The Hunt for Arin and Sorin

Kairo and his team barely had time to rest. The underground war was escalating, and they were caught in the center of it. The Eclipse Syndicate had declared them enemies, the Forsaken were growing more aggressive, and the city was falling into deeper chaos.

But they weren't done yet.

They still needed to find Arin and Sorin.

Arin was the team's infiltration expert, a master of stealth, hacking, and deception. If anyone could survive alone, it was her.

But even she had limits.

Kairo pulled up the last known data on Arin from his system.

[ Tracking Subject: Arin ]

[ Last Known Location: Red District – Abandoned Data Hub ]

Darius cracked his knuckles. "The Red District? That place is crawling with mercs and Syndicate operatives."

Lena smirked. "Sounds fun."

Kairo nodded. "Then we move fast."

Ronan sheathed his blade. "You think she's still there?"

Kairo's gut told him yes. Arin wasn't the type to leave loose ends. If she went to the Data Hub, it was because she needed something.

And that meant she was still there—or in trouble.

They moved out.

The Red District was a lawless zone, run by smugglers, mercenaries, and Syndicate-controlled businesses. The streets were lined with neon lights, black-market vendors, and gun-toting enforcers.

The Abandoned Data Hub stood in the heart of it all—a towering structure with shattered windows and flickering security drones.

Kairo signaled for silence. "We go in quiet. If things go bad, we fight our way out."

The team split up, moving through the shadows.

Lena and Ronan took the east entrance.

Darius covered the back.

Kairo went in from the roof.

As he climbed, his system sent an alert.

[ Life Signs Detected ]

[ Threat Level: Moderate ]

Kairo's eyes narrowed. Someone was inside.

And then—a gunshot rang out.

Kairo dropped down from the ceiling, landing in a dark server room.

Arin was pinned behind a console, her pistol smoking. Across from her, three Syndicate operatives were closing in, their weapons raised.

One of them sneered. "Give it up, girl. You're out of ammo."

Arin wiped blood from her lip and smirked. "You sure about that?"

She pressed a button on her wrist device—

BOOM!

An explosion ripped through the room, sending debris flying. The operatives were thrown back, stunned.

Kairo seized the opening.

He moved fast—a blur of motion.

[ Combat Instincts Activated ]

The first enemy barely had time to react before Kairo's fist slammed into his ribs, breaking them instantly.

The second tried to run—but Lena's knife found his throat.

The third staggered to his feet, reaching for a gun—and was crushed by Darius' massive fist.

Arin looked up, coughing. "Took you long enough."

Kairo smirked. "You were doing fine."

Arin rolled her eyes. "Sure. Let's get out of here before reinforcements show up."

They had found Arin.

But they still needed Sorin.

Sorin was the team's heavy hitter—a powerhouse who fought with brutal efficiency.

But he had gone missing weeks ago.

Kairo accessed his system.

[ Tracking Subject: Sorin ]

[ Last Known Location: Forsaken Territory – Underground Fighting Pit ]

Darius swore. "The Forsaken? You think he's still alive?"

Kairo's jaw tightened. "We're about to find out."

Arin adjusted her gloves. "Then let's move. I'm tired of these bastards taking our people."

The team left the Red District, heading straight for the Forsaken's domain.

The Forsaken operated outside the law, running brutal gladiator-style arenas where only the strongest survived.

And Sorin had been thrown into one of them.

As Kairo's team approached the entrance, they saw the massive crowds cheering from above. Blood stained the sand-covered floors. Fighters clashed in vicious battles, some barely recognizable as human anymore.

Kairo scanned the arena—and his blood ran cold.

There, chained to a post, was Sorin.

His body was covered in scars. His eyes were dull, lifeless. They had broken him.

Ronan clenched his fists. "Those bastards…"

Darius exhaled. "We're getting him out. No matter what."

But before they could move, a voice echoed across the arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Our final match of the night—Sorin vs. the Behemoth!"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

A massive steel gate opened—and a monstrous creature stepped out.

Kairo's system flashed a warning.

[ Threat Detected: Modified Forsaken – "Behemoth" ]

[ Power Level: Extreme ]

Kairo's hands tightened into fists.

They were out of time.