Location: Highland Monastery Ruins – Northern Tavara
Rain lashed the broken stones of the ancient monastery, now nothing more than a crumbled skeleton perched on the jagged cliffs. Damien stepped out of the armored SUV first, dressed in black tactical gear. Behind him followed Nora, Aria, and Cyrus, each armed and alert. The air was thick with moisture and tension. The second shard was here—he could feel it.
Drones buzzed overhead, and Aria's tech link kept tabs on all activity. "Multiple thermal signatures near the western quadrant. Not monks. Armed. Watching us."
Cyrus grinned, adjusting the scope on his rifle. "Finally. I've been itching for real work."
Nora's gaze swept over the decayed arches and broken columns. "This place used to be sacred. Now it feels like death lingers here."
Damien's voice was low. "It does. And so does the truth."
They moved silently through the corridor of collapsed stones. Moss clung to the ancient walls, and strange symbols had been carved into the ruins recently—fresh, not centuries old. They were warnings. Or invitations.
They reached the central sanctum, where a shattered altar once stood. A group of masked operatives emerged from the shadows—ten of them, in black gear with insignias foreign to any known country.
One stepped forward. "You are not welcome here."
Damien didn't flinch. "Neither are you."
"We serve the Axis," the masked man replied. "Turn back, or die."
Cyrus fired first, a silenced round dropping one of the masked men before the others could react. Chaos exploded. Gunfire echoed through the ruins as Damien and Nora flanked the sides, outmaneuvering their opponents with precise coordination. Aria ducked behind cover, launching a drone that deployed smoke across the sanctum.
When the haze cleared, only one masked soldier remained. Nora pinned him to the wall with her blade at his throat. "Where is it? The shard!"
He gasped, blood on his lips. "The Axis… already moved it… to the Core Facility. Tavara City… underground…"
Before they could press him further, a drone dive-bombed the area, forcing them to scatter. The explosion left the masked soldier buried under rubble.
Damien swore. "They're always a step ahead."
Nora kicked a broken piece of the altar. "We're running out of time. If the Core Facility has the shard—"
Aria cut in, her voice tense. "Then Seraphina's closer to activating the Vault than we feared. If she aligns all three shards, we won't be able to stop her."
Damien took a deep breath. His eyes burned with purpose. "Then we hit the Core Facility next. We shut her operation down from the inside."
He looked around at his team. Rain fell harder now, soaking their armor and dripping down their faces.
"No more retreats. We fight back."
And as lightning tore through the sky above the monastery ruins, a silent oath passed between them. The game had changed. The Silent Axis was no longer just a shadow—they were rising. But so was Damien.