The two broke away from the main group, slipping into the dense shadows of the thick foliage surrounding the outpost. The towering walls of the Metis structure loomed ahead, an unnatural fusion of organic and metallic material that seemed almost alive. Pulses of faint, eerie light emanated from the structure, casting long, flickering shadows across the forest floor. The air was thick with tension, every sound amplified in the stillness.
Asher crouched low behind a fallen tree, his sharp eyes scanning for movement. Beside him, Herman activated a small device on his wrist, projecting a holographic map of the outpost. The map displayed their route to the energy core—a heavily guarded chamber at the heart of the structure.
"The core should be here," Herman said in a hushed voice, pointing to the glowing mark on the map. "We'll need to sneak past multiple patrols and disable a few security systems. Shouldn't be too bad."
