The first rays of dawn cut through the fractured city skyline, a faint reminder that somewhere outside this war, a normal world still existed. But Luther and Elara weren’t part of that world not today. They crouched atop a derelict high-rise across from Helios’s main operations hub, the nerve center of every nightmare he had unleashed on them.Below, security drones buzzed in tight rotations. Armed guards paced in practiced lines. Reinforced barricades circled the building like a steel spine.“This is it,” Luther murmured, holstering one weapon and checking the next. “We take him out here, we cripple everything he’s built.”Elara’s expression tightened with focus. “We stick to the timeline. No improvising unless we have to.”Luther smirked faintly. “We always have to.”She elbowed him softly, but her eyes lingered a moment longer than necessary. It wasn’t just adrenaline making her chest tighten. Every brush of their hands while prepping explosives… every moment they locked eyes wh

The steel shutters slammed down with a lot of force, shutting off the light in the warehouse. The echo sounded like thunder in the huge space, and then a low mechanical hum followed that shook the cracked concrete floor.Luther's weapon was already raised, and he was ready to kill.Fluorescent screens flickered behind him, throwing jagged fragments of light across his face.“He’s here,” Elara murmured, her eyes sharp despite the dimness. It wasn’t fear in her voice only the awareness of a predator recognizing another.A slow, mocking clap drifted from the far side of the room.Helios stepped from the shadows, confident as ever, his suit unruffled and his smirk as venomous as the man himself. “Congratulations,” he said, tone dripping with arrogance. “You’ve clawed your way farther than anyone predicted. But this is where your story ends.”Luther didn’t flinch. “You never learned,” he replied. “Corner me, and I bite back.”“Oh, Luther.” Helios chuckled. “You’re not cornered—you’re co

The elevator doors slid open with a metallic hiss, letting out a wave of cold, recycled air. Luther stepped into the top floor of the abandoned Helix Data Core, the dim blue lights pulsing against the steel walls. It once belonged to Cain Global, but now it was neutral ground or so he believed.Marcus walked behind him, scanning every angle, jaw clenched like he expected a bullet to hit them. “No guards, no sensors and this place is too quiet.”“Victor wants me here,” Luther said. “Which means he doesn’t need guards.”Celeste tightened her grip on the small encrypted case in her hands. Her pulse had been unsettled since they left the Syndicate base, but now it soared. “The message said this location holds the last missing cipher—enough to expose the entire Echelon project. If Victor didn’t plant a trap, I’ll be shocked.”Luther didn’t answer, his attention was locked on the large chamber at the end of the corridor the Core Room. The glass door slid open before they touched it.M

The chamber shook hard enough that the overhead lights flickered, throwing jagged shadows across the circular walls. Luther dropped to one knee to steady himself, catching the platform before he hit the floor completely. The tremor ended as abruptly as it began, but the damage was clear: cracks ran through the metal plating beneath his feet like branching veins.Celeste’s scream faded into a strained, uneven breath. She hung suspended in the energy lattice, every muscle in her body tight with exhaustion.Victor stood behind the glass barrier, hands clasped behind his back, still composed. “Impressive,” he said calmly. “Your presence accelerated her response faster than anticipated.”Luther rose slowly. “Let her go.”“No.” Victor tilted his head. “You don’t get to make demands. Not in my chamber, not with my creation, and certainly not when you’ve already played into my hands.”Adrian moved forward, placing himself slightly ahead of Luther. His voice shook, but he forced himself to

The city sirens wailed through the shattered night, a sharp, rising howl that rattled the broken windows around them. Luther didn’t slow as he pushed through the blown-out doorway of the old transit station, Celeste right behind him. Marcus limped at their heels, breathing hard, while Adrian brought up the rear with the stolen tablet cradled to his chest like it was made of glass.The city was sinking into chaos.Traffic lights blinked dead. Buildings flickered as generators overloaded. People ran across the square in confused waves, Screens on street corners lit up with Victor’s symbol and the sweeping V that rotated slowly like a blade.Echelon Phase Two was fully active.And they were out of time.“Where’s the emergency access?” Celeste asked, her voice tight as she pulled the scarf higher around her face to block the smoke drifting across the street.“Downstairs.” Adrian gestured toward a subway entrance swallowed in darkness. “If the backup servers are anywhere, they’re beneath