They emerged from the subway into the industrial district, the sky above bruised with unnatural hues that shifted faster than weather should. Nathan didn’t look up; his focus was already on the next fragment. The last few nodes had left traces—resonance he could track, faint distortions in space-time, whispers of corrupted memories that clung to the air.“We’re running out of time,” Nyx said, scanning the abandoned factories. Her fingers hovered over the tablet as if feeling the pulse of the city. “The fragments are accelerating their synchronization. If they complete alignment…” Her voice trailed off, leaving the threat unspoken.Dante cracked his knuckles. “We’ve dealt with worse. Let’s just find it and smash it.”Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “Not smash. Contain. The energy isn’t just dangerous—it’s alive in a way. Force alone will make it worse. We need precision.”The team advanced cautiously. The district was eerily quiet. Windows of warehouses reflected the bruised sky in shards, giv