The Nyon Inn, it was a place to go once players grew weary, with warm lighting and comfortable furnishings that sat neatly in the rooms, like someone took the time to design it just right. Ryn reached her room, closed the door behind her, and sat on the edge of the bed, the softness a welcome relief to her tired body.

She clicked on her ear cuff, and the holographic globe sprang to life, casting a glow around her. Her eyes scanned the interface, noticing that she had leveled up several times since she last checked. She frowned slightly, realizing she had neglected to keep her equipment up to date. With a deep sigh, she navigated to her blade’s status and saw it was still at level 2. How could she have forgotten something so crucial? She pressed a button, and the blade began to update, leveling up to 9. She watched as the numbers climbed, feeling a small sense of satisfaction as her weapon became more powerful.

Next, she glanced through her inventory. New outfits, health items, and various odds and ends filled the slots, rewards from her recent battles and explorations. Normally, she would have taken her time to examine each thing, but exhaustion weighed heavily on her. She closed the interface, the globe fading away.

Lying back on the bed, Ryn felt the tension in her muscles start to ease. Her mind, however, was still racing. She closed her eyes, trying to push the worries aside, if only for a little while.

Her body relaxed into the mattress, and the soft sounds of the city outside lulled her into a state of semi-consciousness. As sleep began to overtake her, she made a silent vow to find Jax and not let his fate be similar to Elara’s. For now, though, she needed rest. Her journey was far from over, but in this moment, she allowed herself to simply be, letting the weariness take her into the realm of dreams.

Ryn shot up to the sound of a knock at the door, her heart pounding as she was abruptly pulled from her sleep. She jumped up, crossing the room in a second and opening the door with a quick swing that produced enough wind to blow her hair back. Standing there was a girl with a bright smile, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.

Ryn blinked, momentarily disoriented. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice still groggy.

The girl straightened up, her smile unwavering. "I'm Lucy," she said cheerfully.

There was an awkward silence as Ryn tried to process this unexpected visitor. “Um…Okay?”

Lucy spoke again. "I'm here on Jess' behalf."

Ryn's brow furrowed. "I don't need a child to protect," she said bluntly, starting to close the door.

Lucy huffed, crossing her arms. "I'm not a child," she retorted, her tone indignant. "I'm a highly skilled engineer, and you'll want me on your team if you plan on using the ship."

Ryn's confusion deepened. "What do you mean by ship?" she asked, her curiosity piqued despite her irritation.

Lucy’s expression brightened again. "I have a small ship docked at the launch pad in Nyon. Jess thought you could use it for your missions. It's fast, well-equipped, and perfect for getting around quickly."

Ryn’s eyes widened slightly. A ship could change everything, providing them with mobility and a tactical advantage they hadn’t had before. She assessed Lucy for a moment, seeing beyond the girl’s youthful appearance to the determination and confidence in her stance.

"Alright, Lucy," Ryn said, her tone softening. "If you're as good as you say, I could use your help. But you'll need to prove yourself."

Lucy nodded vigorously. "You won't regret it," she said with a confident grin. "I can take you to see the ship now if you want."

Ryn nodded. "Lead the way," she said.

When they arrived at the launch station, the sleek metallic structure stood tall against the backdrop of the city. Ryn and Lucy approached, their footsteps echoing on the polished floor. They neared the docking area and Ryn spotted Kyle and Aurelia already waiting for them.

Kyle's face lit up as his eyes caught her. "Ryn! Over here!" he called out, pointing towards the ship with an enthusiastic grin. "Pretty fancy, huh?"

Ryn's eyes followed his gesture, and she took in the sight of the ship. It looked pretty basic at first glance, with four thrusters that doubled as the landing gear, but there was an understated elegance to its design. The sleek lines and polished exterior hinted at its capabilities.

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"Not bad," Ryn replied as they walked closer.

Lucy stepped forward with a sense of pride. "It's not just fancy. It's functional and fast. Let me show you around."

They boarded the ship, and Lucy led them through the interior. The lounge area was at the center, with a middle console that displayed a holographic map of Abos, showing the available missions..

Ryn leaned over the console, studying the map. "This will definitely make navigation easier,"

Lucy nodded. "And that's not all. Follow me."

She led them to the back of the ship, where the sleeping quarters were located. The room was compact but well-designed, with enough space for the team to rest comfortably. Each bed had a small storage area underneath and a personal screen for accessing information and entertainment.

"Nice setup," Aurelia remarked, her sharp eyes taking in every detail.

"Thanks," Lucy replied, clearly pleased. "Now, let's check out the cockpit."

At the front of the ship, the cockpit offered a panoramic view through the large, curved windshield. The controls were sleek and intuitive, with a mix of physical buttons and touchscreens. Two pilot seats were positioned at the helm, with additional seats for navigation and systems monitoring.

Ryn slid into one of the pilot seats, running her fingers over the controls. "This is impressive," she said, turning to Lucy. "You really know your stuff."

Lucy smiled modestly. "I've been working on ships for a while. I made sure this one has everything we need for our missions."

Kyle leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed. "So, what's the plan now?"

Ryn glanced at the holographic map in the lounge area. " We start tackling these missions and find Jax."

Aurelia nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

Lucy beamed, thrilled to be part of the team. "I'm ready when you are."

Ryn stood up, "Let's get started. We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

Ryn studied the map, her eyes narrowing as she focused on several missions. Among them, one titled "Pyramid? What could it be?" caught her attention. Scanning further, she noticed two more missions mentioning pyramids. A sense of recognition sparked in her mind.

She turned to Kyle and Aurelia, her expression serious. "The pyramids are usually labs," she explained, tapping on the map to highlight the three missions. "These could hold vital information or resources we need. Maybe even clues to finding Jax."

Kyle and Aurelia exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them. They both nodded, determination etched on their faces.

Kyle spoke up. "I'm willing to do anything to find him. If these labs can help us, then let's get to them."

Ryn nodded. "We can split up to cover more ground. Lucy, can you drop us at each location?"

Lucy, who had been listening intently, stepped forward. "Absolutely. The ship's fast, and we can reach all three locations quickly."

Ryn quickly formulated a plan. "Kyle, you'll take the first location. Aurelia, you'll handle the second. I'll take the third. We'll stay in constant communication through our ear cuffs. If anyone runs into trouble, call for backup immediately."

Kyle smiled slightly. "Got it."

They headed back to the cockpit, where Lucy prepared the ship for takeoff. The thrusters roared to life, lifting them smoothly off the ground. The map synced with the screens up front, guiding their route, and within minutes, they were soaring through the skies above Nyon.

As they approached the first location, Kyle readied himself, mentally preparing for whatever awaited him in the pyramid. The ship descended, and Lucy expertly maneuvered it to a landing spot near the structure.

"First stop," Lucy announced, the thrusters gently setting the ship down.

Kyle took a deep breath and nodded to Ryn and Aurelia. "Good luck, guys. Stay safe."

"You too," Ryn replied, giving him a reassuring nod.

Kyle exited the ship, his form disappearing as the ship took off again, heading towards the second location. Aurelia's turn was next.

"Stay sharp, Aurelia," Ryn said, her voice steady but filled with concern.

"Always," Aurelia responded, giving Ryn a confident smile before disembarking.

As the ship rose once more, Ryn couldn't help but feel anxiety run through her. They were taking a big risk by splitting up, but it was necessary. The mission at her location could be the key to finding Jax and unraveling the mystery of the corruption.

Finally, the ship arrived at Ryn's designated spot. Lucy landed with precision, and Ryn readied her bracelet, her body tense but ready for action.

"Be careful, Ryn," Lucy said, her voice filled with genuine concern. "I'll be on standby, ready to pick you up as soon as you're done."

"Thanks, Lucy," Ryn replied, giving her a grateful nod. "I'll see you soon."

Ryn stepped off the ship and into the unknown, her mind focused on the mission ahead. The pyramid loomed before her, a feeling of unease settled in the pit of her stomach. Another pyramid, another boss more than likely. She took a deep breath and headed inside.