Spark and his five women walked along the dark labyrinth tunnel. Their torches and the glowing plants on the wall were the only source of light.
The tunnel continued its downward slope. The air grew progressively warmer. The pulsating crystals on the Treasure Radar that Serenade held showed more pronounced glow.
The metallic tang in the air intensified. Taking on a rusty smell that prickled at the back of their throat.
The distant murmurs they had detected earlier grew louder. Evolving into a rhythmic, grinding sound. Just like metallic gears turning against each other.
"Master!" Scarlett's voice cut through the faint grinding sound. Her tone was urgent. "My insects detect a pair of substantial constructs ahead. Mechanical. And moving to our direction."
Scarlett's gu-insects were silent vanguards. They had scurried ahead. Their forms were blending seamlessly with the dark rock as they extinguished their light. And they could pass basic information to her.
Spark's hand instinctively summoned his Power Rifle from the technomind space. Although he preferred bare-hand combat for most encounters, mechanical constructs were different.
Most of them had self-destruct mode. Exploding themselves along with their opponents. It was much safer facing them from longer distance.
The tunnel opened abruptly into another vast chamber. Larger than the previous one. This cavern wasn't lit by natural crystals or glowing plants. But by a harsh, pulsating glow emanating from the very center.
Two colossal figures stood there. Their strange forms were etched by the emanating light. Each stood roughly five meters tall. Constructed from interlocking plates of dark, burnished metal. One that that gleamed with internal energy.
Their limbs were a complex array of pistons and gears. Constantly shifting, whirring, and grinding. One sported a massive, rotating saw blade for an arm. While the other had a multi-barreled cannon integrated into its shoulder.
Their heads were featureless. Save for a single, glowing red eye on each construct. One that swiveled to fix on Spark and his group... the moment they entered.
Spark immediately recognized them. They were mechanical creatures known as... Bizarre Clockworks. And both were in Tier-3.
The grinding sound intensified. He lifted his power rifle. Aimed. And pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The shot from Spark's Power Rifle ripped through the air. A concussive force that hammered the metal forms of the Bizarre Clockworks.
The projectile was made pf a concentrated burst of arcane energy and high-velocity lead. It slammed into the chest plate of the saw-armed construct.
It didn't explode. But the impact sent a shivering vibration through its entire five-meter frame. Visibly jarring its intricate gears.
A screech of tortured metal echoed. And the glowing red eye of the Bizarre Clockwork locked onto Spark. Its whirring intensified.
Its companion, the one with the shoulder-mounted cannon, also reacted instantly. Mechanisms shifted. Hydraulic hisses filled the air. And its cannon arm swiveled. Locking onto Spark's position.
A pulse of raw energy began to gather at its muzzle
"Lilith! Distraction!" Spark roared. Moving while reloading another round. "Ivy, cover fire! Serenade, Melody, sing! Scarlett, guard them!"
Lilith was a blur. She didn't use her normal crossbow this time. Instead, her technocraft Arcane Handgun materialized.
She also activated her Shadow Armor. A ripple of dark energy cascading over her form. Encasing her with cool black battle armor.
With a burst of Lightning Speed, she vanished. Reappearing behind the saw-armed Clockwork. Her handgun spat crackling bolts of energy. They struck the metallic hide, leaving scorched marks but no significant damage.
The Clockwork roared, its head swiveling. Lilith used Spatial Blink. Teleporting away as its spinning saw blade swept horizontally. She was a phantom. Flickering in and out of existence. Drawing the construct's ire.
The cannon-armed Clockwork ignored Lilith's harassment. It stomped forward. Its single eye was still locked onto Spark.
Its shoulder cannon flared. Spitting out a volley of explosive projectiles. Spark didn't flinch. He raised his Power Rifle.
Firing a controlled burst that intercepted the incoming ordnance. Detonating them mid-air. The shockwaves rippled. But Spark stood firm. His massive form was a bulwark.
Suddenly, the saw-armed Clockwork shimmered. Its interlocking plates shifted. Reconfiguring with a grotesque grinding sound.
Pistons whirred. Limbs retracted. And new ones extended. In moments, the five-meter humanoid construct transformed into a metallic monstrosity. Resembling a giant kangaroo.
Its powerful hind legs coiled. Spring-loaded and reinforced. Its front limbs were now smaller and focused. Ending in sharpened claws. The saw blade from its arm was now jutted from its chest. Spinning furiously.
The second Clockwork... The cannon-shouldered one. It also began to shift. It contorted. Its metallic body elongating. Its arms fusing with its torso.
A long, thin neck erupted from its core. Topped by a small head with the glowing red eye. Its legs stretched. Becoming incredibly slender but powerful. It was an ostrich-like machine.
It was taller now. Nearing six meters. The multi-barreled cannon remained integrated into its shoulder. However, it was now positioned like a formidable railgun. It let out a piercing shriek of metallic components grinding.
"They really transform." Spark grunted. Reloading. "Kangaroo and Ostrich. Bizarre, indeed."
He aimed at the Ostrich-Clockwork, which was now charging at him. Its long legs covering ground with unnatural strides.
Ivy tossed three alchemical grenades. They arced through the air. Trailing phosphorescent smoke. And detonated near the Kangaroo-Clockwork. The one which was still attempting to track Lilith.
One exploded with a flash-freeze effect. Coating a section of its leg in brittle ice. The other two released a corrosive mist that sizzled against its metal plating.
The Kangaroo-Clockwork screeched. Its movements were momentarily hampered.
Meanwhile, Serenade had retrieved her exquisite magic lute. Its polished wood gleamed under the pulsating glow of the cavern. She played it and sang the Twilight Song.
Melody quickly joined in. Her own voice was harmonizing with her mother's. A beautiful, yet strange background music. Amidst the brutality of deadly battles.
Serenade's fingers danced across the strings. Weaving a complex melody that resonated through the chamber. It was a song of discord. A delicate, almost sorrowful tune that somehow grated against the very structure of the Bizarre Clockworks.
The metallic grinding sounds from the creatures seemed to falter. Their movements experiencing micro-stutters.
Melody's clear, bell-like soprano voice added another layer in the harmony. A bright counter-melody that flowed over Spark and his allies. Subtly improving their muscle reflexes. And sharpening their senses.
Scarlett, buckler raised, stood vigilant before the singing duo. Her gu-insects could not help much in this battle. However, she could still contribute.
Her eyes, sharp and intelligent, scanned the battlefield. She was ready to intercept any stray attacks. Or mechanical debris that might threaten the duo support mages.
Spark let out another series of thunderous shots from his Power Rifle. He targeted the Ostrich-Clockwork's joints. Of its long, powerful legs.
Each shot left a crater in the burnished metal. Sometimes tearing through a piston or a gear. The Ostrich-Clockwork staggered. Its charge was losing momentum. It responded by swiveling its integrated cannon. And unleashing another barrage.
Spark weaved among the explosion. His enormous frame was surprisingly agile. Dodging the explosive rounds while maintaining fire.
Lilith continued her hit-and-run tactics against the Kangaroo-Clockwork. Her Arcane Handgun's bolts were precise. Targeting the ice-encased leg. Chipping away at the brittle material.
She was a tormenting fly. Too fast to swat. Too irritating to ignore. The Kangaroo-Clockwork spun. Its saw-blade chest attachment slicing through the air.
But Lilith was always a step ahead. A flicker of shadow and light.
The Ostrich-Clockwork was heavily damaged and limping. And it suddenly stopped its assault.
Its limbs retracted once more. Its body was once again shifting. The mechanical plates expanded. Flattened. And merged.
Roots of gleaming metal extended from its base. Digging into the cavern floor. It became an immovable, turret-like structure.
Its cannon was now firmly integrated into a central stalk. A metallic bud opened. Revealing multiple glowing red eyes. Scanning the chamber. It was a rooting plant robot. Designed for static defense.
It began firing continuous, high-energy beams at Spark. Attempting to pin him down.
The Kangaroo-Clockwork was still pursuing Lilith. But then, it stopped and also began its final transformation.
Its powerful legs rooted into the ground. Its body becoming a more compact, defensive form. The saw blade on its chest grew. Becoming a massive, spinning disc shield.
This one morphed into a more aggressive, weaponized plant robot. Its spinning shield was also capable of launching smaller, razor-sharp metallic plates.
"Rooting forms!" Spark yelled. Adjusting his aim. "Focus fire on the Ostrich-plant first! It's the greater threat with that energy cannon!"
Melody and Serenade's song intensified. The weakening effect on the Clockworks seemed to solidify. Their energy output noticeably lower. The blessing on the all team members felt like a warm current. Making their actions flow seamlessly.
Ivy, seeing the new forms, quickly shifted her alchemy grenade selection. She launched two more specialized grenades at the rooted Ostrich-plant.
These were 'Acidic Bombs'. Designed to eat through dense metal. They exploded on impact, releasing a potent green goo that hissed and bubbled. As it dissolved the Clockwork's outer plating. Smoke rose from the corrosive action.
Spark gritted his teeth. Unleashing a continuous stream of power rifle fire. He targeted the central stalk of the Ostrich-plant. Aiming for the core.
The metal plates shrieked under the assault. Melting and fracturing under the combined barrages. As the Kangaroo-plant became more static, Lilith was now less needed for distraction.
So, she simply joined in. Her Arcane Handgun's bullets were focused on the core. Adding piercing magical energy to Spark's raw kinetic force.
The Ostrich-plant shrieked. The barrage was too much for it. With a final, shuddering tremor, the colossal construct exploded. Sending bits of shrapnel and sparking wires across the chamber.
Scarlett instantly deflected some bits of shrapnel with her buckler. Protecting Serenade and Melody from the debris.
"One down!" Spark boomed. Turning his attention to the remaining Kangaroo-plant. Its spinning shield was formidable. Deflecting most direct attacks.
But it was... static. He could just move to attack from the sides or back.
Ivy, recognizing Spark's intent, covered his movements with alchemy grenades. It was a shockwave grenades. Very sensitive. Exploding instantly when it hit the center of the spinning shield.
"DIE!" Spark bellowed. He took the chance and pulled the trigger.
The Power Rifle roared from the side. Unleashing a single slug that punched through the exposed core of the plant-Clockwork.
A blinding flash erupted from within the construct. Followed by a series of explosive pops as its internal mechanisms failed. The metallic construct shriveled.
The rooted limbs spasmed. And the entire five-meter form slowly crumbled into a heap of sparking parts and smoking shrapnel. The pulsating red light in the chamber finally died.
Silence descended. Broken only by the settling dust. And the heavy breathing of Spark and his subordinates.