The city never truly slept.
Even after the chaos.
Even after all the explosions.
Even after something impossible tore through its streets.
Neo-Eden adapted.
It always did.
But tonight…
Something remained.
A disturbance in the current.
A glitch that hadn't and should've been erased.
Deep beneath the glowing skyline—
Far below the polished towers and surveillance grids—
There was a different world.
A forgotten one.
Rust layered the walls.
Exposed pipes hissed with leaking steam.
Flickering lights buzzed overhead like dying insects. The smell of old scraps and metal filled the air.
This was the Undercity.
Where the system didn't bother looking.
Where broken things went to survive.
"…you seriously live here?"
Flare's voice echoed as she kicked aside a loose metal panel
.
She glanced around with exaggerated disgust.
"I mean, I respect the whole uhhh... 'aesthetic decay' vibe, but wow."
Zora sat against a wall nearby, her head lowered.
Her breathing had stabilized—but barely.
"…not by choice," she muttered.
Flare turned back to her, crouching down.
"Okay, so let's recap."
She raised a finger.
"You go full apocalypse mode, almost vaporize a high-ranking commander—"
Another finger.
"—then start talking like a corrupted AI—"
Third finger.
"—and now you're acting like it's just another Tuesday."
Zora didn't respond immediately.
Her gaze stayed fixed on the ground.
"…I don't remember all of it."
Flare blinked.
"…that's not comforting."
"I remember the fight," Zora continued quietly. "Then… voices."
She clenched her fist slightly.
"…and something calling me a 'host.'"
Flare's expression shifted.
Less playful now.
More focused.
"…yeah."
She sat back, exhaling.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
Zora looked up.
"Wait…you know something."
Flare hesitated.
For once.
"…I know of it," she said slowly.
She tapped her temple.
"The Eden Core isn't just a power source. It's a system. A thinking one."
Zora's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…go on."
Flare leaned forward.
"After the incident—the whole 'men disappearing overnight' thing—the Core didn't shut down."
She gestured upward, toward the city above.
"It adapted. It started… managing things."
"Managing?" Zora echoed.
"Population control. Resource distribution. Surveillance. Even Aether Sync regulation."
Flare's voice dropped slightly.
"…it decides what's stable."
Zora's chest tightened.
"…and what's not."
Flare nodded.
"…yeah."
A silence settled between them.
Heavy.
"…so what am I?" Zora asked.
Flare opened her mouth—
But didn't answer.
Instead—
A sharp click echoed through the corridor.
Both of them froze.
Akira's head snapped up.
"…we're not alone."Flare slowly stood.
"…yeah, I kinda figured."
She raised her wrist—holographic screens flickering to life.
"…multiple heat signatures."
Footsteps approached.
Slow.
Measured.
Not rushed.
Not panicked.
Someone confident.
From the shadows—
A figure stepped forward.
Black cropped armored jacket with with blue lines, High-slit combat skirt over fitted shorts and leg mounted thrusters.
Compact.
Efficient.
Armored gauntlets humming with low energy output.
Long white hair with neon blue tips.
A thin bandage running across her cheek.
Her eyes were sharp.
Calculating.
"…you shouldn't be here," she said.
Zora pushed herself to her feet.
Ignoring the dull ache in her body.
"…could say the same to you."
Flare leaned slightly toward Zora.
"…friend of yours?"
"…no."
The girl's gaze flicked between them.
Analyzing.
"…you're the anomaly."
Zora didn't flinch.
"…and you're?"
A brief pause.
"…Raika Thorn."
Flare whispered under her breath:
"…oh shit, that's not good."
Zora didn't look away.
"Ummm…should I know that name?"
Raika stepped forward.
"…Valkyr Unit. Tactical Division."
Flare groaned softly.
"…yeah, I called it, we're screwed."
Zora's stance shifted slightly.
"…you here to arrest me?"
Raika didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes lingered on Zora.
Longer than expected.
"…I was."
That made Zora pause.
"…was?"
Raika's gaze sharpened.
"…but after what you did up there…"
A faint flicker of something crossed her expression.
"…this isn't a standard operation anymore."
Flare raised a hand.
"Cool, great, love that—so what now? You planning to kill us slower? Give us a painful death huh?"
Raika ignored her.
"…you're unstable."
She looked directly at Zora.
"…and dangerous."
Zora smirked faintly.
"…you're not wrong."
Raika's gauntlets powered slightly.
"…so I need to decide."
Zora tilted her head.
"…decide what?"
Raika's voice lowered.
"…whether you're a threat to eliminate…"
A pause.
"…or something worth understanding."
Flare blinked.
"…oh. That's new."
Zora stepped forward slightly.
"…and what's your answer?"
Raika didn't respond.
Instead—
She moved.
Fast.
Her fist shot forward—
Not at Zora
At Flare.
"HEY—?!"
Zora reacted instantly.
She intercepted—
Blocking the strike with her arm.
CRACK—!
The impact sent a shock through both of them.
Raika's eyes widened slightly.
"…fast."
Zora pushed her back.
"…don't touch her."
Flare blinked.
"…wow. That was weirdly protective."
Raika reset her stance.
"…reflex confirmed."
Zora narrowed her eyes.
"Are…you testing me right now?"
"…yes."
A beat.
"…rude," Flare muttered.
Raika exhaled slowly.
"…you're holding back."
Zora's expression darkened slightly.
"…you don't want to see the alternative."
Raika's gaze didn't waver.
"…I do."
Silence.
Tense.
Electric.
Then—
Zora moved first.
She closed the distance instantly—
A punch aimed at Raika's center mass—
Raika blocked—
But Zora followed up faster this time—
A sweep—
A feint—
Then a knee strike—
Raika countered—precise, controlled.
Every movement efficient.
Minimal wasted motion.
Unlike Seraphine—
Raika fought differently.
Less overwhelming.
More tactical.
She adapted.
Quickly.
Zora soon noticed.
"…you're analyzing me."
"…yes."
Raika dodged another strike.
"…and you're unstable."
Zora clicked her tongue.
"…you keep saying that."
She pushed harder.
Faster.
Raika blocked—
But this time—
She slid back slightly.
"…output increasing…"
Flare watched from the side, typing rapidly on her interface.
"…okay, yeah, this is bad—your energy spikes every time you get emotional—"
"Not helping!" Zora snapped.
Raika used the distraction—
She moved in—
A clean strike—
THUD.
Zora took the hit—
Staggered—
But didn't fall.
Instead—
Her eyes flickered.
"…don't."
The air warped again.
Flare froze.
"…oh no."
Raika's expression hardened.
"…there it is."
Zora's energy surged—
Unstable.
Wild.
"…I said…"
Her voice cracked slightly.
"…don't push me."
The lights flickered again.
Even down here.
High above—
Inside Eden Tower—
The Higher Ups stood in silence.
Watching.
"…the signal has returned," one said.
Another tilted her head slightly.
"…stronger than before."
A third spoke.
Cold.
Final.
"…initiate direct intervention."
Back in the Undercity—
Raika stepped back slightly.
Not in fear.
In calculation.
"…if you lose control here," she said calmly, "this entire sector collapses."
Zora's breathing grew heavier.
"…then stop me."
Raika's gaze sharpened.
"…if necessary."
Flare stepped between them suddenly.
"OKAY—NOPE—TIME OUT!"
Both of them paused.
Flare threw her hands up.
"Can we NOT trigger another damn city-wide explosion?! I literally just got here!"
Zora's energy flickered.
Unstable.
Raika didn't lower her guard.
"…move."
Flare shook her head.
"Ummm, is it me or do you not understand english?! Nope. Not happening."
She pointed at Zora.
"She's gonna lose control—"
Then at Raika.
"And you're gonna respond with 'tactical violence'—"
She clapped her hands.
"Which equals everyone dies. Really Bad plan you guys."
A pause.
"…so what's your plan?" Raika asked.
Flare grinned slightly.
"Simple…I hack the problem."
Zora blinked.
"…what?"
Before either could react—
Flare moved behind Zora—
Placed a small device on the back of her neck—
"Hold still—!"
"Flare—?!"
The device activated.
ZZZT—!
Zora gasped—
Her body locking up—
"…what did you—?!"
"Temporary neural dampener!" Lyra said quickly. "It should stabilize your sync—hopefully—maybe—"
"…MAYBE?!"
The energy around Zora flickered violently—
Then—
Collapsed.
Silence.
Zora's knees gave out—
Raika caught her.
"…careless," she muttered.
Flare exhaled.
"…no, that was genius. I'm calling it genius."
Raika looked down at Zora.
Her expression unreadable.
"…she's not normal."
Flare crossed her arms.
"Yeah, we've established that."
Raika looked back at her.
"…and you're helping her."
Flare shrugged.
"Well…kinda seems more interesting than not helping her."
A pause.
Raika exhaled slowly.
"…then I'm coming with you."
Flare blinked.
"…wait, what?"
Zora, barely conscious, muttered:
"…great… another one…"
Raika stood.
"…if the Higher Ups are moving directly…"
Her gaze hardened.
"…then this is no longer just an arrest mission."
Flare tilted her head.
"…you're turning on them?"
Raika didn't answer immediately.
"…I'm choosing to understand the threat."
Flare smirked.
"…yeah. You're definitely joining us."
Above them—
The city lights flickered again.
Something was coming.
Something bigger.
And for the first time—
The Higher Ups were no longer watching from afar.
They were stepping in.