The dawn broke over Ventosca, casting a soft golden glow on the floating islands. Willie and Ghoida were camped near a narrow bridge of rock, their small fire crackling softly in the brisk morning air. The previous night’s encounter with the serpent monster had left them weary, but their determination to press forward was undiminished.


    Ghoida stretched, yawning as she sat up. “Remind me again why we decided to camp so close to a cliff? One wrong step, and we’ll be skydiving without wings.”


    Willie looked up from his journal, where he was sketching the serpent from memory. “Because the view is breathtaking, and I needed inspiration for these notes.”


    “Yeah, breathtaking when we’re not dodging death,” Ghoida muttered, glancing over the edge. She shivered slightly, whether from the cold or the height, Willie couldn’t tell.


    Their conversation was interrupted by a distant, rhythmic thumping sound. It was faint at first, but it grew louder, echoing through the cliffs. Willie and Ghoida exchanged a glance, both instantly alert.


    “What now?” Ghoida said, grabbing her sword.


    Willie stood, his journal forgotten. “It’s coming from the east.”


    The thumping was accompanied by a faint metallic clang, as if something heavy was moving through the rocky terrain. They quickly packed their belongings and made their way toward the sound, careful to stay hidden among the jagged rocks.


    As they crept closer, they spotted the source of the noise: a massive mechanical construct resembling a spider, its legs tipped with sharp blades. It was patrolling the area, its glowing red eye scanning the surroundings.


    “Is that… a monster?” Ghoida whispered, her grip tightening on her sword.


    Willie frowned, studying the machine. “It’s not organic, but it’s not just a machine either. Look at the way it moves—it’s too… fluid.”


    “Great. So now we’re dealing with robot monsters,” Ghoida muttered. “What’s next, flying sharks?”


    Willie ignored her, his mind racing. “It must be protecting something. Constructs like that don’t just wander around aimlessly.”


    Ghoida sighed. “And let me guess, you want to find out what it’s protecting?”Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Willie nodded. “Exactly.”


    “Of course you do,” Ghoida said, rolling her eyes. “Fine, but if we get sliced into pieces, I’m haunting you.”


    The duo carefully maneuvered through the rocks, staying out of sight as they approached the construct. Willie was scribbling in his journal again, noting the machine’s movements and patterns.


    “You’re not seriously taking notes right now, are you?” Ghoida hissed.


    “It’s important for research,” Willie replied.


    “It’s important we don’t die,” Ghoida shot back.


    The construct suddenly stopped, its red eye swiveling toward their direction. Willie froze, holding his breath. Ghoida cursed under hers, gripping her sword.


    “It saw us,” she whispered.


    The machine let out a high-pitched screech before charging toward them, its bladed legs slicing through the rocks.


    “Run!” Willie yelled, grabbing Ghoida’s arm.


    The two sprinted across the uneven terrain, the construct hot on their heels. Willie tripped over a loose stone, falling flat on his face.


    “Seriously? Now?” Ghoida groaned, pulling him up just as the construct’s blade slammed into the ground where he’d been lying.


    “I’m fine!” Willie gasped, clutching his journal as they continued running.


    The construct was relentless, cutting off their path at every turn. Willie’s eyes darted around, searching for an escape or a way to fight back. His gaze landed on a cluster of unstable rocks above the construct.


    “Ghoida, over there!” he shouted, pointing.


    Ghoida nodded, understanding immediately. She ran toward the rocks, scaling the cliff with agility. The construct followed her, its blades sparking against the stone.


    “Willie, distract it!” Ghoida called down.


    “Distract it? How?” Willie yelled back.


    “Be yourself!” she replied with a grin.


    Willie groaned but complied, waving his arms and shouting. “Hey, over here, you oversized tin can!”


    The construct turned its attention to him, giving Ghoida the opening she needed. She leapt from the cliff, bringing her sword down on the unstable rocks. The impact sent a cascade of boulders crashing down onto the machine, crushing it beneath the rubble.


    Willie shielded himself as dust and debris filled the air. When it cleared, the construct lay in pieces, its red eye flickering before going dark.


    Ghoida landed beside him, brushing dirt off her clothes. “You okay?”


    Willie coughed, adjusting his glasses. “That was… intense.”


    “Welcome to our life,” Ghoida said, offering him a hand.


    As they examined the wreckage, they found a strange crystal embedded in the construct’s core. It pulsed faintly with a soft blue light.


    “What do you think it is?” Ghoida asked.


    Willie studied the crystal, his expression serious. “I’m not sure, but it’s important. This could be a clue to the monsters—and their connection to this world.”


    Ghoida sighed, shouldering her sword. “Let’s hope it’s worth all the trouble.”


    The two continued their journey, the crystal safely tucked away. Above them, the skies of Ventosca seemed to whisper secrets, urging them forward.<blockquote style="text-align: center">


    End of Chapter 5</blockquote>