Kiran scrambled through a discarded waste disposal chute, the stink of burned ozone and stale air filling his nostrils. The chute ended in a rarely used exit hatch, tucked away on the mountain's far side, overlooking the desolate stretch of black sand. He burst out into the biting cold air, gasping, his body aching, the alarms still screaming behind him from within the mountain. He made it. He was outside.
But the relief was fleeting. He saw them. Three figures, dark against the bruised dawn sky, moving with unnatural speed across the rugged terrain. Alpha units. They were already here, deployed to circle the mountain, anticipating his escape routes. Their crimson A symbols glinted in the faint light. Kiran felt the familiar thrum of the seed surge within him, a wild, protective burst. He didn't have time to think, only to react. He sprinted, his legs burning, pushing himself to inhuman speed, dodging behind ancient rock formations, seeking cover in the harsh landscape. They fired, silent energy bolts searing the air where he'd just been.
Meanwhile, in the old city, Elena felt a wave of icy dread. The 'Hunters' were no longer just a distant threat. She heard them, the distinct, rhythmic thud of their boots on the old cobblestones, the soft hum of their advanced gear. The Weavers' hidden den was compromised. The 'Blind Monk' had been right; they were coming for the book. She clutched the Eclipse Codex tightly, its single glowing word, Liam's name, a beacon in the encroaching danger. The fight was no longer confined to the remote mountains. It had spilled into the very heart of the city, and the Alpha units, tireless and deadly, were closing in on them both. The hunt was truly on.