The Veridia City under-transit tunnels were a forgotten world of oppressive silence and decay. The Crimson Coil insertion team – Kai, Breaker, and Zip – moved with a practiced caution born of necessity, the faint, erratic glow of ancient light strips their only guide through the oppressive darkness. Roric and Shift's voices were a reassuring, if distant, presence in their earpieces, a lifeline to the strategic oversight being conducted blocks away.
"Approaching the area of Shift's energy readings now," Kai murmured into his comm, his enhanced Perception, boosted by his recent attribute allocation, picking up subtle shifts in the tunnel's atmosphere – a faint metallic tang, a barely perceptible hum. His Anima Core Stability was at 93%; the "Pathfinder's Charm" he'd earned earlier was in his System inventory, ready if needed.
"Hold position," Roric's voice commanded. "Zip, Roric's earlier instruction stands. We need a visual on the source of those energy readings before we proceed further. This is a critical intel point. If it's a Cerberus checkpoint or an automated defense array, we need to know its nature and layout. Prioritize stealth on approach, but get a clear look. Maximum burst duration: five seconds. Data acquisition is key."
Zip, who had been flitting nervously at the rear, took a deep breath. His D-Grade Dragonfly Anima, while potent in short bursts, was a significant drain on his reserves, and the risk of detection from its activation was always present. "Understood, Roric. Leader Kai, on your mark."
"Mark," Kai said simply. With a shimmer that was more a distortion of the dim light than a visible movement, Zip vanished up the tunnel. The silence he left behind was heavy, amplifying the sound of their own breathing. Breaker stood like a granite statue, his massive form a reassuring presence beside Kai.
The seconds stretched. Kai counted them, his senses straining for any sound, any sign of trouble. [System Update: Zip – Dragonfly Anima (Burst Recon) active. Anima Core (Zip): Depleting rapidly.]
Just as Kai was about to query Roric on the time elapsed, Zip reappeared, materializing beside them with a gasp, his multifaceted eyes wide and reflecting a myriad of faint lights. He was panting, his small frame trembling slightly. "Report, Zip!" Roric's voice was sharp.
"It's… it's a defense grid, Roric! Leader Kai!" Zip stammered, catching his breath. "About thirty meters ahead, where the tunnel widens slightly before a major junction. Multiple laser emitters, crisscrossing the entire passage – floor to ceiling. Looks jury-rigged, but definitely active. Saw pressure plates on the floor too, subtle, almost invisible in the dust. And… small, dark nodules on the walls between the lasers. Couldn't tell what they were. Motion sensors? Or something worse?"[Zip – Dragonfly Anima: Recon successful. Identified: Laser Grid (Crude, High-Density), Pressure Sensors (Concealed), Unidentified Wall-Mounted Devices. Anima Core (Zip): Depleted by 25%. Warning: Repeated high-duration bursts will lead to critical exhaustion.]
"Jury-rigged, but comprehensive," Roric mused. "Shift, can your Phase Spider Anima get any passive readings on those wall nodules from this distance, now that Zip has confirmed their presence? Power signatures? Data transmission?"
There was a pause. "Negative, Roric," Shift replied. "Too much interference from the tunnel structure and the active laser emitters. I'd need to be much closer, almost within the grid itself, to get a reliable passive scan, and even then, if they're hardwired without active data transmission, my Anima might not pick them up clearly."
Kai stared down the dark tunnel, imagining the lethal web of light and pressure awaiting them. This wasn't some Scavenger scrap barricade. Cerberus, even in these forgotten tunnels, had established a deadly perimeter. "Those nodules Zip mentioned," Kai said, his mind racing. "If they're not standard motion sensors… could they be some kind of Anima dampener? Or a localized alarm that doesn't rely on their main comms?"
"Possible," Roric conceded. "Cerberus is known for a certain low-tech cunning when it comes to securing their assets. They wouldn't rely solely on easily jammable comms for critical alerts." He paused. "This changes the risk profile of a direct bypass significantly. Shift can't disable it remotely. Breaker, your size makes navigating such a grid exceptionally hazardous. Zip, your speed could inadvertently trigger the pressure plates if the lasers don't get you first."
His unseen gaze seemed to settle on Kai through the comms. "Leader Kai, this first true obstacle falls to you. Your enhanced Agility and Perception, your Draconic Momentum, perhaps even your 'Scaled Guard' if a beam is unavoidable, make you the most viable candidate to attempt a manual bypass. If you can get through and find a control mechanism on the other side, we proceed. If not…" Roric left the alternative unsaid, but the implication was clear: they would have to find another way, or abort.
The System pinged, as if underscoring the challenge: [New Tactical Obstacle: 'Cerberus Death-Web' – Laser Grid & Pressure Sensor Array.] [Recommended Approach: Individual Infiltration (Conduit Kai – High Agility/Perception Required). High risk of detection and physical harm.] [Objective: Safely navigate the defense grid and locate/disable its control system.]
Kai looked down the dark passage towards the glimmering threat. His Anima was strong, his skills honed by his nightly hunts as Umbra. But this was different. This was a cold, mechanical deathtrap, laid by a thinking, organized enemy. "Alright," Kai said, his voice quiet but firm. "I'll go first. Breaker, Zip, hold this position. Wait for my signal." He took a steadying breath. The Serpent's Mouth was about to test the limits of his draconic grace.