Chapter 425: The Brain And Sword

Elden watched the network map change for the third time in less than a minute. Every time he isolated one of the ancient connections, the central structure opened another route and restored the power flow through a different channel.

He leaned closer to his display, his fingers moving across several control panels. His modern backup systems were keeping Nexus’s communications and emergency monitoring operational, but they were doing nothing to stop the ancient network from drawing power away from the city.

"Come on," he muttered as another connection reappeared. "You can’t keep rebuilding the same route forever."

A warning flashed across his screen.

[CONNECTION RESTORED.]

Elden leaned back and rubbed his forehead. He had already isolated four connections, and the network had restored every single one. It was not simply repairing damaged channels. Something within the central structure was actively choosing alternative routes whenever one became unavailable.

He opened the network’s structural map and enlarged the section beneath the western defensive tower. Several connections converged around a physical chamber buried below the tower’s foundation.

"There you are," he said quietly.

The chamber contained several connection nodes that controlled the flow between the ancient towers and the central network. Elden could identify their positions, but his remote access could not reach the mechanisms themselves. Every command he sent was being intercepted or redirected before it reached the physical controls.

He opened the communication channel to Kai.

"I’ve found a way to stop at least some of the power redirection, but I need someone inside the western control chamber."

Kai, who was reviewing reports from the affected districts, looked toward the display. "Can you shut it down remotely?"

"I’ve tried. The central structure keeps restoring the connections through alternative channels. I need the physical nodes destroyed in a specific order, otherwise the network will simply redirect the power again."

"How many nodes?"

"Three that I can confirm. There may be more, but I won’t know until the first two are disabled."

Kai looked toward the western tower on the map. "Can you guide someone through it?"

"I can provide their locations and the order they need to be destroyed. I can’t promise the chamber will remain stable while they’re inside."

A familiar voice interrupted the conversation.

"Where is it?"

Raze had approached the command center with several of his Hunters. He had heard enough of the conversation to understand that someone needed to enter a dangerous structure.

Elden looked at him through the display. "The western control chamber, beneath the defensive tower."

Raze grinned. "Finally, something worth doing."

Mira, who was monitoring the same channel while coordinating the evacuation teams, immediately turned toward him. "Try not to destroy the city while you’re at it. We have enough problems without you bringing down another district."

Raze shrugged. "No promises."

"Raze," Mira warned.

"I heard you. I’ll try to leave the important buildings standing."

Elden interrupted before the exchange could continue. "I need you to understand something. This isn’t a normal demolition job. There are three connection nodes, and they must be destroyed in the correct order. If you damage the wrong mechanism, the structure above you could collapse before the network shuts down."

Raze looked at the map Elden sent him. "You’re telling me where to hit?"

"I’m telling you what not to hit."

"That’s less useful."

"It’s the only reason the city will still be standing when you finish."

Raze studied the highlighted structures for another moment before looking toward his Hunters. "You heard him. We’re going underground. Get your equipment ready, and bring enough supplies to treat injuries. I don’t want anyone wasting time searching for medical equipment halfway through the mission."

One of the Hunters raised an eyebrow. "You sound unusually cautious today."

"I’m always cautious. I just prefer being cautious while hitting something."

Mira shook her head, though some of the tension left her expression. "Please listen to Elden. He’s trying to keep you alive."

Raze turned toward the communication device. "I’ll do my best, Brain. Try to keep up."

Elden stared at him. "I am going to regret agreeing to this."

...

The western defensive tower stood above a damaged section of Nexus, surrounded by cracked roads and abandoned vehicles. Its weapon had stopped firing for several minutes, but the blue light beneath its outer plates continued pulsing.

Raze arrived with six of his Hunters, leaving the others to secure the surrounding streets and assist the local evacuation teams. He examined the entrance to the underground chamber while one of his Hunters checked the structural readings.

"The entrance is clear," the Hunter reported. "But the ground beneath it is unstable. There are several cracks running toward the tower’s foundation."

Raze looked at the entrance. "How long before it becomes dangerous?"

"I can’t give you an exact estimate."

"Then we’ll work quickly."

The group descended through the passage, finding an ancient corridor lined with metal plates and glowing symbols. At the far end stood a massive door with three circular mechanisms arranged around its center.

Elden’s voice came through their communicators. "I’ve got your position. The first connection node is behind that door, approximately twenty meters beyond the entrance. Be careful when you approach it. The chamber has defensive constructs."

Raze placed a hand against the door. "Can you open it?"

"I can try."

The mechanisms turned, and the door slowly separated from its frame. Beyond it lay a wide chamber filled with suspended metal structures. Several glowing channels ran along the walls, connecting the central platform to three enormous nodes.

The moment Raze stepped inside, the constructs activated.

Four armored figures emerged from the walls, their bodies formed from the same material as the ancient structures. They did not immediately attack the Hunters. Instead, two moved toward the connection nodes while the others positioned themselves between the intruders and the central platform.

Raze raised his weapon. "I’ll clear the front. Keep them away from the nodes."

He charged.

His first strike shattered one construct’s armor and sent it crashing against the wall. Another tried to block his path, but Raze forced it aside and reached the nearest connection node.

He struck the mechanism.

The metal casing cracked, and the blue light inside flickered.

However, the two constructs behind him ignored his attack. They reached the damaged node and began repairing it, drawing energy from the surrounding channels.

Elden’s voice sounded through the communicator. "Raze, stop! They’re restoring the connection!"

Raze looked over his shoulder as the damaged mechanism began rebuilding itself. "I noticed."

"Destroying the node isn’t enough. You need to keep the constructs away from it until the connection is completely severed."

Raze clicked his tongue. "Then you should have mentioned that before I started hitting it."

"I didn’t know they could repair it that quickly. The data showed a defensive response, not an automatic restoration process."

One of the constructs lunged toward Raze, forcing him to abandon the node. He struck it aside, but another had already reached the mechanism and restored part of its outer casing.

Raze retreated toward his Hunters. "Change of plan. Two of you keep those things occupied while the others cover the connections. Don’t let them reach the nodes."

A Hunter glanced toward the approaching constructs. "And what will you do?"

"Break the first connection properly this time."

The Hunters moved into position. Two drew the constructs toward the opposite side of the chamber while another attacked the channels feeding the nearest node. Their strikes did little damage, but they disrupted the flow long enough for Raze to reach the mechanism again.

Elden watched the readings.

"Raze, the lower channel is exposed. Strike there, not the outer casing!"

Raze adjusted his stance and drove his weapon into the exposed channel.

The connection broke.

A wave of blue light passed through the chamber before the first node went dark.

Across Nexus, the western tower’s weapon stopped glowing. Its targeting mechanism froze, and the massive structure slowly lowered its weapon toward the ground.

For the first time since the calamity began, one of the ancient defenses had completely stopped firing.

...

Elden watched the readings stabilize.

"First connection severed," he reported. "The western tower is no longer receiving power from the central network."

Mira looked at the map as the tower’s light faded. "Does that mean the district is safe?"

"It’s safer than it was a minute ago," Elden replied. "But I wouldn’t call it safe yet."

Before he could continue, another warning appeared.

[POWER REDISTRIBUTION DETECTED.]

Elden’s eyes widened as the network began shifting energy away from the disabled connection. A second tower, positioned near a populated district, started drawing power at an alarming rate.

"That’s not good."

Kai stepped closer. "What happened?"

"The network has redirected the power from the disabled tower. It’s concentrating the energy in another defensive structure."

"Can it fire?"

Elden enlarged the readings. The second tower’s weapon was already beginning to glow.

"It can, and based on the amount of energy entering it, this one is preparing something considerably stronger."

Raze’s voice interrupted them. "Then tell me where the next connection is."

Elden highlighted the second node on the map. "It’s deeper inside the chamber. You’ll need to cross the central platform, but the support structure around it is already damaged."

"Can I destroy it?"

"Yes, but the order matters. The first node is disabled, so the second connection must be severed before the third. If you damage the third first, the network could redirect power through the remaining channel and destabilize the entire chamber."

Raze looked toward the deeper passage.

"Understood."

Elden hesitated before adding, "Raze, I need you to follow the instructions exactly. I can’t see everything happening inside that chamber, and the network is behaving differently from the records I have."

Raze glanced toward the communication device. "You don’t need to see everything. Just tell me what you know, and I’ll tell you what I’m seeing."

Elden fell silent for a moment.

Then he nodded. "Agreed."

...

The second section of the chamber was already collapsing.

Large pieces of the ceiling had fallen across the passage, and one of the support columns had split down the middle. Beyond it, the second connection node was suspended above a deep shaft, held in place by several ancient supports.

Raze studied the structure before moving forward.

One of his Hunters approached him. "The path is narrow. If we cross together, the weight could make the support collapse."

"Then we won’t cross together. Two at a time, and keep your distance from the outer wall."

The Hunters followed his instructions.

They had almost reached the central platform when the remaining constructs moved to intercept them. Unlike before, they ignored the Hunters who attacked their backs and focused entirely on protecting the second node.

Raze noticed the pattern immediately.

"They don’t care about us. They only care about keeping those connections intact."

One of his Hunters blocked a construct’s strike. "Then we need to draw them away from the node."

"Exactly. You three take the left side. Keep them occupied, but don’t chase them if they retreat. I need the route open."

The Hunters moved to carry out the order.

Raze advanced toward the second node, but the damaged support beneath it began to crack. Elden’s voice sounded through the communicator.

"Stop! The support is failing. If you strike the node now, the entire platform could collapse."

Raze looked at the glowing mechanism.

"How long before the tower fires?"

"Less than a minute, based on the current energy output."

"Then I don’t have time to wait."

"There may be another way. I can redirect a portion of the energy through the first connection, but I need to calculate the sequence."

Raze glanced at the damaged platform. "You have thirty seconds."

Elden began working, his display filling with calculations. He tried to reroute the energy through the disabled connection, but the central network rejected the command and began restoring another channel.

"It’s blocking me," Elden said, frustration entering his voice. "I can’t force the connection to remain open."

Kai, listening through the command channel, looked toward the map. "Can you find another way?"

"Not without more information. I don’t understand how the central structure is choosing these routes."

Elden stared at the readings, then looked back at Raze’s position.

"I can’t give you a safe solution. You’ll have to destroy the node before the tower fires."

Raze examined the support column. He could reach the mechanism, but the platform would collapse as soon as it broke. The passage behind him was the only reliable exit.

"Everyone, retreat to the previous section," he ordered.

One of his Hunters looked at him. "What about you?"

"I’ll handle the node. Get the others out."

"We can help you."

"You can help me by making sure I don’t have to carry you out afterward."

The Hunter hesitated, then nodded.

Raze waited until his team had crossed the narrow passage. One Hunter remained behind, watching him from the entrance.

"Move!" Raze ordered.

The Hunter shook his head. "I’m not leaving you alone in there."

Raze frowned. "That’s an order."

"And I’m following it. I’m staying here to keep the passage clear while you destroy the node."

Raze looked at him for a moment before giving a short nod. "Fine. But if the platform falls, you leave immediately."

He turned toward the mechanism.

The tower’s weapon was almost fully charged.

Raze gathered his strength and struck the second connection node.

The impact shattered its casing. Blue energy erupted from the mechanism, spreading across the platform as the support structure began to collapse.

The node went dark.

Across Nexus, the second tower’s weapon shut down before it could fire.

Raze turned toward the passage, but a section of the platform broke away beneath his feet. He jumped toward the entrance as the remaining support column gave way.

His armor struck the edge of the passage, cracking several plates. The Hunter waiting there caught his arm and pulled him onto stable ground just as the platform disappeared into the shaft.

Both of them crashed against the corridor wall.

For a moment, neither moved.

Then Raze pushed himself upright, examining the damage to his armor.

"I’m going to need a replacement."

The Hunter gave a tired laugh before clutching his side. Blood had begun spreading beneath his armor.

Raze’s expression changed. "How badly are you hurt?"

"It’s nothing serious."

"Don’t lie to me. Sit down."

He called for the others, and two Hunters quickly arrived to help their injured teammate.

Elden’s voice came through the communicator. "The second tower has shut down. Raze, did you make it out?"

Raze looked toward the collapsed passage.

"I’m alive. One of my Hunters is injured, and my armor is damaged. You’ll have to settle for that."

"I’ll take it," Elden replied. "You did what I needed."

Raze glanced toward the communication device. "You sound surprised."

"I’m surprised the chamber is still standing after what you did."

"Then I did a good job."

...

Back at the command center, Elden watched the network map update.

Two defensive towers had gone dark, and the power they once received was no longer flowing through their connections. For a brief moment, the surrounding districts stabilized.

Mira released a breath as the second tower’s light faded. "That should give the evacuation teams some breathing room."

"It will," Elden answered. "But the network is still active."

Kai looked toward the central structure. "What is it doing now?"

Elden enlarged the remaining connections.

The power that had been redirected from the first two towers was moving toward the central structure. Several channels were glowing brighter than before, and the energy was gathering around a section of the network that had not appeared on any of his previous maps.

His expression tightened.

"The towers weren’t the final destination. They were only receiving power from the central network."

"Then where is all that energy going?" Kai asked.

Elden examined the readings again, trying to identify the structure at the center of the flow.

"Somewhere deeper inside the network. I can’t determine its purpose yet, but the amount of energy gathering there is increasing."

Lily joined the channel, her own readings confirming the change. "I’m seeing the same thing. The central structure is pulling energy from every connection that remains active."

Elden nodded slowly.

"The network isn’t just defending itself anymore. It’s gathering everything it can reach."

Kai looked toward the distant towers as another blue light appeared above the city.

"Can you stop it?"

Elden stared at the map.

"I can try, but after what happened today, I don’t think destroying a few more connections will be enough."

The central structure pulsed.

Across Nexus, the remaining ancient towers turned toward it.