Nero woke first. His back hurt from the stone floor. The underground chamber shook from distant blasts. Dust fell from the ceiling. His breathing stayed calm. He looked around. Hana slept with her guard up, hand near her blade. Rhea leaned against a pillar, eyes open. She did not sleep at all. She watched the door with a cold stare.
Nero stood and stretched.
"You two ready," he said.
Rhea nodded once.
Hana groaned and sat up.
"My ribs feel broken," she said. "I blame you for this."
"You attacked first," Nero said.
Hana clicked her tongue and muttered something rude. She took her sword and rolled her shoulders. Her armor looked cracked. Her eyes looked tired. She still looked hungry for blood.
Rhea looked at Nero.
"Eden forces closed the ring," she said. "They plan to burn this district. They want us cornered."
"How long," Nero asked.
"Not long," Rhea said. "We move now."
They climbed the stairs to the upper tunnel. Light seeped from barred cracks above. Smoke drifted in. The air tasted sharp. A high horn blared across the city. Fire roared somewhere north. Civilians ran barefoot across the street, carrying children and bags. A soldier dragged a bleeding man to cover.
Hana looked around and shook her head.
"Your Eden does this," she said to Nero.
"It lost its soul a long time ago," Nero said.
Rhea raised her hand.
"We move in three squads. We clear the plaza. We secure the exit point. We hold until Aurora arrives."
Hana leaned close to Nero.
"I still do not trust her."
"You do not trust anyone," Nero said.
"True," Hana said. "But her face says she expects to kill us."
Rhea heard that. She did not react. She kept her eyes forward and walked.
They reached the plaza. Corpses lay across broken stone. Blood pooled across drains. Metal scraps smoked from recent blasts. A squad of rebels kneeled behind fallen statues. They raised rifles once they saw Nero's group.
"It is us," Nero said.
A woman with half her face burned lowered her weapon.
"We hold for now," she said. "Drones scout above the market. Bombers wait for signal."
"Where is Aurora," Nero asked.
"Finishing work at the tower," she said. "She comes soon."
Hana crouched and checked the sky. A drone floated high, silent. She threw a stone. It hit the ground far from the drone. She frowned.
"I love a fair fight," she said. "This is not one."
Nero stepped onto a toppled rooftop piece and looked around. Flames rose from the east district. A clock tower leaned. Bells rang from heat. Screams came from side streets. Soldiers ran by, shouting orders.
A rebel pointed to the alley.
"Commander Nero, wounded inside."
Nero nodded and went in.
He saw two kids, maybe eight or nine. One boy clutched a girl with a cut on her leg. She cried and tried to hide her face. The boy stared at Nero with a mix of fear and anger.
"You part of this war," the boy asked. His voice shook.
Nero crouched.
"No. I try to end it."
The boy did not trust him.
"Everyone says that," he said. "Then everyone burns homes."
Nero took a bandage from his pouch.
"Hold her still."
The boy hesitated, then nodded. Nero cleaned the wound and tied the bandage.
"You run west," he said. "Avoid the plaza. Take the sewage tunnel near the well."
The boy glared at him again.
"If you lie, I find you."
"Good," Nero said. "Grow strong enough for that."
The girl sniffed.
"You sound sad," she said.
"No," Nero said. "I sound tired."
They ran. Hana watched from the alley mouth.
"You want kids," she asked.
"I want peace," Nero said. "Kids come after peace."
"So never," Hana said.
He did not argue. She spoke truth here.
A horn sounded again. Rhea raised her arm.
"They advance from north. Ready."
Nero moved beside her.
"You ready for Aurora," he asked.
"Yes," Rhea said.
"You scared," Hana asked Rhea.
"No," Rhea said. "Fear wastes time."
Hana grinned.
"I like you more each hour."
Gunfire erupted from the north. Dozens of Eden soldiers marched in formation, shields raised, rifles ready. They fired in bursts. Rebels fired back. A grenade rolled across the stone. Nero kicked it toward a broken fountain. It exploded and sent shards flying.
Rhea signaled. A squad released a volley of energy bolts. They struck the first line of soldiers. Flesh burned. Armor cracked. A second line pushed forward. They moved fast and without fear.
"They drug their troops," Hana said. "Always weak men need that."
Nero leaped forward, blade out. He cut a soldier across the neck and ducked under a rifle swing. He pushed forward with brutal steps. Rhea blasted three soldiers with bright shots from her hand device. Hana flipped onto a shield line and cut two heads in one swing. She moved like a storm. Blood sprayed. She laughed.
Drones dropped stun rounds. Sparks crawled across stone. Nero rolled behind rubble. He threw a spike blade at a drone. It fell. He jumped and stomped on two soldiers. His boots shattered ribs. He pulled one into a choke and broke his neck.
Rhea raised her palm and sent a shockwave forward. Soldiers flew back. Smoke filled the air. More bombs sounded near the market. The ground shook. A loud roar filled the sky.
A white aircraft streaked overhead. It fired a plasma beam into the south street. Buildings fell. Screams echoed. Nero cursed. Rhea clenched her fists. Hana spat on the ground.
"That was friendly fire," Hana said.
"No," Nero said. "That was a message."
The aircraft circled and fired again, closer. Debris flew. Rebels ducked. A stone chunk hit Hana's shoulder. She grunted but kept standing.
Then a ringing sound rolled across the city. The air shifted. A figure landed at the far end of the plaza. Dust swirled. Light cracked across the stone. Nero squinted.
Aurora stood there. Silver armor. Pale gold hair tied behind her head. Eyes bright like fire. Her cloak moved in the wind. She held a spear with a winged blade. Soldiers stepped aside. Rebels stared.
Hana whispered,
"She looks like a statue that kills."
Nero stepped forward.
"Aurora."
She raised her chin.
"Nero."
Rhea stood beside him.
"You late," she said.
Aurora ignored her.
"You walk with traitors," she said to Nero.
"I walk with people who refuse slaughter," he said.
"You walked with me once," Aurora said. "You had honor then."
Nero lowered his blade a bit.
"Honor means nothing if children die," he said.
Aurora's jaw tightened.
"You broke Eden's law. You broke our oath. You fall today."
Hana rolled her neck.
"Finally," she said. "Someone brave."
Aurora pointed her spear.
"One chance. Stand down. Come back. Serve order. Or end here."
Nero stared at her.
"You knew me once. You know my answer."
Aurora nodded.
"Then bleed."
She moved. Fast. Faster than sound. Nero blocked in time. Sparks burst. The impact shook his arm. Hana rushed in. Aurora kicked her away. Rhea fired a blast. Aurora deflected with a spin and sent the force back. Rhea slid across stone.
Aurora moved again, spear cutting through air. Nero dodged and slashed. Aurora parried with calm skill. Their blades clashed again and again. Blood splattered. Stone cracked. Rebels backed away. Eden soldiers formed a circle.
Hana got up and lunged. Aurora swept her leg and punched her in the throat. Hana fell to a knee, coughing.
Rhea fired another shot. Aurora summoned a shield of raw light and advanced through the blast. Nero swung and grazed her shoulder. She kicked him in the ribs. He slid back.
"You lost strength," Aurora said.
"No," Nero said. "I gained purpose."
They clashed again. Sparks lit the air. Aurora pushed him back. He pushed forward. Hana jumped again and stabbed. Aurora caught her wrist and twisted. Hana screamed and dropped her blade.
Rhea charged with a short blade of hard light. Aurora spun and struck Rhea in the stomach. Rhea gasped and fell.
Nero swung with full force. Aurora parried and stabbed his side. Blood poured. He gritted his teeth. He hit her across the head with his elbow. She stumbled.
He pulled the blade from his own body, blood dripping, and roared. He struck again. Aurora blocked, but this time his blow cracked her shield of light. She stepped back.
"You fight like a wounded god," she said.
"You talk too much," Nero said.
Aurora smirked.
"Show me more."
They rushed again. Faster. Harder.
Smoke thickened. The sky glowed red. Buildings burned. The city screamed.
The fight reached a peak.
Then, far in the distance, a second figure appeared atop a burning tower. Black coat. Silver eyes. Arms crossed. Watching.
Rhea noticed first.
"No," she whispered.
Hana saw him next. Her face paled.
"Not him."
Nero felt the air shift. He looked up.
A man stood on the ruined tower. His presence bent the air. Power rolled off him. His voice boomed across the battlefield.
"Creator," he said. "I found you."
Nero's heart sank.
The true enemy arrived.
Aurora froze. Rhea trembled. Hana gasped.
The city fell silent for one brief breath.
The next storm waited.