The swarm poured in like living shadows, their clicking echoing off the warped steel walls of the sealed street.
Akira's instincts screamed—don't let them corner you, don't get surrounded. But it was already too late.
Rin's eyes darted between the walls and the sky, her hand twitching toward her dagger. "We can't fight this many—"
"They'll catch us if we run," Akira cut in, her gaze fixed on the Sentinels tightening their circle.
The Architect's voice came again, deeper now, vibrating in her skull.
"Show me how far you'll fall."
A Sentinel lunged, claws extended. Akira moved without thinking—slamming her hand through its chest, ripping out its core in a spray of silver.
The others didn't hesitate. They came all at once.
Her aura burned hotter, the edges of her vision darkening. She could feel her next level just out of reach—she needed one thing to cross it.
Blood.
But not Sentinel blood—it was cold, dead magic. She needed human.
Her gaze flicked to Rin.
She froze.
The thought of drinking from her made something deep in Akira twist.
Another Sentinel crashed into her back, dragging claws across her shoulder. Pain flared. Her power dipped.
If she didn't feed now—she'd lose.
If she did… she'd lose Rin's trust forever.
Rin met her eyes. "Do it."
Akira hesitated. "You don't know what you're asking."
"I'd rather lose blood than lose you."
The Sentinels were feet away now, claws catching the light.
Akira's fangs slid down. Her pulse roared in her ears.
She stepped toward Rin—
—and the ground exploded beneath them, a black-armored figure emerging from the rift below, its blade inches from Akira's throat.