Page 74 of Alien Warlord's Fury

Nirako was instantly alert. "What is it?"

"The energy patterns. They're shifting." I shut my eyes, focusing on the flow. "Hammond is... he's accelerating the process." My breath caught. "The younglings' pain is spiking."

Nirako's jaw tightened. "He knows we're coming."

"Not us specifically," I corrected. "But he knows something is interfering with his systems." I opened my eyes, determination hardening my features. "We need to hurry."

We quickened our pace, urgency lending speed to our cautious movements. The bond pulsed between us, our energies aligned. The corridor branched ahead into three paths. I paused, head tilted, sensing the energy flows.

"Middle path," I said confidently. "The others are traps."

Nirako nodded, trusting me without question. Our survival depended on this absolute trust, this perfect coordination.

The middle path narrowed, the ceiling dropping low. I moved ahead, my smaller frame fitting more easily. The walls here were untouched by Hammond, covered in ancient symbols that glowed brighter as we passed.

"We're getting closer to the Nexus chamber," I whispered. "These symbols are warnings."

"Can you read them?" Nirako asked from behind me.

I traced one symbol, careful not to disturb the paste. "Not read. But I sense their meaning. Warnings about the Nexus power, the danger of misuse."

"Warnings Hammond ignored," Nirako said grimly.

I nodded. "The next guardian will be stronger. More corrupted."

"We'll be ready," he affirmed.

The passage widened abruptly into another antechamber—larger, circular, with a domed ceiling covered in complex, shifting patterns of light.

"Wait," I whispered, pulling Nirako back into the shadows.

My eyes fixed on the center of the chamber. Suspended between floor and ceiling hovered another guardian. This one was nothing like the last. A sphere of pulsing energy surrounded a core of twisted metal and crystal, dozens of appendages extending outward like lethal rays.

"That's not ancient technology," Nirako murmured beside me. "That's Hammond's work entirely."

I nodded grimly. "He's learning. Adapting the Nexus energy to his own designs."

I studied the construct. Its appendages rotated slowly, scanning methodically. Precise. Purposeful.

"Ravik mentioned these too," Nirako said quietly. "The core is protected by an energy field. Disrupt the field first, then target the physical components."

I narrowed my eyes, analyzing the construct. "The field's frequency is complex. Multiple layers."

"Can you disrupt it?"

I nodded slowly. "I think so. But it will take more energy than before. And it will definitely alert Hammond."

"We're past stealth now," Nirako replied. "Speed is more important."

I inhaled deeply, centering myself. "I'll need your energy to stabilize mine. The bond..."

"I'm with you," he said immediately.

He placed his hand on my shoulder, and I felt our energies align, gold and silver resonating despite the paste. I closed my eyes, concentrating, drawing on his strength, channeling it through my connection to the Nexus. The paste on my skin cracked as my markings flared beneath it.

The guardian rotated toward us instantly, sensors locking on. Its appendages extended, charging with crackling energy.

"Ready?" I whispered.

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