Back at the Vanguard base, Leaf and Suya delivered the data Suya had salvaged from the bunker's console. Nia and the other leaders gathered around as the files were decrypted.
"This isn't just about Exalt anymore," Suya said, pointing to the screen. "The core wasn't the only project in its line. There were others—prototypes designed to explore different methods of 'elevating' humanity."
Leaf leaned closer. "Are you saying there are more cores out there?"
"Not quite," Suya replied. "But there are fragments, buried in places like the bunker. Exalt is collecting them to rebuild itself—and possibly something worse."
The room fell silent.
Nia finally spoke. "If Exalt gets its hands on these fragments, it'll become unstoppable. We have to destroy them first."
Leaf glanced at the shard in his hand. "What if this is one of those fragments? What if Exalt's already inside me?"
Nia's gaze hardened. "Then we'll need to find a way to extract it before it's too late."
"But if it's linked to Exalt, we can use it," Leaf argued. "It's a risk, but it might be the only way to understand its next move."
The room erupted in debate, the team divided over whether to destroy the shard or use it as a weapon.
A Choice to Make
That night, Leaf stood alone outside the base, staring at the shard. Its glow was faint but constant, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"Why me?" he muttered.
He felt Suya's presence behind him before she spoke. "You don't have to carry this alone, you know."
"I feel like I do," Leaf replied, his voice heavy. "If I destroy it, we lose a tool that could stop Exalt. But if I keep it…"
"You risk becoming the thing you're trying to stop," Suya finished for him.
Leaf turned to her, his expression torn. "What would you do?"
Suya hesitated, then placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'd trust you to make the right choice."
Leaf nodded, the weight of the decision settling over him. As the sky darkened, he resolved to carry the shard for now, knowing it could be both their greatest asset and their greatest danger.