The city beneath the red sky was filled with shadows. Kael and his team made their way through the narrow streets, carrying the artifact in Zara's stabilizer. The hangar where they'd gotten it seemed far behind them now, but the adrenaline rush hadn't worn off yet.
"I don't think the Syndicate will let this go so easily," Kael said, glancing back at the destroyed hangar door behind them.
Zara rolled in the air, drew her weapon, and scanned the streets. "They never let go. To me, that means only one thing: fun."
Rex checked the street corners, keeping his eye on the scope. "This isn't a simple ambush. You can tell they've prepared for something bigger."
Lira climbed on top of a building nearby to scope out the area. "I saw a few patrol groups. This seems like a trap. We can't get stuck in the narrow streets."
Taro hooked up the comms terminal and started checking out the drones' movements. "Their systems track every signal. We've got to keep the artifact in minimum emission mode, or they'll track us down."
Zara rolled in the air, holding the stabilizer even tighter. "So we have to sneak around, and I'm in the mood for action. This is a bit boring."
Kael nodded. "Now's not the time for that. Rex, take up a position on the street. Zara, keep the artifact stable. Lira, you're on patrol duty. Taro, get the remote system ready to jam."
The group kept going, passing through narrow streets lit up by red neon lights. Kael felt like every move could bring more enemies to the fight.
Zara took to the air, shooting down a few drones that popped up out of nowhere. "Let them try to catch me!"
Rex blocked a side street, taking out a group of guards. "We can't let them get us trapped in these small streets. It's a trap."
Lira sent a little reconnaissance drone from the roof to check out the area in front of the group. "There are a few more side entrances. We can go through them and bypass the larger group of enemies."
Kael nodded. "Good. Zara, Taro, get the artifact and systems ready. We have to be ready for anything."
The artifact pulsed with blue light, reacting to the tension in the group. Kael felt his energy becoming more and more noticeable to those around him.
Suddenly, the first wave of enemies armed with energy rifles and cybernetically enhanced jumped out from around the corner. Rex fired at them, and Kael activated part of the artifact's pulses. The enemy drones stopped in midair, their rotors vibrating, and the enemies began to lose their balance.
Zara tumbled through the air, firing from the hip at more enemies. "Let them try to stop me!"
Lira manipulated the electronic systems, creating false signals that confused the enemies. "We're keeping them at bay, but we can't let them surprise us."
Taro monitored the artifact's energy, making sure the stabilization wasn't disrupted. "If any pulse gets out of control, the entire street could be destroyed."
Kael nodded. "Just a moment longer. After this clash, we have a chance to move further into a safe place."
The city was now a field of chaos. The trees of the gardens hanging over the streets, metal advertisements, and steam pipes made perfect ambush points. The Syndicate seemed to know that Kael and his group had the artifact and planned to take full advantage of the terrain.
Rex fired at the approaching enemies, their armor unable to withstand the artifact's energy wave. "We can't let them get close to Zara!"
Zara tumbled through the air, holding the artifact's stabilizer. "Let them try! Let them try!"
Lira tumbled through the air, manipulating the electronic signals in nearby terminals. "Their systems are completely confused. We can lead them in any direction if we keep the artifact synchronized."
Taro monitored the artifact's energy on the terminal. "Stabilization is holding, but the voltage is rising. If it goes up another ten percent, we won't be able to control the field."
Kael looked at Zara. "Zara, stay focused. Rex, flank their left side. Lira, right side. Taro, prepare for emergency disconnection."
Zara spun in midair, firing a burst at the approaching drones. "Let them try to catch me!"
The first wave of enemies began to retreat, their cybernetic implants completely disoriented by the artifact's energy wave. But behind them came a second, larger group armed with heavy weapons, including energy launchers and force field-enhanced armor.
Kael nodded. "This is just the beginning. The artifact must show its full potential."
Zara spun in the air, firing another series of shots. "Let them try to stop me! They don't stand a chance!"
Rex fired at the left flank, eliminating enemies who tried to flank them. "We can't let them take control of the street!"
Lira tumbled through the air, manipulating the electronic systems around them. "Keep up the pace. The artifact is affecting their perception of technology. If we don't make a mistake, we can stop them."
Taro controlled the energy pulse, trying to keep the artifact's field stable. "A few more pulses and we can immobilize them all on the street. But if we overdo it, the energy explosion will destroy the entire neighborhood."
Kael nodded. "Just a moment. We have to hold off their advance and move to a safe place before the rest arrive."
Zara rolled in the air, laughing wildly. "This is fun!"
At that moment, the Syndicate's energy launchers fired from the side streets. The energy sliced through the air right next to the group, and Kael felt the artifact's field begin to react more aggressively, modulating automatically.
Rex looked up. "If that field stops being stable, everyone will die!"
Kael moved his hand closer to Zara. "Control your pulse! We can't let the artifact get out of control."
Zara rolled in the air, smiling wildly. "Let them try to stop me!"
The drones and enemies were confused and immobilized for a moment. But Kael knew this wasn't the end. The Syndicate wouldn't give up, and the artifact's power was just beginning to reveal its true capabilities.
The city streets were now a field of chaos. Kael could feel the artifact's energy pulsing in Zara's hands, its blue light spreading through the narrow streets, destabilizing enemy technology and distorting the perception of their opponents.
Zara spun in the air, firing a burst at the approaching drones. "Let them try to stop me!"
Rex moved along a side street, eliminating enemies who tried to flank them. "We can't let them take control of the street!"
Lira climbed onto the roof of a nearby building, surveying the area and manipulating electronic systems. "We maintain the advantage. The artifact is confusing their sensors and reactions. If we stay in sync, we can survive until we find a way out."
Taro controlled the energy pulse, trying to keep the artifact stable. "A few more pulses and we can immobilize everyone on the street. But if we overdo it, the whole neighborhood could be destroyed."
Kael nodded. "Zara, increase the pulse to the minimum increase. Rex, flank the left side. Lira, the right. Taro, keep your hand on the terminal, ready for emergency disconnection."
The artifact pulsed more intensely, reacting to the tension in the group. The drones above them stopped in midair, their rotors vibrating, and the cybernetically enhanced enemies began to lose their balance.
Zara tumbled through the air, firing at the enemies from her hip. "Let them try to catch me!"
The first wave of enemies began to retreat, but a larger group armed with energy launchers and heavy armor was approaching from around the corner. Kael felt the artifact begin to react automatically, increasing its pulse toward the threat.
Rex took aim, eliminating the first opponents. "We can't let them get close to Zara!"
Lira flipped through the air, manipulating the electronic systems. "We're controlling their movements. The artifact acts like a magnetic trap. But we have to be careful that the energy doesn't get out of control."
Taro monitored the energy pulse. "Stabilization is holding, but the voltage is rising. If it increases by another ten percent, we won't be able to control the field."
Kael looked at Zara. "Stay focused. We have to survive this wave and then find a way out."
Zara tumbled through the air, smiling maniacally. "Let them try to stop me!"
The enemies were immobilized by the wave of energy, and the artifact modulated the field automatically, responding to the adrenaline of the enemy and the group. Kael knew that if they could just maintain their synchronization, they could escape this trap unscathed.
Rex aimed once more, eliminating the remaining opponents on the flanks. "Keep up the pace. We can't give them a chance!"
Lira somersaulted in the air, assisting the artifact electronically. "Just a moment. If we find a side street, we can get out of this ambush."
Taro watched the energy pulse. "The artifact is responding to our tension. If we stay focused and in sync, we can take them out without any losses."
Kael nodded. "Good. Everyone is with me. We're going down the side street. Zara, keep the artifact's pulse steady."
Zara tumbled through the air, smiling wildly. "Let them try to stop me!"
The group moved into the side street, the artifact pulsing in rhythm with their steps, maintaining the force field and confusing their enemies. The red light of the city reflected off the metal facades, and the shadows of their opponents moved chaotically.
Kael looked ahead. "Just a moment more, and we'll be out of the ambush. We must now use the artifact to its fullest to stop their last wave."
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.