Just as the warning signals seemed to coalesce into a full-blown alarm, a faint, almost invisible shimmer emanated from the center of the group, spreading outwards like a ripple in water. It pulsed with a subtle honeyed tint, briefly catching the scattered dust motes in the air. For a fleeting instant, the air itself seemed to grow denser, a soft barrier of pure energy encapsulating their small huddle. The building's burgeoning electronic thrum outside their immediate vicinity, which had been rising, abruptly stabilized, no longer escalating into a clamor.
Nyx's crystal device, which had begun to flicker agitatedly, suddenly stilled, its glow calming. Her baby blue eyes, wide with surprise, darted to Hadrian. "Did... did you just cloak us?" Her voice was a hushed whisper, a mixture of awe and bewilderment.
Artemis, whose fists had instinctively tightened, his muscles coiling for a fight, lowered his stance. "What the hell was that?" he muttered, looking around. "Feels like someone just wrapped us in cotton, but for our energy. Is that... a guide thing?" He studied Hadrian with an open curiosity that masked his prior gruffness.
Leo Harten tilted his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. His gray eyes narrowed as he seemed to 'see' the invisible barrier more clearly than the others. "Well now, that's certainly a unique trick, Hadrian. And remarkably fast. You definitely shut up that overeager system." He nudged the inert control panel with his foot. "No alarms, no patrol bots rerouting. Nicely done."
Mason exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing marginally. His emerald eyes, however, fixed intently on Hadrian, a calculating appraisal in their depths. "Seems our new guide has more than a few hidden talents," Mason observed, his voice low and even. "Thanks, Hadrian. You just saved us from a very noisy entrance. Athena, resume disabling those systems. Quickly." He gestured toward the control panel.
Hadrian gave a hesitant smile as he tried to hold his focus. He would try his best to maintain the shield but he had never needed to form such a large shield before and it was draining his energy fast. He kept glancing toward Athena praying she got through fast enough. He could feel sweat forming on his brow.
"Almost there," Athena gritted out, her slender fingers a blur across the security nexus interface. The arcane symbols on the defunct display flickered more rapidly now, a soft whirring growing louder from within the panel. The faint hum of Hadrian's protective shield, with its subtle honeyed tint, continued to envelop the group. A single bead of sweat trickled down Hadrian's temple, catching the eerie light from Leo's floating orb, but his focus remained unwavering.
Nyx's baby blue eyes, filled with a gentle warmth, watched Hadrian, her crystalline device glowing faintly in her hand. "You're doing remarkably well, Hadrian. Your stability is truly impressive." Her voice was a soft balm in the tense silence. "The building's energy signature remains calm, completely unaware of our presence."
"No alarms yet, which means Hadrian's little party trick is working," Leo remarked, his tone light, yet his grey eyes held a sharper glint as they darted between Hadrian's strained posture and the flashing panel. "Push that final sequence, rogue. Before our silent hero starts looking like he took a swim in a tropical spa."
Artemis stretched, a low rumble in his chest. "Yeah, I prefer punching actual targets instead of phantom systems. Hurry it up, Athena." Mason nodded, his emerald gaze shifting from Athena's work to Hadrian's steadfast stance. The air crackled with a low energy, the system battling Athena's every keystroke, yet the shield held firm.
Hadrian was slowly getting to his breaking point. As he listened to Athena work fervently, his eyes glance down at his esper energy bar. 35%... 30%.... 20%... ..5%... He held on to the very edge and right at one percent he had to drop the shield.
A visible tremor ran through Hadrian's frame the moment the shimmering, honey-tinted shield winked out of existence. His muscles screamed with the effort, his head swam with a dizzying rush, yet a surge of relief washed over him as Athena's triumphant declaration echoed through the chamber.
"Got it! Systems offline, access granted to lower levels!" Athena's voice was sharp with victory, her fingers hovering above the security nexus panel where an array of green lights now glowed steadily. The hum that had permeated the room, indicative of the rebooting systems, abruptly ceased. She pulled her interface cable free, a triumphant grin on her face. "Clean and quick, just like I promised. Though I admit, that little trick of Hadrian's saved our asses from a real racket."
Nyx immediately stepped to Hadrian's side, her graceful hand reaching out, not quite touching him, but a visible warmth emanating from her. Her baby blue eyes scanned his face with a look of concern. "Are you alright, Hadrian? You pushed yourself to your limit."
"Incredible, Hadrian," Leo Harten drawled, strolling closer. He reached out to pat the now inert security panel. "I've seen shields that repel physical attacks, but one that masks energy signatures? That's quite the party trick for a guide. What exactly was that?" His grey eyes held a deeper glint of curiosity.
Artemis grunted, a sound of reluctant approval. "Barely broke a sweat," he exaggerated, a wry smirk on his face. "Guess you're not just keeping our heads on straight. Alright, Mason, security's down. Where next? My knuckles are starting to itch."
Mason Hunt turned from observing the now silent console, his emerald eyes locked onto Hadrian, a quiet respect hardening his gaze. "Good work, both of you," he stated, his voice firm and even. "Hadrian, take a moment. Nyx, keep an eye on him. Athena, access the schematic for the fastest route to the energy core. Leo, scouting illusions up, double time. Artemis, secure our six. We move."
Hadrian's shaky breaths slowly deepened, the taut lines of his shoulders beginning to ease. He offered Leo a wry smirk. "Can't tell ya, it's no fun if you know all my party tricks." His hand moved, and a small, corked vial appeared, glowing with a honeyed light that seemed to pulse in time with his racing heartbeat. He uncorked it, a faint sweet scent filling the dusty air, and brought it to his lips, draining the viscous liquid in one smooth swallow.
Nyx's baby blue eyes softened with relief as she watched the color return to Hadrian's face, a hint of vitality restoring his earlier glow. "That was... quick," she observed, a slight wonder in her voice. "Is that how Guides replenish their energy?"
Artemis grunted, observing the exchange. "Looks potent. Stronger than any field medic's stim. I wish I had some of that after a brawl." His red eyes held a genuine fascination.
Leo's eyes twinkled with amusement. "A secret concoction, eh? And I thought all Guides simply waved their hands to feel better. Fascinating." He then turned to Mason, his casual demeanor slipping away. "So, boss, the system's asleep again. Athena got us a backdoor. Where's the show headed next?"
Mason's emerald gaze, having never left Hadrian, finally flickered to Nyx's device. "The energy fluctuations from the core are getting stronger still. This isn't a passive relic; it's an active entity down there." He paused, then pointed towards a narrow access tunnel that had been obscured before the power rerouted.
"Athena, Nyx, you two check out this alternate route. Could be a way around heavy fortifications. Artemis, Leo, with me. We head straight down through the main levels. Hadrian, you stick close to Nyx. Stay sharp, everyone." Mason led the way, his boots echoing with purpose.
Hadrian nods and prepares to follow Nyx and Athena. His mini-map shows that where they were going was an intricate and maze-like path. Hadrian held back a laugh realizing that he literally had a maze cheat sheet since he had the mini-map, as it gave him the correct route through the weaving tunnels.