Cyrus's fingers tightened instinctively around the tiny white crystal.
For a brief moment, the deafening gunfire surrounding him seemed to fade into the background. The screams of the infected, the thunder of machine guns, the grinding rumble of armored vehicles crushing debris beneath reinforced tires, all of it became distant noise compared to the words that had just echoed inside his mind.
[ Suitable Energy Signature Detected.]
The crystal resting in his bloodstained palm appeared almost insignificant. It was no larger than a pinky finger, smooth and milky white, resembling an ordinary piece of quartz that could be found in any rocky hillside. Yet Noah had reacted to it.
"Commander!"
Berscar climbed halfway out of the command vehicle and was staring toward him in confusion, but Cyrus ignored him completely.
His entire focus remained locked on Noah.
"Are you certain?" he asked inwardly.
Despite maintaining a calm expression externally, his heartbeat had accelerated.
