The path to Eden Tower was never meant to be walked.
It was controlled.
Monitored.
Owned.
From the Undercity depths to the gleaming upper sectors, every layer of Neo-Eden was segmented—like a vertical hierarchy carved into steel and light.
And right now—
Every level was on alert.
"Okay," Flare muttered, fingers flying across a holographic interface as they moved through a narrow maintenance corridor.
"Soooo, bad news first?"
Raika didn't slow her pace.
"…there's good news?"
Flare winced.
"Ehhhh…we're trending."
Zora glanced at her.
"…what?"
Flare flicked her wrist—
A screen projected in front of them.
Security feeds.
Dozens of them.
Every single one showed Zora.
Fight footage.
Energy bursts.
Aurora-IX's collapse.
"…they're broadcasting this?" Zora asked quietly.
Raika's expression hardened.
"…no."
A beat.
"…they're studying you."
Flare nodded.
"Yeah, and also—minor detail—every Valkyr unit in the city is being redirected to intercept us."
Zora sighed.
"…figured."
Flare swiped again.
The screen zoomed upward—
Toward the center of the city.
Eden Tower.
A massive spire of white and gold, piercing through the clouds.
Its surface pulsed faintly—like it was alive.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…and we're going there," Flare added.
Raika finally stopped walking.
She turned to Zora.
"…once we reach the upper sectors, there's no cover."
Zora shrugged slightly.
"…there hasn't been any so far."
Raika held her gaze.
"…this is different."
A pause.
"…they'll send elites."
Flare smirked faintly.
"… then let them."
Raika glanced at her.
"…you're too confident."
Flare tapped her temple.
"…I hacked half their infrastructure in ten minutes."
Then she pointed at Zora.
"…and she broke a High Council enforcer."
Then at Raika.
"Let's not forget that you practically turned against your own bosses."
She grinned.
"…I say we're doing great."
Zora didn't smile.
Her eyes were distant.
"…I didn't break it."
Raika noticed.
"…what do you mean?"
Zora hesitated.
"…when I touched it…"
She clenched her hand slightly.
"…it felt like… opening something."
Flare tilted her head.
"…opening?"
Zora nodded slowly.
"…like it was already connected to me."
Silence.
Raika exhaled.
"…then Eden isn't just targeting you."
Zora looked up.
"…it's recognizing you."
The corridor door ahead slid open.
Bright light flooded in.
They stepped out—
And everything changed.
The Upper Sector was pristine.
Clean.
Perfect.
White architecture.
Golden lines of energy running through the streets.
Floating platforms gliding silently above.
No rust.
No decay.
No chaos.
It felt… artificial.
Flare squinted.
"…Ughhhh, I hate it already."
Raika scanned the area.
"…stay alert."
Too late.
"Targets acquired."
The voice echoed from above.
Zora looked up.
And saw them.
Five Valkyr units.
But not standard.
Their armor was sleeker.
More refined.
White and gold instead of dark tactical plating.
Energy signatures pulsing stronger.
Sharper.
"…elite division," Raika muttered.
Flare groaned.
"…of course they have a premium version."
The lead Valkyr raised her weapon.
"…Zora Voss. You are to be secured immediately."
Zora stepped forward.
"…you can try."
The air tightened.
Then—
They attacked.
BOOM—!
The ground shattered as one Valkyr slammed down in front of Zora.
Another flanked from the side—
Two more moved behind—
Perfect formation.
Raika reacted instantly.
"…they're coordinating—!"
Zora ducked—
A blade sliced through the air above her—
She countered—
A punch—
Blocked.
The Valkyr didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
"…stronger," Zora muttered.
"Adaptive units," Raika called out. "They're reading your movements in real time—!"
"Cool!" Flare shouted, ducking behind cover as a blast tore past her. "Love that for us!"
Akira shifted her stance.
Focused.
"…then I'll just be unpredictable."
She moved—
Faster than before—
But the Valkyr adjusted instantly.
Blocking.
Countering.
Adapting.
"…they're syncing with each other," Raika realized.
Flare's fingers flew.
"…yeah, shared neural link— just give me a second—!"
A Valkyr lunged at her—
"HEY—!"
Raika intercepted—
Her gauntlet clashed against the Valkyr's blade—
CRACK—!!
Raika held her ground—
But barely.
"…they've enhanced output," she gritted.
The Valkyr pressed harder—
Zora appeared beside them—
A burst of violet energy—
BOOM—!!
The Valkyr was sent flying—
Crashing into a nearby structure.
"…thanks," Raika muttered.
Zora didn't respond.
Her eyes were locked forward.
"…they're not the problem."
Flare froze.
"…what do you mean—?"
The air shifted.
A familiar pressure.
Heavier.
Sharper.
More controlled.
"…no way," Flare whispered.
A figure stepped forward—
From the center of the formation.
White-black armor.
Now different.
Upgraded.
More refined.
More dangerous.
Energy veins pulsed brighter along the surface.
She had gotten a new mechanical arm which allowed her to make constructs much easily—
Now fully integrated—
Glowing with a deep red core.
Black hair flowing behind her.
Eyes colder than before.
Commander Seraphine Veyra.
"…I see you've improved," she said calmly.
Zora smirked faintly.
"…Same goes for you too."
Seraphine stepped forward.
The elite Valkyr units pulled back slightly—
Creating space.
"…this time," Seraphine continued, "I won't underestimate you."
Zora rolled her neck slightly.
"…good."
Raika moved to step in—
"Don't," Zora said.
Raika paused.
"…she's not alone."
"I know."
Zora's eyes glowed faintly.
"…but this is mine."
Seraphine raised her arm.
The new blade formed—
Larger.
Sharper.
Unstable in a controlled way.
"…engage."
They moved.
Faster than before.
The clash detonated the ground beneath them.
Zora blocked—
But the force pushed her back immediately.
"…stronger," she muttered.
Seraphine didn't respond.
She pressed forward—
Relentless.
Every strike heavier.
Every movement tighter.
Zora dodged—
Countered—
But Seraphine adapted.
"…your patterns haven't changed," Seraphine said.
Zora smirked.
"…then I'll change them."
Her energy flared—
She vanished—
Reappeared behind—
Struck—
Seraphine blocked—
Without turning.
"…predictable."
Zora's eyes widened slightly.
Seraphine countered—
A direct hit—
BOOM—!
Zora was sent crashing across the street—
Rolling hard before slamming into a barrier.
"…ZORA!" Flare shouted.
Raika clenched her fists—
But held position.
"…trust her," she muttered.
Zora pushed herself up.
Blood trailing down her chin, nose and forehead.
"…okay…"
She wiped the blood at her chin away.
"…that one hurt."
Seraphine approached slowly.
"…you rely too much on raw output."
Zora laughed faintly.
"…and you rely too much on control."
A pause.
"…let's fix that."
Her energy shifted again.
Not exploding—
Not wild—
But… sharper.
More precise.
Raika noticed immediately.
"…she's adapting…"
Flare grinned.
"…oh, this is gonna be good."
Zora stepped forward.
This time—
When they clashed—
The impact didn't explode.
It focused.
A concentrated shockwave—
Seraphine's footing shifted.
Just slightly.
Her eyes narrowed.
"…improvement."
Zora smirked.
"…told you."
They moved again—
Faster.
Cleaner.
Deadlier.
Around them—
Raika and Flare held off the remaining Valkyr units—
Raika fighting with calculated precision—
Breaking their formation piece by piece—
Flare disrupting their sync—
Forcing errors—
Creating openings—
But the real battle—
Was at the center.
Zora vs Seraphine.
Control vs Chaos.
System vs Anomaly.
And for the first time—
They were evenly matched.
High above—
Eden Tower pulsed.
Watching.
Calculating.
Waiting.