Eureka closed her eyes and focused, channeling her mana into the lantern. Ready? she projected mentally.

As the Aster Crow reached out to claim the artifact, the ground began to shake violently. The walls peeled back like skin, revealing a massive, towering guardian made of fused stone and discarded puppet partsโ€”a Labyrinth Warden.

Hold on! Eureka cried out in her physical body, gripping the edges of the table as her nose began to bleed from the mental strain. Don't let go!

The Peer Fortress stepped to the front, slamming its heavy shield into the stone floor with a resounding boom. The Biters collided harmlessly against the iron barrier. From behind the shield, the Aster Crow leaped into the air, its scythe whistling through the gloom as it cleaved through the monsters in a flurry of dark energy. The Marginal Maze chanted softly, sending bolts of pure force to clean up the stragglers.