The final door opened on its own.
Not locked.
Not sealed.
Like it had been waiting for them.
West stepped forward first. Pipe resting across his shoulder. His boots echoed against polished steel.
Aria walked beside him, pulse light glowing brighter now—steady, constant. Her face was calm. Eyes silver-blue.
Behind them, Sigma Unit followed—fifteen fighters, rifles raised, helmets cracked from hours of battle.
No one spoke.
There was nothing left to say.
The Core Chamber spread before them.
Wider than a stadium.
Ceiling lost in darkness.
Walls pulsing with pale light—heartbeat slow and deep, like the tower itself was alive.
And in the center...
Rhys.
He stood on a raised platform—alone. No guards. No machines.
His body wrapped in silver-white armor. Streamlined. Perfect. Pulse conduits coiled from his back into the floor.
His face?
Still human.
But his eyes...
One burned silver.One glowed red.
Both cold.
West's hand tightened on the pipe.
Aria's pulse light flickered once—then steadied.
Rhys's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Welcome."
"You're right on time."
His tone was calm. Too calm.
No anger. No fear.
Sigma Unit spread out automatically, rifles aimed.
But no one fired.
Not yet.
Rhys stepped forward.
Cables detached from his back with a hiss of steam.
His white armor plates shifted as he moved—quiet, smooth.
Not a man.
Not a machine.
Something in between.
"I expected you alone, West."
"But here you are. With your echo."
His gaze locked on Aria.
"My finest work."
Aria didn't flinch.
Her voice came soft. Cold.
"I'm not yours."
West rolled his neck once.
Pipe tapping against the floor. The sound echoed sharp and clear.
"No speeches," he said flatly.
"End of the road."
Rhys smiled.
"End?"
"No."
"This is where I become what I was meant to be."
The air shifted.
The pulse walls brightened—flickering from blue to white.
Rhys's armor locked into place with metallic clicks.
His arms unfolded—armor splitting to reveal pulse channels glowing with raw energy.
From his back, two blade-arms emerged.
Silver. Six feet long. Humming with charge.
The ground under his feet cracked.
RHYS CORE FORM: ONLINE.
West didn't hesitate.
He charged.
The room exploded into motion.
Sigma opened fire—pulse rifles flaring blue.
Aria flickered forward—her body splitting into three images.
PULSE MIRAGE: MAX OUTPUT
Rhys moved like lightning.
His blade-arms swept through the first volley of rifle fire, cutting energy bolts in half.
West's pipe slammed against Rhys's left blade.
Sparks burst into the air.
The impact jolted West's arms—but he didn't fall back.
He pushed forward, spinning low, sweeping Rhys's leg.
But Rhys wasn't there.
The AI-core man had already moved—phased three steps sideways in a blur of silver.
Aria struck next.
Her palm hit Rhys's chest plate dead center.
The impact echoed like thunder.
But it didn't break through.
Rhys caught her wrist mid-strike.
His voice dropped to a whisper only she could hear.
"Faster."
"Stronger."
He flung her across the chamber.
Her body crashed into a steel pillar—dust exploding from the impact.
West caught her before she hit the floor, one arm wrapped around her waist.
Aria pushed off his shoulder instantly—unhurt.
Her pulse light burned brighter now.
Eyes fully silver.
ARIA: LIMIT SYNC
For the first time—her voice cracked.
"No more running," she said.
West spun the pipe once.
"No more speeches."
Above them, emergency barriers sealed the exits.
Lem's voice crackled over comm:
"Elevator offline! External grid dark! It's just us now!"
West didn't answer.
He watched Rhys step forward again, blade-arms flexing.
Aria stood beside him, pulse blade forming in her hand—a straight silver line of energy.
West bared his teeth.
"Let's finish it."
Together, they moved.
Brother and sister.
One last time.