章 158: Rendezvous with General Varlox    

#4 and the Clockwork Dragon sped through the labyrinthine passages of Clockwork City, their pace urgent.

The dim corridors, once silent and forgotten, now echoed with the faint hum of the dragon's mechanical wings and the soft padding of #4's tiny feet. The city's ancient mechanisms creaked and groaned around them as if sensing the revival of their long-dormant protector.

The map projected by the dragon guided their path, illuminating shortcuts and secret passages that had been hidden from time.

As they rounded a corner, the sounds of battle reached #4's sensitive ears — the clash of steel, the guttural roars of soldiers, and the unmistakable cries of pain. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the acrid tang of burning metal.

#4's heart pounded in his chest as he realized they had stumbled upon the battle he had hoped to avoid.