The city’s skyline loomed overhead as Lucas and Wren approached the spire. Its jagged, metallic surface glinted under the pale moonlight, reaching toward the heavens like a dark needle, threading its way through the night. The hum of the threads was louder now, an almost deafening resonance that vibrated through Lucas’s bones, pulling him closer to the spire with an undeniable force.

“This place is suffocating,” Wren muttered, her eyes scanning the perimeter. “It’s like the very air is charged with the threads.”

Lucas nodded but didn’t speak. His mind was lost in the hum, his connection to the threads deepening with each passing second. He could feel them pushing and pulling at him, desperate to be understood. But there was something else in the air—something far more ominous than he had anticipated. It was a presence, a dark, consuming force that seemed to be waiting for them at the spire’s heart.

“Stay focused,” Wren warned, pulling Lucas out of his trance. “We’re not here to be overwhelmed by the threads. We’re here to stop NexTech.”

He snapped out of it, forcing himself to concentrate. “Right,” he said, gritting his teeth. “We move in fast. No distractions.”

They approached the spire’s entrance, the massive doors slowly creaking open as if welcoming them. The interior was dim, the walls lined with conduits that pulsed with strange energy. The air was thick with the faint scent of ozone, the power of the Core just beneath the surface, like a sleeping giant.

Suddenly, the sharp clang of metal echoed through the hall as NexTech soldiers emerged from the shadows, their black armor gleaming. Drones hovered above, their scanning beams cutting through the darkness.

“Get ready,” Wren said, drawing her blade. “It’s time to move.”

Without a word, Lucas extended his gauntlet, summoning the threads to his side. This time, he didn’t fight against them. He welcomed them, letting the energy flow through him. With a surge of power, the threads wrapped around his arm like an extension of his own body, their form shifting and reshaping with each passing moment. He could feel them, alive and responsive to his will.

Wren launched herself into the fray, her blade cutting through the air with precision, taking down one soldier after another. Lucas followed suit, his movements quick and fluid as the threads twisted and lashed out, striking with deadly accuracy.

As they fought their way deeper into the spire, the threads responded to their every action, their energy building and thrumming with intensity. But something felt wrong. The deeper they went, the more the threads seemed to resist, pushing against their control as if the spire itself was fighting back.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“I don’t like this,” Lucas muttered under his breath, dodging a drone’s blast. “The threads are... off. They’re not acting like they should.”

Wren didn’t have time to respond. The deeper they went, the more the soldiers poured out of the walls, their weapons crackling with energy. It was clear now: NexTech was prepared for them. They weren’t just guarding the Core—they were waiting for them to arrive.

And then, the unmistakable sound of a voice echoed through the hallway—a voice that made Lucas’s blood run cold.

“Well, well, well,” the voice purred, rich with malice. “If it isn’t the little puppet who thinks he can control the threads.”

Lucas’s heart raced as the figure stepped into the dim light, its form shrouded in shadow. It was tall, its body encased in dark armor, the edges of its form flickering in and out of focus as if it wasn’t entirely solid. The Voidwalker. The very presence he had sensed earlier.

“No,” Lucas breathed, his mind racing. “You’re not real.”

The Voidwalker’s twisted grin spread wider, its eyes glowing with an eerie, unnatural light. “Oh, I’m very real, Lucas. And I’ve been waiting for you.”

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Back in the Nexus...

Elena, Kael, and Lily were racing through the tunnels beneath the city, their feet pounding against the cold metal floors as alarms blared overhead. The sounds of explosions reverberated through the passageways, the walls shaking with each blast.

“We’re almost there,” Kael shouted, his voice strained with urgency. “Once we reach the spire, we need to act fast.”

Lily’s hand gripped her glowing blade tighter. “What are the odds of getting in unnoticed?”

“Not good,” Kael said grimly. “NexTech is all over the place. But we have to try. If we don’t stop them, we risk losing everything.”

Elena nodded, her jaw set in determination. “Then we make sure they don’t see us coming.”

They rounded a corner, and ahead, the spire loomed in the distance, towering above them. But before they could reach it, the floor beneath their feet trembled, and the ground erupted in a shower of sparks. The ceiling above them cracked open as soldiers dropped down from the shadows, weapons raised.

“Ambush!” Kael yelled, pulling out a sleek energy rifle.

“We’ve got no choice,” Elena said, her eyes blazing. “We fight our way through.”

With a fierce battle cry, the three of them engaged the soldiers, their weapons clashing with NexTech’s forces as the sound of combat echoed through the underground hallways.

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Back at the Spire...

Lucas took a step back, his hand trembling as he faced the Voidwalker. “What do you want?”

The Voidwalker’s laugh was a chilling sound, hollow and empty. “I want the threads, Lucas. All of them. And I’m willing to destroy anyone who stands in my way to get them.”

Wren’s eyes narrowed as she stepped forward, her blade raised. “Not if we have anything to say about it.”

The Voidwalker’s grin widened, its form flickering as if it was becoming more solid. “Then you’ll die for your rebellion.”

Lucas clenched his fists, feeling the threads respond to his will once again, their power surging through him. The Voidwalker may have thought it could control the threads, but it was about to learn that Lucas was no longer the puppet.

The battle for the spire had only just begun.