Signal from the Shadows
In a hidden underground chamber far from the city center, dim red lights flickered over rows of holographic screens—all displaying data focused on one thing.
"Eidolon Tech – Activity Spike Detected."
A man in a long coat, his face marked with deep scars, stared silently at the screens.
Behind him gathered members of an underground organization.
Some were armed mercenaries.
Others looked like eccentric scientists, eyes burning with curiosity and hunger for secrets.
"This company emerged from the shadows.
No face. No full records.
But their weapons… surpass anything we've been able to replicate," he said quietly.
One of his agents spoke up,
"We've tracked covert distribution to border units and civilian militias.
But there's no legal trail leading to the original owner."
"And that's the problem," the leader exhaled.
"They're too clean. Cleaner than the military.
I don't believe this is just a coincidence."
He pointed to a paused image from the Nova Academy cadet tech exhibition.
In the middle of the crowd…
Someone stood wearing a hoodie.
"No confirmed ID.
But there are similarities with footage from previous black market operations.
His face is never fully captured.
But his movement pattern… is familiar."
He clenched his fist.
"We need to find out…
who is really behind Eidolon Tech.
And if we must—
drag them out of the shadows."
Meanwhile, beneath the stars at Nova Academy…
Deren lay on the dorm rooftop, gazing up at the night sky, eyes half-closed.
"At last… a full week of chaos is over.
Maybe, starting tomorrow… things will finally calm down."
The night sky answered with a distant flash of red.
A new anomalous Core signal.
A message from Clarice appeared on his comms:
"Unidentified Core type detected beyond the southern perimeter.
Energy signature similar to Metavore… but different."
Deren closed his eyes.
"Of course.
Of course the world won't let me nap."
And elsewhere…
Something had awakened.
Not from the sky.
But from beneath the earth—
Where the ancient Metavores once slept.