Chapter 55: Into the Depths
The Nexus door sealed shut with a deep, resonating thud, muffling the chaos outside. Adam's breath came in short bursts, his chest heaving from the sprint. Lysandra leaned against the wall, her blade still drawn, keeping a wary eye on the dagger-wielding intruder.
The woman stood in the faint glow of the Nexus corridor, her stance casual yet ready. Her twin daggers shimmered with a faint blue light, the runes etched into their blades pulsing like a heartbeat.
"You've got guts breaking in here," she said, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Too bad it won't save you."
Adam stepped forward, placing himself between Lysandra and the woman. "Who are you?"
"Call me Kaelith," she said, her voice smooth yet cold. "And you've just made my job easier. The Nexus is ours."
Adam tightened his grip on the Void Barrier ability, ready to deploy it at a moment's notice. "We're not here to hand it over."
Kaelith laughed, a sound that echoed ominously in the corridor. "Good. I like a challenge."
She lunged forward with alarming speed, her daggers slicing through the air like streaks of light. Adam barely had time to activate his shield, the shimmering barrier flaring to life just as her blades struck. Sparks flew as the daggers clashed against the shield, their runes flaring brighter with each impact.
"Lysandra, go deeper into the Nexus!" Adam shouted. "I'll hold her off!"
"I'm not leaving you!" she snapped, already moving to flank Kaelith.
Kaelith twisted her body, dodging Lysandra's strike and countering with a precise slash. Lysandra parried just in time, the clang of metal reverberating through the passage.
System Notification:
Environment Update: Nexus Corridor.
Threat Level: Increasing.
Hazard: Adaptive Security System Activated.
The walls began to hum with energy, faint glyphs lighting up and shifting like a living circuit. Adam realized the Nexus wasn't just an ancient structure—it was actively defending itself.
"We've got a bigger problem!" Adam called out, dodging a stray dagger throw as Kaelith pressed her attack.
Lysandra glanced at the glowing walls, her expression grim. "We're running out of time."
Kaelith's smirk widened. "Looks like none of us are leaving without a fight."
The corridor shuddered, and a deep, mechanical voice boomed from the walls:
"Unauthorized intrusions detected. Initiating purge."
Adam's stomach dropped as panels in the floor slid open, releasing small, spider-like drones. Their metallic bodies glinted in the dim light, and red targeting lasers flickered to life.
"Purge sounds bad," Lysandra muttered, her blade poised.
"It is," Adam replied, his mind racing. He activated his simulation ability, burning through its cooldown prematurely.
Simulation Engaged: Predictive Combat Analysis
Probability of Success: 43%.
Recommendation: Force Kaelith to retreat or ally temporarily. Neutralize drones before engaging further with Nexus defenses.
"Kaelith," Adam said, dodging a drone's laser beam. "Truce."
She glanced at him, her smirk faltering slightly. "What?"
"You heard me. We don't stop these drones, none of us make it out."
Kaelith hesitated, her sharp eyes scanning the approaching swarm. After a tense moment, she nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But betray me, and I'll gut you."
"Fair enough," Adam said, tossing her a small artifact from his inventory—a shock grenade. "Use this."
Kaelith caught it effortlessly and threw it into the swarm. The grenade exploded, emitting an electric pulse that fried several drones. Adam and Lysandra followed up, working in tandem to disable the rest.
The drones kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. The Nexus's defenses were relentless, and the glow from the walls intensified, signaling another wave.
"We can't hold out forever!" Lysandra shouted.
"Then we don't," Adam said, spotting a control panel farther down the corridor. "Cover me!"
He sprinted toward the panel, dodging lasers and leaping over fallen drones. Kaelith and Lysandra held the line, their combined efforts keeping the swarm at bay. Reaching the panel, Adam quickly accessed it, his fingers flying over the unfamiliar interface.
"Come on, come on," he muttered. A notification popped up on his HUD:
System Notification:
Override Protocol Available. Requires Access Key.
Adam cursed under his breath. Of course it wouldn't be that simple. He activated his Steal ability again, targeting the Nexus itself.
Steal Activated: Target - Nexus Core.
Item Obtained: Temporary Access Key
The panel unlocked, and Adam initiated the override. The drones froze in place, their lights dimming before they retreated back into the floor.
The corridor fell silent, save for their ragged breathing.
Kaelith lowered her daggers, giving Adam an appraising look. "Not bad. For now, I'll consider us even."
Lysandra sheathed her blade, her gaze wary. "Let's hope this truce lasts."
Adam stepped away from the panel, his focus shifting to the deeper corridors of the Nexus. The hardest part was still ahead.