The hangar gradually fell silent. The artifact in Zara's hands stopped pulsing chaotically, and the energy stabilized in a controlled field. Kael took a look at the group, figuring out what was going on. "This is our chance to test what it can do. But we have to be careful. The Syndicate is watching."
Zara did a forward roll and landed on a steel beam. "Careful? To me, that means fun. Who wants some noise?"
Rex let out a sigh. "We can't afford to lose any more money. Kael, what exactly do you want to do?"
Kael nodded. "First, we'll test the artifact's range. I'm curious to see how its energy affects people and technology within a hundred meters."
Lira climbed onto one of the platforms. "I can measure the field's effects. The artifact should be able to mess with our opponents' electronics and perception if we set the right frequency."
Taro hooked up the terminal to the hangar system and started showing graphs of energy pulses. "Stabilization is good. The pulses are regular, and we can adjust the field strength. The closer you are to an enemy or the more adrenaline you have, the better it works."
Zara did a forward roll in the air, holding the artifact tightly. "So if I get angry, everything will go crazy? Great, I'll be the star!"
Kael nodded. "We'll start with small tests. Rex, get the drone from the hangar and put it a hundred meters from the artifact. We want to see how it reacts to its energy."
Rex took out a little reconnaissance drone and put it on the concrete floor. "Ready."
Kael took a look at the artifact. "Zara, send a wave of energy toward the drone, controlling the impulse."
Zara rolled in the air and touched the stabilizer. The artifact flashed blue, sending a wave of energy toward the drone. The machine shook, its sensors went haywire, and its spinning rotors began to slow down.
"Perfect effect," Kael said. "The field affects technology within a hundred meters."
Lira nodded. "It's not just technology. The field also affects perception. If we can throw our opponents into chaos, we can confuse them on the battlefield."
Taro looked at the data. "When operators or enemies get excited, it makes the artifact's pulse go faster. We can adjust its power in real time."
Zara rolled over in the air, smiling like a maniac. "So if I get mad at someone, the field will become super powerful? Sounds like a blast!"
Kael nodded. "Exactly, but that also means we have to keep our cool. Any loss of control could be disastrous for us or the hangar."
Rex let out a sigh. "So we've got a powerful toy... but a dangerous one."
Zara rolled in the air and spun the artifact in her hands. "Dangerous? Perfect. Now I can play real war."
At that moment, Kael heard the sound of drones approaching. "The Syndicate never sleeps. Time for the real test."
The hangar doors shook as several drones and armed Syndicate figures flew inside. Kael looked around the group. "Zara, crank up the stabilization to full power. Rex, you're at the left entrance. Lira, on the right side. Taro, keep an eye on the artifact and make sure the systems are running smoothly."
Zara rolled in the air, smiling like a maniac. "Alright, let's get this party started!"
The first drones entered the artifact's field. Their rotors started shaking, their sensors went haywire, and the machines staggered in the air before falling to the ground.
Rex moved toward the entrance, taking out the first intruders, while Kael kept his hand on the stabilizer panels, watching the artifact's reactions. "It's working. It's working better than I expected."
Lira did a forward roll, landing on the steel beams above the hangar. "We're in control of their movements. The artifact messes with their systems and reactions. If we can keep our synchronization, we can stop the whole enemy wave."
Zara moved quickly, firing from the hip at more opponents. "Let them try to catch me! You can't hit me!"
Taro stared at the terminal screen. "The artifact's field gets stronger when we're feeling excited. If everyone acts precisely, we can manipulate them. But if you make a mistake, the energy can get out of control."
Kael nodded. "Hold your lines. Just make sure no one gets to the artifact. Zara, Rex, take care of any threats you find right away. The rest of you, follow me."
Things got crazy in the hangar. Plasma bounced off the steel walls, and the artifact's pulses created waves that made the enemies feel a bit unstable. Kael noticed that even the cybernetically enhanced warriors couldn't keep their balance in the energy field.
Zara tumbled through the air, firing a burst at the approaching enemies. "Let them try to catch me! You can't hit me!"
Rex noticed that one of the entrances was threatened by incoming forces. "Kael, reinforcements are coming through the left entrance!"
Kael looked at the artifact. "Zara, increase the pulse for a moment. Lira, secure the right flank. Taro, keep an eye on the energy, we can't lose it."
Zara rolled in the air and focused the artifact's energy on the left entrance. The drones and guards were momentarily thrown off balance, unable to maintain their equilibrium.
Lira flipped in the air, manipulating the hangar systems. "We're maintaining the advantage! If we stay in sync, we can hold them off until we figure out an escape plan."
Rex fired his rifle at the approaching warriors, taking out more of them. "We can't take any chances without control of the artifact!"
Kael felt the artifact's energy pulse in his hands. "Just a moment... we must maintain stability. If it gets out of control, the entire hangar will be destroyed."
Zara tumbled through the air, smiling wildly. "Let them try to stop me!"
The enemies began to retreat, confused by the artifact's waves of energy. The hangar was filled with a mixture of plasma, flashes, and blue light. Kael knew this was only the beginning; the Syndicate would quickly adjust its tactics, and another wave would come.
The artifact still pulsed in Zara's hands, and the hangar filled with shimmering blue light. Kael looked at the group. "This is our last chance for full control. We need to test its offensive capabilities and effects on our opponents."
Zara tumbled through the air, smiling wildly. "Finally, something I like: destruction!"
Lira climbed onto the steel scaffolding above the hangar, analyzing the artifact's energy. "We're controlling the pulses, but if we increase the frequency, the field could immobilize enemies or even disable their cybernetic systems for longer. This will be a test."
Taro looked at the graphs on the terminal. "Be careful, increasing the frequency increases the energy pulse by two hundred percent. The artifact is unstable at this load, but if it works, we can stop the Syndicate even in a full-scale attack."
Kael nodded. "Zara, increase the pulse power gradually, control the direction. Rex, flank the left entrance. Lira, right side. Taro, monitor everything."
Zara rolled in the air, holding the artifact firmly. "Okay, let's do this!"
The first Syndicate drones appeared in the energy field. Their rotors shook, their sensors went haywire, and the machines collided with the metal walls of the hangar. Kael noticed that even the cybernetically enhanced warriors began to lose their balance and concentration.
Rex aimed at the approaching enemies, eliminating the first wave of the threat. "We can't let them reach the artifact!"
Lira tumbled through the air, manipulating the hangar's systems and enhancing the artifact's effects. "The field is immobilizing their reactions, but we have to be careful not to let the energy get out of control."
Zara tumbled through the air, firing from her hip. "Let them try to catch me!"
Kael watched the artifact, controlling the synchronization of the pulses. "Just a moment... and we'll have full offensive stabilization. If we maintain this field, no one will get through the hangar."
The drones and Syndicate warriors began to retreat, completely confused by the waves of energy. The artifact reacted to their movements and tension, automatically modulating the field.
Rex looked at Kael. "It works better than I expected. But if someone touches the artifact unprepared..."
Kael nodded. "Yes, it's both a tool and a weapon. We need to rethink our strategy for the rest of the journey now. The Syndicate won't let up, but at least we have the advantage now."
Zara somersaulted in the air, holding the artifact high. "Let them try to stop me!"
Taro monitored the energy, making sure the artifact remained stable. "The field is working; we can manipulate it from a distance of up to a hundred meters. Kael, if we increase the pulse a little more, we can even stop heavy vehicles or drones."
Kael nodded. "That's enough for now. We need to get out of the hangar and analyze its power in a safe place. The Syndicate will quickly adjust its tactics."
Zara somersaulted in the air, smiling maniacally. "Finally, we have a toy that can really change the game."
The group gathered around the artifact, ready to leave the hangar. Kael looked outside. The red lights of the city reflected off the steel facades, and the shadows of enemies moved through the streets. They knew that the real test was yet to come.
The artifact pulsed more calmly, its power now under control, at least for the moment. Kael knew that the next clashes with the Syndicate would require maximum precision, planning, and trust from the entire group.