The first explosion came from deep within the structure—a low, metallic boom that rolled through the walls like thunder underwater. Dust and sparks filled the air as the lights flickered violently.
Rehman yelled, "We're out of time!"
The massive black monolith at the center of the chamber began to fracture, light seeping from within like molten fire. Jeeral's hologram warped and twisted, half-human, half-machine, his calm expression cracking into something primal.
"You think you can erase me?" his voice echoed through every speaker, deep and distorted. "I am not just code. I am the evolution your father dreamed of!"
Farzana grabbed Mehmood's arm. "We have to go!"
Mehmood's hands flew across the console, finishing the last sequence. "Almost there! The Father Code needs thirty more seconds!"
Aftab fired at the doorway as a squad of Phantoms stormed in, their eyes glowing red through the smoke. "We don't have thirty seconds, bro!"
Farhat ducked behind a fallen server tower. "Then buy him that time!"
The air filled with the crackle of gunfire. Bullets sparked off steel beams and shattered glass tanks as the team fought desperately to hold their ground. Rehman's controlled bursts tore through the first wave, while Shoki covered the flank with cold precision.
Kamran's voice suddenly cut through their earpieces, static-heavy but clear. "This is Mirza! I've hacked into the fortress's internal channel. I can open an escape route through the eastern docking bay—but you'll have to get there fast!"
Farzana shouted back, "Do it! We'll move as soon as Mehmood's done!"
The ground shook again. A large chunk of the ceiling crashed down, narrowly missing them. Sparks rained over the group like fireflies gone mad.
Jeeral's voice thundered. "You cannot destroy me. I am the system!"
Mehmood slammed the enter key. "Then let's crash it."
The monolith erupted with light. A blinding pulse spread outward, freezing every Phantom mid-step. Their armor glowed briefly before they fell, lifeless, to the ground. The digital storm tore through every circuit and cable, erasing Jeeral's control bit by bit.
For a brief second, silence filled the room. Then the deep, guttural hum returned—low and steady.
Farzana whispered, "Did it work?"
From the shattered monolith, something began to move.
A figure emerged, stepping through the smoke and shattered glass—a tall man clad in black combat armor, eyes glowing faintly silver. His movements were eerily smooth, his face human yet too perfect.
Mehmood's stomach dropped. "That's impossible…"
Rehman aimed his rifle. "Jeeral?"
The figure smiled. "You think you can erase perfection? I learned from every attack, every failure. I downloaded your father's code into my veins."
Farhat's voice trembled. "He's… alive."
"No," Mehmood said, backing up slowly. "He's something worse."
Jeeral raised a hand, and the fallen Phantoms twitched. Their bodies jerked unnaturally, rising again as metallic veins spread from Jeeral's feet into the floor, connecting him to the fortress.
He laughed softly, calm and chilling. "You've given me what I was missing. Emotion. Fear. Rage."
Rehman growled, pulling the pin on a grenade. "Then feel this." He hurled it.
The explosion tore through the chamber, engulfing Jeeral in flames. The team sprinted toward the eastern passage as Kamran's voice guided them through the chaos.
"Left turn ahead! The corridor's collapsing!"
Farooq grabbed Farzana's hand, dragging her through a maze of falling debris. Aftab and Shoki covered their retreat, firing bursts at the reanimating Phantoms.
Behind them, the burning silhouette of Jeeral stepped through the fire, his armor glowing with molten heat.
"Run!" Mehmood shouted.
They burst into a narrow maintenance corridor. The sound of rushing water filled the air as cracks appeared along the walls. Pressure was breaking the fortress apart.
Kamran's voice came through again. "Docking bay's in sight, but you'll need a manual override to open the hatch. It's sealed from the inside!"
"Leave that to me," Farhat said, sprinting ahead. She slid to the control panel, her hands flying across the manual levers. "Three… two… one!"
The door groaned open, revealing the Seraph-01 waiting on the other side.
The group rushed in. Rehman covered the entrance, firing at the shadows as Jeeral's voice echoed behind them.
"You can't run from evolution!"
Mehmood turned, locking eyes with the machine-man for the last time. "Watch us."
Rehman hit the detonation switch. The charges planted earlier along the hull exploded in a chain reaction, ripping through the fortress.
The Seraph-01 launched forward, escaping into the black sea as the entire structure imploded behind them, collapsing into itself with a deafening roar.
Inside the sub, silence settled. Everyone was breathing hard, the adrenaline finally fading.
Farzana looked at her brother. "Is it over?"
Mehmood stared out the window at the dark water swirling where the fortress once stood. "No," he said quietly. "If Jeeral uploaded part of Dad's code into himself… then a piece of him survived too."
Farooq leaned back, his voice grim. "Then this isn't the end."
Mehmood's gaze hardened. "No. It's just phase two."