> [89 seconds remaining…]
Jonathan's pulse pounded louder than the countdown. The second Grand Emerald hovered in a cradle of mist, its light pulsing in rhythm with his breath. Every second mattered. Every step could cost them everything.
Cyron Vale stood still, helmet tilted, hands empty but somehow menacing. The crimson plates of his armor gleamed like lacquered blood, that emerald streak across the visor almost pulsing with disdain.
"Didn't expect guests," Cyron said, voice smooth as sanded glass. "But then again, you weren't invited."
Teshaal took a step forward, blade out. "Neither were you."
Cyron chuckled. "I go where the stakes are highest."
Jonathan didn't move. The Symbiote within his limbs coiled tight, reading tension like scent. "You here to talk, or play?"
"Oh, I'll do both. Talking's free. Killing's extra."
> [82 seconds remaining…]
Liari whispered sideways. "He's stalling. Wants to time his strike just before the lock completes."
Vikka, already behind a half-collapsed panel, steadied her rifle. "We take him now, we risk triggering a full Vault lockdown. It's watching."
Jonathan nodded slowly. "Then we play his game—until we flip the board."
He stepped forward, hands out. "You Crownless types always this dramatic?"
Cyron tilted his head. "We're survivors. No allegiances. No apologies. No chains."
"And what's your plan here?" Jonathan asked. "Steal the gem? Kill me before it binds?"
"No, no. You misunderstand." Cyron took a step closer. "I want it to bind to you. That's when it gets interesting."
> [74 seconds remaining…]
The Vault's mist churned as if reacting to their voices.
"Guys…" Shé muttered, eyes flicking to the walls. "This room's pressure is increasing. Heat too. The longer we talk, the worse it gets."
"Exactly," Cyron said. "The Vault is punishing us for not acting. A perfect little test."
He raised one hand.
And from the shadows behind him, two more players stepped in.
Both wore dark armor trimmed with bronze. No symbols. No names.
> Incoming Players: Unidentified Estimated GP: 6.5–9.0 Affiliation: Crownless
Cyron smirked. "I don't bring knives to a war. You think I came alone?"
Teshaal stepped protectively in front of Liari. "Three against five. We've handled worse."
"You won't be five much longer," Cyron said simply.
> [67 seconds remaining…]
Suddenly the mist lashed outward—thin tendrils wrapping the room's edge.
A new system alert pulsed above them:
> Vault Trial Activated: Challenge: Hold the Lock Zone Duration: Until timer expires Failure Penalty: Forced Attribute Swap (Random)
Jonathan's blood ran cold.
"They're trying to pull me off the zone," he said. "If I move, I lose the gem."
"And if you don't," Liari said, blades sliding out, "we lose you."
He didn't answer.
He just crouched low, legs shifting, Symbiote bracing his frame like an anchored beast. "Then don't let them through."
---
The Crownless trio surged forward.
Vikka fired first—sharp, clean, meant to disable.
One shot clipped the left flanker's shoulder. He spun but kept coming, brandishing a chain-axe that hummed with voltage.
Shé engaged him, dual daggers flashing like lightning.
Teshaal met the second flanker head-on. They locked blades with a crack of steel.
Only Cyron advanced slow.
Confident.
"You always send friends to die first?" Jonathan called out.
Cyron shrugged. "They're Crownless. They know the price."
> [52 seconds remaining…]
The chain-axe howled. Sparks burst as it struck the floor near Shé.
Shé rolled, countered, stabbed low. Blood sprayed.
> [ENEMY HP: -24%] GP Loss: -1.00
Teshaal let out a roar, overpowering his opponent with brute force.
But behind them, Cyron moved.
Like mist. Like death.
Vikka adjusted aim. "He's fast—damn fast!"
Liari intercepted him, dual blades striking. But Cyron parried with open hands, redirected her motion, and knocked her aside with one precise strike to the ribs.
> [PLAYER STAGGERED – LARI] HP: -18%
Jonathan held position, fists clenched, the emerald thrumming against his chest.
> [43 seconds remaining…]
The mist darkened. The Vault pulsed harder.
And then Cyron was there—in front of Jonathan.
No warning. No sound.
He raised one hand slowly. "Let's see if you're worth all this effort."
Jonathan struck first.
Symbiote-enhanced speed cracked the air. His fist caught Cyron's forearm—but Cyron twisted, countered, kneed him in the gut.
Pain flared.
They danced like predators.
Strike. Dodge. Feint. Slam.
No clear winner.
> [31 seconds remaining…]
---
Behind them, the battle tilted.
Shé disarmed his opponent, kicked him unconscious.
Teshaal crushed the other's shoulder, forcing surrender.
But Cyron held Jonathan's full focus.
"You're good," Cyron said through clenched teeth. "Almost like you've done this before."
Jonathan grinned through the blood. "You have no idea."
Then he twisted low—Symbiote coils flexing—and drove a knee up into Cyron's ribs.
> [ENEMY STAGGERED]
Jonathan didn't stop.
He elbowed. Hooked. Slammed.
> [ENEMY HP: -22%] GP Loss: -2.50
Cyron backflipped, landed. Chest heaving.
"I'll remember this," he growled.
> [11 seconds remaining…]
He raised his wrist, tapped it once.
A thin pulse exploded from a node behind him—and in a flash of violet light, he vanished.
So did his two allies.
Jonathan stood panting, fists still raised.
The others rushed to him.
> [3… 2… 1…]
> [GRAND EMERALD LOCK-IN COMPLETE]
> New Emerald Acquired: 2/12 Bonus Unlocked: Enhanced Retention Threshold
> ATTRIBUTE AVAILABLE FOR STACK: – Vault Skin (Reactive Armor; minor kinetic resistance boost)
> Attribute Integrated: Jonathan Virell – Retention + Symbiote + Vault Skin
---
Jonathan fell to one knee.
The emeralds flared in his chest—two lights now, not one.
"I think…" he muttered, "we're officially on the map."
Teshaal helped him up. "Yeah. And I think we just painted a target on your back."
Liari groaned. "He vanished… but that Cyron guy? He'll be back."
Jonathan looked at his team. "Then we better make the next move first."
He turned to the Vault door, now opening a new corridor—one never shown before.
The path ahead was no longer random.
It was leading him.
And someone—or something—was watching.