Escape

With alarms blaring throughout the facility, both Team One and Team Two moved quickly through the Dominion base, dodging patrols and avoiding automated turrets.

The once silent infiltration had turned into a race against time.

Ethan secured the encrypted drive in his gear, his mind racing as he calculated the fastest way out.

Lena moved ahead, Arc-Gun in hand, scanning for hostiles. "So, genius, where's our fastest exit?"

Ethan pulled up the facility's blueprints on his holopad. "There's a service tunnel leading to the lower levels. If we take that, we can—"

A massive tremor shook the base, making the walls shudder violently.

Iris grinned. "Ooooh~ that must be team 2."

Lena exhaled sharply. "Of course it is."

Ethan didn't even look up. "Updating route—let's just meet up with them before this whole place collapses!"

Hugo, still flaring with residual energy from Corona Mode, led Stella and Darius through the corridors.

The destruction of the Titan's essence had set off a chain reaction, destabilizing the Dominion's Arcana systems.

Darius smirked. "Man, Boss, when you destroy something, you really destroy it."

Hugo didn't respond—his focus was locked ahead.

Stella, running alongside him, spoke first. "We need to regroup with the others before the whole place goes on lockdown."

Right on cue, their comms crackled.

Ethan's voice came through. "Hugo! We got the evidence! Where are you guys?"

Hugo immediately responded. "Lower research halls. Where are you?"

"East wing, moving toward the exit!"

"Good. We'll cut through the main corridor and meet you there."

Stella glanced at Hugo. "And if we run into guards?"

Hugo's eyes flickered red again. "Then we cut through them too."

After navigating the maze-like hallways, the two teams finally spotted each other near an abandoned loading bay.

Ethan and Iris were the first to notice.

Iris grinned. "Aww, we found our lost puppies~!"

Lena smirked. "Took you long enough."

Darius chuckled. "You guys miss us?"

Ethan shook his head. "We don't have time for this—what happened on your end?"

Stella pointed at Hugo. "He obliterated the relic."

Iris clapped her hands together. "Oh, wonderful! And here I was hoping we'd get a little godlike Titan power for ourselves."

Hugo's expression remained firm. "No one should have that power."

Lena crossed her arms. "Fine. But we have a big problem—this whole base is armed for war, and the Dominion is about to move fast."

Ethan pulled up the stolen data. "We have the evidence, but we need to get out before we're trapped inside."

Hugo nodded. "Then we move—"

Before he could finish—

A mechanical roar echoed from deeper within the facility.

Something was coming.

Something big.

And Eclipse Zero was right in its path.

The deafening mechanical roar echoed through the facility as Eclipse Zero turned toward the sound.

From the far end of the loading bay, containment doors hissed open, revealing a high-security chamber lined with pulsating Arcana circuits. Inside, three massive containment fields held the imposing metallic forms of the Chrono Reapers.

Their blackened metal hides gleamed under the dim red emergency lights, and their glowing blue eyes pulsed erratically—signs of forced Arcana suppression.

Hugo and Stella stiffened, immediately recognizing the sight.

The same cruel method used to control a Chrono Reaper back in Oakwood Village was being perfected here.

Darius whistled. "Well… that's a whole lot of NOPE right there."

Lena's grip on her Arc-Gun tightened. "You're sure about this, Hugo?"

Hugo didn't hesitate. "We're freeing them."

Ethan was already moving toward the containment panel. "Then I'll disable the security locks—just keep the guards off me!"

Iris smirked. "Oh, don't worry, dear. We're very good at causing distractions."

Ethan rushed to the main control panel, his fingers already working through layers of Dominion encryption.

Lena and Iris took defensive positions, firing at incoming Dominion enforcers trying to stop them.

Hugo, Stella, and Darius stepped closer to the containment fields, preparing for whatever came next.

Ethan cursed under his breath. "Damn it—this system's got extra failsafes! They're treating these things like nuclear warheads!"

"Gee, I wonder why," Darius quipped, parrying a Dominion soldier's Arc-Blade.

Hugo watched the Reapers closely. Even in their restrained state, their bodies twitched, metal limbs tensing as if sensing freedom.

Ethan's hacking device beeped.

"Got it! Disabling the suppressors now!"

With a final keystroke—

The containment fields collapsed.

A massive shockwave of released Arcana surged through the chamber as the Chrono Reapers' restraints shattered.

Their bodies pulsed violently, blue eyes flaring bright as they roared in unison—a sound that shook the entire facility.

Then—

They turned toward Eclipse Zero.

For a moment, everything was still.

Then the largest Reaper took a step forward, its glowing blue eyes locking onto Hugo.

The air tensed.

Would they attack—or understand?

Hugo took a slow step forward, gripping Cosmos but not raising it.

He spoke—his voice low, steady.

"You're free now. Not their weapons. Not their tools. We're not your enemies."

The Chrono Reaper growled, claws digging into the metal floor—but didn't attack.

It was waiting.

Hugo inhaled sharply.

Then, in a voice filled with certainty—

"Run. Wreak havoc. Or fight with us. The choice is yours."

The Reapers' glowing eyes flickered.

And then—

The largest one roared.

Not at Hugo.

But at the Dominion soldiers.

The Chrono Reapers turned—

And charged.