I sighed, trying to organize my thoughts. "Alright... we have one mask, and we have one path."
I reached for the audio recording device to put it in my leather bag. But as I did, my thumb accidentally slipped on the circular dial again. It didn't play the same recording. Instead, a different crackle emanated from the device, followed by a horrifying noise.
It was the sound of screams. Screams filled with panic, and the sounds of violent metallic clashes. Then, a man's voice cut through the chaos, shouting at a closed door. "Leo! Open the door! I'm begging you, they're right behind us! Leo, open it!"
Then, I heard another voice, a voice I knew from the first recording, but it was now broken and choked with tears. Leo's voice. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... sorry..."
What followed was a final scream that was cut off abruptly, then a sound like a knife stabbing into flesh, and then there was only the steady sound of static.
The device fell from my hand.
What kind of horror had happened in this place? What impossible choices were people forced to make? Before I could drown in these thoughts, 404 gently shook me by the shoulder, pointing to the mask and the dark corridor before me. There was no time for questions.
I put the mask on my face, felt the air become pure, and we entered.
The corridor led us to a wide, open plaza, completely different from the narrow manufacturing halls. The metal floor was covered in deep scars and scratches, and the walls were scorched in some places. This was a battlefield. A testing ground.
And along the walls of the plaza, frozen figures stood in the shadows. At first, they looked like statues. Ten bronze statues of massive warriors, each holding a long axe and a shield. They stood motionless, their heads bowed.
"Just statues..." I muttered, but a shiver ran down my spine.
We advanced cautiously toward the center of the plaza. When our feet were exactly in the middle, it happened.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Hmmmmmmmm...
A low energy hum emanated from every "statue" at the same moment. Then, a single red dot lit up in the middle of each of their heads, like a demonic eye awakening from a long slumber.
The bronze guards raised their heads in perfect, synchronized motion.
A synthetic, robotic voice emanated from all of them, speaking the Murim language with a cold, metallic accent.
"Unauthorized entities detected. Activating protection protocol."
In the next moment, they descended from their platforms with heavy, coordinated steps, forming a slowly tightening circle around us. Their movements weren't jerky like the previous machines, but precise and organized, as if they were real soldiers.
"Behind me!" I yelled, drawing my rusty sword, even though I knew it was useless.
404 stood before me like a wall, and the first two bronze guards charged. They moved together, one raising his shield to block any attack, the other swinging his massive axe in a motion meant to cleave 404 in two.
[From the Files of the Explorer: Dream - Log #03 (Revised Version)]
Entity: Heart of Bronze
Origin: Automaton Type (per Murim classification): The Flood Rank (per Murim classification): Rank 4 - Danger General Description and Behavior: Initially, these entities appear to be just massive bronze statues of warriors, standing motionless in their designated spots. Their design suggests strength and weight, and each is armed with a long axe and a shield. They have no faces, only a single optical lens that glows a deep red when activated. Their behavior is straightforwardly programmed. They remain in a complete dormant state until their area is breached. At that point, they activate simultaneously and follow a strict combat protocol. Surprisingly, they speak the Murim language in pre-recorded phrases ("Intruders detected. Activating extermination protocol."). They fight with military coordination, using their shields for protection and their attacks for offense in a synchronized manner, which makes facing a group of them extremely difficult and capable of wiping out a small military unit, justifying their classification as "Danger." Known Abilities:
- Combat Coordination: Their true strength lies in their ability to fight as a single unit, covering each other's weaknesses.
- Heavy Bronze Armor: Their frames are extremely durable and capable of withstanding powerful blows.
- Lethal Weaponry: Their axes are long and heavy, and their attacks are capable of inflicting massive damage.
Personal Speculations: These are the true infantry of this facility. They are not traps or instinct-driven beasts, but programmed guards. Their strength is not in their intelligence or superhuman speed like the Sentinel, but in their organized power and steadfastness. The fact that they speak our language adds another layer to the mystery of languages in this place. It seems the city's builders programmed everything to interact with outsiders in their own tongue, which is both unsettling and impressive at the same time.