The night bled into the city like ink spilled across a page.Paris was silent, its towers of glass and gold reflecting the distant glow of the Heroic Division's central spire — the Citadel of Ascension.And beneath its shadow, hidden within an abandoned subway line, the Fallen Order prepared for their first strike.
Adrian stood at the edge of the dimly lit platform, coat fluttering from the underground drafts. In front of him lay a holographic map projected by Clara — a 3D model of the Heroic Archives, the place where the Council stored everything they didn't want the world to see.
"Level one is guarded by patrol drones," she said, tracing glowing lines through the model. "The deeper we go, the worse it gets. Security spells, biometric locks, energy seals from the old Heroic Age."
Drayk scoffed. "You sure your fancy friend here can handle that?"He jerked his thumb toward Adrian.
Adrian didn't look up from the map. "If I couldn't, you'd already be dead."
The man's grin faltered, but Clara cut in before the tension could grow. "Enough. This isn't a pissing contest. We move in twenty minutes."
The room fell silent again. The air was thick with adrenaline and fear — the kind of tension that only came before something monumental.
Adrian could feel the faint vibration in his bones — the hum of the System. It wasn't hostile tonight. It was… expectant.
You seek truth, the Echo whispered from somewhere deep inside his mind. Then you must be ready to lose everything that makes you human.
Adrian ignored it. He'd learned that the voice grew stronger when he acknowledged it.
He checked his weapon — a sleek, matte-black revolver modified with arcane bullets — and tightened the straps of his gloves. "Let's get this over with."
Descent
The group emerged from the underground and crossed the rain-soaked streets under the cover of night. Drones patrolled the sky, their white lights sweeping across empty boulevards.
The Heroic Archives stood like a cathedral of steel and marble, its facade carved with runes that pulsed faintly in rhythm with the city's power grid.
Clara spoke through the comms, voice calm but sharp."Security cameras disabled. We have three minutes before they reboot."
"Then we move," Adrian said.
They slipped through the side entrance, bypassing a shimmering barrier with one of Clara's stolen frequency keys. Inside, the halls were silent — sterile, cold, and lined with golden sigils depicting ancient heroes.
Drayk muttered, "Creepy place for a bunch of gods."
"Heroes," Adrian corrected. "Not gods. Never were."
The path forked — left toward the public records, right toward restricted levels. Clara pointed right. "We're heading for Sublevel 3. That's where they keep the original data cores."
As they descended the spiral staircase, the air grew heavy, humming with an unnatural resonance. Adrian could feel it pressing against his chest, like the world itself was rejecting their presence.
He whispered under his breath, "The System doesn't want us here."
"Good," Clara said. "Means we're getting close."
The Heart of the Archives
They reached Sublevel 3 — a vast chamber filled with crystalline pillars, each containing pulsing streams of light. Data flowed visibly through the air, like rivers of molten gold.
Clara's eyes widened. "This… this is beautiful."
Adrian, however, felt only nausea.Each pillar radiated the same energy that had haunted his nightmares — the same light that consumed his parents, that destroyed everything he once cared about.
He stepped forward, and the Echo stirred.
They're watching, Adrian… every heartbeat, every breath. This is their cathedral.
He ignored it, focusing on the central core — a towering monolith of crystal and circuitry."This is it," he said. "The core of the Heroic Network."
Clara connected a device to the base of the structure. "Give me a few minutes. I can extract the data."
But as she began typing, the temperature in the room dropped. The golden rivers of energy flickered, and an automated voice filled the air:
[Unauthorized access detected.][Deploying Heroic Sentinels.]
Drayk cursed. "Damn it!"
Panels in the floor opened, releasing humanoid constructs — metallic guardians engraved with the Heroic Seal, their eyes blazing with artificial light.
"Clara, how long?" Adrian demanded.
"Two minutes!"
"You've got one."
Battle in the Light
The Sentinels moved with inhuman precision, blades of plasma slicing through the air. Adrian dodged the first strike, rolling beneath the sweep and firing two rounds into its chest. The bullets exploded with compressed mana, shattering the construct's torso.
Drayk charged another, fists glowing with crimson aura. "Come on then, you tin bastards!"
The chamber became chaos — flashes of light, thunder of impact, shards of crystal flying through the air.
Adrian's eyes flickered silver as he activated his resonance. His movements sharpened, his perception expanding — time itself seemed to slow.But with the power came whispers.Voices overlapping, old and broken.
"We fought for justice.""We died for them.""And they fed on us all."
He stumbled, vision fracturing. His revolver shook in his hand.
Focus, he told himself. Not now.
But the Echo laughed — low and cold.You think you command me? You're mine, Adrian. You were always mine.
A blade sliced past his face, tearing through his coat. The scent of ozone filled the air.He roared and countered, his hand glowing with dark light — not silver, not gold, but something in between. The energy burst outward, collapsing the construct in a wave of pressure.
When the dust cleared, the room was silent again. Dozens of shattered Sentinels lay smoking on the ground.
Adrian stood at the center, breathing heavily, his hand still trembling.The others stared — half in awe, half in fear.
Clara's voice broke the silence. "It's done. I have the data."
Adrian turned to her. "Then we're leaving."
Retribution
They ran for the exit, alarms screaming around them. As they reached the upper levels, the walls shimmered — a holographic figure appeared, blocking their path.
A tall man clad in radiant armor. His face was hidden, but the voice that came from the projection was unmistakable.
"Adrian Moreau," the figure said. "You shouldn't exist."
Adrian froze. "Councilor Varen."
The hologram smiled faintly. "You've touched what was forbidden. You've seen our truth. Now, you carry the Origin's taint."
Clara raised her weapon. "He's not your puppet anymore."
Varen ignored her. His gaze stayed locked on Adrian."You were chosen to be its reflection. But perhaps… you're too flawed for that role."
The image dissolved, and with it, the Archive's ceiling began to collapse.
"Go!" Adrian shouted, grabbing Clara's arm as debris rained around them. They sprinted through the corridors, the structure trembling with magical energy.
They barely escaped through the side entrance as the building exploded behind them — a storm of golden light and ash lighting up the Parisian night.
Aftermath
Back in the underground hideout, Clara placed the recovered data drive on the table.Everyone gathered around as she decrypted it. Lines of ancient text and code filled the holographic screen.
Adrian leaned in.And what he saw made his blood run cold.
"Project Ascension — Phase IV: Soul Convergence. Objective: merge all Heroic Echoes into the Origin Core. Initiator: Council of Heroic Ascension."
Clara whispered, "They're… merging the souls of every hero that ever existed?"
Adrian's jaw tightened. "No. They're harvesting them."
The Echo's voice came again, almost gleeful.Now you see, Adrian. There's no saving this world.
He closed his eyes, feeling the last remnants of mercy fade from his heart.When he opened them again, his silver irises burned brighter than ever.
"Then we burn the Council to the ground."