Granis City never truly slept, but Old Town did its best to pretend. The flickering streetlights painted long shadows on the cobblestone roads, and the buildings whispered stories of the past with every creak. Kael stood at the edge of the district, hood pulled low, hands in his pockets. Midnight had just struck, and the only sound was the occasional crackle of a neon sign and the distant bark of a stray dog.
The message had been clear.
"Follow the red bird in Old Town. Midnight. Come alone."
He wasn't even sure what that meant—until he saw it.
A small red drone shaped like a bird blinked to life above a crumbling rooftop and let out a faint digital chirp. Kael blinked in surprise as the drone hovered, then darted forward.
He ran after it.
Down alleys that smelled of rust and old oil. Over fences. Past forgotten graffiti and smashed payphones. The red drone kept a steady pace, always staying just out of reach, like it knew exactly how fast he could run.
Eventually, it stopped at a broken-down warehouse at the edge of the docks. The kind of place where secrets were born—and buried.
The drone beeped and hovered above the doorway before flying up and disappearing into the night sky.
Kael didn't hesitate. He pushed the door open slowly, the metal screeching in protest.
The inside was dimly lit by hanging bulbs. At the center of the room stood a long table. On one side was a man in a grey trench coat with a high collar, a cybernetic eye glowing red. On the other side, a woman in tactical armor leaned against a pillar, arms crossed.
The man turned.
"You're later than expected," he said, voice calm but stern. "Kael Riven. Life System user."
Kael didn't respond, but his eyes narrowed.
The woman stepped forward. "We're not here to hurt you. We're here to offer you something… clarity."
"Then start talking," Kael said.
The man raised a hand. A large screen flickered to life behind him. It showed a map of Granis City, then overlaid a glowing grid of red lines.
"These are life energy fluctuations. Every Life System user emits them. You're not the only one."
Kael stepped closer.
"How many?"
The woman answered. "Thirteen. Thirteen confirmed users. But most are being hunted. Some are already dead."
Kael's heart tightened. "By the same people who burned down the arcade?"
"Yes. The organization you tangled with? They call themselves The Order. They once created the Life System prototypes... but they lost control of them. Now they're trying to erase their mistake."
The man tapped the screen again. A file popped open—Kael's photo, stats, and mission logs.
"You're different, though. Your System's evolving independently. It's gaining new functions faster than it should."
Kael frowned. "Why?"
The woman stepped forward, eyes serious. "Because yours might be the original. The Alpha Core. The one that started everything."
He froze.
"You're lying."
"We're not," the man said. "But it means they'll come after you harder. The Order doesn't like wild variables. And you… you're the biggest one."
Kael's Life System pulsed.
[New Mission: Escape the Hunt – Survive until next update cycle. Reward: Core Memory Fragment.]
"Then what do you want from me?"
The woman smiled faintly. "To survive. To fight back. To uncover the truth. We're forming a network—a Resistance. Every user who joins us makes us stronger. Smarter. Safer."
Kael looked at the glowing city map behind them. Red lines connected across the city like veins. Life pulsed through Granis, but so did danger.
"Do I have a choice?"
"Always," the man said. "But if you walk out now, you'll be hunted alone."
Kael was silent for a moment, then gave a short nod.
"Then I'm in."
The man tapped his wristwatch, and a small black card appeared from a hidden compartment.
"This is your secure line. Burn it if compromised."
Kael took it, tucking it into his hoodie.
One last thing appeared on the screen: a symbol—a broken crown with wings. The logo he'd seen before.
"What's that?"
"Our emblem," the woman said. "We're called Cinderwake."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"I like it."
Outside, the red drone hovered once more, recording the night silently as Kael stepped into something bigger than he'd ever imagined.