The heavy doors of the rusted Subway Car hissed shut.Dudududu.The train lurched forward, accelerating into the pitch-black transit tunnel with a deafening metallic grind. Sparks Showered against the reinforced windows, Casting violent amber reflections across the interior.Noël Sat down on the hard metal bench opposite the doors.Elara huddled close to his Side, her breathing Shallow and uneven. Lyra Thorne was aggressively wiping grease off her fingers with a dirty rag, refusing to look at Gideon Vance, who Sat at the far end of the Carriage with his eyes closed and his Silver rapier resting across his knees.Noël opened his internal interface to Check his Status.[Tier: 0][Mnemonic Ledger: 7 / 60 Fractures]A Sharp, throbbing pain pierced the Center of his Skull.[Warning: Excessive use of the Sovereign Memory has Strained your Soul grid.][Your Mnemonic Ledger density is increasing.]His vision blurred for a split Second. The Cost of recalling Gideon's future actions was high. T

The towering neon billboards of the underground metropolis cast a violent, unnatural violet glow across the concrete terminal. Elara covered her eyes, Shrinking back against the Sliding doors of the rusted Subway Car. "W-What is that light? It's burning my skin." Lyra Thorne dropped her hydro-spanner with a sharp clatter. She looked up at the towering digital spires and made a completely pale expression. "The Zenith District," Lyra whispered. "This isn't just the second layer. This is the Syndicate's administrative hub." Noël didn't answer. He checked his interface. [Current Tier: 0] [Mnemonic Ledger: 8 / 60 Fractures] A dull, throbbing pain pierced the center of his skull. The Mnemonic Ledger density was rising. The cost of recalling Gideon's future movements and the layout of the Zenith District was heavy. Gideon Vance stepped off the platform, his silver rapier resting securely in its scabbard. He didn't look back at them. "Stay Close," Gideon said, his voice carrying over

The Sovereign of the Rusted Vault raised its massive, two-handed greatsword. Black flames rolled off the jagged Crystal helm, Casting long, twisting Shadows across the Server racks of the Zenith Core."Noël!" Elara SCreamed, Stumbling backward against a humming Console. "That thing, it's not a normal monster!""Of Course it isn't," Noël said.He looked at the towering boss and made a blank expression. In a normal Progression fantasy, the party would launch into a dramatic tactical retreat. But the genre of his life was plainly 'realism' governed by rigid System mechanics.Gideon Vance didn't hesitate. He drew his silver rapier.Tiing!A brilliant white aura Surged along the blade, Cutting through the darkness of the vault. Gideon Stepped forward, his Agility easily exceeding Lv. 50."Stay out of my way, vagrant," Gideon said Coldly. "I will Cut its head off before it Completes its Summoning phase."He vanished in a blur of motion.Hwiiik!In the first place, Gideon was Strong. Against

…It was a trap. The Cool air rushing out of the ventilation shaft smelled of ozone and scorched copper. Noël looked up into the dark mouth of the pipe. A pair of cold, unblinking eyes stared back down at them from the shadows. "Step back," Gideon Vance said quietly. His hand drifted back to the hilt of his silver rapier, the muscles in his forearm tightening. "That isn't a Syndicate hit Squad." "Of Course it isn't," Noël said. He made a dark expression. In the 3rd timeline's ghost-memories, this was the exact position where the auxiliary reconnaissance unit of the Aethelgard Vanguard intercepted surviving transit groups. They didn't negotiate. They Classified anyone coming out of an unauthorized utility shaft as contaminated. A figure dropped soundlessly from the mouth of the shaft, landing on the metal grating right in front of them. Kuuong! The floor plates groaned. The newcomer wore heavy, matte-black plate armor stamped with the soaring eagle insignia of the Vanguard. He d

…The air grew heavy. Kuuong! The massive Syndicate blockade walker planted its heavy steel treads into the cracked asphalt of the wasteland. Its twin ether-cannons spun up with a high-pitched whine, charging a blinding pulse of blue plasma that illuminated the entire horizon. "That's a Tier-2 Vanguard unit!" Lyra Thorne screamed, gripping the dashboard of the truck. "We can't outrun it! The acceleration won't Clear the blast radius!" Elara covered her head, her body trembling uncontrollably. "S-Save us..." Gideon Vance stood up in the truck bed, his hand resting on the pommel of his silver rapier. His white uniform whipped violently in the dust storm. "Keep driving," Gideon said, his voice entirely calm. "I will crack its front plating." "No," Noël said.Gideon looked down at him, his eyes narrowing. "You want to take a Tier-2 walker head-on with an analog truck? You'll be vaporized." "To be exact, we aren't going to fight it." Noël slammed his foot down on the brake, throwin