Chapter 18: Echoes of the Rift
The destruction of the skyscraper node left the team battered but determined. The signal was weaker, but its persistence was a haunting reminder of how close the Convergence had come. As they regrouped in a makeshift safe zone, Jiang Xia felt the weight of their mission pressing down harder than ever.
"We're down to two nodes," Xu Min said, her voice sharp and direct. "But the last two are in the most unstable parts of the city. The distortions are worse than anything we've seen."
"Worse how?" Qin Chuan asked, sitting against a crumbling wall as he reloaded his rifle.
Li Wen frowned at his laptop. "The nodes are amplifying each other. These areas aren't just unstable—they're collapsing into mini-Rifts. If we get caught inside, there's no guarantee we'll make it out."
Jiang Xia stared at the map glowing on Li Wen's screen. One node was in an underground bunker near the city's old subway lines. The other was on a high-rise rooftop in the financial district, surrounded by shifting anomalies.
"We don't split up," Jiang Xia said firmly. "We take them one at a time. The bunker is closer. We'll start there."
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The Descent
The entrance to the old subway lines was hidden beneath layers of rubble and debris. Once a thriving part of the city's infrastructure, the tunnels had been abandoned after the first Rift experiment destabilized the area. The air was damp and cold as the team descended into the darkness, their footsteps echoing off the walls.
"Stay close," Jiang Xia said, her voice low. "These tunnels are a maze, and the distortions are only going to get worse."
Li Wen led the way, his scanner glowing faintly in the dim light. "The node's core is about two kilometers in. The energy readings are... strange. It's like the Rift itself is alive here."
"That's comforting," Qin Chuan muttered, gripping his weapon tightly.
As they moved deeper, the air grew heavier, and the distortions became more pronounced. Time stuttered, replaying brief moments seconds after they happened. Shadows flickered on the walls, and faint whispers filled the air.
"What's that?" Xu Min asked, her voice tense.
Ahead of them, the tunnel seemed to stretch and twist impossibly. The walls rippled like water, and fragments of light floated in the air, forming shapes that resembled faces.
"Memories," Li Wen said, his voice hushed. "The Rift is feeding on them."
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The Heart of the Node
The tunnel opened into a massive underground chamber. At the center was the node's core, a glowing orb of energy surrounded by jagged conduits. The air pulsed with power, and the walls shimmered as if on the verge of dissolving.
"This is it," Li Wen said, setting up his equipment. "But this core is different. It's not just broadcasting the signal—it's generating its own energy."
"Can you shut it down?" Jiang Xia asked.
Li Wen nodded, though his expression was grim. "I'll have to overload it manually. That's the only way to destabilize it."
"Then do it," Jiang Xia said, her weapon at the ready. "We'll cover you."
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The Rift Awakens
As Li Wen worked, the core began to pulse faster, its light growing brighter. The air crackled with energy, and remnants began to emerge from the shadows. These weren't like the remnants the team had faced before—they were larger, more solid, their forms pulsing with Rift energy.
"Here they come!" Qin Chuan shouted, opening fire.
The battle was intense. Jiang Xia and Xu Min moved in tandem, their weapons cutting through the remnants as they advanced. But the remnants seemed endless, their attacks more coordinated than before.
"Li Wen, how much longer?" Jiang Xia yelled, ducking as a remnant lunged at her.
"Almost there!" Li Wen shouted, his voice strained. "But the core's fighting me—it's like it knows what I'm doing."
The ground shook violently, and the walls began to crack. Fragments of the tunnel collapsed into the chamber, sending debris raining down.
"We don't have much time!" Xu Min shouted, firing at a remnant that was closing in on Li Wen.
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Gao's Interference
As the core's energy spiked, a holographic projection of Gao appeared above it. His expression was calm, but his tone carried a cold intensity.
"You're meddling in forces you don't understand, Jiang Xia," he said. "Every node you destroy only brings the Architects closer. Do you really think you can stop what's coming?"
"We'll stop you," Jiang Xia snapped, firing at the projection. The bullets passed through harmlessly, and Gao smirked.
"The Convergence is inevitable," he said. "You can delay it, but you can't prevent it. And when it happens, you'll finally see the truth."
The projection flickered and disappeared, leaving the team alone with the chaos.
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The Core's Collapse
"Got it!" Li Wen shouted as the core emitted a blinding flash of light. The conduits around it shattered, and the remnants dissolved into streaks of energy.
The ground shook violently as the core began to collapse. "We need to move!" Qin Chuan yelled, pulling Jiang Xia toward the exit.
The team sprinted through the tunnels as explosions erupted behind them. The distortions twisted the environment, making it harder to navigate, but they pressed on, their determination unshaken.
They emerged into the night just as the chamber collapsed, a massive plume of dust and light erupting from the ground.
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The Countdown Continues
As they regrouped a safe distance away, Li Wen checked his scanner. "The signal's weaker, but it's not gone. The last node in the financial district is amplifying it. If we don't take it out soon…"
Jiang Xia nodded, cutting him off. "Then we end this. No matter what."
Xu Min glanced at the distant skyline, where a faint glow marked the location of the final node. "Gao's going to throw everything he has at us."
"Good," Jiang Xia said, her eyes hard. "Let him try."
With their resolve renewed, the team set out for the financial district, knowing the final battle was just ahead.