The air dropped ten degrees as Silas stepped forward, his presence heavier than any Apex. The dim bioluminescent glow from the walls flickered, casting long shadows across his Abyssal armor—etched with pulsing crimson lines that looked disturbingly organic.
Kieran took a shaky step back. "What do you mean, 'what I stole'?"
Silas's eyes gleamed. "That lovely little system in your body. It doesn't belong to you. It was meant for something… purer." His gaze shifted briefly to Elias. "Something more controlled."
Elias didn't blink. "You're not authorized to be here."
Silas smirked. "Neither were you, old friend."
Kieran looked between them. "You know him?"
Elias's jaw tightened. "He was a scientist. Before the Abyss made him something else."
Silas laughed. "Flattering. But I prefer 'collector.' I retrieve runaway assets. Like you, Kieran."
The pressure in the chamber intensified. Kieran's system flared.
[Unknown presence detected.]
[WARNING: High-level anomaly. Combat not recommended.]
[Initiating passive scan…]
Silas raised a hand, and the scan froze.
[Scan interrupted. Access denied.]
"See," Silas said, voice silky, "that system was designed for something greater. A synthetic god. Not a confused boy playing survival games."
Kieran clenched his fists. "You want to take it from me?"
Silas's grin turned vicious. "Oh no. I'm here to shut it down."
He flicked his wrist—and Kieran's body locked up, muscles seizing as the system screamed.
[Critical Error: External override detected.]
[Emergency defense protocol: Partial reboot.]
Kieran dropped to one knee, coughing blood.
Elias finally moved.
In a flash, he was between them, blade drawn—a weapon unlike any Kieran had seen, humming with fractured light.
"You're not touching him."
Silas's expression dropped. "You'd draw that thing for him? How disappointing."
Elias's voice was low and lethal. "Touch him again, and I'll remind you why they buried the last Collector under three miles of obsidian."
The air snapped.
Kieran, still struggling to stand, watched as the two titans stared each other down.
This wasn't a lesson.
This was war.