Alastor emerged from the shadows of the chamber, his mind still buzzing with the power of the Symbol of Ra. Time itself had bent to his will, and for the first time, he felt a measure of control over the deadly game he had been trapped in. But as the glow of the hieroglyphs faded and the cold reality of Nyx’s betrayal settled in, he knew that power alone wasn’t enough.

Nyx had played him—used his trust to climb the ranks of the Pyramid—and in doing so, she had shown him that this was a game far more complex than he had imagined. She had left him reeling, and if he wanted to survive, if he wanted to destroy the Pyramid from the inside, he needed allies. Allies who could operate in the dark spaces that even Nyx couldn’t reach.

That’s when he thought of Aurora Nightfall.

Aurora was a ghost in the digital world, a master hacker with deep ties to the Shadow Network—an underground web of information brokers, digital mercenaries, and dissidents who operated outside the Pyramid’s control. Her reputation was legendary, but she was known for working alone, carefully choosing her clients and alliances. She wasn’t someone you found. You had to earn her interest.

Alastor’s plan came together quickly, his mind sharpened by the power of the Symbol of Ra. He would find Aurora, offer her something no one else could—a chance to break into the deepest secrets of the Pyramid. With her skills and his newfound control over time, they could unravel the Pyramid’s foundations, exposing the ancient truths hidden beneath its layers of power and manipulation.

He used the influence he still had, tapping into old connections within the criminal underworld of Skylance City, the whispers of her presence like fleeting echoes. After several dead ends and false trails, Alastor found himself in a forgotten part of the city—a neon-lit district full of rundown clubs and illicit markets. The kind of place where the truly dangerous lingered in the corners, unseen by the public but pulling the strings from the shadows.

It was here, in the back of a dark, tech-heavy bar, that he found Aurora Nightfall.

She was everything he had heard—dark hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail, her eyes sharp and calculating, glowing faintly with the telltale light of augmented neural implants. Her fingers danced over the holographic keyboard projected from her wrist, data streams running across her neural interface in rapid bursts. She barely acknowledged him as he approached, her focus entirely on the digital world she commanded.

Alastor didn’t waste time with formalities. He slid into the booth across from her, his voice low but direct. "Aurora Nightfall. I’ve come to make a deal."

Her eyes flicked up from the data streams, locking onto his with a sharp intensity that sent a chill down his spine. "You don’t just walk in here and make deals, Creed." Her voice was smooth but carried an edge, her reputation for being untouchable evident in every syllable. "I work for those who pay, and I’m not cheap. So why should I care about whatever mess you’ve gotten yourself into?"

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Alastor leaned back slightly, keeping his composure. "Because the Pyramid is your mess too. I know you’ve been trying to break into their systems for years. You’ve been close, but never close enough." He let the weight of his words hang in the air. "I can get you inside. I have access to their deepest secrets, but I need someone with your skills to help me crack them open."

For the first time, Aurora’s eyes narrowed with interest. She leaned forward, her fingers still working the holographic keyboard but at a slower pace, clearly intrigued by his offer. "Go on."

"The Pyramid is built on more than just technology," Alastor explained, choosing his words carefully. "It’s ancient. Their power comes from a mix of the old ways—hieroglyphs, rituals—and advanced tech that even the Shadow Network hasn’t been able to breach. But I’ve uncovered a way to manipulate the very fabric of the Pyramid’s control. Time, death, rebirth… I can bend it to my will now."

Aurora’s eyebrow arched. "Time? You expect me to believe you can control time?"

Alastor leaned forward, his voice steady but filled with a quiet confidence. "I don’t need you to believe. I’ll show you." He reached out, lightly brushing his fingers against her wrist, where her neural interface connected her to the streams of data flowing across the Shadow Network.

The Symbol of Ra, still burning within him, flickered to life. Alastor concentrated, and in a brief moment, time itself slowed around them. The digital streams running across Aurora’s interface froze in mid-air, her fingers suspended above the keyboard as the world around them seemed to pause. Her augmented eyes widened as she realized what was happening.

Then, just as suddenly, time resumed, the streams of data flowing once more, the brief manipulation of time leaving her in stunned silence.

Aurora pulled back slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied him, the implications of what he had just done sinking in. "So, it’s true. You’re deeper into the Pyramid than anyone I’ve ever seen." She glanced around, making sure no one had noticed the subtle distortion of time. "But that doesn’t explain why you need me."

Alastor allowed himself a small smile. "Because while I can manipulate time, I can’t do it alone. The Pyramid’s systems are ancient, deeply encrypted, and layered with protections that even my power can’t break. But you—you’re the best at what you do. With your expertise in the Shadow Network, we can tear down the Pyramid from the inside. Expose their secrets, destroy their control. Together."

Aurora leaned back, her arms crossed, the faint glow of her neural implants reflecting in her eyes as she considered his offer. "You really think you can take them down? The most powerful organization in history?"

"I don’t think," Alastor replied, his voice calm but firm. "I know. I have the means. You have the skills. Together, we can break the Pyramid."

For a long moment, Aurora said nothing, her gaze piercing as she weighed his words. Alastor could see the wheels turning in her mind—calculating, considering. She was a master strategist, and this wasn’t a decision she would take lightly.

Finally, a slow, dangerous smile spread across her lips. "Alright, Creed. I’m in. But understand this—I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this because the Pyramid has controlled the shadows for too long. It’s time someone turned the tables."

She leaned forward, her fingers dancing over her neural interface as streams of data flowed across the screen once again. "But if we’re going to pull this off, we do it on my terms. I’ll crack their systems, but you’re going to have to trust me. And if you double-cross me like Nyx did you, I’ll make sure time isn’t the only thing that gets broken."

Alastor smirked, a flicker of hope igniting within him. "I wouldn’t dream of it."

Aurora’s smile widened, the glow of her neural interface lighting up her face. "Good. Because if you want to break the Pyramid, you’ll need me."