The ravine stretched out before them, its jagged walls plunging into shadow. At its base, the faint glow of the Convergence's hub pulsed like a heartbeat, casting eerie patterns onto the cliffs above. The air was thick with the hum of machinery and the faint, acrid scent of burning energy.
Kael crouched at the edge, his bow in hand as he scanned the facility. "They've fortified the entire area. Patrols, turrets, defensive wards. This isn't just a stronghold—it's a fortress."
Ferran grunted, his arms crossed. "So much for walking in unnoticed."
Elaine studied the hub carefully, her mind racing. The shard in her satchel pulsed steadily, its energy resonating faintly with the glow from below. "We don't need to take the whole place down. We just need to disrupt their network and get out."
Ardyn stepped up beside her, her expression grim. "The network hub will be at the center of the facility. If you want to shut it down, you'll have to go through their defenses—and they won't let you do it quietly."
"Then we'll make noise," Ferran said, gripping his sword.
Elaine shook her head. "We can't afford a full fight. Lira, can you disable the defenses?"
Lira hesitated, her face pale. "Maybe… but it'll take time. And if they notice, they'll swarm us before I finish."
Elaine's jaw tightened. "Then we'll create a distraction."
The Plan
The group gathered in the cover of a thicket, the faint glow of the hub illuminating their tense faces. Elaine knelt on the ground, sketching a crude map of the facility in the dirt.
"Lira, you'll stay near the outer perimeter and work on disabling the turrets and wards. Ardyn and Kael, you'll create a diversion near the north entrance. Ferran and I will infiltrate the central building and shut down the network hub."
Kael frowned. "That's a lot of moving parts. If any of us gets caught, the whole plan falls apart."
"We don't have a choice," Elaine said firmly. "The longer we wait, the more time they have to consolidate the fragments."
Ferran smirked faintly. "At least we get the fun job."
"Stick to the plan," Elaine said, her tone sharp. "No unnecessary risks."
Ardyn crossed her arms, her gaze hard. "You realize they'll have backups. Even if we take down the hub, it won't stop them completely."
Elaine met her gaze, her resolve unshaken. "Then we'll hit them again—and again—until they're finished."
Infiltrating the Hub
The operation began under the cover of darkness, the team moving silently into position. Lira crouched beside a turret at the edge of the facility, her tools sparking faintly as she worked to disable its rune-etched controls.
"First turret down," she whispered into the comm crystal. "Moving to the next."
Ardyn and Kael approached the north entrance, their movements quick and deliberate. Kael loosed an arrow, striking a guard before they could raise the alarm, while Ardyn sliced through another with precise efficiency.
"Distraction starting," Ardyn said into the crystal. "You're clear to move."
Elaine and Ferran slipped through the shadows, their steps silent as they approached the central building. The shard in Elaine's satchel pulsed more rapidly now, its energy resonating with the core of the hub.
"This way," Elaine whispered, leading Ferran toward a narrow service entrance.
The Heart of the Facility
The interior of the central building was cold and sterile, its metallic walls glowing faintly with Nexus energy. The hum of machinery filled the air, growing louder as Elaine and Ferran moved deeper into the structure.
"This place is huge," Ferran muttered, his voice low. "How do they keep this hidden?"
"The Convergence has resources we can't imagine," Elaine said. "And they're not afraid to use them."
The shard's pulse guided them through the maze of corridors, its energy pulling Elaine toward a large chamber at the facility's core. As they approached, the hum in the air intensified, vibrating through the walls like a living presence.
Elaine held up a hand, signaling for Ferran to stop. "We're close. Be ready."
A Grim Discovery
The chamber opened into a massive, circular room dominated by a towering crystalline structure. The Unity Engine paled in comparison to this—an intricate web of fragments and conduits, each glowing with Nexus energy.
"This is it," Elaine whispered, her breath catching. "The network hub."
Ferran stared at the structure, his expression grim. "They've already started. Look at the size of this thing."
As they stepped closer, a figure emerged from the shadows, their presence commanding and cold. They were clad in dark armor etched with glowing runes, their face obscured by a sleek, featureless mask.
"So, you've made it this far," the figure said, their voice calm and mocking. "I expected more from the ones causing so much trouble."
Elaine drew her blade, her stance firm. "And who are you supposed to be?"
The figure chuckled softly. "I am the Voice of the Convergence. And you… are out of your depth."