Chapter 16: Descent into the Unknown

Chapter 16: Descent into the Unknown

Aarav stood on the rooftop of an abandoned skyscraper, staring at the distant horizon where the coordinates pointed. The underground city, a relic of an unknown past, called to him like a forgotten whisper in the wind. But something about it felt... alive.

Chaturbot hovered beside him. "Energy levels fluctuating. The site appears to have an active power source."

Aarav smirked. "Good. That means there's something—or someone—still there."

He leapt onto his bike, an advanced hovercraft he had "borrowed" from a corrupt businessman weeks ago. With a single flick of his wrist, the engine roared to life, sending him speeding toward the unknown.

As he navigated the desolate highways, he reflected on what he had just experienced. His newfound ability to interact with information as energy—was it truly cultivation, or was he merely hacking the very code of existence? Either way, it was power. And in a world like this, power was the only thing that mattered.

After hours of travel, he arrived at the edge of a massive chasm. The earth had been torn apart, revealing a hidden passageway deep underground. It was lined with ancient, metallic structures, humming softly, as if they had been waiting for his arrival.

Aarav exhaled. "Time to see what secrets you've been hiding."

He activated his wrist interface, sending a pulse through the air. The walls responded, shifting and revealing a staircase spiraling downward. Each step felt like a descent into forgotten knowledge.

As he moved deeper, he noticed symbols etched into the walls—similar to those in his vision. He ran his fingers over them, feeling a faint vibration beneath his touch.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the chamber. "You should not have come alone."

Aarav spun around, his body tense. Out of the shadows, a figure emerged—tall, confident, and undeniably striking. She wore a sleek, futuristic suit that hugged her form, her piercing amber eyes glowing in the dim light. A smirk played on her lips.

"You must be the fool trying to unlock the past."

Aarav raised an eyebrow. "And you must be the welcoming committee."

She chuckled. "I prefer 'guardian.' But sure, let's go with that."

Chaturbot buzzed in alarm. "High energy signature detected. Subject is highly dangerous."

Aarav smirked. "Good. I like dangerous."

The woman took a step forward, crossing her arms. "Before you get any ideas, let's make one thing clear—I'm not here to help you. If you want access to this city, you'll have to prove you're worthy."

Aarav tilted his head. "And how exactly do I do that?"

She grinned. "Simple. You fight me."

Aarav exhaled, stretching his fingers. "I was hoping for a warm welcome, but this works too."

As the underground chamber crackled with energy, Aarav knew one thing—this was going to be interesting.

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