Rapid footsteps mixed with the sharp cracking of snapping branches surged out of the depths of the forest like a pack of startled beasts, reaching the edge of the clearing in an instant. Kai instinctively tightened his grip on the meteor-iron wrench. The blue glow of the Starcore shard in his palm pulsed lightly, resonating with the magical runes etched into the wrench. A warm current flowed up his arm and spread through his body. Linore stood with her sword held horizontally before her, ice-blue eyes sharp as a hawk's, fixed on the dark shapes pressing closer from the shadows.
"Mechanical hounds of the Thorn family!" Ironhammer suddenly growled, grabbing the massive smithing hammer from the corner. His dark, rugged face was filled with gravity. "Victor's lapdogs—steam chips embedded in their bodies. Blades and bullets barely work on them, and their sense of smell is sharper than wolves'!"
Before he finished speaking, seven or eight hounds covered head to toe in metal plating burst out of the undergrowth. Their eyes were crimson camera lenses, their mouths lined with saw-like metal fangs. White steam hissed from the joints of their limbs as they stepped onto the grass with a shrill creak-creak. The lead hound threw back its head and let out a synthesized mechanical roar that shook leaves from the surrounding trees.
"Kai, protect Ironhammer! These hounds fear magical energy—your wrench is the key!" Linore shouted, already shooting forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. A silver-white sword light cut through the night, stabbing straight for one hound's camera eye. The hound twisted aside with uncanny agility, its metal claws slamming toward Linore's waist. She flipped in midair, her blade sweeping sideways and sending sparks flying as she severed one of its mechanical legs.
The hound pack was instantly enraged. Crimson lenses locked onto Linore in unison as they lunged at her with furious howls. No matter how agile she was, she couldn't withstand their relentless assault for long. She was soon forced back step by step, the wound on her arm tearing open again under the strain, blood soaking into her dark green cloak.
"Linore!" Kai shouted, starting forward with the meteor-iron wrench—only to be yanked back by Ironhammer.
"Don't rush in blindly!" Ironhammer roared. "Use the Starcore's power—activate the enchantment runes! Focus your mind on the shard. Imagine the energy flowing along the runes!"
Kai clenched his teeth and did as told. He closed his eyes, pouring all his attention into the pocket watch in his palm. The blue light of the Starcore shard flared brilliantly, a surge of energy far stronger than before erupting outward. He felt it clearly—flowing up his arm, pouring endlessly into the meteor-iron wrench. The runes on the wrench seemed to come alive, shining with dazzling silver light as a subtle pressure spread through the air.
The mechanical hounds sensed the danger. They halted their attack, crimson lenses swiveling toward Kai as low, threatening growls echoed from their metal throats.
"Now!" Ironhammer bellowed.
Kai snapped his eyes open and swung the wrench with all his strength at the nearest hound. Wrapped in silver light, the wrench cut through the air with a deep hum. The hound barely had time to react before the blow landed squarely on its head.
Boom!
With a deafening crash, the metal skull caved in. The crimson camera fizzled and sparked, black smoke billowing out as the massive body staggered, then collapsed.
Kai froze for a split second—he hadn't expected such terrifying power.
"What are you standing there for? Press the attack!" Ironhammer's shout dragged him back to reality.
Kai surged forward again, gripping the wrench tightly. This time, he guided the Starcore energy with far greater control. The runes blazed, and every swing carried overwhelming force. The mechanical hounds' metal bodies crumpled like paper before him—heads smashed flat, limbs torn clean off.
Seizing the opportunity, Linore counterattacked. Her sword flowed like water, every strike precisely aimed at a hound's weak point. Ironhammer charged into the fray with his massive hammer, like a tiger among sheep, smashing hounds one after another and sending parts flying.
The once-ferocious pack quickly fell apart under the combined assault.
Just as Kai brought down the last mechanical hound, a cold gunshot rang out.
Bang!
A bullet grazed past Kai's shoulder and slammed into a nearby tree trunk, spraying splinters into the air.
Kai spun around. From the forest shadows emerged a squad of bodyguards in black suits, steam rifles in their hands, silver masks covering their faces. The man at the front held a tablet, its screen flickering with the fading signals of the mechanical hounds.
"It seems your quiet retirement ends here, Master Ironhammer," the man sneered, his voice harsh and grating. "Victor says that as long as you hand over the Starcore shard and pledge loyalty to the Thorn family, all past matters can be forgiven."
Ironhammer's face darkened like a storm cloud. He stared at the man with barely contained fury. "Victor's dogs think they're worthy of barking here?"
"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!" The man's expression hardened as he raised his hand sharply. "Move in! Capture them—dead or alive!"
The bodyguards immediately lifted their steam rifles, black muzzles aimed at Kai, Linore, and Ironhammer.
Kai's heart sank. He looked at the dense ring of gunmen, then at the meteor-iron wrench in his hand. A trace of despair crept in—fighting the mechanical hounds had already drained much of the Starcore's energy. Facing this many armed men, they had no real chance.
Linore frowned as well, tightening her grip on her sword, eyes flicking across the terrain in search of any escape route.
Ironhammer took a deep breath and stepped in front of them, slamming his massive hammer into the ground. "If you want my friends, you'll have to get past me first!"
The lead man scoffed, slowly raising his steam rifle and aiming at Ironhammer's chest. "Then don't blame us for being ruthless."
At that critical moment, the pocket watch in Kai's chest suddenly erupted with blinding blue light. A powerful wave of energy burst outward from it, shaking the surrounding trees, lifting pebbles off the ground. Even the steam rifles in the bodyguards' hands began to spark and belch black smoke.
"What—what is this?!" The leader's face drained of color as he stared in terror at the glowing pocket watch.
Kai was stunned as well. He could feel the Starcore shard inside the watch pounding violently, as if calling out to something.
Suddenly, a deep, ancient dragon's roar echoed from the depths of the forest. In the next instant, a streak of golden light tore through the night sky, hurtling straight toward the clearing.