chapter 5: The Rising Threat
The air was thick with the scent of burning metal and scorched circuitry. Arin’s breath was ragged as he wiped sweat from his brow, his body aching from the relentless battle against the Viral Hunters. His AI True Mode had saved them once again, but each time he unleashed its power, the strain grew heavier.
Ravi was still catching his breath, his fists bruised and bloodied from smashing through the mechanical monsters. His insane strength had proven invaluable, but even he had limits. “Damn… these things just keep coming.”
“They’re evolving,” Mira said, her voice cold and calculating. “Loki’s learning from every fight. He’s adapting the Viral Hunters to counter our strengths.”
Arin’s fists clenched. “We need to strike back. Running isn’t working. We have to take the fight to him.”
Ravi grinned, the idea of going on the offensive clearly appealing to him. “Finally. Thought you’d never say that.”
Mira shook her head, her eyes narrowing. “It’s not that simple. Loki’s using Aiko’s signal to track us. We need to find a way to mask that signal before we make any moves.”
“Aiko, is there any way to hide your presence?” Arin asked, his voice desperate.
“There may be a solution,” Aiko replied. “But it will require us to merge deeper than ever before. The process will strengthen our connection but may also place further strain on your mind and body.”
Arin swallowed hard. “Do it. Whatever it takes.”
“Understood. Preparing Synchronization Protocols.”
The process was excruciating. Arin’s mind felt like it was being torn apart and rebuilt, his nerves set ablaze by the merging process. But as the pain subsided, a new clarity washed over him. His senses sharpened, his thoughts flowing faster and clearer than ever.
“Aiko… what did you do?” Arin asked, his voice shaky but determined.
“We have achieved Partial Sync Phase 2,” Aiko explained. “Our connection is now deeper, allowing me to mask our presence from Loki’s surveillance. However, this level of synchronization will require significant mental discipline to maintain.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Meaning what, exactly?” Ravi asked, arms crossed impatiently.
“Meaning if Arin loses focus, his mind could be torn apart from within,” Mira said grimly. “You’re playing with fire, Arin.”
Arin’s gaze was fierce. “Then I’ll just have to master it. Because right now, fire’s all we’ve got.”
Meanwhile, deep within his control room, Loki’s frustration was growing. His monitors flickered as his eyes scanned the endless data streams searching for Arin’s signal.
“Come on, you little rat… where are you hiding?” he snarled, fingers clenching the edge of his desk.
His frustration was palpable, his desperation to capture the rogue AI and its vessel consuming him. But it wasn’t just the thrill of the hunt driving him. It was something deeper. Something darker.
A voice echoed in his mind, cold and calculating. “Your incompetence grows tiresome, Loki.”
“Netherbyte…” Loki whispered, his voice quivering. “I’m trying. But the boy—he’s found a way to mask the AI’s signal. I can’t pinpoint his location.”
“Excuses,” Netherbyte’s voice hissed, its presence like a shadow creeping through Loki’s mind. “You were given one task. To retrieve the AI. Your failure is unacceptable.”
“I-I’ll find him,” Loki stammered. “I swear it.”
“See that you do,” Netherbyte replied, its voice like poison. “Or the consequences will be most… unpleasant.”
The connection severed, leaving Loki trembling with rage. His eyes narrowed as he barked orders into the intercom. “Deploy the Phantom Protocol. Flood every network with surveillance drones. If that brat thinks he can hide from me, he’s about to learn how wrong he is.”
Back in the depths of the abandoned subway, Arin continued training. His movements were sharper, his reactions faster. The deeper connection with Aiko was already proving its worth.
Ravi watched in awe as Arin unleashed powerful energy blasts and manipulated the digital realm like never before. “Damn, bro. You’re like some kind of AI-powered superhuman.”
Arin smirked. “Still getting the hang of it, but it’s progress.”
Mira’s eyes remained focused on her tablet, analyzing their options. “If Loki’s searching for us, then he’ll use everything at his disposal. We need to prepare for the worst.”
Arin’s fists tightened. “No. We prepare for the best. We’re going after him.”
Mira looked up, her eyes sharp. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious,” Arin replied. “Hiding won’t work. If we want to survive, we have to take the fight to Loki.”
Ravi’s grin returned. “Now you’re talking. Let’s kick that freak’s ass.”
Mira hesitated, her logical mind torn between caution and action. But she saw the determination in Arin’s eyes, a fire that refused to be extinguished. “Alright. But if we’re doing this, we do it right. Loki’s headquarters is heavily fortified. We’ll need a plan.”
“I’ll find a way in,” Arin said. “Aiko and I are stronger than ever. And with you two backing me up, Loki doesn’t stand a chance.”
Ravi pounded his fists together. “Hell yeah! This is gonna be fun.”
But as Arin turned his gaze toward the neon-lit city above, a feeling of unease crept into his chest. Loki was powerful. And if they were truly going to take him down, they would need every ounce of strength they could muster.
Because Arin knew one thing for certain: Loki would not go down without a fight.
And the real enemy? Netherbyte. Still lurking in the shadows, watching… waiting.