The golden energy surged through the sky, cascading over the Federation like a tidal wave of light. For the first time in decades, the System reset itself, purging the corruption that had plagued it. Kian stood at the edge of the fissure, his golden implant no longer flickering, but radiating a steady, controlled glow.Marcus lay sprawled on the cracked ground, his implant burnt out and lifeless. He gasped for breath, his hands clawing at his head as he tried to will his powers back—but there was nothing left.“No…” Marcus muttered, eyes wide with horror. “This can’t be happening… I built this empire… I was supposed to rule…”Darius wasn’t faring any better. His crimson implant had crumbled into dust, and without its enhancements, his body felt weak, frail. He stumbled to his knees, staring at Kian in disbelief.Kian turned to Elena and Selene, his gaze steady. “It’s done. The System belongs to the people again.”Elena’s implant flickered, then settled into a stable glow. She exhaled,

The ruins trembled beneath their feet as the mist recoiled, twisting and writhing like a wounded beast. The figures within the darkness didn’t retreat, nor did they attack again immediately. They simply watched.Kian felt their gaze, heavy and expectant. His implant pulsed erratically, still reacting to the strange energy emanating from them. He knew this wasn’t over.Elena tugged at his arm. “We need to move. Now.”Selene was already ahead, scanning the broken structures around them. “There’s an old underground network beneath this place. If we can find an access point, we might be able to shake them off.”Marcus, still on his knees, let out a bitter laugh. “You think you can run from them? They don’t need to chase you. They just need to wait.”Kian shot him a glare. “Then you better hope we figure out a way to stop them before they take everything—including you.”Marcus hesitated before forcing himself to his feet. His implant was still flickering weakly, and the exhaustion on his f

The air inside the bunker was thick with tension, the echoes of the mysterious message still lingering in the dimly lit space. Kian stood frozen, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just seen.He wasn’t just another System user.He wasn’t a mere anomaly.He was the key—to freedom or destruction.His implant continued to pulse violently, feeding him fragmented images from a past he barely remembered. Restraints. A cold operating table. Wires digging into his skin. Voices arguing over his fate."He's dangerous.""He’s unstable—""If we let him reach his full potential—"Kian pressed a hand against his temple, suppressing the surge of memories before they overwhelmed him. He could feel the System itself trembling beneath his skin, as if it recognized him, as if it had been waiting.Elena took a cautious step forward. “Kian… what did you see?”His throat was dry. “Everything.”Selene, still seated at the control panel, was scanning through decrypted files. Her eyes darted

Kian's breath came in sharp bursts as he sprinted through the underground tunnels, his team close behind. The echoes of the last battle still thrummed in his veins, the whispers clawing at the edges of his mind."Finish him.""Take what is yours."He shook his head, forcing the voices back into the depths where they belonged.Elena was still gripping his wrist, her fingers tight, as if afraid that if she let go, he’d slip away into something darker. Selene led the way, her wrist interface glowing faintly as she scanned for an exit.Behind them, Marcus kept pace effortlessly. “I have to say, Kian, that was the most fun I’ve had in a while. You sure you don’t want to go back and finish him off?”Kian shot him a glare. “Not now.”Marcus smirked. “That’s not a no.”Before Kian could respond, Selene held up a hand. “Stop.”The group skidded to a halt.Ahead, the tunnel split into three different passageways, each disappearing into darkness.Selene frowned. “These tunnels weren’t on the ori

Kian felt the weight of his mother’s words settle deep within him. A hidden sector within the System? A place untouched by the Federation’s control? It sounded impossible. And yet, everything about his life had been impossible until now.His mind churned through the implications. If such a place existed, why hadn’t the Forgotten Ones used it before? Why had his father died before reaching it?Selene crossed her arms. “Let’s assume this place is real. How do we even get there? The Federation has locked down every known transport hub. They’re hunting us.”Kian’s mother Seraphina Arlen tilted her head, golden eyes gleaming in the dim light. “The path isn’t through the Federation’s networks. It’s beneath them.”A silence settled over the room.Marcus let out a low chuckle. “Oh, this just keeps getting better. We’re going underground now? What is this, some ancient rebellion prophecy?”Seraphina didn’t even blink. “Close.”Kian stepped forward, focusing on her. “Explain.”His mother turned