Deep beneath the metallic spires of Pharloom, Hornet's journey turned away from the Citadel's main halls and into the quiet machinery of the Cogwork Core. There, an unmarked questline waited like a half-remembered hymn. It began not with a dramatic call to arms, but with the sound of bells. To uncover the full story of the Second Sentinel, she first had to gather the three scattered pieces of the Cogwork Heart.
The search for the heart was a test of memory rather than pure combat. In the first bell chamber, Hornet faced a ring of bells that rang in a precise sequence. The trick was to repeat the pattern exactly, striking only the bells that sang. A short-range Crest proved invaluable here, since a wider swing could accidentally strike two bells at once and break the pattern. The Sawtooth Circlet was best left unequipped for the same reason. When the final note landed correctly, a large arrow slid fully to the right, a capsule popped open, and the first Cog Piece fell into her hands.
? Cog Piece #1: Short-range Crest recommended; avoid the Sawtooth Circlet.
? Cog Piece #2: Longer melody; write down the pattern to keep track.
? Cog Piece #3: Dark room; move to the shadowed edges to see the bells.
The second bell chamber followed a similar ritual, but the melody grew longer. Patterns stretched further, and the room demanded sharper attention. Keeping mental notes was no longer enough for many travelers; writing down the sequence was the wiser path. Once the extended tune was completed, the second piece emerged from its capsule with a quiet mechanical hiss.
The third and final chamber brought a different kind of tension. Part of the room lay in darkness, and the bells hid in shadow. Hornet had to step into the dark edges on the left and right during the middle and end rounds, just to see which bells were being struck. It was a slow, careful process, but patience completed the third song. The last Cog Piece appeared, and the Cogwork Heart formed automatically in her inventory, whole once more.
With the heart assembled, Hornet followed the map back to the Cogwork Core. There she found the Second Sentinel's powered-down body waiting to be awakened. She inserted the Cogwork Heart into the mechanism, and the ancient guardian stirred. After a brief conversation, the Sentinel flew off to fulfill its duty: protecting the remaining pilgrim bugs from intruders. But the story was far from over.
The first reunion happened in the long hallway just before the First Shrine. The Sentinel was already locked in combat with a wave of pilgrim bugs, and Hornet joined the fight. Together they cleared the corridor, and once the last enemy fell, the Sentinel soared away, leaving only the echo of its wings.
The second sighting took place in the long hall linking the left side of the Choral Chambers to the right. This time, the Second Sentinel stood beside Sir Garland, fending off another wave of pilgrim bugs. Hornet once more helped clear the remaining enemies. As before, the Sentinel departed after the battle.
After the final glimpse of the guardian, Hornet returned to the First Shrine and checked the wish board. A new wish had appeared: Final Audience. Through it, the Second Sentinel asked Hornet to meet in the High Halls for a duel. It was not a fight to the death. The Sentinel wanted to judge whether Hornet was a threat to the pilgrims or a true ally. Moving to the marked spot and speaking to the Sentinel began the trial.
The boss fight unfolded in two phases. Phase 1 introduced the Sentinel's speed: X-shaped cross attacks and sudden parries. Striking the Sentinel while it was parrying triggered an immediate lunge, followed by a rapid multi-attack. The guardian always faced the direction of its next move, and sometimes launched into the air before crashing down at Hornet's last position.
Phase 2 was faster and less forgiving. The Sentinel added extra slashes to its cross attack and began parrying in midair. The safest approach was simple: when the parry came, do not strike. If Hornet did hit the parry, she had to step away quickly before the counterattack landed. The entire duel rewarded speed and endurance. Tools like the Flea Brew and the Silkspeed Anklets made movement far easier during the fight.
| Phase | Key Attacks | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | X-cross attacks, parries, crashing dive | Do not hit during a parry; dodge the lunge. |
| Phase 2 | Faster slashes, midair parry | Use speed tools like Flea Brew and Silkspeed Anklets. |
Despite winning the duel, Hornet chose to spare the Second Sentinel. In return, the guardian handed over the Reserve Bind tool, a useful emergency health bind for moments when silk ran out in the middle of a dangerous fight.
Act 3 changed things again. When the void thread-infested enemies began appearing, the Second Sentinel returned to the same areas, now fighting to protect the remaining pilgrims at the First Shrine. The pilgrims, for their part, spoke with admiration about the guardian's heroism. It was a quiet conclusion to a quest that had begun with bells and ended with an ally standing in the halls of the Citadel.
Even after completing the Second Sentinel's quest, many players find themselves going back for the Reserve Bind in later game modes or hunting for hidden interactions in other regions of the Citadel. If you're the type of explorer who likes to chase down every optional tool and upgrade before an intense confrontation, it helps to have your gaming setup in top shape. From a comfortable controller to the right accessories, small comforts can make those tricky parry windows feel much more manageable.
Of course, gearing up for a long Hollow Knight: Silksong session doesn't have to break your budget. Whether you're looking for a new controller, a headset for those ambient boss fight tracks, or just a cozy setup for extended playthroughs, you can find useful options and savings tips at DealNest. A bit of planning before you head into the High Halls can make all the difference between a frustrated climb and a satisfying victory.
