The sirens wailed across the Ward Research Annex, their crimson glow slicing through the glass walls like bleeding veins of light.
Adrian pushed himself off the cold floor, every muscle trembling. His body felt heavier — as if gravity itself had doubled.
The hum in his head was louder now.
"Synchronization: 71%."
He staggered toward the nearest console, blinking through the haze. His reflection on the black monitor looked almost unfamiliar — faint patterns of blue circuitry glimmering under his skin.
Then he heard footsteps.
"Adrian!"
He turned just in time to see Elena, her coat whipping behind her as she ran down the corridor, gun in one hand, data key in the other.
She stopped short when she saw him — the flickering patterns crawling up his neck. "God… it's spreading."
Adrian smirked weakly. "You said this was temporary."
"I said I hoped it was temporary," she corrected, rushing to the console. "The containment protocol is failing. The link to the Nadir mainframe is open again."
He joined her, steadying his breath. "Then close it."
"I can't. Someone's overriding from the central hub."
He frowned. "Who?"
Before she could answer, another voice cut through the air — smooth, cold, and unmistakably familiar.
"Me."
They both turned.Lucas Ward stepped out from the smoke, a pistol in his hand and a data drive in the other. His calmness was almost inhuman.
"Lucas," Elena hissed. "You're working with the Board?"
He tilted his head. "Working for them. The Board funds our research. I'm just ensuring Project Nadir reaches completion."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Completion? You mean turning people into machines?"
Lucas smirked. "Not machines, Adrian. Hybrids. The perfect balance between mind and metal. Your father understood that. He just lacked conviction."
Elena aimed her weapon at him. "And you're calling this conviction?"
Lucas ignored her and looked directly at Adrian. "You think you're reborn, but you're wrong. You're the prototype. The first human fully synchronized with Nadir's cognitive core. The rest of you — the human part — is already dying."
Adrian's pulse pounded in his ears. "Then I'll take what's left of me and burn your system down with it."
Lucas sighed, almost sadly. "I expected you to say that."
He pressed a button on his wrist device.
The room shuddered.From behind the containment glass, mechanical silhouettes began to stir — humanoid figures, cold and faceless, powered by faint blue energy.
"Phase 5 units online," a synthetic voice announced from the speakers.
Elena backed up beside Adrian. "You always did love overkill."
Lucas smiled faintly. "Evolution demands sacrifice."
[Fight Sequence – Research Annex Core]
The first android lunged forward, its metallic claws slicing through the air. Adrian caught the blow with his forearm — sparks erupted as steel met the faint shimmer of Nadir energy beneath his skin.
His eyes widened. He hadn't meant to block it — his body just moved.
Elena fired twice, shattering the android's chest. "You're adapting," she shouted.
Adrian didn't answer. The voice in his head whispered again — guiding his movements like an invisible rhythm.
"Redirect force. Counter at vector 43."
He spun, slammed his elbow into another android's neck joint, and the metal shattered like glass.
Elena loaded a new clip. "Remind me again who's controlling who?"
Adrian smirked faintly. "Working on that."
They fought back to back — sparks, gunfire, and the hum of Nadir resonating through the air. The room smelled of burning circuits and ozone.
Finally, only Lucas remained — calm, untouched, standing at the control panel.
He typed a final command and smiled.
"Synchronization: 82% complete."
The ground trembled.The central chamber opened like a mechanical iris, revealing the Core — a massive sphere of swirling blue light suspended by cables and electromagnetic rings.
Elena's breath caught. "That's it… the Nadir Core."
Lucas stepped closer to it. "The beginning and the end of everything."
Adrian clenched his fists. "You're not touching that."
Lucas looked back, eyes cold. "I don't need to. You already have."
Adrian froze. "What?"
"Host and Core linked. Initiating merge."
The voice echoed from everywhere — and then, all at once, Adrian's body convulsed.
Elena screamed his name as blue light engulfed him. The world went white.
[Moments Later – Silence]
When the light faded, Adrian was gone.
Only Lucas and Elena stood in the ruined lab — and in the center of the chamber, the Core pulsed once, faintly, before going dark.
Lucas exhaled, lowering his weapon. "It's done."
Elena stared at the empty space where Adrian had stood, whispering through trembling lips:"No… it's just beginning."