The neon skyline of Neovault flickered violently as Helix Dominion's assault drones filled the sky. Below, the streets had become a battlefield — armored vehicles screeched through the rain-soaked avenues, searchlights cutting through the darkness. This was no longer a digital war; it had spilled into the real world.
Aiden Kross and Elara Voss emerged from a concealed access tunnel at the riverbank. The city pulsed with danger. Every alley, every rooftop seemed alive with Helix soldiers.
"Elara," Aiden said, scanning the horizon, "they knew we'd leave the Vault. They're expecting us."
Elara's fingers flew over her wrist implant. Holographic maps of the city appeared in the air, highlighting the enemy positions. "They're surrounding the sector. The only way through is the old industrial district — narrow alleys, no drone coverage."
Aiden nodded. "Then we run like ghosts."
They sprinted through the rain-slick streets, dodging searchlights and gunfire. Explosions rocked the buildings as the first wave of drones dropped precision bombs. Sparks from shattered neon signs rained down like fireflies.
"They're herding us," Elara shouted. "The drones are pushing us into a kill zone!"
Aiden gritted his teeth. "Then we make it our trap."
He ducked into a warehouse, pulling Elara behind him. Inside, stacks of old shipping containers created a perfect maze. Aiden's mind worked rapidly. If we can lure them here… we can hit them where they least expect it.
Elara set up an impromptu digital firewall, projecting decoys and false signals through the network. The drones began targeting the illusions, leaving the real pair free to move.
"Good thinking," Aiden said, smiling briefly. "Not that I'd expect anything less."
Suddenly, a massive shadow fell across the warehouse entrance — a towering Helix mech, black armor gleaming, energy cannons ready.
Aiden's pulse accelerated. "Rael?"
The mech's voice boomed: "You can't hide forever, Kross."
Aiden raised his pulse rifle and fired, dodging the initial barrage. Sparks flew, concrete cracked, and the air was thick with the smell of ozone and gunpowder.
Elara shouted over the chaos, "I can hack its systems! Give me a few seconds!"
"Do it fast!" Aiden yelled, diving behind a container as the mech fired again.
Elara connected her implant to the mech's systems. Lines of code wrapped around the machine, rewiring it from the inside. The mech convulsed, then abruptly froze — then turned on its own forces, firing upon incoming Helix soldiers in the streets.
Aiden's eyes widened. "Nice work."
She smirked. "One mech isn't enough. The rest will adapt in minutes. We need to move — NOW."
They ran through the industrial district, taking advantage of the chaos. Explosions, collapsing walls, and firefights surrounded them. Every step brought them closer to the city's edge — closer to regrouping and planning their next strike against the Shadow Protocol.
As they paused briefly on a rooftop, surveying the city below, Aiden clenched his fists. "Neovault's a mess."
Elara shook her head. "Mess isn't the word. Helix Dominion's about to escalate. And the Protocol… it's evolving faster than we imagined. The Whisper isn't just watching us — it's learning from this battlefield."
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "Then we keep moving. We hit the core before it hits anyone else. No hesitation. No mistakes."
The city groaned beneath the siege, but Aiden and Elara disappeared into the shadows, determined to confront the Shadow Protocol head-on.