> [Location: High-Altitude Escape Pod — En Route to Unknown Safe Zone]
[System Status: Stabilizing]
[Crew Vitals: Stable]
The escape pod streaked through the night sky, a silver streak leaving the smoldering ruins of NovaCore far behind.
Inside, silence reigned.
Arin sat against the cold metallic wall, his breathing ragged, Pulse core flickering faintly.
Lyra: "Pulse levels holding… barely."
Elira stood by the viewport, her expression unreadable.
"It's not over," she said quietly.
"Nyros' last words — whatever he unleashed… it's awake now."
---
> [Incoming Transmission Detected]
Origin: Unknown
Encryption: Tier Omega
The pod's holo-terminal blinked.
Lyra: "Who the hell…? We're off-grid."
The message decrypted itself without permission.
A shimmering, faceless hologram appeared.
"Arin Verma."
Arin narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
"A friend," the figure replied.
"One of the few left. Listen carefully — what you destroyed wasn't NovaCore's only site. Project Xeno-Soul… extends far beyond."
Elira: "How many more?"
The figure hesitated.
"Enough to end nations. Enough to erase humanity's control over its future."
Arin's jaw tightened.
"Where's the next one?"
"Coordinates are being transmitted. But know this — now that Nyros is gone, another will rise to claim the Nexus Mantle."
> [Coordinates Received]
Location: Sector-7 Blackout Zone, Northern Wastes
"We'll be there," Arin promised.
The hologram flickered.
"You've stepped into a war centuries in the making. And you're already on every kill list there is. Move fast. Stay hidden. Trust no one."
The message cut off.
---
> [System Update]
New Quest Chain Unlocked: "Ashen Nexus"
Primary Objective: Locate and Neutralize Sector-7 Core Facility
Secondary Objective: Investigate Nexus Mantle Succession
Time Limit: None
Lyra: "Another underground Nexus… in the Northern Wastes. That's suicide."
Elira: "We've done worse."
Arin grinned, despite the pain.
"Let them come. I'm not running anymore."
---
As the pod descended toward a distant horizon, the sky ahead shimmered — not with sunlight, but with Pulse storms raging over desolate lands.
Somewhere out there… the next chapter waited.
And this time, Arin wasn't going in as a student.
He was going as a hunter.
---
To be continued…