The city lights faded behind them as Kael, Aria, Ryken, and Veyra moved silently toward the outskirts. The sun had not yet risen, but the first hints of orange and violet streaked the sky. The air smelled of ozone and burnt metal, a lingering reminder of the sentinel's attack from two nights prior.
"This area has been reported unstable," Aria said, her voice low. "Energy fluctuations are off the charts. Could be Null operatives, could be residual Nexus activity… or both. Either way, proceed with caution."
Kael felt the mark on his chest pulse stronger with each step. He was learning, slowly, to channel the Nexus energy—but outside controlled conditions, it surged unpredictably. Every nerve screamed that this mission would be different. Dangerous. Real.
Ryken moved ahead, scanning the perimeter with trained precision. "We hit hard, hit fast," he muttered. "No hesitation, no mistakes. The Null doesn't care about moral codes, only results. Neither should we."
Veyra's silver eyes scanned the horizon, calculating. "The Null operatives we're likely to face are adaptive. Don't rely solely on conventional tactics. Kael… your mark will guide you. Trust it."
Kael nodded, gripping the energy device Aria had provided. The warehouse exercises had prepared him in part, but nothing could simulate the real thing. His senses expanded: subtle shifts in the air, energy distortions in the environment, faint vibrations from footsteps he could not yet see.
They approached a seemingly abandoned industrial complex, its windows shattered, and walls scorched. A faint ripple in reality shimmered above the main gate—a telltale sign of a dimensional breach. Kael's pulse quickened. This was it: the Null was testing them directly.
"Stay sharp," Aria whispered. "Once we enter, the environment itself can become a weapon. The Null will exploit everything."
Kael inhaled deeply, feeling the mark flare in response. The whispers returned, guiding him toward an energy signature deep inside the facility. Shadows moved unnaturally across the cracked walls, and Kael sensed the first operatives readying themselves. This was no simulation. This was war.