Stand back! I need space!" you shouted, raising the staff.
Energy pulsed. Algorithm Shift!
The world distorted. In an instant, you reappeared ten meters away, near the ruins of the Portal/Generator. The colossal, furious Armored Gorilla lost focus for a moment, forced to readjust its attack.
"Lena! Now! Find the flaw!"
Fueled by combat adrenaline, Lena activated her mind. Flow Analysis!
She no longer saw a monster, but an incomplete project. Energy flowed through the metal like lines of code. "Kael! The weak point is the energy core at the back of the neck! It's the last weld! It's exposed! And… it only moves in straight lines, it can't turn quickly!"
The Gorilla locked onto you again. Roaring, it charged straight ahead, arm raised to crush you. The hangar burned with blue and green flames, the heat suffocating. Five meters. The impact would be fatal.
You waited until the very limit. The code unraveled before the colossal shadow. At the last instant, you channeled again: Algorithm Shift!
You vanished. The monster couldn't stop its advance. The impact against the Generator's wreckage was devastating. Its metallic arm became trapped in twisted debris. A roar of frustration echoed through the hangar.
The Gorilla was immobilized for a moment. From the flank, Dorian acted. His arrow carried the last Explosive prepared by Jax. With his Optimization, the aim was flawless.
The arrow cut through the burning air and struck the creature's exposed core. "Now, Kael!"
You channeled energy. Initial Flame!
The pulse hit the arrow. The Explosive detonated at the weakest point. There was no fire, only a blinding blue light. The Gorilla's system overloaded. The lines of code across its armor flared and went dark.
The giant fell with a thunderous crash.
The hangar burned. The Engineers were deactivated. The Portal destroyed. The Gorilla slain. The mission of destruction was a complete success.
But the patrols were returning. Eight Demons were seconds away. "Retreat!" you ordered.
You fled the burning hangar. With a final gesture, Jax hurled his axe into a pile of tools and scrap, spreading the fire further. The Hub became a beacon of chaos, smoke, and scorched code.
Dorian led the escape, his perception guiding the group along safe routes, away from panicked Demons who attacked each other.
You marched through the night without rest. Exhausted, but victorious.
At dawn, you reached the Blue River Outpost. Alaric and Master Elson awaited. The Captain saw smoke on the horizon. "You did it!" he cried, embracing Lena.
You, Kael, were drained, but the satisfaction was immense. Tactical victory had been delivered. Alaric looked at you, his voice heavy with hope. "Kael, you saved us. Not just the base, but our hope. The Cyber Demons are disorganized along the Imperial Road. We have time."
With relief from victory and the Hub burning on the horizon, the camp entered a tense truce. The silence of night felt heavier, as if the world awaited the next step.
By late afternoon, you found Lena near the communal fire, but in a more isolated spot. She sharpened her dagger, the blade reflecting the flames. The adrenaline of battle and the shock of awakening her magic still glimmered in her eyes.
You sat beside her. "You were brilliant, Lena," you said, breaking the silence. "The Static Wave saved us in the hangar."
Lena smiled. A weary but genuine smile. "I never knew my mind could do that. It's frightening, but… powerful. Thank you for pushing me. Without you, I'd still just be Alaric's assistant."
She sheathed the dagger and turned to you. Her eyes sought yours, with an intensity beyond tactical gratitude. "You're not from here, are you? You understand the rules of this world in a way no one else does. You're… different."
You ran your hand along the staff, feeling the spear tip Jax and Garin had added — a symbol of your dual nature. "I am a Rewriter Arcanist. My destiny is to fix this world. And yours, from what I saw today, is to help me."
Lena rested her head on your shoulder, gazing at the starry Blue River sky. "If your destiny is to fix, and mine is to help… then we'll have to stay close, Kael."
Over the next two days, you focused on stability. Isolating yourself, you meditated intensely, allowing the system to complete regeneration. Then, you summoned Master Elson and Captain Alaric to plan the march toward the Abandoned Transmission Tower.
Alaric spoke urgently: "Kael, now that the Demons are in panic, we have at most a week of peace. We must act quickly. How many soldiers will you take on this long and dangerous journey?"
You reinforced your strategy. "The Hub attack proved it: agility and discretion are our only defense. The caravan will consist only of me, Lena, Dorian, and Jax. The rest of the combat force stays here."
Turning to Alaric and Elson, you concluded: "Captain, you are the strongest defense of the base. Elson, your organization is crucial. You must protect the fortress and integrate the new survivors. The journey to Synthralis is ours. We cannot risk all our resources."
Elson, with his management skills, organized supplies for the long journey. He ensured the team had:
Concentrated rations for two months of travel.
Detailed maps from Dorian, marking the Transmission Tower, the Data Desert, and Synapse Capital.
A repair kit from Jax and Garin, including spare parts for equipment upgrades.
Result: The strike team — Kael, Lena, Dorian, and Jax — was ready to depart. The rear guard was secure and informed.
The end of the week's truce arrived. The sky above Blue River was dark, but the promise of a better future drove the team forward. Alaric faced them, firm, but with hope in his eyes. "Go. And bring back the solution to this nightmare.