The elevator descended from the upper floors of the Iovem building, with the panoramic view of the city coming closer and closer. Tyx leaned against the wall, watching the sun and a vehicle floating in the distance across the blue sky.

Before reaching the ground floor, darkness took over the space, now illuminated only by the artificial ceiling lights. The elevator paused briefly upon reaching floor zero, then continued descending, and the floor indicator began to display negative numbers.

After reaching the tenth negative floor, the elevator slowed, and Tyx watched through the glass walls as the Acropolis unfolded into a vast, inverted city. The bottom of the area disappeared into deep darkness, while distant lights flickered like stars, revealing structures extending downward into the unknown.

The buildings didn’t just rise; they plunged into the earth’s depths, each structure seeming to possess a life of its own. Platforms were scattered around, where workers performed maintenance on the enormous pillars supporting this underground section of the city. These columns were colossal and resilient, like pillars holding up the world.

Luminescent tracks snaked through the space like pulsating veins, connecting different sectors and allowing a constant flow of people and goods. Fresh air surrounded him while distant sounds of conversations and machinery filled the vibrant atmosphere. Though the grandeur of the place always impressed him, there was a sense of familiarity; the Acropolis was both a refuge and the beating heart of New Atlantis.

When the doors opened, he walked down empty metallic corridors with colored lines painted on the floor, each indicating a different destination. He followed the blue line, which led to other elevators in what was called the ECHO sector.

He walked until he reached a platform with a metal and glass base surrounded by elevators, though none were present on this floor. He pressed the button for one of them.

Sighing, he looked around and noticed that the area was deserted. He pulled out his cigarette pack but spotted a camera in the corner of the room. Clicking his tongue, he nodded at the camera, put the pack away, and pointed at a ‘no smoking’ sign, giving a thumbs-up afterward.

The elevator arrived, and he stepped in, descending through the vast darkness toward the center of the ECHO sector.

In the medium-sized room, white lights illuminated the ceiling, the floor was tiled to resemble wood, bookshelves lined each side of the room, and a large wooden table in the center held several folders scattered across it, along with an ashtray full of cigarette butts. An office chair sat on one side, with two armchairs on the other. Demian hummed and nodded slightly, his hands moving as if he were playing a guitar, following the heavy riffs playing in his headphones.

A faint smile appeared on his face, as if the energy of the music coursed through his body. The door to the room opened, revealing Tyx, who entered, observing Demian.

– Good morning. – Tyx said as he closed the door behind him, but Demian didn’t notice his presence.

So, Tyx moved closer and snapped his fingers right next to Demian's face, startling him. Demian sat up straight in his chair and quickly removed his headphones, coughing to cover up what he’d been doing.

– Hey… Tyx… Damn, did you change the mask design or something? – Demian asked with a crooked smile.

– Knights of The Dark Realm? Ah, I miss those days. – Tyx replied, reminiscing as he briefly listened to the music playing from Demian's headphones.

– You like Metal? Ha! I always thought you’d be more into K-pop. – Demian commented with a cynical expression.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Tyx let out a slight laugh, shaking his head as he sat down in the chair. Then he opened a drawer and pulled out some discs, placing them on the table. Demian's jaw dropped; there were various DVDs from different Rock and Metal bands, some even autographed.

– There was a time in my life when I never missed one of these guys' shows. – Tyx said, leaning back in his chair as he lit a cigarette. – Good times… and believe it or not, my hair was way longer than yours.

– No way! Knight of Tomorrow, Divine Death, Reliquary of a New Hell… you went to all these shows!? – Demian said, passing the cases through his hands with excitement in his eyes. – You have to lend them to me… Wait a sec… what the heck is this Gaiola das Gostosuras?

Demian asked, wide-eyed and with a crooked grin, showing Tyx a DVD cover with several women dressed in provocative outfits striking suggestive poses. Tyx quickly straightened up and took the DVD from the young man's hand, placing it back in the drawer.

– Well, that wasn’t supposed to be there… – Tyx said, removing the metal part of his mask that covered his face; now only the visor covered his eyes. – Maybe one day I’ll tell you about it… When you’re older. Anyway, we have other matters to discuss.

– That’s why I’m here! What’s our next mission? – Demian asked with a confident smile and wide eyes.

– You’re being assigned to a sidekick team. – Tyx said after taking a drag from his cigarette.

Demian’s eyelids drooped, and his smile faded.

– Is this a joke? Where are the cameras?

– I’m serious.

Demian’s shoulders slumped, and he looked down, staring at the floor with a displeased expression.

– Why? – Demian asked with a frustrated tone. – I know I didn’t exactly follow your orders last time, but I promise it won’t happen again…

– I told you that at some point, you’d have to act the right way. Although I introduced you unconventionally, you still have to follow the rules like everyone else.

Tyx responded to Demian’s words as he took another drag of his cigarette and soon put it out in the ashtray.

– But if I kept helping you directly, I’d certainly be more useful. I’ll just end up slowing the other sidekicks down…

Tyx continued putting out the cigarette in the ashtray, letting the smoke escape from his mouth while he stayed silent, listening to Demian’s complaints. Eventually, Demian sighed and nodded his head.

– Fine… After all, I don’t have a choice… – Demian grumbled, moving towards the bookshelves, avoiding looking at Tyx. – So, which team will I be joining?

Tyx pulled out a laptop from one of the drawers and began typing something.

– The team you’ll be part of is still being formed; it won’t be immediate, but it’s good for you to be aware in advance.

– So? Was that all you wanted to talk about? You didn’t have to make me come all the way here; a message would’ve been enough. – Demian sat back down, his eyes lowered and unmotivated. – After all, skipping school isn’t exactly approved by my school administration…

– Then why have you been skipping since the start of the semester?

Demian leaned back in the armchair, crossing his arms and gripping them with his fingertips as he stared at the floor.

– I… hate that place… – Tyx paused for a moment, noticing the change in Demian’s tone, as if his throat had briefly closed up.

– So, you’re just going to give up?

– I’m going to be a Convergent, aren’t I? Why should I care about this? – Demian replied with a forced smile, averting his gaze.

– That’s not how it works, Demian. You have to deal with your responsibilities. – Tyx replied, cutting Demian off. – You chose this and knew the consequences.

– Yeah… I know…

– I’ll keep my end of our deal and do my part. – Tyx said, resting his face in both hands. – Don’t disappoint me, do yours.

Demian looked down for a moment, taking a deep breath before looking at Tyx with a serious expression and nodding.

– I won’t let you down.

– So, are we in agreement?

– Yes.

– Gotta be honest, I’m surprised; I even had a long speech prepared in case you showed more resistance.”

Tyx replied with a slight smirk, turning his attention back to the computer.

– I gave my word, so I’ll keep it… And I have to trust your decision; after all, you’re the best detective in the world.

Demian stood up, grabbing his backpack from the floor and heading toward the exit. Such a statement made Tyx let out a light chuckle, shaking his head slightly.

– But remember, you need to keep our agreement.

The young man stopped and looked back at Tyx, who had stopped using the computer and was looking directly at him with a firm expression.

– Don’t worry; I’ll keep my word.

Tyx replied with confidence in his voice.

– Alright. Then I’d better go; otherwise, I might get expelled, and my mom wouldn’t be too happy about that…

Demian said, pulling a face and tapping his hand lightly on his head before giving a small wave. Tyx nodded in return.

– See you, Demian.