Rain begins to fall.
Not the kind that cleanses.
The kind that poisons.
Sector 9's power grid flickers with each drop as acid rain eats away at the neon signs, making the city look like it's bleeding color. The sky is iron. The people below are shadows—unaware that war has already begun, quiet and without fanfare.
Su Chen walks through it like it's nothing.
Because nothing in this world can burn him worse than betrayal.
[System Update: Emotional Containment Protocol – ENABLED]All emotional disturbances now reduced by 40%.Stability: Optimal.
But inside him, it still simmers.
Yun Xi. Not dead. Not herself. Turned into a weapon with one purpose—kill him.
The system's voice returns, low and metallic.
[New Side Objective Unlocked: Retrieve Astra's Memory Core]Location: Data Vault Omega, Inner Ring.Access Level: Forbidden.Status: Suicide Mission.
Su Chen breathes out slowly.
"Perfect."
He heads for someone who can open any lock—even those that were never meant to be opened.
Inner Slums, The Rustline
A forgotten place. Half-city, half-machine. Underground rails and ventilation shafts turned into homes for the unregistered—the invisible. And somewhere deep within it, a madman with gold eyes and a laugh like broken glass.
Codenamed: "The Locksmith."
He owes Su Chen his life.
Which means he only hates him a little.
The Locksmith's lair is a twisted jungle of wires, mechanical arms, and screens that flicker with security feeds from every corner of the city. He's barefoot, half-dressed, and chewing on a cable when Su Chen walks in.
"Well, well," the Locksmith drawls, not looking up. "The dead man walks. Again."
"I need access to Data Vault Omega," Su Chen says.
The Locksmith pauses mid-bite. "Vault Omega? You've officially lost your mind."
"I need Yun Xi's memory core."
The Locksmith stares at him for a long moment.
Then he chuckles, bitterly. "You're trying to bring her back. Aren't you?"
Silence.
"She tried to kill you, Su. She will try again."
"I don't care."
"You should."
The room buzzes with electricity.
Then: "I'll do it."
Su Chen looks up. "Why?"
The Locksmith smiles faintly. "Because if you fail, the system wipes her clean. She becomes theirs. Forever. If you succeed… maybe I get to see the old Yun Xi one last time."
[Objective Accepted: Infiltrate Data Vault Omega]Time Limit: 48 hours.Security Level: Aegis Prime.Risk of System Lockdown: 93%.
Later That Night – Sector 0: Core Fortress
Astra—Yun Xi—sits on the edge of her sterile bed, staring at the white wall.
Blank.
Emotionless.
But her hand is trembling.
A small glitch. The doctors miss it.
Inside her mind, something stirs.
A voice.
"You're not a weapon. You're Yun Xi."
She doesn't know the voice. Doesn't recognize the name.
But her chest tightens.
[Emotion Detected. Flagged for Termination.][Neural Cleanse Deferred – Commander Override Detected.]
The override code was entered by someone within the system itself.
Someone… helping her?
Far above, in the highest tower, High Lord Elion watches the data streams flow across his screen. His expression is unreadable.
He whispers, "Let's see how far you're willing to go for her, Su Chen."
Underground Train – En Route to Vault Omega
The train car is empty except for Su Chen.
The hum of electricity. The shaking of rusted rails. Outside, the city passes in blurred streaks of light and ruin.
He closes his eyes.
[Flashback Loading...]
Before the betrayal.
Before the pain.
Yun Xi is laughing. They're on the rooftop of an abandoned skyscraper, a stolen bottle of whiskey between them. She leans in, forehead touching his.
"You'll never lose me," she says.
He remembers now how her hand trembled that night too.
She was lying.
Or maybe she wanted it to be true.
He opens his eyes.
The train screeches to a halt.
They've arrived.
End of Chapter 63