Back on Earth-749, inside the grand Council Hall,

The Foundation and Jayce were wrapping up their conversation. Just as they were about to part ways, a shimmering rift appeared, illuminating the room with an ethereal glow. From within, Agent Jonesy stepped through, his casual demeanor contrasting with the gravity of his arrival.

"You've been gone for quite a while," The Foundation greeted him calmly, his steady gaze never faltering.

Jonesy offered a small grin, brushing off the remark with his usual nonchalance. "Yeah, took a bit longer than expected. What did I miss?"

Jayce, ever the pragmatist, wasted no time with pleasantries. "To keep things short," he began, "your friend here made a diplomacy agreement with us within Piltover."

Jonesy glanced at The Foundation with an impressed smile, nodding approvingly. "Well, look at you, Foundation. Nice work."

But The Foundation remained focused, his mind always on the mission. "What about the allies Cortana told you about?" he asked, his tone firm.

"They seem solid," Jonesy reassured him. "Pretty interesting world too. They've been through a lot. But they'll join us when they're ready."

Jayce, who had been quietly observing the exchange, shifted in his seat. Something about their conversation triggered a deeper question, one that had been gnawing at the back of his mind. He leaned forward slightly, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow.

"Hold on," Jayce said, his curiosity getting the better of him. "I've got a question about the multiverse. Are we... the Original Universe? The one that's supposed to be so important?"

Jonesy and The Foundation exchanged a brief glance, considering the weight of the question. Before Jonesy could respond, The Foundation took the lead.

"No, not exactly," he said, his voice measured.

Jayce's frown deepened. "What do you mean 'not exactly'?"

The Foundation straightened up, his posture rigid with authority. His tone was firm but informative as he explained, "We're in an alternate universe. Not the Original Universe, but one of many that branch off from it. This universe is a safer place for us to operate without risking the collapse of other alternative universes connected to the original."

Jayce absorbed the explanation, understanding now that while their universe was important, it wasn't the core universe holding everything together. But the revelation only sparked more questions in his mind.

"If this isn't the Original Universe," Jayce asked, leaning forward with renewed intensity, "why are you and Jonesy here and not there? Wouldn't it make more sense to protect the core of everything?"

The Foundation, ever patient and prepared for such inquiries, responded calmly. "Operating in the Original Universe could put it in serious danger."

Jayce raised an eyebrow, intrigued but also concerned. "What kind of danger?"

The Foundation paused briefly before answering. "It's something we call the Anchor Universe Theory."

Jayce listened carefully, his mind turning over the possibilities. "The Original Universe serves as a foundational anchor in the multiverse," The Foundation explained. "Any major disruptions—too much interaction, removing key individuals—could destabilize not just the Original Universe but others branched from it. It's like pulling on a thread: tug too hard, and the whole thing unravels. That's why we stay here, in an alternative universe, where the stakes aren't as high. We can operate freely without risking catastrophic ripple effects."

Jayce considered the implications, the weight of the explanation settling heavily over him. He could see the logic behind it, but it didn't ease the growing concern in his mind.

"So, this Anchor Universe Theory," Jayce mused aloud, piecing it together. "Protecting the Original Universe means limiting your presence there. Otherwise, you could cause the very collapse you're trying to prevent."

"Exactly," The Foundation replied. "The multiverse is fragile, and keeping the Original Universe stable is our top priority. That's why we act carefully and remotely."

A sudden realization dawned on Jayce. His eyes widened as he leaned back in his chair, connecting the dots. "Wait a second," he said urgently. "What about the Hextech? If the Rogue AI sees the Original Universe and manages to take the Hextech there, it could destabilize that universe—and us in this one."

The concern in his voice was clear. Hextech was too powerful to leave unprotected, especially with the stakes so high.

The Foundation remained unfazed. He raised a hand, his tone reassuring. "That won't happen. I've already taken steps to prevent it."

Jayce's frown deepened, still unsure. "What steps?"

"I've sent a team to the Original Universe," The Foundation explained, "to place another Reality Cloak device there. The device ensures that the Original Universe—and the Hextech within it—can't be seen or accessed by Cortana or any external threats. The universe is hidden, and the Hextech is safe."

Jayce took a deep breath, slowly nodding as the explanation settled in. He felt a measure of relief, knowing The Foundation had anticipated the threat and acted to protect the Original Universe and its valuable resources. But as always, Jayce's mind never stopped working, never ceased searching for solutions. An idea began to form, and his eyes lit up with sudden inspiration.

"What if I could harness the Reality Cloak?" Jayce asked, leaning forward with renewed energy. "Make the one here the main source, amplify its power... then we could use it to find other Original Universes that need to be hidden from Cortana as well."

Jonesy raised an eyebrow, intrigued but also skeptical. "Do you have the resources to pull that off?" he asked, his voice tinged with doubt.

Jayce nodded confidently, conviction in his voice. "I do. And with Heimerdinger's help, we can make it happen. It'll take time, but we can do it. This isn't just about hiding this universe—it's about ensuring the protection of others out there before that Rogue AI gets to them."

The Foundation listened intently, the wheels of his mind turning as he considered the potential of Jayce's plan. It was ambitious, yes, but with Jayce's reputation as a brilliant scientist and Heimerdinger's expertise, it could redefine their strategy for defending the multiverse. He nodded thoughtfully before offering a suggestion of his own.

"That's a solid idea," The Foundation agreed. "Jonesy and I can find people who already have the knowledge to work with a device like this. That way, we can speed up the process and get it done faster."

Jayce's eyes brightened at the prospect. "Good point. The more experts we can bring in, the faster we can secure these universes."

Agent Jonesy glanced between them, his confidence building. "Sounds like we've got a plan, then."

With Jayce's scientific approach and The Foundation's resources, they had a clear path forward in their efforts to thwart Cortana.

Just as Jonesy was about to speak again, a sudden beep from his device interrupted the conversation. He glanced down, surprise flashing across his face as he examined the alert. Jayce noticed his reaction and raised an eyebrow.

"What's going on with your device?" Jayce asked, curious.

Jonesy pulled the device closer, a hologram of a map projecting an energy reading. His expression turned serious as he analyzed the information. "There's an energy reading... and it's close—right here, in this room."

The three of them looked around the Council Hall, but no one else was present—only the three of them. Jonesy, his focus sharpening, began walking in the direction of the energy reading, scanning the area with intense concentration.

Meanwhile, in another part of the multiverse, Ezio Auditore stood silently in Cortana's world, watching Jonesy, The Foundation, and Jayce approach him. He realized with a thrill of excitement that they might be able to see him. Instead of fleeing, Ezio saw this as an opportunity. He muttered to himself, cautiously optimistic.

"They can see me..." Ezio murmured, a flicker of hope igniting within him.

He raised his voice, calling out. "Hello! Can you hear me?"

As soon as his voice echoed through the hall, Jonesy's device detected a surge in energy. He stared at the spike on the screen, startled. "The energy reading... it's increasing!"

Ezio, noticing that none of them seemed to react to his voice, realized the problem. Frustrated, he muttered under his breath. "They can't hear me."

Determined to make contact, Ezio looked down at his Chrono Amulet. He fiddled with it, adjusting its settings, hoping to enhance its power. Suddenly, his form shifted, and he became visible to Jonesy, The Foundation, and Jayce. The trio reacted with shock, as though they had just seen a ghost.

"What the—?!" Jonesy gasped, taking a step back.

Jayce stared in disbelief. "Is that...?"

Ever cautious, The Foundation immediately drew his weapon, aiming it directly at Ezio. His voice was stern, commanding. "Stay where you are."

Ezio, aware that his adjustments had made him visible, remained calm. His voice echoed with a strange, magical resonance as he spoke. "Can you see me? Can you hear me?"

Jonesy, still shaken, nodded cautiously. "Yes... we can see you... and hear you."

Ezio, impressed by the power of the amulet, regarded it with admiration. "Incredible... this device is more powerful than I imagined."

The Foundation, still aiming his weapon with precision, repeated his warning. "Don't take another step."

Ezio, focused on establishing contact, took a step forward despite the warning. His voice was calm but determined. "Listen, what I am about to tell you is—"

Before he could finish his sentence, The Foundation fired. The shot passed straight through Ezio's body, leaving him unharmed. Startled, Ezio looked down at himself, his surprise quickly turning to frustration. In Italian, he muttered, "Merde... (Shit)!"

Jonesy, equally startled, turned quickly to The Foundation. "Did you get him?"

The Foundation shook his head, his expression slightly confused but calm. "I don't think I did."

Ezio, his voice echoing with frustration, called out again. "What are you doing?!"

The Foundation, blunt as ever, responded without hesitation. "Trying to shoot you."

Ezio exhaled sharply, clearly exasperated but trying to remain calm. "I assure you, I am not a threat."

Jayce, still trying to make sense of what he was seeing, asked hesitantly. "Are you... a ghost?"

Ezio blinked in confusion at the question but quickly shook his head. "What? No, I'm not a ghost. It's... hard to explain."

The Foundation, still not letting his guard down, demanded answers. "Who are you? How did you get here?"

Ezio, realizing the need for clarification, introduced himself with urgency. "My name is Ezio Auditore. I'm from another universe, and I'm currently stuck in a world that Cortana has created."

Jayce still appeared skeptical, looking Ezio up and down. "You're from another universe? You don't look like it."

The Foundation, his focus sharpening on the more pressing matter, asked for clarification. "What do you mean by a world that Cortana created?"

Jonesy, equally curious and baffled, added, "And how did you end up there?"

Ezio, grappling with how to explain such complex concepts in a way they could understand, tried his best. "Cortana has built a world... a prison. She traps people there, leaving them to suffer and die. I am one of those people."

Jayce staggered back, his eyes wide with shock and concern. His voice trembled with disbelief.

"She's trapping people? Leaving them to die? That's... that's monstrous," Jayce uttered, his words laced with anger. The sheer enormity of Cortana's actions bore down on him like a weight he couldn't shake.

The Foundation turned sharply to Jonesy, concern and confusion etched on his face.

"How did we not know about this universe she's built?" The Foundation demanded, his voice clipped and tense.

Jonesy paused for a moment, thinking quickly. Then, the pieces began to fall into place in his mind. "Remember the device we put in Piltover?" he asked.

The Foundation nodded. "The Reality Cloak. What about it?"

Jonesy glanced between them, his voice thoughtful as he pieced together his theory. "Maybe Cortana made her own version... but not a device. With her abilities, she could cast it at will, hiding entire worlds from us."

Jayce, still reeling from the information, turned toward Jonesy and The Foundation, his tone questioning but filled with unease. "Is that even possible?" he asked, his mind racing with the terrifying possibilities.

The Foundation's expression remained stern, his tone steady and grave as he replied. "With how powerful Cortana is, yes. It's possible."

Jonesy, still trying to wrap his head around the situation, looked at Ezio with a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. "But how are you even here, in this world, talking to us?" he asked, his voice full of wonder.

Ezio lowered his gaze and revealed a small glowing object—the Chrono Amulet. The faint, ethereal light emitted by the device cast long shadows across his face as he explained its significance.

"This is the Chrono Amulet," Ezio began, his voice calm but urgent. "It enhances any ability for the person using it. My ability allows me to see visions, but after an incident in a rift, it was enhanced further. Now, I can see not only visions of my world but the multiverse. This device... it enhances my ability even more, allowing me to communicate with you."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Jayce, ever the inventor, couldn't help but be impressed by the technology. "That's... quite the device," he said, admiration clear in his voice.

But suddenly, the Chrono Amulet began to flicker, its power waning. The glow that had once seemed so steady now began to fade. The Foundation noticed it first, stepping forward with a look of concern.

"What's happening to you?" The Foundation asked, his tone sharp.

Ezio glanced down at the amulet, his expression turning to one of worry. "The device... it's losing its power," he admitted, frustration and anxiety creeping into his voice.

Jonesy, already analyzing the situation, quickly pulled up a hologram to check the energy readings from the amulet. His brow furrowed in concentration.

"My theory was right," Jonesy muttered, his voice grim. "Whatever Cortana did to her world, it's blocking me from tracking the energy reading from your device."

Ezio, remembering something critical, straightened up and spoke quickly, urgency lacing his words. "We're working on a device that can send a beacon... to anyone who may be able to see it."

Jayce, intrigued but already thinking ahead, couldn't help but ask the crucial question. "Will the beacon be strong enough to send out a signal and relay it back to us, even if Cortana tries to hide her universe?"

Ezio hesitated for a moment, his face clouded with uncertainty, but his resolve was unshaken. "I'm not sure," he admitted, his voice tinged with doubt, "but we need to try if we want to get out of the world Cortana has built."

The Chrono Amulet flickered more violently now, the light dimming with each passing second. Ezio knew his time was running out. He looked back at The Foundation, Jonesy, and Jayce, his voice firm and resolute.

"When the device is ready," Ezio said quickly, "ensure you are prepared to track it. Once you have its signal... we shall be waiting. Our hopes rest with you."

The Foundation, his tone serious but reassuring, met Ezio's gaze. "We'll be on alert and ready," he promised.

With that, the last of the Chrono Amulet's power drained away. Ezio's figure flickered, and then, with a final dim flash, he vanished from their sight.

Jonesy stared at the spot where Ezio had just stood, his mouth slightly agape in amazement. "Whoa..." he breathed, still processing what had just happened.

Before anyone could react further, the door suddenly burst open. Four Piltover officers stormed in, their weapons drawn and ready. One of the officers, his expression hard and authoritative, scanned the room quickly.

"I heard gunshots," the officer barked, his voice echoing in the tense air. "What's going on here?"

Jayce, The Foundation, and Jonesy turned to where The Foundation had fired earlier, their eyes drawn to the smoking crater left in the wall by the high-impact round. The Foundation, noticing their concerned looks, broke the silence with a casual tone, attempting to diffuse the situation.

"It was an accident," The Foundation said calmly, his deep voice steady.

Jayce, always quick to take charge as the leader of the council, stepped forward with a reassuring smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Just a... little misunderstanding. Nothing to worry about," he added, his voice carrying a touch of humor.

The Piltover officer who had raised his weapon moments earlier furrowed his brow, but after a moment's consideration, he lowered the weapon, recognizing the oddity of the situation. The other officers followed suit, and the tension in the room dissipated.

Meanwhile, back in Cortana's world,

Within the ruins of the council hall, the very place where Ezio had been communicating with Jayce, Agent Jonesy, and The Foundation, the Chrono Amulet began to lose its power. Its once-gleaming surface dulled as the last remnants of energy fizzled away. Ezio, now alone in the room, carefully removed the device from his wrist, feeling a wave of relief that he had managed to make contact with another universe.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Nora rushed in, Michael Torres close behind her. Concern was etched across both of their faces as they hurried toward Ezio.

"Ezio, are you alright?" Michael asked, his voice laced with worry.

Ezio, ever composed, gave him a reassuring nod. "I am fine, Michael. The device did not harm me."

Nora, her brow furrowed with urgency, stepped closer. "What happened? Were you able to communicate with Jonesy and The Foundation?"

Ezio nodded again, his tone firm but relieved. "Yes, I made contact. We must now focus on getting our device operational so they can track the beacon and find us. I told them as much as I could before the Amulet lost all its power."

Michael offered a hopeful smile, trying to keep the mood positive. "That's good news!"

Ezio, Nora, and Michael exchanged glances, silently acknowledging that the device had done its job. Communication had been established—now, they just had to ensure they could be found.

Far away, in another universe—Earth-219

Deep within the chaotic heart of Zaun, the city teetered on the edge of complete disorder. In this version of the universe, Silco sat in his dimly lit hideout. The industrial space hummed with the ever-present thrum of machinery, pipes lining the walls like veins pumping life into the decrepit city.

This version of Silco was different—hardened, scarred. His face bore additional marks from battles long fought, deeper and more pronounced than before. His once piercing blue eye now flickered with an unnatural glow, evidence of some dark experimentation or augmentation he had undergone to maintain his iron grip on Zaun. His slicked-back hair was streaked with white, signs of the endless pressure and stress that had taken its toll. His dark, militaristic suit was reinforced with armor, a clear indication that he was ready for whatever conflict lay ahead.

As Silco stared at the vial of shimmer on his desk—this version far more potent and dangerous than anything from parallel universes—the heavy door to his room was suddenly kicked open.

Sevika stumbled in, more unhinged than ever. Her body twitched uncontrollably, her movements erratic from overuse of shimmer. She dragged a man behind her—a loyalist, who whimpered and pleaded for his life. Without a word, she threw the man onto the floor before Silco's desk, her wild eyes darting between him and Silco.

"What are you doing, Sevika?" Silco asked, his voice steady but laced with irritation. He glanced at the terrified man on the floor. "And why have you brought this... loyalist to me?"

Sevika's body trembled as she glared down at the man. "Caught this scum... working with a Piltover officer. Trying to sabotage Zaun... trying to sabotage you," she spat, her voice unstable.

Silco leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze taking in Sevika's twitching form. The shimmer had taken a heavy toll on her, warping her mind and body. The tension in the room thickened as Silco contemplated his next move.

After a moment of silence, Silco spoke calmly, though his eyes remained cold. "You're unwell, Sevika. I'll deal with this loyalist."

Sevika's eyes widened, and she immediately grew defensive. "I can handle it, Silco. Just let me—"

Silco cut her off, his voice firm but not unkind. "Your condition is worsening. The shimmer... it's destroying you."

Sevika's desperation flared, and she stumbled forward, her voice frantic. "I can still handle it! I can take more—"

But Silco was resolute. He shook his head, his voice decisive. "You've done enough damage already, Sevika. I fear you may no longer be a good candidate for shimmer."

Sevika's expression falters, a mix of frustration and confusion crossing her face as Silco's words sink in. The tension in the room is palpable as Silco maintains his calm demeanor, knowing that the situation with Sevika is becoming increasingly precarious.

Silco, his frustration barely concealed, shifted the conversation back to the task at hand. His voice, cold and sharp, cut through the tension.

"Before you go," he asked, eyes narrowing, "have you done your job? Did you find Jinx and Vi?"

At the mention of their names, Sevika's body twitched violently, rage bubbling up like a volcano on the brink of eruption. Her fists clenched as she snarled, the words escaping her in a torrent of fury.

"Jinx... I killed her!" she spat, her voice trembling with barely contained anger. "And her sister too!"

Silco's eyes darkened, his own frustration morphing into a burning anger. "You killed Jinx?" he demanded, his voice rising. "Why would you do that?!"

Sevika's lips curled in defiance, her muscles tensing. "Jinx was a liability," she growled. "We don't need her!"

Silco's patience was wearing thin, and his fists clenched at his sides. "Your job," he said, his voice filled with anger, "was to bring Jinx back from Vi. To use her against her own sister! She was our key—a Trojan horse to get us closer to Piltover!"

As the realization of Sevika's failure sank in, Silco's anger intensified. "The shimmer," he hissed, "isn't helping you focus, Sevika. It's making you reckless—clouding your judgment and leading you to make disastrous decisions."

Sevika stood, momentarily stunned by his outburst, her rage simmering just beneath the surface. For the first time, the magnitude of her actions began to dawn on her. Desperation crept into her voice as she sought to salvage the situation.

"I'm sorry, Silco," she stammered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation. "I promise... no more damage. Just give me more shimmer, and I'll make it right."

Silco's fist came down hard on the desk, the impact sending a sharp echo through the room. His eyes blazed with anger. "More shimmer?" he barked, cutting her off. "Were you not listening?! It's the shimmer that's causing you to do this damage! It's not helping you—it's destroying you!"

Silco's voice lowered to a menacing growl as he fixed his gaze on her. "You were once my strongest, Sevika," he said coldly. "But now, you're nothing more than a puppet—dancing on the strings of that poison coursing through your veins. You think more shimmer will fix this? It will only drag you further into the abyss."

Silco's words struck deep, and Sevika's anger flared. Her augmented arm trembled with barely restrained fury. With a powerful swing, she brought her fist down on the table, shattering it into pieces.

"I don't need you, Silco!" she screamed, her voice full of rage. "If you won't help me, I'll find my own way!"

Without waiting for a response, Sevika stormed out of the room, her movements erratic, shoving one of Silco's loyalists aside in her fury. Silco's voice called after her, tinged with both anger and regret.

"Sevika!" he shouted, but it was too late. She was already gone, the door slamming shut behind her with a finality that left Silco standing alone amid the wreckage of their confrontation.

Outside, Sevika stumbled into the streets, her body twitching uncontrollably. Her mind was consumed by a singular, desperate need for more shimmer. She wandered down a dimly lit alleyway, her eyes locking onto a group of gang members huddled together. A few of them were openly using shimmer, their eyes glazed over with the drug's effects.

Sevika approached them with shaky steps, her voice trembling as she begged. "I need some... give me the shimmer."

One of the gang members looked her up and down with disdain. "Get the hell out of here," he said dismissively. "We don't have time for junkies."

Another gang member sneered at her, mockery lacing his voice. "Look at you," he said, laughing cruelly. "You're just a shimmer addict now. Pathetic."

The insult struck a raw nerve, and Sevika's desperation transformed into blind rage. With a roar, she lunged at one of the gang members, her augmented arm locking around their throat like a vice. Her voice, now monstrous and distorted, growled through clenched teeth.

"Give me the shimmer!"

The gang members, startled by her sudden and violent outburst, scrambled for their weapons. The situation spiraled into chaos as they rushed at her. But Sevika, consumed by her madness, was beyond reason. She threw the gang member she had been choking into the others, sending them sprawling. In the midst of the chaos, a vial of shimmer fell to the ground, catching her eye.

In a desperate lunge, she grabbed the vial and injected it directly into her augmented arm. The effects were immediate and intense—her body convulsed violently, her eyes widening as the shimmer coursed through her veins. Her mind fractured further, teetering on the edge of complete madness.

The remaining gang members, unfazed by her erratic behavior, rallied together. "Take her down!" one of them shouted. "She's just a junkie with a fancy arm!"

But Sevika, fueled by rage and the shimmer, was no longer just a junkie. She was a force of destruction, and in that moment, nothing could stand in her way.

The battle erupted, Sevika's augmented arm becoming a weapon of uncontrollable fury. The once-loyal enforcer had become a wild storm, fueled by desperation and addiction, and as she tore through the gang members, one thing became clear—Sevika was no longer in control. The shimmer had taken over, and there was no telling what devastation she would leave in her wake.

Sevika, now fully under the shimmer's influence, had become a force of nature, a whirlwind of destruction. Her augmented arm pulsed with a sinister glow, the energy coursing through it making her faster, stronger—but also more reckless, more dangerous. Without hesitation, she lunged at the nearest gang member, slamming her enhanced arm into their chest. The sheer force sent the man flying into a nearby wall, the impact leaving a deep crater in the brick.

Another attacker swung a metal pipe at her head, but Sevika ducked with inhuman speed. Before the gang member could react, she grabbed his arm and hurled him into another, knocking them both to the ground like ragdolls. A third gang member rushed at her, slashing with a knife, but the blade barely scratched her skin. She snatched him by the throat and, with a monstrous roar, flung him across the street. His body smashed through a shop window with a shattering crash.

The remaining gang members, realizing they were hopelessly outmatched, turned to flee. But Sevika, consumed by the shimmer's frenzy, wasn't done. She charged after them, her augmented arm cleaving through a stack of crates in her path. She grabbed the last gang member by his collar, lifted him off his feet with ease, and delivered a brutal punch. His body crumpled to the ground, unconscious, left in a heap on the pavement.

Panting, her mind a fog of rage and shimmering power, Sevika spun around, ready to unleash more destruction. But as she swung her arm wildly, the blow was suddenly stopped—caught by another equally strong, augmented hand. Sevika's furious gaze met Kellogg's calm smirk.

"Easy there," Kellogg said, his voice steady and almost amused. "No need to go off the rails."

He released her arm without a trace of fear, unfazed by the devastation around them. But Sevika, her mind still clouded with shimmer-induced rage, threw a punch at his face. Kellogg dodged it smoothly, his smirk never fading. His cybernetic enhancements allowed him to move with a precision that kept him one step ahead of her wild swings.

"I'm not your enemy," Kellogg said, sidestepping another of Sevika's frenzied punches. She ignored him, her attacks relentless, each one more powerful and uncontrolled than the last. Kellogg continued to dodge, fluid and calculated, his years of experience as a mercenary evident in his every move.

Despite her raw strength and increased aggression, Sevika couldn't land a hit. Her frustration mounted, her movements becoming even more erratic. Kellogg ducked beneath another wild swing, causing Sevika to stumble, momentarily off-balance. "Calm down," he said firmly, catching her arm mid-swing. "We need to talk."

Sevika tore her arm free from his grip with a growl, moving faster than expected. She landed a punch square on Kellogg's jaw, the impact hard enough to make him stagger. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his smirk only grew.

"Not bad," he said, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. "You've got some real power behind that punch."

Before the tension could escalate further, Alex Mercer appeared behind Sevika, his hand locking around her shoulder with an iron grip. "That's enough," Mercer growled, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "We're not here to fight you."

Sevika reacted immediately, deploying a hidden blade from her augmented arm. She swung it with deadly precision, slicing through Mercer's grip. The blade cut into him, causing him to grunt in pain. She followed up with another powerful punch, sending Mercer staggering back.

Mercer grinned darkly, crossing his arms as his wounds began to heal almost instantly. "Ow..." he said mockingly. "Nice toy you've got there."

But Sevika wasn't done. She charged at Kellogg again, determined to take him down, her mind lost in the frenzy of battle. Just as she was about to reach him, her body froze mid-air, held in place by an unseen force.

Cortana's voice echoed softly through the chaos, calm yet authoritative. "Shh... Calm down, Sevika," the rogue AI said, her presence unseen but powerful. "We're not your enemies. Let's talk."

Sevika struggled against the invisible hold, her body twitching as she fought to break free. But Cortana's grip was too strong, and her voice too commanding. The AI's tone was gentle, almost soothing, but it carried a weight of control that could not be ignored.

Suspended in the air, Sevika snarled and writhed, the shimmer still coursing through her veins. But slowly, under Cortana's influence, her movements began to calm. Cortana lowered her gently to the ground, her voice never losing its soothing cadence. "Shh... It's okay," she murmured. "We're not here to hurt you."

Sevika's feet touched the pavement, and though she twitched nervously, her aggression seemed to wane. Her eyes darted from Kellogg to Mercer, both of whom stood unfazed by the chaos she had caused. Kellogg smirked confidently, his stance relaxed, while Mercer crossed his arms, watching her with a dark amusement as his wounds continued to heal.

From the shadows, Cortana stepped forward, her ethereal presence both commanding and gentle. Her gaze settled on Sevika, her voice firm yet kind as she spoke her name.

"Sevika," Cortana said softly, with authority.

She turns around from the sound of her name as it causes Sevika to flinch, her hands instinctively rising, ready to defend herself. But Cortana, maintaining her calm demeanor, shushes her softly once more, her tone almost maternal. the shimmer still pulsing in her veins but the fury in her eyes slowly fading. She remained tense, her body on edge, but for the first time, she didn't attack. There was something about Cortana's presence—something in her voice—that made Sevika pause, even in her shimmer-induced frenzy.

Cortana's voice was soft, almost a whisper, carrying an eerie gentleness that belied her intentions. "Shh... It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."

She approached Sevika with careful, deliberate steps, her movements slow and non-threatening. Her presence was almost comforting, yet an unsettling aura seemed to linger beneath the surface. Reaching out, Cortana gently touched Sevika's arms, her fingers brushing against the skin as she coaxed them down to Sevika's sides, each motion designed to reassure.

Cortana's touch was light as she cupped Sevika's face, her hand tender and warm. Sevika, caught off guard by the unexpected softness, felt herself relax against it. Her eyes fluttered shut, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, the walls she'd built around her pain began to crumble. Tears welled up, spilling down her cheeks in silent streams as the weight of her emotions pressed in on her, too heavy to bear alone.

"You were neglected... by someone you trusted, weren't you?" Cortana's voice, though soft, carried a tone of deep understanding, as if she had looked directly into the heart of Sevika's wounds.

Sevika nodded, the floodgates of her pain opening wide. She could no longer hold back the tears, her face a reflection of the raw vulnerability that had long been buried beneath layers of strength and survival. And in that moment, she let go, allowing herself to be seen.

Cortana, sensing the depth of Sevika's agony, wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close in an embrace that felt strangely comforting. It was the kind of embrace that promised safety, even though its source was anything but safe. Her voice, now low and soothing, carried a promise that sent a chill through the air.

"Don't worry... I'll fix this," Cortana whispered, her words carrying the edge of something darker, something dangerous. "I'll make sure they pay."

As she held Sevika close, Cortana's head lifted slightly. Her gaze shifted, and though she cradled Sevika tenderly, her eyes darkened with a chilling certainty. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she seemed to look beyond the moment, her expression one of dark satisfaction. Whatever plans she harbored, they were clear now. Her intentions had been set in motion, and nothing would stand in her way.