The reprieve was brief. Tomb-01 launched Seekers – hundreds, swarming like obsidian locusts.
[SEEKER SWARM TACTIC: ENERGY OVERWHELM/DRAIN]
The Void Shell couldn't hold. Lin Mo focused, shaping Seed energy with terrifying precision.
[VOID FIST: SWARM DISPERSAL PATTERN - OMEGA VARIANT]
Miniature black holes bloomed amidst the swarm, swallowing clusters whole. Others detonated in pulses of gravitational shear. The Dawn's Edge weaved through the chaos, Baylor's cyborg reflexes pushed to the limit.
Wu Gen hobbled to the weapons console. "Silas! Feed me targeting data! Lin Mo creates openings, we shatter them!"
Silas hesitated. A fraction of a second. His eye flickered – not blue, but red.
[WARNING: CYBERNETIC SIGNATURE ANOMALY - BLACK PAGODA OVERRIDE DETECTED]
Too late. Silas's hands flew across the console. Not feeding Wu Gen data. Hijacking ship systems.
"Forgive me," Silas rasped, his voice layered with Handler's synthesized tones. "The Seed is too valuable to lose. Pagoda Directive Omega: Secure Asset."
The Dawn's Edge's engines roared. Not evading. Charging Tomb-01's main aperture – the only structure resembling an entrance.
[COURSE LOCKED: TOMB-01 PRIMARY INGESTION PORT]
[SILAS/HANDLER OBJECTIVE: DELIVER VOID SEED INTO TOMB CORE]
Wu Gen lunged, crutch forgotten. His remaining fist connected with Silas's jaw. Metal dented. Silas staggered but didn't fall.
"Traitor!" Wu Gen snarled.
"Survivalist," Silas corrected, drawing a concealed pulse-pistol. "The Pagoda understood: Control the Key, control the Cage."
Lin Mo faced the viewscreen. Tomb-01's maw yawned – a gateway into infinite darkness. The Seed pulled him towards it, whispering of dominion. Yu lay helpless.
[OPTION: VOID FOLD (SELF/YU ONLY)]
[OPTION: SEED OVERRIDE - DESTROY DAWN'S EDGE ENGINES]
He chose. Not the Seed's power. Wu Gen's lesson. Sacrifice the tool, save the purpose.
[VOID FIST: MICRO-SINGULARITY - TARGET: ENGINE CORE]
A pinpoint black hole blossomed in the Dawn's Edge's main drive.