WEEEOOO——!

  The warning alarm screamed.

  Single tone. High frequency. Repeating.

  The Prism shuddered.

  Light rays distorted, and inside the core, the light was weakening.

  The panel trembled. "Prism malfunction detected. System initialization in progress."

  The ceiling Prism flickered.

  That moment. For the first time, 'shadows' appeared within the Temple.

  Shade formed. On the floor. Behind pillars.

  Across Elion's face. And then. Illumination reignition.

  Light flooded back.

  WEEEOOO——!

  Warning lights activated. White. Cold, intense light. Piercing brightness.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Emergency detection sensors triggered.

  Elion ran. Tore off the lenses. Dove into the duct passage. Hands scraped raw.

  Breath held. Behind him—a WHIIIINE sliced the air.

  Reconnaissance drone. Silver trajectory. Rapid rotation.

  "Identifying. Target acquired."

  He frantically hurled himself down the stairs.

  Vertical slide corridor.

  Palm recognition— "Access denied."

  Passage sealed.

  Left side. Leap. Service ventilation shaft.

  Metal bars snapping as he crashed through. Knee torn open.

  CLANK-CLANK-CLANK. Quadrupedal robots approached. Metal legs. Horizontal encirclement.

  Attack drones hovering above. Laser focus.

  "Target locked. Non-lethal capture protocol activated."

  He struggled. Door handle. Metal wall. Closed road.

  Encirclement complete.

  Robed figures converged on him.

  Gray silk. Silver emblems. Religious Police.

  "Elion-Ser, Resident of Cell 9. Trespassing and damaging Illumint Order technical facilities. You are under arrest."

  He fell to his knees.

  Gasping for breath.

  Everything before his eyes grew increasingly bright.

  Not light but despair.

  And at its center, Elion quietly smiled.

  "Finally, darkness has appeared."