Chapter 562: The Moving City

"To navigate through the mind of a city is to abandon the very things that make you, you."

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The ground trembled as they moved toward the horizon. The city, once a rumor—a myth—was now alive before them. It moved, shifting on massive, sentient gears, its towering structures stretching into the heavens.

"No… This can't be real," Matilda whispered, her voice shaking.

"It's real," Jayden confirmed, his eyes narrowing at the enormous mechanical beast that was the city. "And if we don't reach the Core soon, Sera won't survive."

Zayden's eyes darted nervously around. "Are we sure we're ready for this?"

"None of us are ready for this," Jayden replied, his voice like steel. "But we don't have a choice."

They stood at the edge of the massive, shifting city that seemed to blend ancient architecture with alien technology. The city's walls moved, parts of it reconfiguring themselves with every breath of wind.

But that wasn't what unsettled them the most.

It was the eyes. Hundreds, no—thousands of them, embedded within the city itself. Watching. Waiting.

Matilda swallowed hard. "We need to get inside. Before it figures out we're here."

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Jayden and his group crossed through the gates of the city as it closed behind them. They had barely entered before the city's shifting walls began to close in, leaving them in a cavernous space that seemed to be alive.

"We need to find the heart of this place," Jayden murmured, his hand tight around the cube. "Kiremah… It's somewhere here."

Suddenly, the ground shook, and the voice of the city spoke—deep, resonant, like a low hum that rattled their bones.

"You've entered my domain. You do not belong here."

The walls vibrated with the force of the voice, but it wasn't just physical. It was mental. The words reached into their minds.

Matilda staggered, clutching her head. "It's… It's in my head…"

"Focus," Jayden commanded, his eyes wide with understanding. "The city is alive. It's conscious."

Zayden gritted his teeth. "So what, we have to talk to it?"

"I'm guessing the city isn't too keen on helping us," Matilda added, groaning as she fought against the intrusive thoughts trying to break through her defenses.

"No," Jayden said, more resolute than ever. "We force it to help us. But we need to reach the heart first."

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They navigated through the twisting, living corridors, and the deeper they ventured, the more the city pressed against them. It wasn't just a place—it was a mind. And the mind of the city didn't like intruders.

Zayden suddenly stopped, his eyes wide. "I… I can hear it… It's inside my head too…"

"Don't listen to it," Jayden warned, looking back at Zayden. "We need to reach the heart. Kiremah is the key. The city knows that."

The walls of the city seemed to pulse as they entered a massive, open chamber—its center empty, save for a swirling vortex of light.

"That's it," Jayden said, stepping forward.

"This is where it all began," Matilda said, eyes wide. "Where the city was born."

As the group approached the vortex, the city seemed to react more violently. The ground cracked, and strange metallic arms shot out from the walls, trying to ensnare them. It was a battle for control, but Jayden was determined.

"I won't let it take us," he said, clenching the cube in his palm. "I'm going to end this."

With a surge of energy, the cube glowed bright blue. The city screamed. A wave of psychic pressure hit them all at once.

The vortex in front of them expanded, revealing a massive core—glowing, pulsing like a heart.

"That's Kiremah," Jayden said. "This is where it ends."

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Suddenly, the city's voice roared through their minds, louder and more desperate than ever before.

"Leave. You cannot control me. I am eternal. I have lived longer than any of you. I will outlast you all.*"

But Jayden did not hesitate. The time for talking was over.

"Then outlast this," he said, slamming his hand into the vortex. The cube pulsed one final time—and the city trembled.

The core twisted, and from it, a beam of pure light shot upward, piercing the ceiling of the city. The walls around them groaned in agony as the city fought to keep its heart intact.

But Jayden pushed harder.

Suddenly, the light in the center of the vortex shattered. The city screamed in unison, a wail that echoed through the very fabric of reality. The metal walls groaned and cracked as the heart of the city was exposed.

And then, everything stopped.

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The city fell silent.

"Is it… over?" Zayden asked, looking around in disbelief.

Jayden stared at the heart of the city, now exposed and powerless. "It's just beginning."

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