Chapter 65: Invisible and Heavy

"Behind him, Marcus was waiting for a dramatic entrance. Last time, Dante had kicked open the Reservoir door. This time, approaching the gate covered in chains and padlocks, Dante held onto the lock. He pressed it without much force, and a metallic crackling sound followed.

When he pulled his arm back, the fragments of what had sealed the door fell. The chains slid aside, scraping against the ground like the lament of a long-ended duty. As soon as he pushed the door forward, it creaked.

The three stepped inside. Marcus held his ISE carbine up, taking short and cautious steps, scanning the surroundings. So many crates, tarps, and scattered debris littered the hall. Dante and Jix focused on the same spot, a scaffold on the side leading to a higher path. Above, tarps were stretched against intact windows.

They maneuvered around the chairs bound together with rope. As they moved deeper, the entrance light grew dim. Their steps shortened, keeping silent. Every movement was careful, almost hesitant. They reached the door connecting to the inner hall.

Dante pressed it too, creating a faint crackle in the metal, but when he let go, the material remained intact.

"Can you break this?" Marcus asked, looking around. "It seemed easy back there."

It really had been. Pressing the metal was simple, and it hadn't even given way with considerable force.

"It's not strength," Jix whispered near his ear. "This place smells different. Don't you feel it?"

Dante hadn't noticed, not even when he focused on the scents. Jix gestured, motioning towards the scent behind them. There was a door where he pointed, concealed by fallen crates, panels, and even a small cabinet on the side.

Easily pushing it aside, Dante cleared a path. A cloud of dust rose, floating slowly in the dim light as he moved forward, his eyes scanning the way ahead.

They passed through a corridor leading directly to the other side of the locked door. No light reached there anymore, and when they opened the second door, nothing but darkness awaited. The ceiling was the only part illuminated due to gaps in the fabric and tarps.

Marcus took the lead with his thermal goggles, guiding them to the end. Dante bumped into two crates, hearing faint startled noises scurry away. Jix patted him twice and motioned for him to keep going.

At the end, Marcus found six different paths, each door positioned differently. They stopped at the nearest one.

"This one leads higher up," Marcus said, feeling the air coming from above. "It could be there."

Dante wasted no time and activated Vick. Silence settled among them until the robotic voice echoed.

'Synthesizing Cosmic Energy. Time until Lunar Stone location: two minutes.'

They sat on the crates, waiting. From time to time, distant noises sounded, rats scurrying through wall holes before disappearing. Even in silence, Dante remained alert.

His hearing had improved due to blindfolded training, but navigating complete darkness was entirely different. Even a shadow had form here, it was strange to think without seeing. Dante could pinpoint Marcus's exact location, for instance.

Was this why my father taught me to fight in the dark?

Vick responded immediately.

'Syntax compiled, expanding search parameters. The Lunar Stone contains enough Cosmic Energy to illuminate a city. Imminent radiation. Approximately two hundred meters.'

A pulse flickered in Dante's vision, tracking a yellow point passing through the door and ascending the stairs. This was the right path.

"Let's go."

They climbed step by step for over five minutes. A pulsating bluish light, like the sky, flickered at intervals. They slowed as they approached, but the closer they got, the stronger the glow became.

Dante neared the edge of the upper floor with careful steps, the sound of his boots softly echoing against the worn metal floor. The air was heavy, filled with the scent of rust and dust. When he reached the limit, he leaned slightly to peer down at the lower level but was interrupted by a sharp voice breaking the silence.

"I already told you not to take too long," the voice was rough, laced with irritation, coming from the left. "We don't have all day. We need to haul the material today."

The three barely lifted their heads, spotting over thirty people gathering crates and carrying them in the opposite direction.

By their appearance, it was clear they weren't ordinary workers. Their clothes were tattered, not from honest daily labor but from neglect and chaos. Dark stains, possibly grease or dried blood, marred the fabric, while their wary eyes betrayed them as survivors hardened by extreme conditions.

The man leading them stood out with his imposing posture. He barked orders harshly, his tone sharp. In his hand, a smooth, well-polished sword reflected the dim light. When one of the men dropped a smaller crate, the leader immediately turned, raising the sword as if he might use it at any moment to enforce his authority.

The others shrank back slightly, like cornered dogs, murmuring muffled apologies but not daring to meet his eyes.

The flame of fear was ignited against his dominance.

"GreamHachi," Marcus growled beside him. "It's them."

The leader's attire was entirely black, a dark uniform with white buttons that gleamed under the scarce ceiling light. Despite its simplicity, the outfit exuded authority; the thick, well-fitted fabric projected both discipline and menace.

It closely resembled what the Captains and Commanders of the Capital wore.

'Location in motion: 150 meters. High levels of Cosmic Energy detected. Source: Human.'

Marcus lowered his head, groaning in pain. He tore off his goggles, rubbing his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Dante whispered, concerned. "Are you okay?"

Jix looked equally alarmed.

"Don't you feel it, Dante?" the old man asked, as if wanting to hide. "It's an incredibly strong Cosmic Energy. Much stronger than ours."

No, Dante didn't feel any disturbance. The two beside him suffered from something invisible, yet he couldn't even grasp the reason. He searched for an explanation, but nothing made sense. It was as if something unseen, intangible, was weighing on them, something that, somehow, did not affect him.

"What's happening?"