Elara crouched on the cavern floor, her chest heaving as the primal vein's glow lit up the space. The air felt heavy with dust and energy, the third shard's light bouncing off the broken walls covered in twisted metal and glowing vines. She held the disruptor close, its weight keeping her steady. She looked around at the shaking ground. Big pieces of the ceiling kept falling, showing the hidden city was breaking apart.
San Francisco's ruins above rumbled from the recent storms. Lira sat next to her, her mind sending a soft message to stay strong. Kael stood nearby, his big frame sore but ready, holding his rifle tight.
Nyx leaned against a rock, her lenses dim but alert, her quick hands resting. Vey held the holo-map, his fingers shaky but focused. Saria sent out gentle energy waves, her calm presence helping the group.
"We need to get out," Elara said, her voice rough but firm.
"The city's falling, and Calder's soldiers are coming. Let's move!"
She thought about Mira's sad face and the bloodline's call. It pushed her on, but a sharp fear hit her—Calder's next attack was close.
Kael stepped forward, his voice gruff. "I'll clear the path. Stay behind me!"
He held a detonator, his tough grin showing even with his hurt leg. He blasted a blocked tunnel, the explosion loud, opening a narrow passage. The walls glowed with old metal and cracked crystals, hinting at a forgotten escape route.
They ran into the tunnel, but the ground shook again. Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed behind them. Calder's enhanced soldiers appeared—tall figures in shiny armor, their eyes glowing green from Flux power.
They carried big weapons, and their movements were fast and strong. Drones buzzed overhead, shooting lasers. The group ducked as rocks fell around them.
"Soldiers!" Nyx shouted, her lenses flaring. "I'll jam their systems!"
She ducked behind a rock and worked her fingers fast on a broken panel, sparks flying.
"Take that, you big brutes!" she yelled. One soldier's weapon fizzled, but the others kept coming.
Saria jumped up, her energy waves hitting a soldier's chest. Her movements were quick and smooth.
"Elara, keep going!" she called. Her power pushed one back, but a laser grazed her side, making her wince.
Vey pointed at the map, his voice shaky. "The tunnel splits ahead—left leads out!" He stumbled but kept the map steady.
Lira's mind sent a strong message, Run fast! Her weak energy blast distracted a drone, letting Elara lead the way. She fired the disruptor at a fallen beam, her blood splashing to clear the path. The soldiers charged, their weapons booming.
Kael threw a detonator, the blast knocking two back, but a laser hit his shoulder, and he grunted in pain.
They reached the split, but the left tunnel shook with another bomb blast. Dust filled the air, and the ceiling started to crack.
"It's a trap!" Elara yelled. She pulled Lira aside as rocks fell, blocking the exit. The soldiers closed in, their green eyes glowing brighter. Drones fired, pinning Nyx and Vey behind a crystal.
Nyx hacked again, her voice tense. "I can't hold them! Help!"
Her sparks slowed a drone, but a soldier swung a heavy arm, shattering the panel.
Saria sent a big energy wave, pushing the soldiers back.
"We fight through!" she said, her strength holding strong despite the cut on her side.
Kael roared, firing his rifle.
"Get them off us!" He limped but kept shooting, taking down a drone.
Elara saw a side passage, faint light showing through.
"This way!" she shouted. She ran, her blood dripping as she blasted a rune to open it. The group followed, but a soldier grabbed Vey's arm.
He cried out, and Saria turned back, her energy freeing him. The tunnel behind them collapsed, cutting off the soldiers for a moment.
They stumbled into a small cavern, the primal vein's glow stronger here. But the air grew cold, and a new danger loomed.
Enhanced soldiers burst in, led by a huge one with a glowing sword. Drones swarmed, lasers cutting the walls. Elara dived into the Weave, headset on, needing answers.
The vault opened, and a robed figure spoke with a serious tone.
"The tribe's enemy is Calder's creation—Flux soldiers from her mother's experiments. The primal vein holds the key. Unite blood to stop her."
A vision showed a dark lab, Calder's mother mixing Flux with human tests, soldiers rising, the tribe fighting back, then the city falling. The figure added, "A traitor lives—find them."
Elara saw the vein guarded by old traps, Calder's drones nearing, and a familiar face in the shadows—Vey's twin brother?
She pulled out, gasping.
"Calder's soldiers came from her mom's work! Vey, your brother's alive!" The cavern shook, soldiers breaking through. Vey froze, his face pale.
"My brother… he's with her?"
Kael fired, yelling, "Focus! Shoot!"
His shots hit a soldier, but the big one swung its sword, nearly cutting Saria.
Nyx hacked a drone, shouting, "I'll slow them!" Her sparks downed two, but the leader kept coming.
Saria blocked with her energy, grunting. "Elara, the vein!"
Her power weakened, but she held the line.
Lira crawled to the vein, her mind sending, Together! She added her blood, and Elara joined her. The vein glowed bright, energy pushing the soldiers back.
The big one roared, its sword shattering, but drones fired again. Kael threw his last detonator, the blast clearing a path. They ran, the cavern collapsing behind them.
They reached a narrow exit, the city above shaking. Calder's voice boomed from a drone.
"You can't escape!" Bombs went off, sealing the tunnel. Elara blasted a weak spot, her blood opening a crawlspace.
They squeezed through, emerging in a ruined street as the ground settled.
Elara sat, breathing hard, Lira beside her. Lira's mind whispered, We're alive. Kael leaned against a wall, grinning.
"That was close!" Nyx rubbed her hands, lenses bright.
"Wild run!" Saria nodded, her strength returning. Vey stared, shaken.
"My brother… why?"
The primal vein's pulse faded, bloodline united, but Calder's soldiers and Vey's brother loomed, city trembled, fight far end.