Guild investigators moved differently than prison guards. Rhys watched them through cell bars, his Gem Sense mapping crystal-enhanced scanning equipment. Professional. Methodical. Dangerous.
"Subject 3479." The lead investigator's eyes held military-grade enhancements. "Your involvement in yesterday's incident requires review."
They'd taken Hayes to special containment. The man in white had disappeared entirely. But Rhys's Gem Sense tracked constant movement through the facility's bones - documents being destroyed, evidence disappearing, witnesses being relocated.
The resistance network moved too. Mari coordinating from medical isolation. Jin's underground contacts spreading specific rumors. Wei ensuring certain systems stayed "malfunctioning" just long enough.
"Multiple enhancement-related deaths." The investigator studied crystalline readouts. "Unauthorized fusion experiments. Black market distribution. Guard captain Hayes claims you orchestrated everything."
Rhys maintained his vacant smile. Let them see madness while his Gem Sense tracked Maya's hidden presence three levels up, carefully placing key evidence.
Then the alarms started.
"Security breach in Section D!" Emergency channels erupted with chaos. "Multiple enhanced subjects loose!"
Hayes had made his move. Somehow he'd contacted his remaining loyal guards. Dozens of enhancement-augmented fighters released into the facility. Last desperate attempt to destroy evidence through overwhelming chaos.
"Contain them!" The investigator barked orders as crystal arrays flared red. "Full lockdown authorized!"
But the chaos followed patterns. Every enhanced fighter moving toward specific targets. Every security breach hitting precise locations.
All according to plan.
Rhys Shadow Stepped through suddenly unlocked cell doors as emergency protocols engaged. The resistance network activated, each member taking calculated position. Mari's team securing vital data cores. Jin's fighters engaging security drones.
"The merchandise is escaping!" Hayes's voice echoed through crystal-warped speakers. "Terminate them all!"
The facility erupted into controlled violence. Enhanced fighters pushing untested formulas to their limits. Security systems showing phantom alerts across multiple sectors. Maya's hidden presence ensuring specific evidence survived.
Rhys moved through the chaos with cold precision. Blood from earlier fights had painted patterns that now disrupted scanner coverage. His Gem Sense guided each step through surveillance gaps while Resonant Strike disabled key systems.
Then something changed.
New power signatures appeared at the facility's edges. His Gem Sense detected fusion capabilities far beyond prison level. Crystal arrays throughout the complex pulsed with frequencies he'd never seen.
The Wolf's presence surged in warning.
"Unknown entities breaching outer perimeter," security channels crackled. "Fusion signatures exceeding authorized limits. All personnel..."
The transmission cut off as something massive hit the facility's upper levels. Crystal arrays shattered under impossible pressure. Through the chaos, Rhys caught glimpses of familiar power.
Marina.
She'd found him.
But the Wolf's warning grew stronger. Because Marina wasn't alone.
And whatever followed her into the prison wasn't here to help.
Time to-
The ceiling exploded.