Kael entered first, and the echo of the artifact reverberated off the walls of the central chamber, filling the space with pulsating light. The air was thick, the metallic walls trembling beneath their feet as if the station itself were alive. Their every movement caused a subtle tension in the air—the artifact was reacting to the team's presence.
Zara leapt over a network of wires, firing at the drones patrolling the ceiling. "I wasn't expecting this kind of welcome," she said, her mouth twisting into an ironic smile. Her movements were chaotic, energetic, but incredibly effective.
Rex took the flank, eliminating more energy traps, his rifle pulsing, reflecting the artifact's light off the metallic walls. "We can't let the station separate us," he said. "Any false move will end badly."
Lira approached the terminal and began synchronizing the energy fields with the artifact's pulses. "The core responds to every impulse. If something goes wrong... we could fall into an energy trap."
Taro adjusted the wire settings, analyzing the dynamic energy field. "The artifact reacts to our emotions and movements. We must be synchronized, or the station will separate us or attack us."
A shadow appeared suddenly from the side corridor, moving at superhuman speed. Kael sensed its presence through the artifact's pulse and immediately gave the order: "Keep formation! Don't break the rhythm!"
Zara tumbled through the air, landing with a thud on the edge of the platform. Her guns flashed with pulsing light, eliminating a drone that was approaching too quickly. "You didn't even have time to blink, and I already did the job," she said.
Rex moved to a higher level, blocking the side corridor and eliminating another opponent. "The artifact keeps pulsing. Each pulse is different. Kael, if we lose the rhythm, the station will destroy us."
Kael nodded, watching the artifact's pulse on his helmet display. "We stick together. The artifact's echo sets the rhythm. That's our advantage."
The walls began to shake more violently. The metal floors beneath them rippled slightly, and the wires emitted sparks of energy. Kael looked at the team: "Good. We keep going, we keep the rhythm, and every move is calculated."
The team moved deeper into the central chamber, and the artifact's pulse grew stronger with each passing second. Sparks flew from the wires as if the station itself was trying to stop them. Kael led the team, focused on his helmet monitor.
Zara jumped over one of the wires, firing at drones that appeared unexpectedly from the side corridors. "Who came up with the idea of giving the artifact its own protection?" she muttered, eliminating another drone.
Rex moved into a side corridor, rifle at the ready. He opened fire on the spinning drones. Kael noticed that the artifact was responding to the rhythm of their actions.
"We're keeping to the rhythm of the artifact! Any false move could be fatal!" Kael shouted.
Lira began synchronizing the devices along the walls, creating a protective filter around the team. "The core is becoming unstable. The artifact reacts to everything—movement, emotions, body temperature."
"If we lose the rhythm... we won't get out of here alive," she added, adjusting her focus.
Taro adjusted the terminal settings, trying to maintain control over the energy pulses. "The system is responding faster, and the artifact is adapting to our movements. If we make a mistake... it will hurt. Literally."
The shadow reappeared, moving like a living shadow between the wires. Kael sensed its presence immediately. "We're splitting our attention—we're not letting it surprise any of us."
Zara rolled in the air, shooting another drone and dodging energy sparks. "I really like this place. I don't know if it's the adrenaline or the artifact trying to kill me, but I'm good at this."
Rex paused his fire, analyzing the movements of the drones and the artifact. "The artifact is responding not only to our actions, but to the pace of our coordination. If we lose our rhythm, we could be separated."
Kael looked at the artifact's pulse in his helmet. "We stick together. Synchronization is our life. The artifact shows us the way; we follow it.