The reinforced door convulsed under another impact—this one harder, heavier. Dust rained from the ceiling. The monitors flickered violently, then stabilized. Red warning lights pulsed around the room.
Lian felt his heartbeat syncing with the alarms.
Raine stood in front of him, twin blades glowing a pale silver. "Listen carefully," she said. "No matter what happens, do not let them touch you."
"Why? What happens if they do?"
"They'll trigger your core. And you're not ready."
Lian swallowed hard. "Great. No pressure."
The metal door shrieked as thick cracks spread across it.
BOOM.
A final strike blew it inward. The shockwave sent papers flying and knocked Lian backward into a table.
Three figures stepped through the smoke.
They weren't like the thugs from the alley.
These wore black plated armor with glowing red lines tracing across their helmets—almost like molten veins.
The front soldier raised an arm, scanning the room.
His helmet lights narrowed when they locked onto Lian.
"Target identified."
Raine stepped between them. "You're trespassing."
The soldier tilted his head. "You are harboring a Class-Emergent subject. Release him."
"No."
"Then you will be neutralized."
They moved first.
The nearest soldier lunged, fist glowing with crimson energy. Raine met him with a slash of her blade—silver light cutting through red. Sparks exploded.
"Lian!" she shouted. "Back wall! Now!"
He staggered to his feet, but another soldier blocked his way, raising a gauntlet that hummed dangerously.
Lian froze.
The warmth inside his chest surged suddenly—fierce, wild.
The soldier thrust his hand forward.
A crimson shockwave blasted toward Lian.
Instinct took over.
Lian raised his arm, expecting impact—but the ember inside him erupted. A fiery shield burst from his palm, catching the blast and scattering it like burning dust.
The soldier stepped back. "Subject synchronization at 32%. Unstable."
Lian stared at his own hand, shaking.
"I-I didn't mean to do that…"
The second soldier advanced—but Raine leapt between them, kicking him back with a burst of blue light.
"Lian!" she shouted again. "Focus! Don't fight the energy—guide it!"
"I don't even know how!"
"You will. Trust me!"
The third soldier swung a heavy glowing blade toward Raine. She deflected, but the hit pushed her sideways. Two soldiers rushed to pin her in.
Lian felt something twist inside him—fear, anger, instinct—all sparking against the ember burning beneath his skin.
He clenched his fists.
The heat surged, racing up his arms. His veins lit up like molten cracks.
The soldier that blocked his way raised his weapon for another strike—
Lian stepped forward, exhaling fire.
A burst of ember energy erupted in a wave, knocking the armored soldier off his feet and slamming him into the safehouse wall so hard the metal dented inward.
Raine turned her head for half a second—enough to see the aftermath.
Her eyes widened. "You're awakening faster than I thought…"
Before Lian could answer, the two remaining soldiers regrouped, their armor shifting with new patterns of light.
The leader spoke again.
"Subject designated Ember Heir. Level-Red threat confirmed."
Raine froze. "Don't call him that."
But the soldiers ignored her.
"New directive: full capture authorization."
Lian felt the heat in his chest spike—almost painfully.
"Raine," he whispered, "what does 'Ember Heir' mean?"
She tightened her grip on her blades.
"It means," she said slowly as the soldiers advanced again—
"they think you're the next ruler of the Ember Core."