ZETA CHAMBER — 08:49 AM
Circular lights along the wall lit up one by one. The central terminal pulsed like a mechanical heart just awakened from a long slumber. In the center, the main screen displayed one final message from Josepo Staline.
"If Broxtler is still alive... and if you're hearing this, it means I failed to stop them. But maybe... you're not too late."
Shyblance stared at the screen. No hologram. No face. Only a voice. A voice now heavier—older than any memory they had.
"Beneath this project lies the foundational code of early Ascadra. The system before it was sabotaged by the former regime. A self-sustaining city. Not controllable. Not usable for war. But... capable of spreading the truths long buried."
"But that also means: reopening wounds. Shaking a world that believes it's already healed."
Broxtler stepped slowly toward the panel, scanning the logs.
MODE A — REBOOT: Redistribute the system across the city network, restoring its neutral and open function. Risk: Social conflict.
MODE B — LOCKDOWN: Seal the ZETA system permanently. No further access possible. Risk: Losing the only unaltered city blueprint.
Shyblance bit her lip. "This... is too big for just two people."
Broxtler looked at the monitor. "But only two people are standing here."
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ZETA CHAMBER — 08:57 AM
Broxtler activated the internal camera and began recording.
"I don't know if what we're doing is right. But I know... this city was built on lies. If we let this system stay buried, then they win—those who thrive by crushing history."
Shyblance approached slowly.
"But if we broadcast this, the first ones to burn won't be Benito... it'll be the people."
They locked eyes. A long pause.
"Maybe... it's not about who wins or loses," Broxtler finally said. "Maybe it's about who has the courage to open a door... knowing it might never close again."
Shyblance looked at the screen. Then at Broxtler. She gave a quiet nod.
[MODE A: REBOOT SELECTED]
[ZETA SYSTEM BROADCAST INITIATED. TIME REMAINING: 12:00]
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THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM — 09:00 AM
The internal siren began to hum softly. Not like an alarm. More like the final song of an era.
Broxtler leaned against the wall, watching the countdown tick.
"Josepo knew all of this from the start. But why didn't he ever tell me?"
Shyblance replied gently, "Maybe because even someone like Josepo... knew not every choice can be passed on. Some choices... have to be born in the hands of his own child."
Broxtler bowed his head. No reply.
He removed his gauntlet... and clenched his fist.
The world was beginning to change.
And the shadows began to glow.
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ZETA ENTRY TUNNEL — 09:03 AM
Netanyavu led a heavily armed unit. Beside him, Angela Markef carried her new energy bow. The squad moved fast, silent, and ruthless. They knew: ZETA could not be activated.
Angela spoke through the comms.
"No need to capture. If Broxtler is linked to the system, kill him in there. We shut it down with him."
ZETA STRATEGIC ROOM — 09:05 AM
Shyblance closed the terminal. "They've entered the secondary route. Five minutes tops, Brox."
Broxtler didn't flinch. But his eyes glowed red—his neural systems overheating.
"System's nearly stable. But if they breach the core..."
"We fail. I know."
Shyblance gripped her blade. "I'll hold them at the main corridor. Don't leave that terminal."
Broxtler shook his head. "If they get too close..."
"I can fight. I'm not just a shadow waiting to be saved."
ZETA MAIN HALL — 09:07 AM
Angela entered first. Her soldiers spread out. Shyblance waited behind the steel door, breathing slow, energy knife in hand.
The door exploded.
Angela stepped in.
"So... you're still alive."
Shyblance launched forward. First clash was violent, slicing the air with bursts of light. They fought fast, feral, no mercy.
Meanwhile, Netanyavu and two squads infiltrated the inner structure.
ZETA CORE ROOM — 09:10 AM
[ACTIVATION PROCESS: 03:36 REMAINING]
Broxtler panted. Sweating. But unshaken.
Angela's voice echoed through the panel: "Broxtler... listen. The world doesn't need your ideals. It needs control. And you... you're too broken to be control."
Broxtler answered calmly:
"And you're too afraid to let the world choose on its own."
FINAL CORRIDOR — 09:13 AM
Shyblance staggered. Fresh wound on her shoulder. Angela readied her final arrow.
But before she could fire...
BANG!
Broxtler emerged from the smoke, releasing a silent shot to Angela's shoulder. She fell. Shyblance rose, shaky but steady.
"Finish the activation," said Broxtler.
"I'm not leaving you," Shyblance replied.
"And I won't leave our choice behind."
ZETA ZONE — 09:15 AM
[ACTIVATION COMPLETE. CITY HAS BEEN RESET.]
All lights went out. Then, one by one... new lights glowed from the floor, from the walls, from the ceiling.
ZETA lived.
And the old system... collapsed.
Broxtler and Shyblance stood alone in the hollow room. No enemies left. No allies nearby. Only the two of them, and a world reborn.
"Now... we're not shadows anymore," Shyblance said.
"No," Broxtler replied.
"Now we're... the roots they thought were dead."
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