Chapter 8: DATE NIGHT!!! Part 2

The tunnel they crashed into wasn't just a tunnel—it was a portal to a different world.

Symbols etched in ancient languages glowed faintly as their bikes descended into the darkness. DNS rode ahead with Lily behind him, her arms around his waist. Neel followed on his Interceptor, Yara unconscious in the sidecar.

As the wheels touched down onto smooth obsidian stone, the tunnel opened into a wide underground chamber, glowing faintly from embedded blue crystals. It looked like a futuristic temple merged with a warzone armory. Vaulted ceilings stretched high above them, and intricate runes pulsed in sync with their breathing.

Neel squinted. "Is that... a DRAGON?!"

A massive silver serpent statue curled around a black monolith in the center of the hall. But it wasn't just a statue. It breathed. Slowly. Asleep. Ancient. Its eyes flickered open momentarily, then closed again.

DNS dismounted. "Welcome to the Undervault. Our hidden HQ beneath the old church. Only accessible through specific aura signatures."

"You built all this?" Neel gasped.

"Part of it. My father started it. I just added more... chaos."

Medical personnel rushed forward. DNS handed over Yara gently. The medics wore black combat scrubs marked with the Vajra insignia—a coiled serpent intertwined with a thunderbolt.

"Pulse is stable, but her system went into shock. Probably from your aura, sir," the medic said with a chuckle.

Lily crossed her arms. "Told you you're too much to handle."

DNS winked. "She's strong. She didn't pass out immediately. That's progress."

As they walked through the corridors, glowing glass panels showed scenes from Syndicate missions—some in Japan, others in Karnataka. One screen showed a young Neel fighting off five assailants on a bridge, another displayed Roxy commanding her division in a desert ambush.

Lily stopped at one—an image of her patching DNS up after a brutal fight.

She smiled faintly. "You saved my life that day."

DNS shook his head. "You saved mine first."

Meanwhile, in the medbay, Yara groaned awake.

Her vision cleared. Neel sat beside her, holding a juice box and trying to poke buttons on a touchscreen medical pad.

"You're up," he said, smiling.

"Where… am I?" she mumbled.

"Secret base. Undervault. Only the top Syndicate knows about it. And now, apparently... you."

She looked around, still dazed. "Did I… die?"

"Nope. DNS just shook your soul a bit."

Yara sat up, brushing her hair behind her ear. "That's... kinda hot."

Neel coughed violently, blushing.

Just then, DNS and Lily entered. DNS's presence still radiated like an electric storm.

"You good?" DNS asked.

Yara saluted. "Yes, sir! Thank you for bringing me here."

"You're part of something now. We found this on you," he said, tossing the Vajraitham chip onto her bed.

She caught it. "That was from the Biters scene. I swear I wasn't stealing it—"

"Relax," DNS interrupted. "We scanned it. The name that came up—Helm. That's not one of ours. That's what's bugging me."

Neel leaned forward. "There's no Helm in our system."

DNS nodded. "Either it's a rogue, or worse… someone planted it."

Lily added, "We need to check the archives."

DNS motioned them to follow.

They moved deeper into the vault, into a restricted section with sealed doors. DNS raised his palm and Vajra pulsed. The pulse traveled like a wave through the floor, unlocking several magical seals.

The doors opened with a hiss.

Inside was a throne-like seat with crystalline screens. DNS sat, typing on the holographic interface. The lights dimmed, revealing a 3D image of the Vajraitham network—a glowing constellation of syndicate energy cores and classified data.

A node blinked red.

Neel narrowed his eyes. "There. That's the one. Helm."

Lily stepped closer. "That location—it's not far."

Yara's voice trembled. "That's where I found the chip. Near the abandoned metro station."

DNS stood. "Then that's where we're heading next."

Neel looked at Yara. "You sure you're up for this?"

She stood. "I didn't come this far just to sit out."

DNS smirked. "I like her spirit."

Yara took a long breath and asked, "But this Helm... if he's not in your system, what if he's from the Void Dynasty?"

Lily frowned. "Then we need more than just weapons—we need answers."

They suited up in the armory.

Yara received a prototype vest fitted with kinetic shields. Lily holstered twin compact sidearms with precision scopes, while Neel gripped Agnivarsh's hilt—a weapon burning like fire incarnate. DNS reached for his Vajra, the hilt humming with divine energy. The room dimmed as he lifted it.

"We move out in ten," DNS said, his voice echoing through the chamber.

The journey to the metro station was filled with quiet tension. They rode in black stealth bikes, each painted with glowing streaks of blue and crimson. DNS briefed the squad through a neural link, their minds connected for streamlined communication.

"Helm may be a rogue. Or worse, a plant by the Void Dynasty," DNS said.

Yara's heartbeat quickened. She had heard whispers of the Void Dynasty—an ancient enemy with ties to forgotten wars. They were said to be immortal tacticians, and even gods feared them once.

Neel added, "If this Helm guy is linked to them, this isn't just another rogue situation. This is history trying to repeat itself."

Lily said quietly, "Let's make sure it doesn't."

The metro station loomed ahead. Rusted gates creaked open, revealing shattered tiles and flickering lights. The air smelled of ozone and something far older. Ancient graffiti in an undecipherable language covered the walls.

"Stay sharp," DNS whispered.

As they stepped into the shadows, the walls suddenly lit up with glyphs. Red, glowing lines snaked across the ceiling.

"They're tracking us," Lily muttered.

Neel activated his aura sensor. "Movement, northeast quadrant. One... no, three life signatures."

A blast shook the platform. Concrete cracked. From the smoke stepped a masked figure in a dark cloak, surrounded by drones.

"You've found me," the figure hissed. "But you won't survive this meeting."

DNS stepped forward. "Helm, I presume."

Helm laughed. "That name was just bait. The real game begins now."

He raised his hand—and the entire station trembled. Robotic drones burst from hidden tunnels, screeching like banshees.

"Form up!" DNS shouted.

The battle ignited.

Neel struck down two drones with fiery sweeps of Agnivarsh. His movements were graceful, almost like a deadly dance. Lily's shots disabled another swarm, each bullet hitting with sniper precision. Yara, surprisingly nimble, dodged laser blasts and used her shock baton to disable one bot before getting tackled. She recovered fast and rolled behind cover.

DNS clashed directly with Helm. Vajra and blade collided in bursts of crimson light. Sparks flew like lightning from the heavens.

"Who are you really?!" DNS demanded.

Helm removed his mask briefly. DNS's eyes widened.

"You're supposed to be dead…"

Helm grinned. "Death is only the beginning, brother."

Yara gasped, her ears ringing from the revelation.

"Brother?!" Neel echoed. "You never said you had a—"

"I don't," DNS muttered, eyes narrowed. "Not anymore."

The glyphs on the walls began to change, reacting to Helm's energy. Symbols DNS hadn't seen since childhood reappeared—ones tied to his family's bloodline.

Helm's blade struck again. "You abandoned the legacy. I embraced it. I became the storm."

"You betrayed everything father stood for!" DNS shouted.

"He was weak. You know it. We could have ruled this world already."

The energy of the room surged. Yara collapsed to one knee, overwhelmed.

Neel covered her. "We're pulling out! We're not ready for this!"

Lily aimed at Helm's head. "We're not leaving without answers."

Helm smirked. "Then ask... before I bury you."

DNS raised his Vajra. "One last question. Where's the real Helm?"

Helm leaned in, smiling. "You're looking at him. I forged the name. I forged the legend. And now, I'll forge your end."

To be continued...