Chapter 2: The Price of Light

**Aftermath**

The Rust Belt Factory loomed like a steel carcass. Bai Ye—the silver-haired girl—dressed her wounds with scavenged nanogel. "The Core isn't a tool. It's a parasite."

Lin Shen flexed his half-crystallized hand. **[Genetic stability: 89%]** pulsed in his vision. "Then why save me?"

"You're its puppet now," she said coldly. "And puppets break easily."

#### **Ghosthand's Entrance**

A clatter echoed from the rafters. A figure in a patched hoodie dropped down, prosthetic arm whirring. "Nice light show back there, hero."

Bai Ye's blade ignited. "Who the hell are you?"

"Call me Ghosthand." He tossed a data chip. Holograms bloomed—Ouroboros Corp's energy grids diverting power to Sky Ring's floating labs. "Your new friends here are siphoning the Lower District dry. Literally."

#### **First Reversal**

Xiaoyu's wheelchair creaked as Lin Shen adjusted its rusted joints. The Core hummed. **[Target: Wheelchair (decay rate 73%).]**

Blue light enveloped the chair. Metal smoothed, bolts tightening. But Lin Shen's veins glowed brighter—crystal creeping toward his elbow.

"Stop!" Bai Ye grabbed his wrist. "You're burning your DNA!"

### **Twist**

A drone shattered the factory skylight. Three enforcers descended in exosuits, visors hiding silvered eyes.

"Core-bearer identified," droned their leader. "Terminate collateral."

Ghosthand lobbed an EMP grenade. "Time to go, kids!"

As they fled, Xiaoyu's wheelchair glitched. Her ice-blue hair flickered with static—and for a heartbeat, her eyes mirrored the Core's data streams.