Chapter 85: The Guardian Project
"Get down."
Entering the royal garden, Damien pressed his hand onto Hephaestus’s shoulder, forcing the Prince into a crouch behind a massive stone gargoyle.
Behind them, Isabelle and the others followed suit, masking their figure behind the stone statue
In an instant, the will Armament shimmering over Damien’s skin expanded slightly, wrapping around the group like a camouflage blanket. It didn’t make them invisible, but it twisted the light and sound around them, blending them into the smog.
They were perched on a high maintenance catwalk overlooking the Royal Foundry.
But it didn’t look like a foundry anymore. It looked like a graveyard for giants.
Below them, suspended by massive chains and surrounded by scaffolding, were three colossal, humanoid metal frames. They stood fifty feet tall, made of gleaming mithril and black iron.
Giant Mechanical Golems. Mechas.
"By the Gods..." Leona whispered, her eyes wide. "What are those?"
"Project Guardian," Hephaestus whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of pride and horror.
"My life’s work. They were supposed to be protectors... defenders of the mountain. But they aren’t finished. The Neural Link cores aren’t installed."
"Quiet," Damien hissed. "Someone is coming."