The ground trembled again.
Stronger this time.
Not just beneath their feet—
Through them.
"…That's not normal," Arham whispered.
"Nothing here is normal," Nira replied.
The distant shape moved.
No—
Rose.
The darkness parted as something enormous pushed upward from the depths below the city.
Lights flickered.
Structures dimmed.
Even the glowing pathways seemed to hesitate.
"…It's huge," Lila said, her voice almost excited.
"Why are you impressed?!" Arham snapped. "That thing is literally the size of a nightmare!"
"Correction," Zyro said quietly.
"…It is larger."
"Great," Arham muttered. "Even better."
The leader stepped forward, its glowing eyes fixed on the rising entity.
"It awakens earlier than predicted."
Rayan frowned. "Earlier than predicted? You knew this was going to happen?"
The leader didn't turn.
"We delayed it."
"…Delayed?" Nira asked.
Zyro answered this time.
"…They've been containing it."
Silence.
"…Containing WHAT exactly?" Arham asked.
The creature moved again.
Closer.
Clearer.
A massive silhouette—
Covered in shifting, armor-like layers.
Eyes—multiple—opening one by one like burning stars.
"…That," Zyro said.
Nira took a step back.
"…No. No, that's not real."
"It's very real," Lila whispered.
Rayan stared.
"…What is it?"
Zyro hesitated.
For the first time—
It sounded… uncertain.
"…We don't have a name for it."**
"That's comforting," Arham said weakly.
The leader finally turned.
"It is not one of us."
"…Then what is it?" Nira asked.
A pause.
"It is what came before us."
Silence.
"…Before?" Rayan repeated.
"Before your world."
Arham blinked.
"…Nope. Don't like that."
The creature let out a deep vibration—
A sound that wasn't heard, but felt in their bones.
Nira grabbed Rayan's arm.
"…It's getting closer."
"Zyro," Rayan said, "tell us how to stop it."
"…We can't stop it directly," Zyro replied.
"Then indirectly!"
"It feeds on energy," Zyro said quickly. "The city's core is holding it back."
Lila's eyes narrowed.
"…So if the core fails—"
"It rises fully," Zyro finished.
"And then?" Arham asked.
"…Surface extinction event," Zyro said.
"…Okay," Arham said. "I officially regret everything."
The leader raised its hand.
"All units—defensive formation."
From the city—
Hundreds of glowing figures rose.
Moving in perfect synchronization.
"They're going to fight it?" Nira asked.
"Yes," Zyro said.
"…And lose."
"…Why?" Rayan demanded.
"Because," Zyro replied quietly…
"…they've already been losing."**
The creature surged forward.
Faster than something that size should move.
"MOVE!" Lila shouted.
The ground beneath them split—
A shockwave blasting outward.
Rayan grabbed Nira and pulled her back.
Arham tripped.
"NOT LIKE THIS—!"
Lila yanked him up.
"Run first, panic later!"
The leader stood firm.
"Stay behind us."
"Not a problem!" Arham yelled, already moving.
Zyro turned.
"Follow me!"
They ran.
The city around them shifted—
Pathways lighting up, guiding them through a maze of glowing structures.
"What's the plan?!" Rayan shouted.
"We reach the core," Zyro replied.
"And do what?!" Nira asked.
"…Reinforce it."
"With WHAT?!" Arham yelled.
"…With everything we have."
"That is NOT a plan!"
Behind them—
A massive crash echoed.
They turned—
Just for a second.
The creature had struck.
Dozens of defenders—
Gone.
"…Keep moving," Rayan said, voice tight.
They ran faster.
"Left!" Zyro called.
They turned sharply.
The path narrowed.
Walls pulsing with energy.
"…This place is alive," Lila said.
"Yes," Zyro replied.
"That's still creepy."
Another tremor.
Closer.
"It's following us," Nira said.
"No," Zyro corrected.
"…It's following the core."
"…Which we are running toward," Arham added.
"…Brilliant."
They reached a massive chamber.
At its center—
A glowing sphere.
Floating.
Radiating power.
"…That's the core?" Rayan asked.
"Yes."
It pulsed.
Weakly.
"…It's fading," Nira said.
Zyro moved forward.
"I need access."
The sphere reacted—
Opening slightly.
"…It recognizes you," Lila said.
"I was built from its systems," Zyro replied.
"Good," Arham said. "Fix it!"
"I'm trying."
Zyro extended small mechanical limbs.
Connecting to the core.
Lights flickered violently.
"Status?" Rayan asked.
"…Energy levels critical," Zyro said.
"How do we fix it?!" Nira asked.
Zyro hesitated.
"…We need an external source."**
"Like what?" Lila asked.
"…Life energy."
Silence.
"…Define that," Arham said slowly.
"…Us."**
"Nope," Arham said instantly. "Nope, absolutely not, I vote no."
"It won't kill you," Zyro said.
"That's not convincing!"
"It will… weaken you."
"…How much?" Nira asked.
Zyro didn't answer.
"…Zyro?" Rayan pressed.
"…Significantly."**
Arham stepped back.
"…I knew it. I KNEW it."
Lila stepped forward.
"I'll do it."
"No," Rayan said immediately.
"Yes."
"We find another way."
"There isn't one," Zyro said quietly.
Silence.
The tremor returned—
Stronger.
Closer.
The chamber walls cracked.
"We don't have time," Nira said.
Rayan looked at each of them.
"…We do it together."**
Arham stared.
"…You're serious?"
"Yes."
"…I hate this group," he muttered.
Lila smiled.
"Group decision."
Nira took a breath.
"…Fine."
Zyro's voice softened.
"…Place your hands on the core."**
They hesitated.
Then—
One by one—
They stepped forward.
Rayan first.
Then Lila.
Then Nira.
Arham last.
"…If I disappear," he said, "tell people I was cool."
"You're not," Nira replied.
"Let me have this moment!"
They touched the core.
Instantly—
Light surged through them.
Energy pulled—
Not painful—
But overwhelming.
"…I feel… dizzy," Nira whispered.
"Stay focused," Zyro said.
The core brightened.
Stronger.
Outside—
The creature roared.
The chamber shook violently.
"Almost there!" Zyro said.
Arham groaned.
"…I regret everything…"
Lila laughed weakly.
"Still fun?"
"…No."**
The core pulsed—
Once—
Twice—
Then—
Exploded with light.
Energy surged outward—
Through the city.
The creature froze.
"…It worked," Rayan whispered.
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
Silent.
Still.
Then—
The creature moved again.
Slower.
But still moving.
"…Why is it still moving?" Nira asked.
Zyro's voice dropped.
"…Because this was only phase one."**
"…Phase one?!" Arham yelled.
The core dimmed slightly.
"…We bought time," Zyro said.
"…Not victory."**
The leader appeared behind them.
"You delayed it."
Rayan turned.
"…That's not enough."
"It never was."
Silence.
"…Then what is?" Lila asked.
The leader looked at Zyro.
Then at them.
"…You must go deeper."
Arham blinked.
"…NO."
"Deeper?!" Nira repeated.
"Where?!" Rayan asked.
The leader's voice echoed—
"To where it was born."
Silence.
Zyro turned slowly.
"…That's impossible."**
The leader replied—
"So was your survival."
Arham shook his head.
"…I'm done. I'm officially done."
Lila smirked.
"You're coming."
"…I know," he sighed.
Rayan looked at the glowing core—
Then at the darkness beyond.
"…Then we go deeper."**
The ground trembled again.
The creature roared—
Louder than before.
And this time—
It wasn't just rising.
It was waking.