1. A Desperate Flight
The cold air stung Kai's lungs as he sprinted across the desolate terrain of Sector 8. Behind him, the faint hum of drones grew louder, accompanied by the metallic screeches of approaching Corrupted.
The glow from his wristband showed the countdown:
[System Countdown: 16:36:20]
"Helios wasn't kidding," Kai muttered, casting a quick glance over his shoulder. In the distance, red eyes pierced through the gloom—Specters and Corrupted drones, moving like a coordinated hunting party.
His hand tightened around the rusted pipe, but he could feel the power from his newly unlocked skill humming beneath his skin. Arc Pulse. He didn't know exactly how to use it, but he didn't have time to hesitate.
Ahead, the ruins of an old factory came into view, its skeletal frame offering a potential escape route—or a deadly trap.
"No choice," Kai said, forcing himself to run faster.
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2. Into the Factory
The factory's entrance was partially blocked by debris, but Kai managed to squeeze through a gap, his heart pounding. The interior was dark, the air heavy with the scent of rust and decay.
The hum of drones followed him inside, their red searchlights casting eerie patterns on the walls.
Kai crouched behind a stack of rusted machinery, trying to steady his breathing. His mind raced as he weighed his options. He couldn't outrun the drones, and fighting them head-on seemed suicidal.
A notification blinked on his wristband:
[Skill Guidance Available: Arc Pulse]
Kai furrowed his brow and tapped the interface. A brief tutorial appeared, projected in glowing blue text.
Arc Pulse: A short-range burst of electrical energy capable of disrupting mechanical entities and stunning living targets. Recharge Time: 15 seconds.
Kai smirked. "That'll do."
The sound of clanking metal brought his attention back to the present. One of the drones hovered into view, its red eye scanning the area.
Kai gripped the pipe in one hand, his other hand sparking faintly with energy.
"Let's see how this works."
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3. First Blood
As the drone turned toward him, Kai stepped out from his hiding spot, raising his sparking hand.
"Come get me!" he shouted.
The drone emitted a high-pitched whine, its weapon systems powering up. Before it could fire, Kai thrust his hand forward, releasing the Arc Pulse.
A burst of blue energy shot from his palm, striking the drone directly. The machine jerked violently, its systems sparking and sputtering before crashing to the ground.
[System Notification: Enemy Neutralized. XP Gained: +25.]
Kai exhaled sharply, his chest heaving. The skill had drained him more than he expected, but the rush of victory was undeniable.
Before he could celebrate, another drone appeared, followed by the sound of Corrupted claws scraping against metal.
Kai cursed. "No time to rest."
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4. The Fight Escalates
Two more drones and a hulking, quadrupedal Corrupted entered the factory, their glowing red eyes locking onto Kai.
The Corrupted growled, its metallic limbs clanging against the floor as it charged. Kai dove to the side, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws.
Rolling to his feet, he swung the pipe with all his strength, striking the beast's side. The impact barely made a dent in its armored plating.
"Figures," Kai muttered, backing away.
The drones hovered closer, their weapons charging. With no cover nearby, Kai raised his sparking hand again.
"Let's try this one more time."
He unleashed another Arc Pulse, the energy splitting into two streams that struck both drones. They convulsed in midair before crashing to the ground, their lights fading.
But the Corrupted wasn't so easily dealt with. It lunged at Kai, its claws raking across his arm as he tried to dodge. Pain flared, and he stumbled, clutching the wound.
The beast loomed over him, its jaws opening wide for the kill.
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5. A Timely Rescue
Just as Kai braced himself for the end, a sharp whistle echoed through the factory.
"Over here, ugly!"
The Corrupted turned, distracted by the voice. A moment later, a figure leaped from the shadows, landing on the beast's back.
It was Lyra. She drove a makeshift blade into the creature's neck, sparks flying as she twisted the weapon with practiced precision. The Corrupted howled, thrashing wildly, but Lyra held on.
"Don't just sit there!" she shouted at Kai. "Hit it!"
Kai forced himself to his feet, ignoring the pain in his arm. With a burst of adrenaline, he raised the pipe and brought it down on the exposed wiring at the beast's neck.
The Corrupted shuddered, its movements growing erratic. Lyra jumped off its back just as it collapsed, its body sparking and twitching before going still.
[System Notification: Enemy Neutralized. XP Gained: +75.]
Kai doubled over, gasping for air. "You… have the best timing."
Lyra smirked, wiping blood and oil from her blade. "What can I say? I like making an entrance."
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6. A Fragile Alliance
Kai leaned against a rusted support beam, his arm still bleeding from the Corrupted's attack. Lyra tossed him a small vial of glowing liquid.
"Here," she said. "System-grade healing serum. Won't fix everything, but it'll stop the bleeding."
Kai caught the vial and hesitated. "Why are you helping me?"
Lyra shrugged. "Maybe I like underdogs. Or maybe I don't like the system either. Take your pick."
Kai downed the serum, grimacing at the bitter taste. Almost immediately, the pain in his arm dulled, and the bleeding stopped.
"So, what's your plan now?" Lyra asked, leaning casually against a pile of debris.
Kai glanced at his wristband. The countdown continued to tick away, relentless as ever.
"I need to find a way to stay ahead of the system," he said. "Whatever they're after, it's tied to the Cores. I have to figure out why."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "You activated a Core, didn't you?"
Kai nodded. "Yeah. It gave me some kind of power, but it also made me a bigger target."
Lyra's expression turned serious. "Then you're in deeper than you realize. The system doesn't just erase anomalies like you—it hunts them. And if you've got a Core, they'll stop at nothing to take it back."
Kai tightened his fists. "Then I'll just have to keep fighting."
Lyra smiled faintly. "You're either brave or really stupid. Either way, you'll need help."
Kai studied her, trying to gauge her intentions. Finally, he said, "Why do I feel like you've got your own reasons for sticking around?"
Lyra's smirk returned. "Let's just say I've got a score to settle with the system too. And you? You might just be the weapon I need."
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7. The Path Forward
As the factory fell silent, Kai and Lyra gathered what supplies they could find. The fight had left both of them exhausted, but there was no time to rest.
Lyra led the way out of the factory, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon for threats.
"So, what's the next move?" Kai asked.
Lyra glanced back at him. "There's a place in Sector 6—an old relay station. It's not exactly safe, but it might have the answers you're looking for."
Kai frowned. "Why would a relay station have answers?"
Lyra hesitated. "Because it's not just a relay station. It's where the system stores data on anomalies. If there's a record of why they're targeting you, it'll be there."
Kai nodded, his resolve hardening. "Then that's where we're going."
Lyra grinned. "Good. Just don't get yourself killed before we get there."
With the drones still searching and the system closing in, the journey to Sector 6 would be anything but easy. But for the first time in a long time, Kai felt like he wasn't facing the fight alone.
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To Be Continued…