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Chapter 17: The Breakthrough
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The research facility was eerily quiet now, the only sound the hum of the servers and the occasional clatter of a nearby machine. The sudden chaos with the Watchers had left the team on edge, but Kaito could feel a small sliver of hope creeping through the tension. They had successfully gathered vital information—data on the Architects' involvement in the outbreak, their control over the Watchers, and perhaps most importantly, the device Hana had found. It was a breakthrough. But it came at a price.
Kaito stood near the entrance of the server room, his gaze fixed on the flickering lights above. His heart was still racing from the recent fight. Ayumi, Ryo, Akari, and Hana had already gathered around Hana's terminal, trying to make sense of the encrypted files they had recovered. But despite the progress they had made, Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that they were still walking into a trap. The Architects were too calculated. They had to be planning their next move.
"We've got what we came for," Ryo said, his voice laced with frustration as he leaned against the wall. "But this isn't over. We still need to figure out what they're doing with all these Watchers. And what's this device you found, Hana?"
Hana's fingers hovered over the terminal. She had been working tirelessly, her eyes scanning the rows of code, trying to unlock the true purpose of the device. "I'm still trying to decode the last of these files," she said, her voice sharp with concentration. "It's encrypted using multiple layers of advanced security protocols. Whoever designed this knew exactly what they were doing."
"Could it be something that controls the Watchers?" Ayumi asked, crossing her arms as she watched Hana's progress. "Maybe this is how the Architects are keeping them in line?"
"I think so," Hana replied, her tone somber. "This device is part of a larger network—a central hub that communicates with all the infected. The Watchers, the regular infected, even the more advanced types—it's all linked. They're controlling them from a distance."
Kaito's thoughts raced. The idea that the Architects had not only created the Watchers but were also able to control them remotely made his blood run cold. If they could control the Watchers, then they had the power to unleash hell on any location they desired. And if the Watchers were only a small piece of the puzzle, what were the Architects planning next?
"That's terrifying," Akari said, her voice quieter than usual. "But it also means they're vulnerable. If we can destroy this device, we could break their control over the Watchers."
Kaito nodded. "Agreed. But that's a big 'if.' We don't even know where the device is located. It could be anywhere within this facility."
Ryo clenched his fists. "So what now? We leave with what we have, or do we take a bigger risk and try to destroy this device?"
Kaito considered the options, his gaze flickering between the others. He could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him. On one hand, they had the information they needed. On the other, the Architects were still out there, watching their every move. It was too dangerous to stay much longer, but if they left now, they could never be sure if the Watchers would remain under control.
"We don't have time to waste," Kaito said, his voice firm. "We need to find that device and destroy it. If we don't, then everything we've learned here could be useless."
"But how do we find it?" Ayumi asked, concern etched on her face.
"First, we need to access the facility's security system," Hana said, already typing away at the terminal. "I've found a map of the building's layout. If we can locate the central server room, we might be able to pinpoint the device's location."
"Let's do it," Kaito replied. "We're not walking out of here empty-handed."
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The team moved quickly through the facility, their footsteps echoing in the otherwise silent hallways. Kaito's mind was constantly on alert. The Watchers were still out there, and though they had managed to fend them off for now, he knew they couldn't afford another surprise attack. The walls of the research facility felt like they were closing in on them with every passing second.
Hana led the way, the map of the facility displayed on a small handheld device she had scavenged from one of the terminals. It was an old piece of technology, but it worked for what they needed. The map showed the location of the central server room—a fortified section of the building located on the lower levels, far from where they had started their journey.
As they reached the elevator shaft, Kaito paused, glancing over at Ayumi. She was scanning the hallway behind them, ever watchful.
"Do you feel that?" she asked quietly, her voice tinged with unease.
Kaito frowned. "What do you mean?"
"There's something off about this place. I don't know if it's just me, but I feel like we're being watched."
Ryo nodded in agreement. "I've had that feeling ever since we got here. I don't like it."
Kaito's instincts were screaming at him. They had to move faster. The Architects knew they were here, and they were likely already preparing for the next phase of their plan. They couldn't afford to give them the chance to react.
"We need to pick up the pace," Kaito said. "Stay sharp, everyone."
As they descended deeper into the facility, the air grew colder, the lighting more sporadic. The further they went, the more abandoned the place seemed. The oppressive silence was broken only by the hum of the building's failing systems and the occasional creak of metal.
Finally, they reached the central server room, a massive steel door standing in their way. Hana quickly accessed the security terminal beside it, her fingers flying over the interface as she worked.
"Just a few more seconds," she said, sweat beading on her forehead.
Kaito kept his gaze fixed on the hallway behind them, his senses heightened. The Watchers could be anywhere. He could already feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing up, his every instinct telling him to be ready.
The door clicked open with a loud metallic groan, and the team rushed inside.
The server room was a large, dimly lit chamber filled with rows upon rows of computers and blinking machinery. At the far end of the room, a massive central terminal hummed quietly. But it was the device sitting next to it that caught Kaito's attention.
It looked like a large, cylindrical object, its surface covered in strange symbols and markings that seemed to pulse with an eerie energy. This was it—the device that controlled the Watchers. If they destroyed it, they could break the Architects' grip on the infected.
"We need to destroy it," Kaito said, his voice steady despite the growing tension. "We'll plant explosives around it and blow it up."
Before anyone could respond, a sharp, shrill sound filled the room—the unmistakable sound of the facility's alarm system blaring again.
"We're not alone," Ryo said grimly. "Get ready."
Kaito's heart skipped a beat. They had no time to waste. The Watchers were closing in.