Mira's hands stopped shaking as a small spark of hope lit up like fireworks in the night sky within her heart. Lyria and Brennan, who were hastily moving at her side, also stopped in their tracks. With trembling eyes, they slowly pivoted their heads towards Mira, their eyes pleading desperately to know what was happening.

  Mira swallowed a mouthful of saliva, slowly turned her head, and faced the ancient construct.

  "Stay." It whirred across numerous frequencies, its masculine voice making waves across the air in a concentric circle.

  With sweat gliding down her cheeks, Mira walked forward, anxiety building up within her, as her partymates were left powerless due to the language barrier.

  They couldn't help but gaze at Mira's back. The same archer, who was laid back but reasonable, suddenly thrust into leadership.

  Just as her anxiety rose with a spike, it immediately dispersed like a gust of wind. Her eyes were wide open as she noticed something enveloping the entire ancient construct.

  In a passing moment, understanding befell her. From the center of the barrier, a hole appeared. With acknowledgement, she knew what she had to do.

  "Stay here." The ancient construct buzzed once more, then continued, "Temporarily stay under the Ironside." The masculine voice was firm and clear, which for some reason provided a sense of relief within her.

  The barriers became larger until they were large enough for them to enter and stay. With relief flooding through her, she breathed a sigh of thanks. She wiped the sweat that had accumulated across her forehead, and with a satisfied expression, she pivoted towards her partymates.

  "Quick!" Her voice was firm and decisive. "Let's go under the Construct known as Ironside!"

  Almost immediately, Lyria and Brennan grabbed hold of their baggage and dashed towards the Ironside along with Mira, who was guiding them with her heightened senses.

  "Adjutant," Altair said as he gazed through the interface. "Send a drone and guide them under the Ironside," he commanded.

  "Affirmative, Lieutenant." The Adjutant fizzed into action.

  A small compartment opened wide atop the Ironside, with the forbidding clouds high overhead. Its motors spun rapidly with a steady whine. The rotors grabbed hold of the air, and with a whizzing sound, it lifted off. The Ironside became smaller and smaller as it rose above. It proceeded to bank left and right as it moved forward. Then, with a steady rhythm, it hovered in front of the sentient life and proceeded to guide them under the Ironside.

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  Once it was done, it hovered back into the air and landed back on the small compartment. It retracted its wings as multiple arms came out and disassembled. Its parts were stored away within the storage area of the Ironside.

  "Lieutenant, they are now safely under the Ironside." The Adjutant hummed with increasing intensity in its tone.

  "Excellent!" Altair praised. "Now, we should attempt the conversion of these atmospheric particles into usable resources." Altair contemplated.

  "Are you sure, Lieutenant?" The Adjutant buzzed, unusually hesitant. "There are a number of risks that could ri—"

  "Do it." His voice was calm and commanding. "No risk is too great in our current situation." He said with a monotonous tone, yet his expression betrayed it all. His jaws were tight shut, his body temperature rising, his eyes shaking, and above all, his heart beating rapidly.

  "I understand, Lieutenant." The Adjutant accepted. "Testing, in 3... 2... 1..."

  Mira sat comfortably under the Ironside, its towering structure hovering above them, supported by eight sleek black legs that could only be described as otherworldly.

  "There really is no resemblance to the Steam Knights we know of." Lyria spoke in amazement, her legs huddled together with her head atop her knees.

  "Not even the steam wardens or the ironclads." Brennan spoke in agreement.

  Mira silently agreed with them, but her face was contorted into more of curiosity and fascination.

  "I can sense a massive influx of mana above us." She thought to herself. "I wonder what the construct is doing with it?" She continued, not knowing that there was a living being within the Ironside.

  "I wonder how much the ancient world spent on constructing such a golem?" Lyria spoke as she pondered.

  Then, like a speeding train across a vast meadow, a vast influx of mana travelled around them. Their senses tingling and screaming at something.

  "W-what is that?!" Lyria frantically asked.

  Brennan, who was sitting silently, tightly held his axe as he gazed back and forth across their flanks.

  Mira, who had her senses heightened since moments ago, was able to track what was happening around them, her eyes filled with confusion.

  "I don't think I will ever understand that..." she said with a deflated voice.

  "W-What do you mean?!" Lyria, who had been aloof until moments ago, desperately asked Mira for context.

  "The magical energy came from the ancient construct known as the Ironside." Mira replied, then continued. "However, it is just not possible for massive energy to suddenly converge and then disappear?" She asked, confused.

  "What, what do you mean?" Lyria said, still not understanding. "Energy converging, then disappearing? Is that even possible theoretically?" She placed her right hand below her chin in contemplation.

  Brennan, who was silently listening, sighed a breath of relief and softly relaxed his grip on his axe.

  "There is no point in asking." Mira grumbled. "I don't think a nonliving thing is capable of answering that." She said with a downtrodden expression.

  Then without a second thought, a light tap reverberated throughout the entire surroundings, its repetition increased with each passing second, until it finally covered the sky and land.

  "It has begun..." Brennan said, subconsciously holding his axe tightly.

  Lyria watched and moved closer to both Brennan and Mira, her hands and legs trembling in fear.

  "May the north star guide us." Mira said as she composed herself.

  "Adjutant..." Altair said with wide eyes, heart palpitating. "Does this even make sense?"

  "No, Lieutenant." The Adjutant whirred. "It does not make sense." The Adjutant continued.

  "The rain..." he paused and held his breath, his eyes shaking in fear, and his chest tightening in confusion, "it is black."