Chapter 5 – Echoes in the Wreckage (Part 2)

The ridge tunnel was a scar from a war long past—half-collapsed, crusted with dormant sigils and rusted steel supports. Kaela led them through a narrow passage that sloped deeper underground, her hand glowing faintly as she used her crystal to guide the way.

"This should mask any ley-based tracking," she said. "Back during the Eastern Conflict, soldiers used these to escape detection."

Aiden adjusted the signal dampeners on his gear. "Let's hope the trick still works."

Brant swept behind them, eyes ever watchful. "If they're using drones and signal pings, they'll have backup. Probably sentries. Maybe even an Arcanum Seeker."

Aiden paused. "What's a Seeker?"

"Elite retrieval agents. Designed to track, suppress, and capture rogue tech. They're armed with both magical weapons and synthetic enhancers."

"So… magic-powered terminators."

Kaela smirked. "Basically."

They reached a fork where the tunnel widened into a forgotten outpost—half-buried bunks and rusted lockers lined the walls. Aiden activated a proximity node.

[Temporary Signal Mask: Activated – Duration: 2 Hours]

[Environment Status: Safe | Surveillance: None Detected]

"This will give us time," he said.

They took a moment to breathe. Kaela sat cross-legged, syncing her crystal logs. Brant cleaned the edge of his blade with a tattered cloth.

Aiden sat apart, activating his system interface.

[Blueprint Update: Signal Relay – 71% Complete]

[New Component Scanned: Ley Alloy Core]

[Upgrade Available: Arc Turret Mk II – Increases Range and Target Discrimination]

"Progress," he murmured, selecting the turret upgrade. The interface responded with a flash.

[Crafting Queue: Updated | Estimated Build Time: 2 Hours | Materials Required: Ley Alloy Core x1, Conductor Plate x2, Quantum Lens x1]

He didn't have the lens. Yet.

Aiden glanced at his new allies. "We need a tech cache. Somewhere with parts—older ruins, maybe?"

Kaela looked up. "There's a derelict Arcanum relay tower east of here. Abandoned decades ago. Most think it's cursed."

Brant cracked his neck. "That just means fewer people to deal with."

Aiden smiled. "Then we have our next destination."

Just as he stood, a flicker of light shimmered at the far end of the tunnel.

[Alert: Dimensional Pulse Detected – Phase Echo Imminent]

[Entity Incoming]

A rift burst open—slim and jagged like torn glass.

Through it stepped a humanoid figure clad in matte-black armor, its helmet pulsing with runes. A metallic voice echoed through the chamber.

"Unauthorized system signature detected. Subject: Aiden Kross. Submit for extraction."

Brant was already moving, sword drawn. "That's a Seeker!"

The armored figure extended a gauntlet, firing a pulse of kinetic force. Brant was thrown into a wall.

Kaela unleashed a sigil burst, the energy colliding with a protective barrier.

Aiden activated his interface mid-dodge.

[Deploying: Mini-Turret Prototype]

[Cooldown: 30 seconds]

The turret dropped from his pack and unfolded, sending a burst of arc energy that pushed the Seeker back.

"Target resistance logged. Escalating protocol."

The Seeker raised both hands. Twin blades of violet light shimmered into existence.

Aiden dove behind a support pillar, dragging Brant with him.

"We can't beat it head-on!" Kaela shouted.

"Not yet," Aiden agreed. He accessed his map overlay.

[Environmental Hazard Detected: Fuel Line Residue – Tunnel Ceiling]

[Recommendation: Manual Detonation for Structural Collapse]

He relayed the idea. Brant, groggy but alert, nodded. "Get it under the breach."

Kaela drew its attention with a volley of glyph-bolts while Aiden circled, planting a micro-charge.

[Charge Set – Detonation Ready]

Brant lunged, drawing the Seeker closer.

"NOW!" Aiden yelled.

He triggered the blast.

The ceiling caved, burying the Seeker under a mass of rock and steel.

Silence returned.

[Hostile Signal: Lost]

[Temporary Safety Restored]

Kaela coughed as dust cleared. "That won't hold it forever."

Aiden nodded grimly. "No. But it bought us time."

They emerged from the opposite end of the tunnel, where the first rays of dawn kissed the landscape. Far on the horizon, a black spire rose—the derelict relay tower.

Their next destination.

But in Aiden's HUD, a quiet message blinked.

[Seeker Unit: Tracking Subsystem Active – 72% Recovery Estimated in 6 Hours]

It wasn't over.

It had only just begun.