The light spread faster than thought.
Lines of energy shot across the plaza, sealing every exit in a perfect circular boundary. The moment the last path closed, a low hum filled the air—deep, constant, unavoidable.
The anchor was active.
Fully.
Lena spun around, scanning the edges.
"No way out," she said.
Kalen tested one of the glowing barriers with the tip of his blade. The moment it touched, a sharp pulse forced him back.
"Not unless we want to lose a hand," he muttered.
Aran didn't move.
His eyes were fixed on the tower.
Because it wasn't just active.
It was waiting.
The voice echoed again—stronger now, more present.
"ANCHOR ONE: PRIMARY KEY DETECTED."
Lena froze.
"…That's you."
Aran didn't deny it.
"I know."
The ground beneath him lit up in response, forming a direct path toward the base of the tower. Not forced. Not aggressive.
Inviting.
Kalen exhaled slowly.
"Every time something invites you, it ends badly."
Aran almost smiled faintly.
"Not every time," he said.
A pause.
"Just most of them."
Lena stepped in front of him again.
"No," she said firmly. "We stop, we think, we don't walk straight into another system trap."
Aran looked at her.
And for a moment, the old hesitation almost came back.
But only for a moment.
"Lena," he said quietly, "this isn't a trap anymore."
A pause.
"It's already happening."
The tower pulsed again.
Stronger.
The patterns on its surface accelerated, forming vertical streams of light rising into the sky.
Above them, the air distorted slightly.
Like reality bending under pressure.
Kalen looked up.
"…That's not normal."
Aran nodded.
"No," he said. "That's connection."
The ground trembled again.
This time, not from beneath.
From alignment.
The anchor was linking to something else.
Somewhere else.
Lena looked between Aran and the tower.
"So what do we do?" she asked.
Aran stepped forward.
"We interrupt it," he said.
Kalen frowned.
"Interrupt how?"
Aran pointed toward the center platform beneath the tower.
"That's the control point," he said.
A pause.
"And it needs me."
Lena's jaw tightened.
"And what happens to you when you get there?"
Aran didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth was already clear.
The system wouldn't just respond.
It would use him.
But if he didn't go—
It would continue anyway.
Worse.
Unchecked.
"I don't know," he said finally.
Kalen stepped closer.
"That's not reassuring."
Aran nodded slightly.
"I know."
Another pulse hit the plaza.
This time, something changed.
Figures began to appear along the edges of the barrier.
Not civilians.
Not random.
Cloaked.
Dozens of them.
Standing still.
Watching.
Lena raised her blade instantly.
"They're waiting," she said.
Kalen's eyes narrowed.
"No," he corrected.
"They're making sure we don't leave."
Aran stepped onto the glowing path.
The moment he did—
The entire anchor responded.
The tower brightened.
The hum deepened.
And the sky above fractured slightly with visible lines of energy stretching outward.
Lena cursed under her breath.
"You really don't do things halfway, do you?"
Aran didn't look back.
"Not anymore," he replied.
Kalen followed him closely.
"Well, if this goes wrong, I'm blaming both of you."
Lena moved beside them.
"If this goes wrong, there won't be anyone left to blame."
They reached the center platform.
The light beneath their feet intensified, forming a circular pattern identical to the one Aran had seen beneath Ravak.
The same system.
The same logic.
Just closer to the surface.
The voice returned.
Clear. Direct.
"PRIMARY KEY REQUIRED FOR FULL SYNCHRONIZATION."
Aran stepped into the center.
The moment he did—
The platform locked.
The light surged upward.
And the anchor began its final phase.
Lena moved forward instantly.
"Aran—wait!"
But it was already too late.
The system had engaged.
And this time—
There was no descent.
Only activation.