The one retrieved from The Void

The Orphan raised the pulsating orb of psychic energy higher, its pale face twisted with exertion as the battlefield seemed to warp under the sheer force of its power. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, and the air buzzed with an oppressive hum, heavy enough to make even The Cobalt hesitate as he neared. Shadows coiled and lashed out, keeping him at bay.

Yuu didn't waver. Her form was motionless, her focus unyielding. She moved, not toward The Orphan but in a wide arc, as though positioning herself. Each step deliberate. Silent.

The Phase, still staggering under the relentless assault of The Warden's melody, seemed to regain some of his composure. His flickering form stabilized for a moment, and he lunged toward The Warden with a guttural growl, his fingers elongating into jagged claws that tore through the air with an unnatural shriek.

The Warden's melody shifted yet again—a piercing, discordant screech that sent visible waves rippling outward. The Phase faltered mid-lunge, clutching at his head as his form flickered violently, like a flame in a gale. The Warden turned to face him fully, his hands moving in precise, fluid motions as if playing an invisible orchestra. The sound intensified, each note a jagged knife driving into The Phase's very essence.

"I warned you," The Warden said, his voice cold, resonating with the weight of finality.

The Phase screamed, his distorted form collapsing inward as the sound fractured his being. He fell to his knees, clawing at his face as his body contorted unnaturally. With one last agonized howl, his form imploded, scattering into nothingness like ash caught in the wind. The Warden lowered his hands, the melody softening for a brief moment before shifting again, now focusing entirely on The Orphan.

The Orphan turned its gaunt face toward The Warden, its hollow eyes narrowing as its psychic energy swelled. The orb in its hands expanded, pulsating like a dying star. The air around it shimmered, bending and twisting as though reality itself was breaking under the strain.

"Enough of this," The Warden muttered, his tone laced with irritation.

The music surged, transforming into a hauntingly beautiful requiem that reverberated through the battlefield. The Orphan staggered as the melody cut through its psychic energy, the orb in its hands flickering and dimming. It snarled, clawing at the air as if trying to hold its power together, but the song was relentless, unraveling its concentration with every note.

The Cobalt took the opportunity to charge forward, his cybernetic arm glowing brighter as he aimed for The Orphan's chest. But before he could strike, the shadows lashed out again, forming a protective barrier that deflected his blow and sent him skidding backward.

Yuu moved.

In a blur, she appeared behind The Orphan, her fist driving into its back with a force that sent shockwaves through the air. The Orphan let out a guttural scream, stumbling forward as its protective shadows writhed and faltered. It turned toward her, its pale face contorted with rage, but Yuu was already gone, reappearing at its side and striking again.

The Warden watched, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the battlefield. The Orphan was weakening, but its psychic energy remained a threat. He raised his hands, the melody shifting into a crescendo of ominous, discordant tones. The ground beneath The Orphan began to crack and splinter, and the air around it seemed to ripple as the music reached its peak.

"You've caused enough trouble," The Warden said, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "It's time to end this."

With a final, dramatic flourish of his hands, the melody erupted into a deafening, otherworldly symphony. The Orphan screamed as its psychic energy was torn apart, the shadows around it dissipating like smoke in the wind. Its gaunt form convulsed, its hollow eyes widening in terror as the music consumed it. In a burst of light and sound, The Orphan was obliterated, its essence scattering into nothingness.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

The Warden lowered his hands, his expression calm but weary. He glanced at Yuu, who stood motionless amidst the wreckage, her dark eyes unreadable.

"Those are quite the enhancements, young lady," The Warden remarked, his sharp gaze flickering over Yuu with clinical precision, as though dissecting her capabilities in an instant. His voice carried a detached authority, one that demanded respect but betrayed no personal investment.

"I agree, young one," The Cobalt added, his deep, gravelly voice rumbling like distant thunder. His expression, however, hinted at something more—a rare glimmer of concern for the young woman standing before them.

Yuu stiffened under their scrutiny. She knew full well the caliber of her cybernetics, though she preferred not to discuss them. They weren't something she wore proudly, like medals of valor. They were tools, brutal and efficient, forged from necessity and her grandfather's relentless insistence on preparation.

Her enhancements were nothing like Ken's, whose cybernetic arms had been outfitted with razor-sharp blades capable of carving through steel. In Yuu's case, the modifications were far more invasive, more insidious. Her nervous system had been overhauled, optimized to handle her extraordinary reaction times and enhanced cognitive speed. Her spine, now a sleek, cybernetic marvel, was the centerpiece of her augmentation, supported by a latticework of synthetic nerves. The enhancements allowed her to process information and react faster than any human could, but they came at a price. The foreign presence in her body was something she rarely discussed, even with Ken. It was a reminder of sacrifices made, of her grandfather's unyielding demands for survival at all costs.

"We're the grandchildren of General Huo," Yuu said curtly, her voice steady but edged with a subtle challenge. She stepped protectively in front of her younger brother, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "If you have any further questions, I suggest you direct them to him."

The Warden's lips quirked upward in a faint, knowing smile. "Now I understand," he said softly, his tone laced with a curious mixture of respect and something darker—perhaps pity, or a grudging acknowledgment of the lengths their grandfather had gone to. "Please extend my regards to the General," he added, a trace of irony in his words.

He turned to The Cobalt, his demeanor shifting to one of pragmatic command. "Can you escort them to safety?"

The Cobalt crossed his arms, his cybernetic hand flexing absently as though preparing for the inevitable. "I promised to take them up," he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

The Warden's expression hardened. "Unfortunately, I don't believe that will be possible. Not right now. The best option is for all of you to find shelter and hold out until assistance arrives."

Ken's eyes darted between them, his voice trembling as he asked, "Then… we're trapped here?"

"No," The Warden replied, his tone calm but weighted with uncertainty. "At least, I don't think so. But I can't promise there's a clear path to the main building at this moment." He hesitated, his brow furrowing as he deliberated. His silence hung heavy in the air, each second dragging like an eternity.

Finally, The Warden straightened, his decision made. "Here," he said, extending a hand and transmitting his contact information to Yuu. She felt a faint buzz as her HUD registered the incoming data. "Keep moving upward. I'll send some of my elite officers to secure a route to the main building and extract you when the way is clear."

Yuu's grip on Ken's shoulder tightened. "Understood," she said, her voice clipped, betraying none of the unease she felt. She could sense it—the oppressive weight of their situation, the lurking danger that seemed to press in from all sides. Every shadow felt alive, every sound a harbinger of something worse to come.

The Warden glanced back toward the corridor they had come from, his fingers twitching as though he could already hear the chaos closing in. "Don't linger. Move quickly and stay together," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Whatever is stalking these halls… it won't wait for an invitation."

With that, The Warden turned and strode off into the dimly lit corridor, his form soon swallowed by the darkness. The faint echo of his footsteps lingered for a moment before silence reclaimed the space, oppressive and suffocating.

Yuu glanced at Ken, her expression unreadable. "Let's go," she said, her voice calm but leaving no room for argument. She didn't need to voice the stakes—they were clear in every fractured panel of the hallway, in every faint flicker of the overhead lights. Whatever lay ahead would demand everything they had. And still, it might not be enough.