The towering biomechanical structure in the distance became clearer as Cid and Jinwoo drew closer. It wasn't a simple fortress; it was an amalgamation of pulsing symbiote matter, twisted dark metal, and massive bone formations, fused with the landscape in a terrifying way. It looked like a titanic creature petrified and turned into architecture. The psychic oppression emanating from it was almost unbearable, a whirlwind of hunger, pain, and a blind loyalty to the Void.
Jinwoo felt his connection to his shadows grow more strained near this structure. It was as if the air itself was trying to corrupt his authority over them. His generals in his underground shadow grew restless, sensing the density of Knull's power concentrated in this place.
Cid, however, walked with the same methodical calm. The structure was simply the next point on the "infiltration map."
Cid thought: The Ultimate Cult's secondary base of operations. A control node or perhaps an advanced symbiote production facility. The architecture is typical of a high-level villain faction: ostentatious and designed to intimidate. It's likely heavily defended. I must be ready to disable advanced defense systems and neutralize local 'commanders.'
When they were about a hundred meters from the base, the dark matter floor in front of the main entrance—a huge, jagged mouth—began to shake violently. No simple drones erupted this time. With a roar that shook the thick air, a colossal figure rose from the darkness.
It was an Alpha Nether Sentinel. Unlike the basic Nethers, this one was a seven-meter-tall behemoth, its black symbiote body covered in plates of twisted chitin that resembled natural armor. Its arms ended in enormous, blade-like claws, and long, scouring appendages tipped with barbs sprouted from its back. Its face was a mask of teeth and a single crimson eye that fixed them with predatory, malevolent intelligence. The energy it radiated was immense, a concentrated fragment of Knull's power.
[Alpha Nether Sentinel: Trespassers! The Black King's domain will not receive you. You will be... consumed.] His voice wasn't just audible; it resonated directly in their minds, a growl of Void.
Jinwoo sensed the threat. This creature was on a different level than anything they had faced so far in this domain. It was a true guardian, a being with Knull's power in a deeper way. "Beru! Igris! Tank! Forward!" he ordered, summoning his most powerful generals.
The Alpha Sentinel charged, incredibly fast for its size, its claws raking the ground. Beru launched himself to intercept with his frenetic speed, while Igris and Tank positioned themselves to flank. The Shadow Generals' engagement with the colossal symbiote began with a burst of energy and brute force. Beru's claws collided with the chitinous armor, Igris tried to stab at weak points, and Tank used his mass to try to stop the charge.
Cid watched the initial confrontation.
Cid thought: A heavy assault Sentinel, Alpha class. A checkpoint mini-boss. Increased durability, area attack, and possible immunity/resistance to certain forms of neutralization. The Designated Shadow Asset has deployed its elite assault units. This is a critical phase of the infiltration protocol. I must identify the Sentinel's vulnerabilities and assist in their strategic neutralization.
He attempted the same subtle energy tap he'd used before. He moved with his absurd speed to appear next to the Sentinel and applied a focused pulse to its flank. The creature writhed, yes, but the pulse didn't disintegrate or instantly incapacitate it as it had the lesser symbiotes. The chitinous armor or the density of its symbiote matter absorbed most of the impact. The Sentinel simply recovered and lashed out with a massive lash of its spiny appendages, forcing Cid to quickly dodge.
This was new. Cid's "ultimate subtle attacks" weren't an instant solution. Sentinel Alpha was resistant to his low-level fundamental energy manipulation.
Jinwoo, meanwhile, was drawing on his own strength. He fired Skill: Monarch's Spear, a projectile of pure shadow energy, toward the Sentinel's crimson eye. The impact was massive, causing the creature to roar in pain and stagger. But the visible damage began to regenerate almost instantly.
"His regeneration is too fast!" Jinwoo shouted.
Cid dodged another attack. The Sentinel's resistance to his standard methods was... unexpected. But not an insurmountable impediment. It simply meant that the protocol required adaptation.
Cid thought: Accelerated regeneration detected. Partial immunity to low-level energy neutralization. This requires a sustained high-power attack protocol or the identification of a systemic weakness. The 'Focused Disintegration' strategy is ineffective. I need an... Enhanced Organism Dismantling Technique. Yes, that sounds appropriate.
He concentrated a greater amount of fundamental energy into his hand. It wasn't an explosion, but a silent buildup of immense, contained power. He moved again, this time aiming for one of the Sentinel's major joints. When he touched the heavy chitinous plate, there was no subtle touch this time. There was a controlled burst of energy that didn't blow the joint apart, but seemed to...reconfigure it at a molecular level. The chitinous plate became brittle, the muscle tissue beneath became unstable.
"Now, Jinwoo!" Cid shouted, a rare display of direct coordination in his voice.
Jinwoo, instinctively understanding that Cid had created an opening, sent Igris through the weakened joint with a powerful slash of his sword, while he himself launched another Monarch's Spear at the same spot.
The combined attack worked. The joint didn't regenerate in time and partially gave way, causing the Sentinel to fall to one knee. The creature's roar was one of rage and agony.
Cid thought: Enhanced Organic Structure Dismantling Technique - Level 3: Success. Identification and exploitation of a structural weakness. It required precise energy calibration. The Designated Shadow Asset provided the necessary coordinated firepower. An excellent tactical synergy.
The Sentinel wasn't defeated. It crawled, still dangerous, trying to strike with its remaining claws. The fight continued. Beru, Igris, and Tank kept it busy, while Cid and Jinwoo looked for other openings, using Cid's new "Dismantling Technique" to create weak spots that Jinwoo or his generals could exploit with their brute force and shadow energy.
It was a difficult fight, a true challenge that forced both of them to go beyond their usual moves. The Alpha Sentinel wouldn't fall easily. This was proof that Knull's dominion held threats that would require all their combined power.
This concludes the first part of this challenge. Nether Sentinel Alpha has proven to be a formidable opponent, unfazed by Cid's standard methods and demands a more intense fight. They've found a way to injure him thanks to Cid's "new technique" and coordination with Jinwoo, but the battle isn't over yet.
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