The platform slowed, depositing Vex and Nyx into a dimly lit corridor lined with eerie, glowing runes. The atmosphere was tense, almost expectant, as if the walls themselves were watching their every step. With the clamor of combat behind them, the silence felt like both a relief and a warning.
They walked in silence at first, each lost in their own thoughts. Vex scanned their surroundings, his senses heightened, trying to pick up on any subtle disturbances in the air or flickers in the shadows. Beside him, Nyx moved with a quiet confidence, her steps as light as a cat's, barely making a sound against the cold, metallic floor.
Finally, she broke the silence. "Do you think that voice was telling the truth?"
Vex hesitated, his gaze still trained forward. "About other players being ahead of us? It wouldn't surprise me. If there's a final level as elusive as Echelon, there's bound to be people as determined—and maybe desperate—as us trying to reach it."
Nyx nodded, though her expression was unreadable. "I wonder what their motives are," she murmured, almost to herself. "Everyone's here for something… a goal, a desire."
Her words lingered in the air, sparking a thought in Vex's mind. What did he truly seek? Was it just the thrill of a new challenge, or was it something deeper, buried under layers of past choices and lost dreams? He shook it off for now. Here, in this place, he couldn't afford to dwell too deeply on things that didn't help him survive.
The corridor twisted sharply, leading them down a narrower path. At the end of it, they stumbled upon a small, inconspicuous door—almost hidden, save for a faint shimmer around its edges.
Nyx tilted her head, a flicker of interest crossing her face. "Looks like a bonus room," she whispered.
Vex's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Think it's rigged with traps?"
She shrugged. "Only one way to find out."
With a steadying breath, Vex approached the door. He tapped the panel beside it, half-expecting it to snap shut or unleash a torrent of lasers. Instead, the door slid open smoothly, revealing a surprisingly spacious room filled with neatly organized supplies and equipment.
The two of them exchanged a glance, their eyes widening slightly. This was a treasure trove—a rare find in a place that seemed determined to break them at every turn.
They moved inside, scanning the shelves. Vex picked up a handful of small vials filled with a shimmering blue liquid. "Energy boosts," he muttered, recognizing the telltale glow. "High-grade, too."
Nyx inspected a set of gloves that emitted a soft, electric hum. "These are reinforced with some kind of magnetic tech. Could be useful for handling… heavy weaponry."
She slipped them on, testing the fit. Vex watched her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Nyx caught his look and raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Nothing," he said, his tone teasing. "Just that they suit you."
Her cheeks flushed slightly, though she covered it with a smirk of her own. "Compliments don't come free. You owe me a boost if those energy vials actually work."
He chuckled, but their attention quickly shifted back to the supplies. Alongside the vials and gloves, they found a compact medkit, several protein bars, and a strange device that resembled a mini-drone.
"Wonder what this does." Vex picked it up, feeling its weight. The device hummed slightly at his touch, its screen flickering with a series of codes.
Nyx leaned in, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "Could be a signal disruptor. Those are rare… and usually restricted to high-level ops."
Vex's brow furrowed as he studied it. "Could come in handy if we run into more droids."
She nodded, and they continued to examine the stash in comfortable silence. Every so often, their hands would brush against the same item, a small but noticeable exchange that neither acknowledged but both felt.
Eventually, they loaded up on essentials, carefully distributing the items between them. It felt like a small alliance in a world where trust was a scarce commodity, and the simplicity of it brought a sense of shared purpose.
As they turned to leave, Nyx paused, her gaze settling on him with a hint of seriousness. "So… why do you really want to reach Echelon? I get that you're skilled, and maybe you're after the thrill of it. But there's more, isn't there?"
Her question caught Vex off guard. He didn't answer right away, the question itself stirring something inside him that he wasn't sure he was ready to face. He hadn't planned on forming any connections here, let alone sharing his past with someone he barely knew.
He shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Maybe I just don't like losing," he replied with a half-smile.
Nyx didn't look convinced, but she didn't press further. She simply nodded, as if filing away the information for later, her eyes thoughtful. Vex felt a strange sense of relief. Here, in this brutal, unforgiving arena, he hadn't expected anyone to care about his reasons—or to ask.
They continued down the corridor, the silence comfortable, almost companionable. But as they moved forward, a faint clicking noise reached Vex's ears, so soft he almost missed it.
He froze, holding a hand up to stop Nyx. She stilled immediately, her own instincts kicking in.
"What is it?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The clicking grew louder, followed by a scraping sound that echoed down the corridor. The two exchanged a tense glance, each reading the apprehension in the other's expression.
Vex's grip on his blade tightened, and he scanned the corridor, his eyes narrowed. "Stay close."
They began moving again, slower this time, their senses on high alert. Shadows flickered along the walls, and every slight movement seemed magnified in the silence.
Then, just as they rounded a corner, a shadow leapt at them from above—a blur of sharp claws and glinting metal. Vex barely had time to react, twisting out of the way as the creature struck, its claws slicing through the air where his head had been moments before.
The creature was unlike anything they'd seen so far. It moved on all fours, its body sleek and covered in dark, armor-like scales. Red eyes gleamed from a face that was half-mechanical, half-organic, with sharp, angular features that seemed designed for hunting.
"Down!" Vex shouted as the creature lunged again, faster than anything they'd faced before. He managed to dodge its first attack, rolling to the side, but it shifted direction mid-air, barreling toward Nyx.
She dropped to one knee, firing her pistol in rapid succession. Sparks erupted as the bullets struck its armor, but the creature barely slowed. With a growl, it slashed out, its claws grazing her arm and leaving a trail of red.
Vex lunged forward, swinging his blade in a wide arc. The creature dodged, but not before his blade caught its side, slicing through a section of its armor. It let out a shrill, metallic screech, staggering back for just a moment.
"Looks like we're going to need those supplies sooner than expected," Nyx gritted out, her face a mixture of pain and determination.
The creature circled them, its movements fluid and predatory, assessing them with a calculating gaze. Vex could feel the intensity of its focus, and a chill ran down his spine. This wasn't just an ordinary guard—it was a creature built to eliminate intruders with ruthless efficiency.
Nyx glanced at Vex, a fierce glint in her eye. "Think we can take it down?"
He smirked, shifting his stance. "Only one way to find out."
But just as they prepared to strike, the creature let out another screech, and three more shadows appeared behind it, stepping out of the darkness with gleaming red eyes and predatory snarls.
Vex's heart pounded, his gaze darting between the creatures. They were outnumbered, cornered—and the odds had never felt more deadly.