“Reclaimers”
> [Time to Impact: 00:02:41]
NovaCore's walls trembled as the Reclaimer Unit breached the outer perimeter. In the sky above, dark aircraft cast long shadows across the glass domes of the campus. Below, the ground units moved in formation—silent, precise, deadly.
Each soldier wore an adaptive exo-suit, integrated with Core-nullifying tech, their armor marked only by a blood-red insignia:
XI-R
EXTRACTION RECLAIMER – CLASS OMEGA
Back in the med-bay, Rhea's voice crackled urgently.
"You don't have long. They'll be inside the sector in under three minutes. I'm triggering a temporary lockdown field around your position, but it won't hold for more than sixty seconds once they begin breach protocols."
Arin looked to Elira. "You ready?"
She nodded. "Always was. Just didn't know who I was fighting for."
> [Core Sync: 72% with Elira] [Shared Trait Activated: Dual Channel – Neural Feedback Enabled]
Arin tapped the side of his head, activating his system's command HUD.
"Xyro, I need full combat analytics. Predictive threat matrix. And… anything we haven't used yet."
The AI responded instantly.
"Compiling protocols. Unlocking restricted combat parameters."
> [New Ability Available – Forbidden Core Access Tier 2] Name: Pulse Rift Overdrive
Effect: Temporarily warps surrounding space-time for high-speed combat resolution. Duration: 18 seconds. Caution: High mental strain.
He smirked. "We'll save that for dessert."
---
Central Medical Bay – Exterior
The first Reclaimer unit approached, disabling security locks like a surgeon slicing skin. Doors hissed open, and the lead operative raised a pulse lance.
"No lethal force," he ordered. "Extraction protocol only. Forbidden Core must be contained intact."
They breached the chamber.
And walked straight into darkness.
Elira stood in the center of the med-bay, her palm raised.
> [Skill Activated – Null-Veil]
In an instant, every system-enhancing function on their exo-suits flickered and shut down.
"NOW, ARIN!"
A shockwave erupted from the left—Arin burst forward, fists pulsing with energy. In one fluid motion, he brought down a reverse elbow across the lead soldier's helmet, knocking him clean out of the room.
The others retaliated, unleashing grappling spikes and suppression nets.
> [Warning: Neural Drain Incoming]
But Arin had already activated Echo Step, his after-images confusing their targeting systems. He dodged under a suppression net and grabbed Elira's hand.
"We move together!"
---
Underground Transit Tunnels – 41 Meters Below Surface
Arin and Elira raced through the hidden sub-layer corridors Rhea had unlocked from her end. Maps flickered on their HUDs, showing active Reclaimer clusters moving to intercept from above.
"I don't get it," Elira said breathlessly. "Why not just eliminate us?"
"They want what's inside us," Arin muttered. "They're not just hunting systems. They're collecting them."
Elira paused for a split second. "They want you."
"No," Arin corrected. "They want us."
Suddenly—
> [Warning: Dimensional Lock Engaged – Exit Blocked]
A figure emerged in front of them from thin air.
A Reclaimer captain. His armor glowed black-purple. Unlike the others, his presence twisted the very space around him.
> [Threat Level: S-Class – Dimensional Anchor Detected] Name: Korr Veyra – Reclaimer Executioner Specialization: Core Disassembly
"Verma. And the girl," he said, stepping forward. "Surrender the Core. Or be unmade."
Arin didn't blink. "That offer still sucks."
---
> [Combat Initiated: Korr Veyra vs Arin & Elira]
Korr struck first—ripping space apart with his Phase Tear Slash. Arin pulled Elira back and deflected the blow with a pulse barrier, barely holding ground.
"You're outclassed," Korr sneered.
Arin grinned. "Good. I hate fair fights."
He launched Pulse Drive Barrage, enhanced by Elira's Null-Veil bursts, each strike aiming at pressure points in the Reclaimer's exo-shell.
But Korr's Dimensional Anchor Field distorted time itself. Blows landed too slow. Dodges came too late.
Arin felt the edges of his consciousness flicker.
> [Mental Load: CRITICAL]
Elira stepped forward. "Enough!"
> [Skill Unlocked: Override Bloom] Type: Support Surge
Effect: Removes system fatigue and restores pulse synchronization for linked allies.
Arin's mind cleared.
He looked at her, stunned. "You just unlocked a support-type evolution."
"I told you I'd help."
Together, they moved.
Strike. Fade. Block. Pulse.
For the first time, the Executioner staggered.
---
> [System Alert – Forbidden Core Sync at 91%] [Pulse Rift Overdrive: Ready for Activation]
Arin nodded to Elira. "Get ready to jump."
He activated the Rift.
Time fractured. Space blurred.
In the blink of an eye, Arin appeared behind Korr, driving a pulse-surge punch straight into his anchor core.
> [Critical Hit Landed – Dimensional Anchor Disengaged]
Korr's armor cracked. "This… isn't over…"
Arin grabbed Elira and leapt into the secondary tunnel as the ceiling collapsed behind them.
---
Surface Exit – Ruins of Old Sector Twelve
The two emerged, breathing hard, the sun rising beyond NovaCore's edge.
Elira collapsed to her knees, exhausted but alive.
"We made it," she whispered.
Arin looked back toward the academy's dome—black smoke rising, alarms still blaring.
"No. We escaped. But we haven't won yet."
> [Quest Updated: Expose Reclaimer Protocols] Objective: Locate the Black Archive hidden beneath the academy ruins. Reward: Truth
He turned to Elira.
"You ready to fight for more than survival?"
She stood beside him.
"I'm ready to live."