The northern skies bled crimson as thunder rumbled in the ash-filled air.
Raine, weary but resolute, followed a guide down a narrow tunnel—deep beneath the Ice Spine mountains.
Ahead, a door slid open.
Inside: a vast biotech lab glowing with green light.
Men and women in black cloaks turned to face her.
A voice echoed:
"Welcome to Black Echo."
The Erebus Strain
Dr. Kael stepped forward, his silver eyes gleaming.
"We designed it for Lucian," he said."A failsafe against Vultari. But he scrapped it. Said extinction was... cleaner."
Raine narrowed her eyes. "So why revive it now?"
Kael gestured to a cryo-chamber.
Inside: a floating vial—black liquid swirling.
"Because you exist."
He held up a scanner. "Your blood contains anomalies—fragments of the original Kill Switch code."
"With it, we can finish the strain."
The Price
"But there's a cost," Kael added."Injecting the Erebus Strain requires a catalyst. Your cells will mutate. Your lifespan will shorten."
Raine hesitated.
Silas' betrayal. Nira missing. Millions dead.
She nodded.
"Then let's finish it."
Meanwhile: Silas' Move
Far away, Silas stood atop a ruined tower.
A beacon pulsed beside him.
[TRANSMISSION SENT – TARGET LOCKED]
[ETA: 6 HOURS]
Vultari ships slipped through the clouds, silent as death.
Silas whispered:
"They'll never see it coming."
Awakening the Strain
Back in the lab, Raine lay on the table as the injection prepped.
Her heartbeat echoed.
[Erebus Activation in: 10... 9... 8...]
Flashes of memory: her brother's death. Lucian's lies. Cities falling.
She whispered:
"This ends with me."