The three figures had no faction tags.
'Those aren't players… or NPCs.'
The guard noticed his gaze. "Sir? What is it—"
One of the black-clad figures jumped from the catwalk and landed directly in their path.
The Evil squad aimed their rifles instantly, screaming:
"INTRUDER!"
"WHAT IS THAT—"
"WHO ARE—"
The intruder flickered.
Literally flickered.
Its body split into a dozen holographic projections as the bullets passed through empty air. The projections moved around Xavier, circling him in a ghostly dance, then collapsed into a single point directly behind him—
And vanished.
The squad froze.
Xavier exhaled as he read the text that appeared on his HUD. "Hologram decoys. Red herrings."
"WHAT DOES THAT EVEN—"
Another explosion shook the hallway — the Juggernauts had breached the inner ring.
"THEY'RE IN— HEROIC IS IN THE COURTYARD—"
"FALL BACK! FALL BACK NOW—"
The fanboy grabbed Xavier's wrist again. "We need to get you to Core Room— now!"
