Gradus Ascensionis XLIV

The interior of the Fortress loomed like a labyrinth designed to swallow the unworthy. Every surface gleamed with calculated menace—polished alloy panels reflecting faint, artificial light, creating endless corridors that seemed to stretch into oblivion. The hum of machinery was a constant reminder that they were intruding into a living system, one that saw them not as challengers but as prey.

Ahead of them, the AI patrol moved in perfect formation, mechanical monstrosities towering over the human guard who led the way. Each unit bristled with weapons—plasma cannons, quantum disruptors, and kinetic blades, their edges shimmering with the energy of countless defeated parties. They were marked as boss-level, with names that glowed in ominous red, a chilling reminder of their lethality.

Woomilla, Pinchitavo, and Tenza followed closely behind the guard, their steps slow, like walking on eggshells. The adaptive camouflage projected a seamless blend with their surroundings, but it did nothing to hide the trembling in their hands or the sweat pooling at their temples.

"Just breathe," Woomilla whispered, though her own voice betrayed her nerves. She focused on the HUD overlay provided by the quantum disruptor, watching for any signs of detection. The faint pulse of her heartbeat echoed louder than the footsteps of the patrol, or so it felt.

Pinchitavo's voice crackled softly in their private comms. "This is fine. We're fine. Nothing like walking past boss-level monsters with literal murder factories strapped to their backs."

"Not helping," Woomilla hissed, her tone sharp. She glanced at Tenza, who clutched the quantum entanglement device like it was a lifeline. The glow of the Gauntlet on her arm remained faint, but its presence was a steady weight she could not ignore.

Behind them, Sky's voice came through the comms, low and even. "You're doing fine. Focus on your steps, not on them. AI routines are predictable. Stick to the plan."

His calmness was a lifeline, but it wasn't enough to banish the oppressive weight of the Fortress. Every step felt like a gamble, every breath a chance for the patrol to hear something it shouldn't. The guard leading them reached a turn in the corridor, gesturing for them to follow. The patrol marched past without acknowledging their presence, but its absence felt no less intimidating.

Firelez had separated from them earlier, his task pulling him toward the room between the vault and the security checks. He moved slower than usual, his steps heavier, his breaths shallower. The absence of the Gauntlet was an ache that gnawed at his core. Time, once his ally, now chased him relentlessly.

In the comms, his voice was strained but steady. "I'm at the secondary access point. ETA on your position?"

"Approaching the vault now," Woomilla replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

They reached the vault door, an imposing structure of alloy and light, pulsing with security measures layered in incomprehensible complexity. The guard scanned them with a handheld device, its glowing interface crawling over their disguised forms.

Sky's voice broke the silence. "The code for the techcrystal chamber changes every two minutes. Firelez, you'll need to relay it when they reach the door."

"I'll be ready," Firelez responded, though his breathing was audibly labored. His fingers hovered over the console, the interface displaying the ever-shifting numbers. "Just don't take too long."

The scanner beeped. The guard stepped back, motioning them forward. Woomilla and the others exchanged a glance, their relief muted by the knowledge that this was only the beginning.

As they moved deeper into the Fortress, the oppressive atmosphere tightened around them. Every shadow felt alive, every corner a potential death trap. The tension was suffocating, but they pressed on, each step a defiance of the impossible odds stacked against them.

"Remember," Sky said, his voice cutting through the static of their fear. "This isn't just a heist. This is a revolution."

The hallway leading to the vault stretched like an endless gauntlet, its sterile walls pulsing faintly with the Fortress's omnipresent energy. As they approached the final checkpoint, a faint hum grew louder—a reminder that this was no ordinary scan.

"Don't be nervous and keep your cool," Sky's voice crackled through the comms, low but urgent. "The Fortress will scan you one last time before opening the door to the vault. Once you're inside, it seals for five minutes. No one enters or leaves, so stick to the plan."

Woomilla's heart raced, her grip tightening on the handle of her tray cart. "Five minutes? That's all we get?"

"That's all we need," Sky replied, his tone clipped. "Just don't deviate."

Through the comms, Mefisto's voice chimed in with a casual drawl. "Wouldn't it be easier to just knock out the guards, go in, and go out? You know, old-school smash and grab?"

Firelez's cough broke the brief silence, his voice raspy but carrying an edge of humor. "In reality, yes. But inside the game, the whole Fortress is one big camera. Any sign of violence or anything outside protocol triggers the alarm. You'd have a better chance surviving the Necrohova unarmed."

The scan began as they reached the vault door. A beam of light swept over them, slower than they'd expected, its pale glow crawling across their bodies like a predator savoring its prey. The seconds dragged into an eternity, each pulse of the beam feeling like a countdown to disaster.

Woomilla's voice broke the silence, rising with panic. "We're going to be detected, right? Right?"

Pinchitavo, pushing his tray cart ahead, let it bump gently into her leg. Woomilla jumped, glaring at him as he grinned, his composure irritatingly intact.

"Relax, Milla. Nothing grandpa didn't tell us about back when they talked about their own gaming heists. You know the golden rule: the system always takes its time, but it's just smoke and mirrors."

Woomilla glared at him but felt her breathing steady. The scan moved to the next person, the beam slow and seemingly conscious, as if it could sense her fear.

"I've got movement," Firelez's voice cut in, suddenly sharp. "Someone's coming. I'll need to hide. Buy me some time."

Sky's voice returned immediately, calm but commanding. "Stick to the plan. Everyone else, stay still. Woomilla, Pinchitavo, Tenza – remember, you're just workers. Act like it."

Firelez moved quickly but quietly, his boots barely making a sound as he slipped behind a maintenance console. His breathing came harder now, each cough threatening to expose him. The Gauntlet's absence was taking its toll, and time, relentless and unyielding, chased him faster than ever.

"Buy you some time?" Mefisto muttered dryly through the comms. "Sure, let's just start a karaoke contest out here. That'll really help."

Firelez managed a faint chuckle, even as he pressed himself into the shadows. "Just don't get caught. I'm not coming out until it's clear."

The scan's light finally clicked off with a soft chime, the vault door releasing a faint hiss as it prepared to open. But the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder with each passing second.

"Stay calm," Sky's voice urged. "Keep your cover. The Fortress doesn't forgive mistakes."

The door began to slide open slowly, the gap revealing the glint of crystalline tech within. The team's breaths synchronized, each one holding a world of tension.

Behind them, the footsteps stopped, and the team froze.

The guard appeared at the edge of the hallway, holding two keycards in his hand. His sigh carried the weariness of someone who'd rather be anywhere else. "Haven't you entered the vault yet? Come on, I want to see Commander Aldric fight the raid in his techarmor. It's not every day we get a show like that."

He approached the vault, pushing the door open fully with a casual shove. The crystalline tech inside shimmered faintly, but the sight that greeted them made Tenza's stomach drop—a metallic bar door within, a feature Sky hadn't accounted for in his plan. The guard handed the keycards to Woomilla and Pinchitavo, his attention barely on them.

"This wasn't in the plan..." Tenza whispered through the comms, her voice barely audible.

The guard noticed Woomilla's trembling hands as she reached for the card. His brow furrowed. "You okay? You look like you're about to pass out."

Pinchitavo stepped forward smoothly, clapping the guard on the shoulder. "It's her first day. Tolemaius asked her to come for this job, so she's a little nervous."

The guard's expression softened, and he gave a dismissive wave. "Right, sorry. First-day jitters, I get it. Just use the keycards at the same time, and it'll open the inner door." Without waiting for a reply, he turned and began walking back toward the corridor.

Woomilla and Pinchitavo stepped into the vault, the metallic bar door looming like a final boss. The keycard readers blinked steadily, their lights synchronized. Woomilla held her card tightly, her knuckles white as she glanced at Pinchitavo.

"On three?" she whispered.

"On three," Pinchitavo confirmed, though his tone carried more confidence than he felt.

"One. Two. Three." They swiped their cards.

An angry beep erupted from the system, followed by an error message blinking in red. They froze, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade.

Outside, the guard hesitated, glancing back at them. Woomilla's hand trembled again, her breath coming shallow and fast.

Pinchitavo spoke quickly, his tone light but firm. "Calm down, girl. Didn't Tolemaius put you through this procedure all day yesterday?"

The guard's gaze lingered for a moment, then he shrugged and retreated, his footsteps fading into the distance.

"Guard's gone," Woomilla whispered through the comms, her voice shaking.

"Wow," Mefisto's voice crackled in their ears. "If the guards are this dumb, we might actually pull this off."

"Don't let it go to your heads," Sky's voice cut in, calm and measured despite the faint sounds of battle echoing through his comm. "We're not done yet."

Woomilla and Pinchitavo exchanged a glance, the error message still blinking ominously. They knew they couldn't afford many more mistakes—not with the Fortress watching.

Tenza stayed outside the vault, her fingers brushing the compass on her Gauntlet. The needle spun erratically, no longer pointing in any direction. It moved in slow circles, like the hands of a clock winding down. A sense of unease settled over her, but she pushed it aside. There was no time to analyze its meaning now.

The train's hum vibrated faintly through the floor, as the constant reminder of the clock ticking against them. Inside the vault, Woomilla and Pinchitavo adjusted their grip on the keycards, their hands trembling less now as they prepared for another attempt.

The second swipe had to work. Failure wasn't an option.

The metallic bar door slid open with a hiss, revealing the inner sanctum of the vault. Rows of crystalline techcrystals shimmered on pedestals, their surfaces refracting light into a kaleidoscope of colors. Beyond them, shelves lined with ancient artifacts stretched into the dimly lit space, each item a relic of unimaginable value and power.

"Move," Firelez urged, his voice sharp but strained. He almost pushed Woomilla and Pinchitavo forward with just his voice. "Get inside, now."

Woomilla hesitated for a fraction of a second, her eyes darting to the hallway behind them. The sound of retreating footsteps had faded, but Firelez's warning was clear. Another set of guards would come. The moment to hesitate had passed.

Tenza followed, darting through the open door just as the vault began its slow, painful closing sequence. The heavy panels groaned as they inched together, their mechanical precision a stark reminder that once the door sealed, they would have exactly five minutes. No more, no less.

Firelez stayed hidden, his breathing labored. "How much time is this going to take?" His voice carried a frustrated edge, though he kept it low.

Inside, Pinchitavo scanned the door's interior, noting the faint glow of biometric sensors embedded in its alloy. "We can't rush this," he muttered, his hand gesturing toward the shimmering grid of sensors. "If we touch that door, it'll trigger the alarm. It's got biometrics and thermal readings all over it."

Firelez cursed under his breath, his frustration giving way to another fit of coughing. He turned his head, the sound ragged and violent, a stark contrast to the sterile hum of the vault machinery. When he pulled his hand away from his mouth, the sight of blood staining his virtual avatar's palm made him freeze.

"This is it, then," Firelez murmured to himself, leaning back into the shadows. His body slumped against the wall of his hiding spot, the cold surface pressing against his feverish skin. The game's mechanics should've masked his condition, but even here, in this simulated reality, his failing body had found a way to bleed through. He pressed his head against the wall, his breath shallow and uneven.

Inside the vault, Woomilla and Pinchitavo moved with careful precision. They avoided the sensors on the walls and floor, their focus split between the shimmering techcrystals and the clock ticking in their minds. Tenza scanned the shelves, her heart pounding. The Gauntlet pulsed faintly, its glow barely perceptible, but its weight the universal constant of the stakes at play.

"Firelez," Woomilla whispered through the comms. "We've got this. Just hang in there."

Firelez didn't reply. His head rested against the wall, his eyes closed. For a brief moment, the relentless noise of the game world faded, replaced by memories—distant echoes of championship matches, the roar of fans, the weight of the title of latinamerican champion. The glory he had fought for, and the legacy he now fought to preserve.

But time was cruel, and it wasn't waiting for him.

Inside the vault, the team worked in silence, the hum of machinery and the faint glow of techcrystals their only companions. The clock was ticking, and the weight of every second pressed down on them all.

"Get to the chamber door, Tenza," Firelez's voice came through the comms, rough but insistent. Woomilla and Pinchitavo moved swiftly behind her, their hands grabbing the artifacts and techcrystals with practiced efficiency. "Use this code: 4358671933."

Tenza's legs felt like lead as she reached the chamber door. Her trembling fingers hovered over the panel, the code swimming in her mind. The weight of the Gauntlet pulsed faintly against her left arm, her new partner in crime. Slowly, she keyed in the numbers, each press feeling heavier than the last.

The door didn't open, but the lock released with a faint click, the sound both a relief and a warning. She exhaled sharply, trying to breathe as Sensei Kishikawa had taught her, steadying herself with each inhale. But the panic wouldn't fully subside.

"Take the techcrystals, now!" Firelez's voice thundered through the comms, breaking into a scream for the first time. Tenza flinched, her hands instinctively gripping the door. The Gauntlet reacted instantly, forcing her left hand to move like a cowboy kicking open a saloon door in the Wild West. The chamber opened with a mechanical groan, and Tenza stumbled inside, her heart pounding in her chest.

Three minutes left.

Pinchitavo appeared beside her, his movements quick but sure, despite his anxiety. He began loading the techcrystals into wheeled trays, stashing them in the hidden compartments beneath the standard cargo. "Don't freeze up now," he said, his voice calmer than the panic in his eyes. "We've got this."

Tenza nodded, her hands fumbling for the nearest techcrystals. She worked alongside Pinchitavo, the crystalline objects glowing faintly in her grip. Her focus narrowed to the task at hand, though the Gauntlet's faint pulse reminded her of the enormity of what they were carrying.

Firelez broke the tense silence. "I don't want to alarm you, but if the vault systems go silent for too long after opening the chamber door, it'll trigger the alarm. Then the entire zone will switch to full loot PvP, and the vault will flood with poison waste. So please finish up quickly. The vault door opens in a few seconds, and when it does, you run."

The gravity of his words pressed down on them, but they didn't stop. Woomilla finished her side of the room and pushed her cart toward the vault door, her steps hurried but steady. Pinchitavo slid the last of his techcrystals into the secret compartment, snapping it shut before looking over at Tenza.

Tenza reached for one last crystal—a lonsdaleite techcrystal, its surface gleaming like a shard of starlight. As soon as she touched it, the crystal dissolved into a burst of particles, a holographic interface flashing across her vision. Coordinates appeared in the air before her, glowing faintly.

She froze, her heart lurching. "This… these techcrystals—they're just coordinates. They're not the real ones."

"What?" Pinchitavo looked up sharply, his face paling.

Before she could respond, the vault door began to open, its slow groan cutting through the air like a countdown to chaos.

"Forget it," Firelez barked through the comms. "Just move! Now!"

Woomilla was the first out, her cart disappearing through the heavy door as it crawled open. Tenza and Pinchitavo scrambled to load the remaining techcrystals, shoving them into the compartments and securing the trays. The ground trembled beneath their feet, a low rumble reverberating through the Fortress.

Tenza barely managed to push her cart through the gap as the vault door sealed behind her. Pinchitavo followed closely, despite the tension clawing at their nerves.

As soon as the door clicked shut, the tremors intensified. A distant explosion echoed through the halls, shaking the very foundations of the Fortress. The raid had begun.

Through the comms, Sky's voice came steady and calm, though the faint sounds of battle roared behind him. "Stay sharp. The game's just started."

Tenza glanced down at her Gauntlet, the coordinates from the lonsdaleite crystal still shimmering faintly in her vision. The realization burned in her mind: They will still have to fight for the techcrystals in whatever place the coordinates pointed to.

They stepped outside the vault, the heavy door sealing behind them with a resonant thud. The sound felt final, like the echo of a judge's gavel. Firelez lingered just out of sight, pressed against the wall in the shadows, his breathing labored.

"New guards incoming," Firelez warned through the comms, his voice ragged. "I'll stay hidden. You three, keep moving. Don't stop."

Tenza, Woomilla, and Pinchitavo exchanged a glance before pushing their carts forward, their movements stiff with tension. They retraced their steps through the labyrinthine hallways, the stark, gleaming corridors now seeming more menacing in their emptiness. The mechanical monstrosities that had patrolled earlier were nowhere to be seen, but their absence felt heavier than their presence.

Each step echoed too loudly in the silence. Woomilla's fingers gripped her cart tightly, the faint tremor in her hands betraying her growing panic. Pinchitavo, usually the calmest among them, was visibly tense, his usual quips swallowed by the weight of the moment. Tenza kept her eyes forward, the Gauntlet's faint pulse grounding her as her heart raced.

When they reached the delivery door, their breath caught collectively. It was tightly closed, its reinforced surface gleaming under the corridor lights. Standing in front of it was a squad of guards, their energy rifles leveled at them with unwavering precision.

The lead guard stepped forward, his eyes sharp and suspicious. "Why are the trays heavier than they should be?" he demanded, his voice cold and clipped. "The Fortress detected unusual weight from them."

Woomilla's breath hitched audibly, her panic finally breaking through her attempts at composure. Pinchitavo's hands trembled as he gripped the edge of his cart, his usual confidence nowhere to be found. Even Tenza felt sweat trickling down the back of her neck, her heart pounding so hard she thought they might hear it.

They had been caught.

The silence stretched, suffocating, as the guards waited for an explanation. Tenza's mind raced, but the Gauntlet on her arm offered no guidance. The pulse it once gave felt still now, as if waiting to see what she would do next.