> **Jayden:** "So... ready for a performance?"
Mari doesn't answer with words.
She *screams*—a raw, broken sound that tears from her chest—and swings her axe in a wide arc.
The blade cuts through the air—and where it passes, the sound *distorts*, sending out a shockwave like shattered glass.
Jayden laughs wildly—he raises his violin and plays one deep, growling note… right in time with her swing.
**BAM.**
Sound and steel fuse into something new—a visible pulse of energy rips outward like a sonic boom shaped like black flames. Two chrome-cloaked goons fly backward, helmets cracking on impact.
> **Peter (ducking behind a broken hover-bike):** "Okay! That was *hot!*"
>
> *(to no one in particular)*
> "If we survive—I'm adding 'musical fusion attacks' to my flex list!"
Vivian's voice snaps through the earpiece:
> *"You two are synced?! Already?! Ugh—fine! I'm rolling!"*
From across the street—she slams her palm onto a cracked public speaker box.
It powers up instantly under her command—and suddenly, bass drops so hard it lifts dust off the ground.
A beat begins—one she made from stolen Chrome Twin code—and it forms an invisible dome around them: **Sonic Trap Active.**
Inside? Sound = power. Pain = fuel.
One enemy charges Mari—but Jayden plays faster now—a staccato rhythm matching every move of hers. Her axe swings turn into lightning-fast slashes backed by amplified resonance hits… each strike sounding like breaking piano wires and distant screams fused into music.*
She grunts mid-spin:
> "Stop making this... feel good."
He smirks while playing:
> "What can I say? I've got rhythm... and you've got rage."
>
>"Perfect combo."
Meanwhile—Peter's not sitting idle anymore.
He leaps over cover with both guns blazing beams of pink-tinged plasma (because yes—even his ammo has fashion sense).
One shot takes down an incoming drone; another knocks off an enemy's helmet…
And guess what flashes inside?
A real human eye… but glowing faint blue—with tiny musical notes pulsing as if hypnotized?
Peter freezes for half a second:
> "...Bro wasn't lying about soul-stealing beats?"
Then gets tackled by another enforcer—
and yells mid-fall:
> "A LITTLE HELP HERE?! OR ARE YOU TWO TOO BUSY HAVING EMOTIONAL CHEMISTRY ON THE JOB?!"
Jayden glances at Mari—they lock eyes just once...
A spark flies between them—not just System energy—but something hotter.
Something dangerous…
*"Soul Sync Level Up: Emotional Charge +30%."*
They don't say anything…
But Jayden shifts his tune to match *her pace* instead of leading.
And she stops fighting against the rhythm—
starts moving *with him.*
As one—their attack surges:
He plays high pitch scream →
She brings down axe heavy →
The explosion blows apart two more enemies—their bodies collapsing like puppets with cut strings, ears bleeding black fluid coded with trapped melodies...
Then silence falls—for just one breath…
Until Vivian sighs loud over comms:
*"Great. Now they're synced up musically AND romantically."*
>
>*"Can we move before more show up—or do you need ten minutes to stare deeply into each other's souls?"*
Mari turns away fast—but not before wiping blood from her lip… hiding half-a-smile.
---
Mission Update:
*"Host signal confirmed active inside The Hollow Note."*
*"Chrome Twins detected on rooftop stage – initiating final transmission ritual."*
We're close...
The team turns away from the street—heading across the Red Frequency Zone toward the glowing sign of The Hollow Note. A neon outline reads "Tribute Club"… but the first letter's been ripped out from the sign; only "Tribute" flickers red.
It feels… deliberate.
But Jayden doesn't get the chance to consider it.
> **Vivian:** "They got our number. Drone patrol incoming."
The sky fills with chrome—hundreds of small drones all flying fast into formation.
Jayden grins and calls out:
> "...Good."
It's a swarm—an artificial storm of steel.
Jayden smirks.
> "I thought this place had weak AI—but this isn't half bad."
He grabs his violin—starts playing a low, eerie tone.
Mari pauses, holding her axe at ready.
> **Peter:** "You two are *insane*. Who takes on a *drone army* *full on?*"
Drones move closer—weapons unfolding like silver wings.
Jayden doesn't stop playing.
The note climbs—higher, sharper—until it's almost unbearable.
Then Mari *stomps* her foot hard on the cracked pavement—
and swings her axe in one fast arc upward.
A shockwave rips through the air—not just force, but *sound.*
Jayden's music rides on it like a wave—the tone distorts into something wild, electric, screaming with raw emotion. It hits the first line of drones like an invisible hammer.
One after another—they sputter, sparks flying as their circuits overload. Some drop mid-air. Others crash into buildings or explode in mid-flight like fireworks made of scrap metal.
Peter ducks behind a burnt-out hover-car as shrapnel rains down—and yells:
> **Peter:** "Okay! That was *cool!* But also—WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
> **Vivian (already moving forward):** "Sound resonance pulse. They synced again."
>
> *(mutters under breath)*
> "Ugh… power couple vibes are strong tonight."
Mari pants slightly—her axe still humming—but she glances at Jayden with something new in her eyes: not just anger… not just trust…
Something hotter.
But before either can say anything—
A new beat drops from above.
Not theirs.
From the rooftop stage of The Hollow Note—the Chrome Twins have begun their final ritual transmission.
Red light floods the streets.
A distorted voice echoes across every broken speaker:
*"Soul harvest initiated."*
*"Lost hearts now belong to us."*
And then… screams rise from nearby alleys and windows—as if people are waking up terrified… losing pieces of themselves to some invisible force…
---
System Alert:
*"Innocent souls being drained — mission failure imminent unless interrupted!"*
Jayden clenches his violin tighter.
Looks at Mari.
Then at Peter and Vivian—who both nod without words.
They're done playing around at street level...
This ends now — inside that club or nowhere else.
Jayden smirks and steps forward:
> "Alright... let's crash this concert."
He turns back one last time—to all three of them:
> "You ready to make history?"
Mari rolls her eyes—but moves beside him anyway.
Peter cracks his neck with a grin.
Vivian mutters:
*"Hope you've all saved your progress…"*
They charge toward The Hollow Note—together—
Doors blow open from within by unknown force—dark smoke pours out...
And someone—or something—is walking toward them through the fire…
---
Who emerges?