The aftermath of the battle with the Reaper-Class Enforcer left Ronan and his companions on edge. The revelation that his system, the Blast Core, was evolving beyond its original parameters was both exhilarating and terrifying. The Circle's swift response indicated that they were closely monitoring his progress.
Back at the observatory, the trio convened in the strategy room, the holographic map displaying the known Circle facilities.
"We need to strike before they send more enforcers," Kael asserted, his eyes scanning the map.
Lyra nodded, "Agreed. But we need allies. We've been operating in the shadows for too long."
Ronan considered their options. "There's a resistance cell rumored to be operating in the eastern territories. If we can find them, we might stand a chance."
The decision made, they set out under the cover of darkness, navigating treacherous terrain and evading Circle patrols. Along the way, Ronan's system continued to evolve, unlocking new abilities and insights into the Circle's operations.
After days of travel, they reached the outskirts of a hidden enclave nestled within a dense forest. Guards emerged, weapons drawn, but upon recognizing Ronan's system signature, they lowered their arms.
"We've been expecting you," the lead guard said, ushering them into the camp.
Inside, they met with the resistance leader, a seasoned warrior named Seraphine. She briefed them on the Circle's latest movements and the resistance's plans to disrupt their operations.
"Your arrival changes everything," Seraphine said. "With your system, we can turn the tide."
Ronan felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. "Then let's make our move."
That night, the resistance camp buzzed with energy. Tents were lit from within by flickering crystal lamps, and scouts moved between command posts, sharing updates and finalizing deployment routes. It felt like the calm before a storm.
Ronan stood beside Seraphine at a large tactical table. Projected above it was a rendering of a Circle base deep in the eastern mountains—one of their minor research outposts. Their target.
"This facility is mostly focused on system replication tech," Seraphine explained. "They've been trying to reverse-engineer the legacy cores—like yours. If they succeed, they won't need to hunt you. They'll just make their own."
Ronan narrowed his eyes. "Then we have to stop them before that happens."
Kael tapped one of the holographic towers. "It's lightly guarded. No Reaper-Class enforcers logged recently. But we have to assume there's a failsafe."
Lyra, leaning against a nearby wall, added, "We go in clean. Fast. Quiet. We can't afford a full-scale fight yet."
Ronan nodded. "We strike tonight."
***
Under cover of darkness, the team moved through the woods like shadows.
Ronan led the charge, now fully synced with the second layer of his Blast Core. Every motion was sharper. He could sense vibrations through the ground, energy flows in the air. His perception stretched beyond normal range.
They reached the outer perimeter.
Kael disabled the surveillance nodes, and Lyra cloaked their heat signatures with a thin veil of flame that distorted readings. They slipped through the fence and entered the facility via a utility hatch.
Inside, rows of glass tubes lined the hall, each containing failed replicas—artificial cores that had destabilized mid-growth. Their contents were grotesque—half-formed vessels, twisted by incomplete system coding.
"This is worse than I thought," Lyra whispered.
Suddenly, alarms blared.
*System Alert: Intrusion detected. Security lockdown initiated.*
"Move!" Ronan shouted.
Doors slammed shut behind them as turrets descended from the ceiling. Kael flipped mid-air, slicing two down before they activated.
Ronan raised his hand. "Blast Core: Pulse Disruption!"
The shockwave shorted nearby systems, giving them a window to escape deeper into the core chamber.
There, floating inside a containment pillar, was a glowing object shaped like a fragmented gem. It pulsed—slow, steady—echoing the rhythm of Ronan's own system.
"It's a proto-core," Seraphine said through the comms. "Destroying that will stall their research."
Ronan stepped forward.
But just as he reached for it, a voice echoed from the shadows.
"I wouldn't do that… Ronan."
A tall man stepped into view. His hair was silver, and he wore a half-mask over his eyes. On his chest glowed a red variation of Ronan's own system mark.
"Who are you?" Ronan asked, raising his stance.
The man smiled. "You may call me Vale. I'm what you'll become—if you keep walking this path."
Lyra's flame flickered uncertainly. "Another system user?"
"No," Vale said, shaking his head. "I was the first. The Circle didn't create the systems—they stole them from us. The Originals."
Silence followed.
"You're lying," Kael growled.
But Ronan could feel it. The resonance from Vale's core—ancient, refined—matched his own. The truth was undeniable.
"What do you want?" Ronan asked.
"To warn you," Vale replied. "If you destroy this, you'll delay them—but you'll also trigger their emergency project: Echelon Genesis. That's what they truly want."
Ronan clenched his fists. "So we do nothing?"
"You evolve. You survive. And when the time comes—you end the Circle completely. Not just this facility. All of them."
Vale walked past him, placed a hand on the containment pillar, and absorbed the proto-core into his chest.
"One day, Ronan, the Circle will send not Reapers—but Judges. And when that day comes… you'll need to be more than a system wielder. You'll need to be a Legacy."
In a flash, Vale vanished.
Ronan stood still, breath caught in his throat.
Lyra touched his arm. "What now?"
He looked at the empty chamber. "We leave. There's more at play than we understood."
As they fled the facility, now half-collapsing from the interference, Ronan's system pulsed with a new message.
**Core Update: Pathway to Layer III detected. Conditions: Unknown. Estimated risk: 93%.
Proceed? [Y/N]**
Ronan didn't press it yet.
Because first—they had to prepare for the Judges.
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