

  Pip nodded. “Enough for a small flock. And if we add Blade Wings, they can do some real damage.”

  The Clockwork Falcons were smaller than the Sentinels, their bodies sleek and aerodynamic. Their wings were lined with razor-sharp blades, and their eyes glowed with the same blue light as Victor’s core.

  “Perfect,” Victor said, his core pulsing with satisfaction.