The explosion shook the abandoned theater to its foundations, sending debris tumbling in all directions. The roar echoed through the streets of Solaris like a harbinger of chaos. Akihiko, Thalos, and Orpheus barely managed to avoid the shockwave, rolling on the ground in the dust and flames.
"They found us faster than expected," Thalos grunted as he sat up, his eyes fixed on the silhouettes emerging from the mist and fire.
Orpheus spat out blood and leaned against a wobbly wall. "This wasn't a warning. They came to kill us."
He had barely finished speaking when the first shots rang out. From the rooftops and alleys, mercenaries of the Order of the Eternal Night opened fire with lethal precision.
Akihiko unsheathed his katana in the blink of an eye. "Move!"
With impeccable reflexes, the group scattered, dodging bullets as they made their way toward the exit. Orpheus pulled two revolvers from his trench coat and fired at point-blank range at an enemy trying to flank them.
Thalos used his arcane forge to erect a temporal barrier that absorbed some of the impact of the blasts. "We can't face them here! They outnumber us!"
Akihiko analyzed the situation in seconds. Solaris wasn't a safe place, and if they'd been tracked here, that meant they were one step behind Viktor. "We need to regroup with the others!"
Helena and Isabella: The Hunt Begins
At the opposite end of the city, Helena and Isabella made their way through the alleys of the commercial district, still processing the information they'd gleaned from the secret library. The revelation about the Children of the First Sin and their connection to The Key gave them a clear clue: someone had wanted to erase this organization's existence entirely.
"If The Key is a descendant of Ezra Caelum and is still alive, that means he's been deliberately kept hidden," Isabella said. "He may not even know what he is."
Helena, frowning, scanned the surroundings. "That means Viktor doesn't know either. But if he already has information about his existence, it won't take him long to find him."
The sound of hurried footsteps caught their attention. Isabella and Helena turned just in time to see a group of hooded figures blocking both ends of the alley.
"Too late," Isabella murmured. "We were caught."
One of the attackers spoke in a guttural voice. "Hand over the information you obtained in the library. There's no need for this to end in blood."
Helena narrowed her eyes. "There's already too much blood in these streets. And this city isn't big enough for the three of us to hide."
"Three?" the mercenary asked, confused.
Just then, Isabella activated her power, unleashing a wave of soul echoes that paralyzed her enemies for a brief second. Helena took advantage of the distraction and launched herself forward with her metal spear, eliminating the first enemy with a clean blow.
"Run!" Isabella shouted as the others recovered.
The two women forced their way through, fighting with lethal precision. But the mercenaries were no mere pawns; they were well trained and responded with calculated violence.
The Convergence of Destiny
Akihiko and Thalos arrived at the agreed-upon rendezvous point in the underground canals of Solaris. The tunnel network served as a refuge for smugglers and fugitives, and while it wasn't a safe haven, it would give them a chance to regroup.
Shortly after, Isabella and Helena arrived, covered in cuts and dust, but still standing. "They followed us, but we lost them in the chaos of the city," Helena said, breathing heavily.
Orpheus crossed his arms. "There's no more time. If they've gone this far to stop us, it means we're dangerously close to the truth."
Kael and Aria appeared from the gloom, their faces grim. "We have bad news. Viktor is already on the move. If we don't get there before him... The Key will fall into his hands."
Akihiko gritted his teeth. "Then there's no more doubt. We'll find him first. And we'll take out whoever tries to stop us."
Outside, Solaris's lights continued to flicker in the night, while shadows lurked around every corner. The war for truth had just begun.