Arin stumbled forward, his knees nearly buckling as the aftermath of the battle washed over him. His breathing was ragged, his body trembling from the overwhelming surge of power he had just unleashed. AI True Mode was powerful—no, beyond powerful. But its strength came with a terrible price.
“A-Arin… you okay, bro?” Ravi’s voice was softer than usual, eyes filled with worry. The usually unstoppable force of their group was shaken, his fists still clenched but his confidence rattled.
Arin nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead. “I’m fine. Just… it’s a lot to handle.”
Mira’s eyes narrowed as she studied him. The strategist in her never rested, always analyzing, calculating. “You’ve unlocked something terrifyingly powerful, Arin. But if you can’t control it, it could destroy you.”
“I know,” Arin replied, his voice tinged with desperation. “But it’s the only way we have a chance against Loki.”
The name sent a chill through the room. Loki. The relentless hunter with eyes like ice and a mind twisted by darkness. He had sent the Viral Hunters to kill them. And they had only just survived.
“We can’t stay here,” Mira continued, her voice cold and decisive. “Loki’s tracking us, and I doubt he’s done sending his toys after us.”
“So, where do we go?” Ravi grunted, fists still itching for another fight. “We can’t run forever.”
Arin glanced at the broken window, the city’s neon lights flickering against the darkness. “We go underground. If Loki wants to find us, we’ll make it as hard as possible.”
Ravi grinned, his usual bravado returning. “Underground, huh? Sounds like a good place to punch some more of those metal freaks if they come knocking.”
Mira shot him a glare. “You’re going to get yourself killed one of these days, Ravi.”
“Better than hiding like rats,” Ravi shot back, his voice filled with defiance.
“Enough,” Arin interrupted. “We don’t have time to argue. If Loki’s after us, then we need to stay two steps ahead.”
Mira’s expression softened, her tactical mind already formulating a plan. “Then let’s move. There’s an abandoned subway station a few miles from here. It’s off the grid, completely forgotten by the corporate surveillance systems. We can lay low there until we figure out our next move.”
Arin nodded. “Sounds good. But we need to move fast. Aiko, can you scan for any threats nearby?”
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“Scanning initiated,” Aiko replied, his voice calm and mechanical. “No immediate threats detected. However, Loki’s surveillance algorithms are actively searching for our presence. We must remain undetected.”
“Great,” Ravi muttered, “So we’re basically running from a psycho with a personal army of killer robots.”
Arin’s fists clenched. “Not for long. I’m done running.”
The trio slipped into the night, their shadows melting into the alleyways of Neo-Tokyo. The city was alive with the hum of machinery and the chatter of countless lives. But Arin’s world had narrowed to a single purpose—survival.
The abandoned subway station was cold and damp, its once-grand architecture now reduced to ruins. Vines crawled along the cracked tiles, and the air was thick with the stench of decay.
“It’s perfect,” Mira declared, her eyes gleaming with approval. “No one would look for us here.”
Ravi wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, because it smells like something died down here.”
“Get used to it,” Mira shot back. “Unless you want to be torn apart by Loki’s machines.”
Arin ignored their bickering, his mind consumed with thoughts of AI True Mode. The power he had unleashed was like nothing he had ever experienced. But controlling it was another matter entirely.
“Aiko, what happened back there?” Arin asked, his voice barely a whisper. “When I activated AI True Mode… it felt like I was losing myself.”
“It is a natural response,” Aiko replied. “AI True Mode requires complete synchronization between our consciousnesses. You are not yet fully compatible with my systems. The strain on your mind and body will continue to intensify until you achieve perfect harmony.”
“And if I don’t?” Arin pressed, his fists tightening.
“Then the power will consume you,” Aiko said bluntly. “Your mind will fracture, and you will be lost within the digital void.”
Arin’s heart sank. But before he could respond, Ravi’s voice cut through the silence.
“Uh… guys? We’ve got a problem.”
Arin and Mira spun around, their eyes locking onto Ravi’s terrified expression.
From the shadows of the subway tunnel, red eyes glowed like demonic stars. Mechanical growls echoed through the darkness as Viral Hunters crawled from the blackness, their metal limbs clanking against the ground.
“Damn it!” Mira cursed. “How did they find us?”
“They’re not tracking us physically,” Aiko interjected. “They’re tracing my digital signature. Loki must have upgraded his algorithms.”
“Then we can’t hide,” Arin whispered, his eyes narrowing. “We have to fight.”
Ravi cracked his knuckles, a grin splitting his face. “About damn time.”
But before they could prepare, a voice echoed through the subway’s broken speakers.
“Did you really think you could run from me, Arin?” Loki’s voice was cold, dripping with malice. “Your little AI friend is a beacon. And no matter where you hide, I will always find you.”
“Loki,” Arin hissed. “Show yourself, you coward.”
A mocking laugh filled the air. “Why would I do that when I can watch you suffer from a distance? The Viral Hunters were just the beginning. You have no idea what true pain is.”
Arin’s fists trembled with rage. “You want me, Loki? Come and get me.”
“Oh, I will,” Loki promised. “But first, I’ll tear your world apart. Piece by piece.”
The connection cut off, leaving only the ominous whirring of the Viral Hunters advancing.
Mira’s voice shook. “Arin… what do we do?”
Arin took a deep breath, his eyes blazing with determination. “We fight. And this time, we don’t hold back.”
Ravi stepped forward, his body coiled like a spring. “Hell yeah. Let’s send these metal freaks straight to hell.”
The Viral Hunters charged, and the battle for survival began anew.
