Draven’s rapier flashed in the dim light of the long corridor. The sharp edge did not strike my throat, slicing instead through the thick fuel lines of the automated Enforcer constructs directly behind my back."Move your feet, Vaxien," Draven said, stepping over a smoking metal chassis. "The chemical lines will vent liquid fire across this floor in less than three seconds. Jump now before you get caught.""You chose a strange moment to turn your blade against the Spire," I said, jumping over a pool of spraying green fluid. "A few minutes ago, you were helping them lock me down.""Do not mistake an alliance of convenience for actual sentimentality," Draven said, his eyes scanning the metal walls. "The primary security gates are already sealing. We need to break through immediately.""I never expected sentiment from you," I said, dodging a piece of falling shrapnel. "But I did expect consistency. You are playing a dangerous game with my life.""Consistency is for the dead, Vaxien," Dra

I looked down and realized my fingers were turning into thin, glowing lines of light. I was not bleeding, but my skin was disappearing like warm wax."Look at yourself, glitch. You are completely unravelling right before my eyes, and you do not even have the decency to beg for your miserable life. Do you see it now? You cannot hold that kind of power. It is destroying you from the inside out, turning your precious code into absolute garbage. You think you are a king, but you are just a dying dog waiting for the slaughter. Look at your hands disappearing. You are pathetic.""I can hold it just fine. This is nothing compared to what I have already survived in this place. I have dealt with worse things than a little glowing skin.” I said.“You should worry about your own skin instead of mine, because your golden armor looks like it is about to fall apart. You are shaking, administrator. Are you afraid of a glitch? You look terrified.""Afraid of you? You are an absolute idiot to even sug

The city plaza was completely empty, and the silence was so heavy it made my ears ring. The buildings looked half-finished, like a drawing someone had forgotten to complete."Keep your eyes on the roofs, Nyxra," I whispered, stepping forward."There is nobody here," Nyxra said, tightening her grip on her blade. "Look at those walls, Vaxien. Why would they leave an entire district looking like a sketch? It makes no sense.""It means they want us right where we are standing," I muttered. "It is a trap," she insisted, her voice sharp. "We need to turn back right now before they close the perimeter. We have no support and no reason to risk our necks.""We are not turning back," I said, pointing ahead. "Look over there. Look at the base of that pillar."In the middle of the square, we found a young woman named Marra pinned to a stone pillar by three glowing spears. The weapons pierced her shoulders, locking her against the cold masonry."Marra!" I shouted, running forward. "Stop, you idiot

The flying ship crashed into the ground, sliding through the ancient stone ruins until it stopped right in front of me. Metal grated against rock, sending up sparks that illuminated the dark courtyard."Move away from the impact zone!" Zeryth screamed, scrambling backward into the rubble. "It will blow us to pieces if the core leaks! Vaxien, get back before the energy containment field ruptures and tears us to shreds!""Stand down, Zeryth," I commanded, watching the massive iron vessel ground itself. "The propulsion systems are non-functional. There is no danger of an explosion from a dead drive engine.""Are you completely out of your mind?" Zeryth ran up to me, his face pale. "You dragged a flagship out of the atmosphere with your bare hands. You think the elite guards inside are just going to let us walk away? They will hunt us down! You think you are invincible now just because you broke your seals, but you are putting everyone in danger!""I expect them to fight," I said, adjusti

The wind roared past my face so fast it felt like it was trying to tear my clothes right off my body."Vaxien, answer me right now!" Nyxra shouted through the microphone, her voice full of panic. "The system says three airborne drones are closing in on your position! You are running out of sky!""I can see them, Nyxra," I said, squinting through the rushing air. "They are not going to stop me from reaching Voss.""You are being reckless and stupid!" she fired back, her tone sharp with anger. "Voss is a liar who sold us out to the corporate enforcers! Why are you risking your life to save that piece of trash?""Because he has the codes to the main vault," I yelled into the receiver. "If he hits that grey liquid, everything we fought for disappears with him! We need those encryption keys!""Then let it disappear!" Nyxra screamed. "I would rather lose the vault than lose you! Turn back and deploy your parachute before the drones tear you apart! Do you hear me?""I do not have a parachute