The outer slums of Mechanic City reeked of burnt oil and stale synthetic food as Lin Che, Su Qing, and Xiao Ya slipped through the narrow alleys. Night had fallen, and the only light came from flickering oil lamps hanging outside ramshackle shops and the occasional glow of a holographic poster—most emblazoned with the Zhao family's brass crest, or warnings about "wanted Arcane criminals."
Xiao Ya clung to Lin Che's hand, her eyes wide as she stared at the crowded streets. Scavengers rummaged through piles of scrap, while vendors shouted over the din of clattering metal and distant factory whistles. The plants here were wilted, their leaves brown and brittle, and she'd barely said a word since they left the scrapyard.
"Li Wei's place is just ahead," Su Qing whispered, nodding to a small metal shanty tucked between two larger buildings. Its door was padlocked, but she knocked three times—short, long, short—the same signal she'd used before.
A moment later, the door creaked open. Li Wei peeked out, his messy black hair sticking up, a wrench in his hand. His eyes widened when he saw them. "You're alive!" he said, pulling them inside. "I heard rumors about the scrapyard—said the Syndicate raided it. Thought…."
"We're fine," Lin Che said, though his chest ached at the memory of Mo Ying fighting the enforcer. Jax had gone back for her, but they hadn't heard a word since. "We need your help. The Syndicate's gathering Shadow Shards at the old factory by the river. They're planning a big ritual—one that'll wake the darkness fully."
Li Wei's face paled. He closed the door, bolting it, and turned to them. "The river factory? That's been abandoned for years. But I saw Syndicate men there yesterday—trucks coming and going, all covered in tarps. I thought they were smuggling parts, not…." He trailed off, shaking his head.
Su Qing pulled her Arcane Manual from her pocket, flipping to a marked page. "My grandmother's notes say the factory has a 'core chamber'—a large space underground, built to hold Arcane energy. That's where they'll do the ritual. We need to get in there, stop them before they activate the Shards."
Lin Che pulled the pouch with the light shard and Shadow Shard from his belt. The light shard glowed faintly, its silver light casting a soft glow over the room. "We can use the light shard to neutralize the other Shards," he said. "But we need a plan. The factory's bound to be guarded— Syndicate enforcers, Zhao family thugs, maybe even more Arcane experts."
Li Wei leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "I know a way in," he said, surprising them. "There's an old drainage tunnel that runs under the factory—used to carry waste from the machines back when it was operational. It's blocked by a metal grate, but I can pick the lock. The tunnel leads right to the core chamber's basement."
Xiao Ya, who'd been sitting quietly on a cot, spoke up. "The plants outside say the factory is 'sick,'" she said, her voice soft. "The darkness from the Shards is leaking into the ground. The grass around the factory is dead. The river water is cold—colder than it should be."
Lin Che nodded. The Syndicate's ritual was already hurting the city. They didn't have much time.
"We'll go tonight," he said. "The longer we wait, the more Shards they'll gather. The more powerful the ritual will be."
Su Qing hesitated. "But what about Mo Ying and Jax? We can't leave them—"
Lin Che's jaw tightened. He thought of Mo Ying tackling the enforcer, of Jax running back to help her. "If they're alive, they'll find us," he said, though his voice wavered. "We have to focus on the ritual. If we stop that, we can come back for them. But if we fail… everyone dies. The city, the forest, Mo Ying and Jax too."
Su Qing nodded, her eyes wet. She knew he was right.
Li Wei grabbed a backpack from the corner, filling it with tools— a lockpick set, a small crowbar, a flashlight. "We'll leave in an hour," he said. "I need to grab some supplies. And you three should rest—you look like you haven't slept in days."
Xiao Ya curled up on the cot, falling asleep quickly. Su Qing sat beside her, gently brushing hair from her face. Lin Che stood by the window, staring out at the slums. The Star Marrow on his wrist glowed faintly, as if responding to his worry.
He thought of Ling An, of her vision of the Guardians fighting the darkness. He thought of Lin Han, of Mo Ying's brother, of all the people who'd died trying to stop the Syndicate. He thought of Xiao Ya, so young, so brave, and Su Qing, with her quiet strength.
He couldn't let them down.
An hour later, they were ready. Li Wei led them through the slums, sticking to back alleys and avoiding patrols. The night was quiet, save for the distant bark of a dog and the hum of the city's industrial fans.
The old factory loomed ahead, its tall brick walls black against the night sky. Windows were broken, and藤蔓 (vines) crawled up its sides, but Lin Che could see lights glowing from the upper floors—Syndicate guards, watching for intruders.
"The drainage tunnel is around the back," Li Wei whispered, leading them to a small metal door half-buried in dirt. He pulled a lockpick from his pocket, kneeling down to work on the rusted padlock.
Xiao Ya's hands glowed green, and she leaned down, pressing her palm to the ground. "The plants say there are guards inside the tunnel—two men, by the grate," she said.
Lin Che nodded, pulling his knife from his belt. Su Qing did the same, her grip tight.
The padlock clicked open. Li Wei pulled the door open slowly, revealing a dark tunnel. The air inside smelled of damp earth and sewage, and the sound of dripping water echoed through the darkness.
"Stay close," Li Wei whispered, turning on his flashlight. "And be quiet. The guards will hear us if we're not careful."
They stepped into the tunnel, the door closing behind them. The flashlight's beam cut through the darkness, revealing a narrow path ahead. The sound of their footsteps echoed, and Lin Che's heart raced.
They were getting closer. To the factory. To the Syndicate. To the final fight.
The Star Marrow on his wrist glowed brighter, a silver beacon in the dark.
Lin Che gripped his knife tighter.
Tonight, they would stop the ritual.
Tonight, they would fight for the city.
Tonight, they would keep the darkness at bay.