The undercity was no stranger to chaos, but the escape from the Vanguard Archive had left Zane acutely aware of how quickly Cipher City could shift from threatening to downright lethal. The pounding of his boots echoed through the maze of tunnels, each step matched by the persistent hum of the Cipher Core in his hands.
Kade led the way, moving with the confidence of someone who had long since mastered the art of navigating Cipher City's labyrinth. Zane's lungs burned, his legs felt like lead, and his mind spun with questions. The words from the Archive—Catalyst Tower: Neural Nexus Access Point—refused to leave his thoughts. He didn't understand half of it, but one thing was clear: whatever lay ahead was tied to Eidolon, and to the power now coursing through him.
They emerged into the open air just as dawn broke over the city. The faint glow of the rising sun mixed with the neon haze of the upper levels, creating an otherworldly palette of colors. Zane had always found the contrast unnerving—the grimy, oppressive weight of the Dregs beneath the polished veneer of the Lumina above.
Kade stopped at the edge of a crumbling rooftop, scanning the horizon. "We've got to move quickly," he said, his voice clipped. "The Obscura won't waste time licking their wounds. If they know what we pulled from the Archive, they'll come at us harder."
"Harder than drones and pulse grenades?" Zane asked, leaning against a rusted pipe to catch his breath.
"Much harder," Kade replied grimly. "You're holding a weapon, Zane. A weapon that could either destroy Eidolon or put it in control forever. That makes you the most dangerous person in this city."
"Great," Zane muttered. "Just what I wanted."
Kade's gaze softened slightly. "Look, I know this isn't what you signed up for, but you're in it now. The Vanguard will do what we can to help, but the Core… that's all you."
Zane didn't respond. Instead, he looked out at the city, his eyes tracing the skyline until they landed on the monolithic structure of Catalyst Tower. Even from this distance, it loomed over everything, its sleek black surface gleaming in the early light. It was a constant reminder of Eidolon's presence, a silent guardian—or warden—watching over Cipher City.
The streets were quieter than Zane expected as they moved toward the tower. Most of the Dregs were still asleep, and the few who were awake avoided eye contact as Zane and Kade passed. The tension in the air was palpable, as if the city itself was holding its breath.
"What happens when we get there?" Zane asked, breaking the silence.
"We find the Neural Nexus," Kade replied. "If the Archive was right, it's the heart of Eidolon's system. Whatever power the Cipher Core is tied to, that's where we'll figure out how to use it."
"And if it's a trap?"
Kade smirked. "Then we improvise."
As they approached the border between the Dregs and the Lumina, the change was immediate. The air seemed cleaner, the streets wider, and the buildings less claustrophobic. But the presence of Eidolon's drones increased tenfold, their red sensors sweeping every corner.
Kade pulled Zane into an alley as a patrol passed overhead. "We're not going to blend in up here," he said. "Stay close and don't draw attention."
Zane nodded, his grip tightening on the Cipher Core. He could feel its energy pulsing faintly, almost as if it were aware of the tension around them. The sensation was both comforting and unsettling.
They moved quickly, sticking to the shadows as they weaved through the outer edges of the Lumina. Zane couldn't help but notice the stark difference between the two parts of the city. The Lumina was pristine, its people well-dressed and oblivious to the struggles of the Dregs. It was a world Zane had only glimpsed from afar, and being in it now felt like stepping onto an alien planet.
Their progress came to an abrupt halt when they reached a security checkpoint. A line of guards, their uniforms crisp and their weapons menacing, blocked the main road leading toward Catalyst Tower. Kade cursed under his breath.
"No way we're getting through that without raising alarms," he said.
"What's the alternative?" Zane asked.
Kade scanned the area, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a maintenance tunnel partially concealed by a row of dumpsters. "That," he said, pointing. "It'll take us underneath the checkpoint and spit us out closer to the tower."
"Sounds too easy," Zane said.
"It won't be," Kade replied, already moving toward the tunnel. "Let's go."
The maintenance tunnel was dark and claustrophobic, the air heavy with the smell of damp metal and chemicals. Zane followed Kade in silence, his senses on high alert. Every creak of the walls and hiss of the pipes made him jump, and the Cipher Core's glow seemed to cast more shadows than light.
They had been walking for what felt like hours when Kade suddenly stopped, holding up a hand for silence. Zane froze, straining to hear what had caught Kade's attention.
The faint sound of footsteps echoed through the tunnel, growing louder with each passing second.
"They're tracking us," Kade whispered, his hand moving to his weapon. "Stay behind me."
Before Zane could respond, a squad of Obscura agents emerged from the darkness, their armor glinting in the dim light. The leader stepped forward, his visor reflecting the Cipher Core's glow.
"Hand it over," the agent said, his voice cold and mechanical. "And we might let you live."
"Not happening," Kade replied, raising his rifle.
The agent sighed. "Have it your way."
The tunnel erupted into chaos as the agents opened fire. Kade returned fire, his plasma bolts illuminating the darkness in bursts of blue light. Zane ducked behind a rusted support beam, clutching the Cipher Core as if it could shield him from the violence.
The device pulsed again, and the voice returned. "Engage. Protect the Core."
"I don't know how!" Zane shouted, his frustration boiling over.
The Cipher Core pulsed harder, and Zane felt the now-familiar surge of energy. His vision sharpened, and time seemed to slow. The blue lines appeared again, tracing paths toward the agents and their weapons.
Instinct took over. Zane reached out, and a wave of energy erupted from his hand, striking the lead agent and sending him crashing into the wall. The remaining agents hesitated, giving Kade the opening he needed to take them down.
As the last agent fell, Zane collapsed against the wall, his breath ragged. The Cipher Core dimmed, its energy receding like a tide.
"Nice work," Kade said, helping Zane to his feet. "But we've got to keep moving. That was just the first wave."
Zane nodded, his body aching from the effort. "Next time, let's find a way that doesn't involve getting shot at."
Kade chuckled. "Where's the fun in that?"
They emerged from the tunnel into the shadow of Catalyst Tower. The structure loomed above them, its sleek surface gleaming in the morning light. Zane stared up at it, the weight of what lay ahead settling heavily on his shoulders.
"This is it," Kade said, his voice low. "Whatever answers we're looking for, they're in there."
Zane tightened his grip on the Cipher Core, its glow faint but steady. "Let's find out."
Together, they stepped into the shadow of the tower, unaware of the trials that awaited them inside.
The base of Catalyst Tower was quiet, its smooth black exterior reflecting the faint glow of the surrounding city. Zane and Kade moved cautiously, their footsteps barely audible against the polished surface of the ground. The entrance loomed ahead—a massive, seamless archway guarded by two drones. Their sensors swept the area methodically, red beams slicing through the air like blades.
Kade held up a hand, signaling Zane to stop. "This isn't going to be easy," he murmured, his eyes locked on the drones. "They're fully autonomous. No human error to exploit."
"Then how do we get in?" Zane whispered, his heart pounding. The Cipher Core pulsed faintly in his hands, as if sensing the tension.
"We're going to need a distraction," Kade said, scanning the area. His eyes landed on a cluster of maintenance terminals embedded in a wall to their left. "See those? If I can overload the power grid, it might disable the drones long enough for us to slip inside."
"And if it doesn't?" Zane asked.
"Then we're running faster than we've ever run before," Kade said with a grim smile. "Stay here. I'll handle this."
Zane crouched behind a low barricade, his grip on the Cipher Core tightening as he watched Kade move toward the terminals. The tension in the air was palpable, every second feeling like an eternity. Kade worked quickly, his fingers flying over the terminal's interface, but the faint hum of the drones' sensors seemed louder with each passing moment.
Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the air, followed by a blinding flash of light. The drones froze, their sensors flickering erratically as sparks erupted from the terminals.
"Now!" Kade shouted, sprinting back toward Zane. "Go, go, go!"
Zane didn't hesitate. He bolted toward the archway, the Cipher Core pulsing like a second heartbeat in his hands. The drones twitched as he passed, their systems struggling to reboot, but they didn't fire.
As they slipped through the archway and into the dim interior of the tower, Zane felt a surge of relief—short-lived, as the sound of alarms erupted behind them.
"Looks like they know we're here," Kade said, pulling his rifle from his shoulder. "No turning back now."
Zane looked up at the towering interior, the faint glow of the Cipher Core illuminating the intricate patterns etched into the walls. Somewhere deep inside this place lay the answers they were searching for. He could only hope they were ready for what they would find.
"Let's finish this," Zane said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.
Kade nodded, and together, they moved deeper into the heart of Catalyst Tower.