Location: Underground Tunnels Beneath the City Walls
The tunnel reeked of damp rock and old metal. Every step echoed despite their soft tread. Marco went first, his blade-wings tucked tight against his back, his movements quiet and purposeful.
Behind him: Ace, Sera, Bren, Toma, and Von—each bearing the weight of what they had to do.
The city above slept in peace, unaware of the war brewing beneath its feet.
"We're close," Marco whispered, inclining his head towards the light leaking in through a broken metal grate. "That will bring us into District Twelve. When we surface—be ready."
Von swallowed. His heart thudded in his chest. He fastened the strap on his pack and slid his hand into his pocket. The smoke beacon was still there. Good.
They emerged from the tunnels into a dark alley—only to be greeted by shouts and flashlights slicing through the darkness.
They were waiting.
"AMBUSH!" Bren shouted as bullets tore through crates nearby.
Government agents in black armor charged in from either side. Not normal troops—these were Suppression Units, specially trained to deal with awakened users.
Ace yelled, "Fire Pulse!" A short-range explosive blast from his core pushed back the government troops, sending one of their squad cars flying into the air.
Von huddled behind a dumpster, focusing hard. A big piece of debris hovered—he clenched his teeth, pushing it forward, slamming it into two guards hard enough to knock them out.
"Good!" Marco yelled. Then—CLANG.
A massive, armored giant burst through the alley wall.
"Hardening Right!"
The voice could not be confused.
The bullet had arrived.
Marco's eyes narrowed. "Von—move out with the others. This one's mine."
Von hesitated, but Ace grabbed him. "Go!"
Marco's wings spread, silver in the moon. Bullet grinned, extending his armored right arm—black and metal, seething with iron-like muscle.
"Always wanted to slice open a tin can," Marco snarled.
Bullet dove with a deadly punch—Marco blocked it with a blade-arm, sparks flying as iron met steel.
"Hardening Left!" Bullet snarled, slamming into Marco with a knee like a battering ram.
Marco stepped back, bleeding at the corner of his mouth, but he sneered.
"Let's see how long you can stay hard, tin man."
Then they clashed again—blades vs. brute force, fast and vicious.
Meanwhile, Von, Ace, Sera, and Bren sprinted through side streets, guided by Von's memory of the city's map.
They turned a corner—and nearly ran headlong into an automated turret.
"Back!" Von shouted.
Ace quickly launched forward and yelled, Blazing Fists! Concentrating flame energy into his hands for devastating melee strikes. Destroying the turret.
"We're out of time," Sera said. "That shot woke up half the district."
"Then we move faster," Von said, listening to the confidence in his voice and surprising himself.
"There's an access tunnel under the East Plaza. If we use the old subway, we can reach the lab's outside wall without being spotted."
Ace nodded to him. "Lead the way."
Von nodded back.
He was scared.
He was shaking.
But this time. He did not run.