They rushed as fast as they could go through the corridors, until they reached the maze entrance that led to the secret laboratory.
After rushing through the winding corridors, they arrived at another foundry, though this one was much larger and more grotesque.
Blood stains covered the floor and tables.
Several plates and unknown weapons covered the many tables.
In the center of the room stood a large empty scaffold for some unknown construction.
As they rushed to the door that led to the final room, it opened and a large metallic warrior stepped out with 4 regular golems.
The warrior partially resembled a 6 foot tall bipedal metallic silver dragon/human hybrid.
The armor completely encased the warrior, the only features about it's wielder was that it was clearly a female based on the shape of it's body.
The head resembled that of a dragon with a snout, and 4 horns at the back of the head.
The gauntlets ended with wicked looking claws and 2 metallic wings extended from it's back, along with a narrow tail with a bladed tip.
It's glowing blue eyes were studying them closely.
In his hands was a large greatsword with glowing runes along the blade.
"Is that another one of these, abominations?!" Asked Aurora.
"No, that's the 'Draconian' project! A specially created suit of armor that not only provides unmatched protection, but also increased strength and speed.
Watch yourself! I've seen her in action! She's a highly skilled combatant!" Warned Leyocan.
"Leave her to me! Keep her golems off me!" Ordered Storm as he stepped forward.
"Nice armor!! But I've got the real thing!" Mocked Storm.
He shifted into his draconic humanoid form and called up his weapon.
As this was the first time that Aurora had seen it, she eyed his new form curiously before realizing that there was a battle she needed to get started on.
Storm and the metallic dragon rushed at each other.
She raised her greatsword and tried to cleave Storm in two, but he sidesteped the blow easily and stabbed with his spear at her midsection.
Grabbing the shaft with her left hand, she stopped it from piercing her.
Storm grinned.
"Fulgur!"
The weapon started shocking his opponent in response.
Ignoring the shock, she pulled Storm closer and struck him In the face.
As he staggered from the blow, she ripped the spear from his grasp and tossed it across the room.
She pointed her greatsword at him and rushed towards Storm, intending to impale him, but he caught the weapon between his hands and broke the weapon in 2.
She tossed the broken weapon aside and she gave him a hard punce to his lower belly with both fists to force a separation.
As he staggered backwards, she extended her metallic wings and flapped hard to jump higher.
She pulled her fist back and dove down towards Storm.
He stepped back at the last second and her fist punched a hole through the floor all the way down to her elbow.
As she struggled to free her arm from the hole,
Storm gave her a hard kick in the chest that sent her flying.
She got to her feet and eyed her arm.
The armor had been completely ripped off and her human arm was exposed.
She jumped into the air and dove down at Storm again, who made no move to dodge her.
Instead he grabbed her out of the air and completely stopped her forward momentum, before slamming her backfirst into the ground.
He crouched down on top of her and proceeded to unleash a series of punches at her face as he kept her pinned to the ground.
After almost 3 minutes, she managed to plant a leg on his chest and she kicked him off of her.
As he rose to his feet again, she dove at him to drive him back against a wall.
Holding out his hand, the spear flew back into his grip.
Seeing the danger, she tried to twist past him, but she was unable to move aside fast enough and ended up impaling herself on her opponent's weapon.
"Nothing but an imitation!!" Said Storm as he ripped the spear out of her body.
The glowing eyes on it's face flickered, before going out completely as it's owner died.
Aurora and Leyocan rushed up to Storm.
Behind them scattered around the floor were the remains of the golems they fought.
"Nice one!" Said Leyocan.
They continued through the door and entered what appeared to be an office of some kind.
A strange, faded ritual site was painted on the floor.
Several diagrams and blueprints were scattered across the room.
Ignoring the contents of the office for now, Storm and the others rushed towards another set of doors located on the other side of the room.
As they pushed the doors open, they saw a balcony that overlooked a deep pit with some kind of large crystal hovering in the center of the room.
A low hum sounded from the crystal as it slowly rotated in the air above the ground.
Storm found that the noise it produced was particularly irritating to his ears, and beside him he could see Aurora and Leyocan similarly affected based on their grimaces
Cells that contained a variety of different magical creatures were spread across either side of the room.
Some were still normal, while others had already been partially transformed into golems and had arms or legs covered in metal plates.
All of them appeared dazed or drugged and gave no reaction to Storm, Aurora or Leyocan's presence.
Storm grabbed Leyocan and carried him down to the bottom of the pit, while Aurora just jumped down and used magic to slow her fall at the last minute.
Leyocan rushed to one of the cells and began fiddling with the lock.
A laugh sounded above them and they looked up to see Kaiden and the lich standing on the balcony above.
"I'm disappointed that you got past Miranda! I had high hopes for the 'Draconian ' project!
But it seems like there are still some 'flaws' I need to work out." Said Kaiden.
"Your crazy experiments ends here, Kaiden!! We're putting you out of business!!" Yelled Storm.
"Not at all!! You are here to demonstrate it's success!
And to join it afterwards!!" Yelled the Lich.
He nodded his head at his grandson and a grinding sound started in the room as the roof opened up and a large platform was lowered into the pit.
When Storm saw what was on the platform, his heart sank.