Lowwater's night sky was clear. No storms. No smog. No Lattice surges rippling through the city. For once, the skyline sat still and peaceful, humming quietly under Evan's feet as he stood atop Ferris Tower, watching the lights blink below.
Aelira's voice crackled softly into his comm. "You've covered twelve emergencies today. Twelve. That's more than the entire precinct."
Evan stretched an arm, feeling the energy pulse through it. "Feels like nothing. I could keep going."
"That's the part Cairn hates."
As if on cue, Cairn joined the line. "You need limits. Nothing evolves this fast without consequences. Not even you."
Evan exhaled, letting the cool air settle against his armor. "Cross forced an upgrade out of the system. I'm just adapting."
"No," Cairn said firmly. "You're accelerating. That's different."
Before Evan could respond, the Lattice shivered beneath him like the city was suddenly holding its breath. Every rail for a mile pulsed dim violet, once, twice, then went dead silent.
Evan froze.
He felt something.
Not danger.Not a threat.Not Ashcode.
Something… watching.
It wasn't from Lowwater.It wasn't from the Lattice.It wasn't from anywhere he recognized.
Aelira whispered into the comm, "Evan… I'm picking up a signal. Something's entering atmosphere."
Cairn swore. "Entering? It shouldn't even be detectable if it's entering. We should've seen reentry heat signatures! Where the hell—"
A blinding streak of white tore across the sky like a silent meteor.
It moved without sound.Without heat.Without air displacement.
It stopped midair above the river and hovered silently, light streaming off it like falling snow.
Evan's visor pulsed.
[UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED — ORIGIN: EXTRA-PLANETARY][LATTICE COMPATIBILITY: ZERO][ENERGY SIGNATURE: NON-HUMAN][STATUS: OBSERVING USER]
Aelira's voice cracked. "Oh my god… that's not a satellite. That's not anything we've scanned before."
The object slowly descended until it hovered at rooftop height across from Evan. Its shape shifted—starting as a smooth, silver sphere, then splitting open like petals. Inside, a figure stepped out.
Humanoid.Tall.Skin reflecting light like liquid metal.Eyes glowing soft blue, not with aggression, but with curiosity.
Evan tensed. He felt his heart rate increase, but his body didn't sweat. Runbreaker Phase II filtered the fear into readiness.
The figure spoke without its mouth moving, its voice echoing inside Evan's mind.
"You move faster now," it said calmly. "The signal of your awakening reached across three systems."
Evan steadied his breathing. "Who are you?"
The figure tilted its head, eyes studying every micro-movement Evan made with impossibly precise interest.
"I am called Veylos. A sentinel of the Atramar Collective."
Cairn immediately chimed in. "That's not in any archive. That's not in any first-contact protocol. Evan, do not engage."
Veylos raised a hand, ignoring the chatter through the comms. "Your body is undergoing rapid evolution. This is uncommon for your species. Disturbingly uncommon."
"Not my choice," Evan replied. "Things happened."
"I am aware," Veylos said. "Your encounter with the entropy-wielder—'Cross'—left a residue in your energy signature. That residue accelerated your metaphysical frame."
Aelira whispered, "He knows about Cross?"
Veylos continued, "Such evolution in a localized organism is usually a precursor to collapse… or ascension."
Evan frowned. "Which am I headed for?"
"That depends," Veylos said, stepping closer, the air bending gently around him. "If you continue accelerating at this rate, your world may not be able to contain you."
As if responding to that statement, the Lattice beneath Evan pulsed once, dimly. Evan felt how the city clung to him, how it tried to match his pace every moment.
"You came here because of my power?" Evan asked.
"No," Veylos said. "I came here because others will."
Evan's heart dropped a little.
"Others?"
"Yes," Veylos replied. "You are no longer a local anomaly. The pulse of your evolution has traveled far. It will attract conquerors, predators, collectors… and those who consume speed itself."
Aelira gasped. "Speed itself? Evan, what does that—"
Veylos raised a hand, silencing her through the comm somehow.
"I came to assess you first," Veylos said. "To determine whether you are a threat… or a beacon."
Evan stepped forward. "And your judgment?"
Veylos studied him again. His gaze felt like it passed through armor, bone, and light.
"You are… not yet one or the other. But your potential is dangerous enough that the Collective will continue watching."
Evan didn't know what to say. His fists tightened. The city's hum deepened, reacting to his tension.
Veylos nodded as if sensing it.
"You feel the world responding to you. But you do not yet understand why."
"Then tell me."
Veylos looked up at the stars. "Your evolution is no mere accident. Something ancient is reawakening beneath your city. Something that responds to speed, rhythm, and connection. Something that remembers you."
Evan's breath caught.
"Remembering… me?"
"Yes," Veylos said. "And if it continues awakening, you will not be the only one who hears its call."
The alien stepped back toward the floating sphere.
"You must become strong quickly, Evan of Lowwater. Stronger than you imagine. Because what is coming will not wait for you to be ready."
The ship closed around him.
Aelira shouted, "Wait—Evan needs more answers! You can't just—"
Veylos lifted a hand, and everything fell silent.
"One last warning," he said, his voice echoing through Evan's mind. "There are beings that do not run. They erase motion itself. If they come… even your evolution may not save you."
The sphere shot into the atmosphere with no sound, no trail, vanishing instantly.
Evan stood alone on the rooftop, staring at the silent sky.
Cairn broke the silence. "Evan… this isn't just about the city anymore."
Evan clenched his fists as the Lattice pulsed beneath him like a heartbeat.
"Then I guess," he said softly, "I'll have to get faster."