The comm device crackled ominously, Damian's voice distorted, swallowed by static.
My grip tightened around the device, the buzzing white noise filling the silence like a sinister reminder of what was at stake.
"Damian? Hey… are you there? Damian!"
A scream tore through the transmission, raw and desperate. It wasn't just a scream—it was an animalistic cry of pain, of someone fighting for their life.
My heart pounded, adrenaline surging through my veins. This wasn't just any mission. This was family. Someone I cared about in this chaotic world.
Damian was in danger.
I couldn't just wait around, hoping someone else would save him. The system wouldn't—GAIA wouldn't—do anything to help me now.
I didn't think twice.
"Accept mission."
The black HUD flickered to life, the mission prompt flashing brightly on the screen.
[Mission: Tower Guardian]
Rank: S
Objective: Save the Tower Guardian from destruction by otherworldly creatures within 12 hours.
Bonus Objective: Complete the mission undetected by GAIA.
Failure Consequences: Imminent destruction of your world.
The countdown timer blinked, starting the clock. 11:59:58.
Every second mattered.
GAIA wasn't just going to let me waltz in there unnoticed. I needed a disguise, something to slip under its radar.
And that's where Codebreaker came in. My system hack, my ace in the hole.
"Codebreaker, create new Mask ID."
There was a pause, long enough to make me worry the system might fail me in the heat of the moment. But then, as smoothly as ever, Codebreaker responded:
[Mask ID Created. Please name the new ID.]
The name hit me instantly, like a switch flipped in my mind. My past life, my former identity as a hacker—Khaos.
"Khaos."
[Mask ID updated: Khaos.]
[Configure Class, Rank, and Talent?]
I stared at the screen, weighing my options. GAIA had me labeled as a Technomancer, but that could link me directly to Noah Adler. I needed something close enough to explain any accidental slip-ups, but distinct enough to avoid suspicion.
"Rare Class: Mech Summoner. Talent: Mage. Rank: SS."
I could feel the tension in my chest, the need for this disguise to be perfect. GAIA's algorithms were sharp, but I had to outsmart them.
[Attributes and Stats Randomized.]
A pulse of satisfaction ran through me as the stats appeared. Combat-ready. Impressive. The system had done its job.
Khaos (Mask ID)
Class: Mech Summoner (Rare)
Talent: Mage
Rank: SS
DA: 88
EA: 90
STR: 95
INT: 90
WIL: 99
AGI: 92
END: 95
LCK: 80
"Codebreaker, activate mask and initiate system cloaking."
The air around me shifted as the mask activated, the familiar weight of the system settling into place, a cloak of invisibility over my true self. It felt like slipping into a second skin.
Comfortable. Hidden.
I was Khaos now, a new identity that couldn't be traced back to me.
[Switching to Khaos...]
[Cloaking Active.]
A grin spread across my face. "Hang in there, Damian. I'm coming."
********
The Tower rose before me, an imposing spire of jagged steel and stone. Its towering form pulsed with faint energy, and the faint hum of the portal at its entrance beckoned me forward.
"Damn, this thing's massive," I muttered to myself. The sheer size of it was enough to make anyone hesitate.
But not me. Not now. I couldn't afford to.
"Time to put my Apex-rank skills to the test," I said, steeling myself as I entered the tower.
The transition was instant—one moment, the world outside was bustling and bright; the next, I was in the heart of the tower, the oppressive silence pressing in around me like a vice. The air was thick with the static of unpowered machinery, and the faint tang of blood lingered, an unsettling premonition of the battle to come.
The map in my HUD guided me directly to Level 45, where Damian's last signal had originated. The Tower Guardian, the crystalline generator that maintained the ecosystem of this level, was somewhere nearby.
If it fell, the entire floor would descend into utter chaos.
As I neared the outskirts of the level, the first signs of destruction became apparent: charred walls, broken weapons, pools of black ichor staining the ground.
Something had happened here recently.
A battle.
I activated my drones, sending them ahead to survey the area. They would give me the intel I needed without risking my own exposure.
Drone Swarm: Deploy.
The drones hummed to life, sleek and deadly as they zipped ahead. Their feeds appeared on my HUD, showing grotesque creatures crawling over the debris—warped, chitinous bodies and too many limbs. Their glowing yellow eyes scanned the area, searching for their next victim.
[Intruder Detected]
Species: Serak Sentinels
Origin: Serakis Planet, Denith Cosmos
Rank: B
Weakness: Physical Attacks, Firepower
"Alien Sentinels?" I muttered, surprised that my drones were able to ID them. It had to be Codebreaker feeding me the data.
"Hah, B-rank? This'll be a walk in the park," I smirked, already sizing them up. "These bastards don't stand a chance."
"EMP Barrage," I whispered, activating the drones' command.
The pulse sent a shockwave through the air, illuminating the space like a miniature thunderstorm. Sparks flew as the creatures' tech-enhanced bodies spasmed and jerked, their movements suddenly sluggish and uncoordinated.
I wasn't about to waste time.
"Mecha Suit activate," I ordered, the words barely leaving my mouth before the suit materialized around me in a flash of light and whirring machinery. Its sleek, armored frame locked into place, my HUD lighting up with tactical data and combat options. The power surge from the suit sent a jolt of energy through me.
This was it.
"Let's see how 'op' you really are," I muttered, watching the combat interface adjust to my commands.
The drones provided support, picking off stragglers while I powered forward, propelled by the suit's enhanced strength and speed. My first swing obliterated one of the creatures, sending its head flying. Another was sent crashing into the wall with a thunderous crash.
I couldn't help but grin, my blood pumping with excitement. "See you in hell, you alien bastards."
One by one, the Serak Sentinels fell to my gauntlet's crushing blows, and the remaining ones were picked off by the drones, their resistance futile.
As the last creature hit the ground, I spotted something. A faint heat signature deeper within the level. My pulse quickened.
Damian.
I rushed forward, the drones following closely behind, scanning for any further threats.
There he was. Slumped against a wall, blood smeared across his face and armor. His team was scattered nearby, unconscious and battered. They hadn't been able to handle the onslaught.
I crouched beside Damian, my suit scanning his vitals.
Alive. Barely.
"Hang in there, big bro," I whispered, a rush of relief flooding me.
But it wasn't over.
Not yet.
I activated the suit's med-drone, releasing a small bot that hovered over Damian, stabilizing his vitals. As the drone worked, a new alert flashed on my HUD.
[Tower Guardian Under Siege.]
I looked up. The Tower Guardian's crystalline core was surrounded by more invaders, their claws striking the energy shield protecting it. Cracks had begun to form along the edges.
I didn't hesitate.
"Drone Swarm: Offensive Formation."
The drones shifted into position, opening fire with bursts of concentrated energy. I charged forward, activating the Electromagnetic Barrier to shield myself from incoming attacks.
"Overload Pulse!"
Energy surged from my suit in a blinding flash, frying the remaining invaders in a violent burst of power. The battlefield fell silent, the acrid smell of burned flesh filling the air.
The Tower Guardian's shield flickered, then returned to full strength, stabilizing the level.
I exhaled, but the sense of relief was fleeting. There was still one problem left—GAIA.
My HUD lit up with a new alert, flashing an ominous red.
[Warning: Anomaly Detected.]
[GAIA Surveillance Active.]
My chest tightened. The system was watching me. It knew something was wrong. If GAIA made the connection between Khaos and Noah Adler, everything I'd worked for—the mask, the secrecy—would be shattered.
The mission wasn't over. Not yet.
I grabbed Damian, hoisting him onto my shoulder, and gestured for the drones to follow. His teammates, barely conscious, would have to hold on. We still had to get out before GAIA closed in.
The portal shimmered ahead, but I knew the real battle wasn't over. It had only just begun.