Chapter 10: Shadow of Freedom
The cold silence of the bunker pressed in around me as the last flickers of the terminal screen died away. The AI core was shut down, its influence severed—for now. I wanted to feel relief, to believe that I had finally gained control over my own mind, but the weight of the system's quiet presence still lingered like a ghost in my thoughts.
I knelt down beside the scarred man's body, searching through his pockets. He and his team hadn't been just opportunists—they were part of something bigger, something more dangerous. As I rifled through his jacket, I found a small, black data drive. My fingers curled around it, the edges sharp against my skin.
Whatever was on that drive, it was important enough for them to try and stop me from shutting down the AI. I stood up, pocketing the drive, my mind racing with possibilities. These mercenaries had been working for someone, and whoever it was had known about the AI, had been harnessing its power. And if that was true, shutting down the core might have just been the beginning.
The system stirred again, a faint whisper in the back of my mind. "They are coming."
I tensed, glancing toward the entrance of the bunker. The quiet stillness outside suddenly felt ominous, like the calm before a storm. My instincts screamed at me to move, to get out of here before whatever the system had detected arrived.
I grabbed my gear, my boots echoing against the cold metal floor as I made my way toward the exit. The mountain air hit me like a slap in the face as I emerged from the bunker, the wind howling through the snow-covered trees. I glanced around, scanning for movement. Nothing—yet.
New Objective: Evade pursuit and escape Belka
Threat Level: Critical
Reward: XP: 2000, ???
Failure Penalty: Capture or Death
The system's voice was quiet but urgent. "They know what you have done. They will not stop until they recover the AI."
I gritted my teeth, pulling my collar up against the cold as I started moving through the trees. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline from the firefight still coursing through me. If what the system was saying was true, then the people behind those mercenaries wouldn't stop until they had me—or what was left of the AI.
The path ahead wound through the dense forest, leading down the mountain toward a series of old, abandoned roads. My plan was simple: get to the extraction point Rook had set up and get out of Belka as fast as possible. But the deeper I went, the more I could feel the tension rising, like something was closing in on me.
As I moved through the trees, the faint sound of engines roared in the distance. I froze, crouching low and listening. It was faint, but unmistakable—rotors slicing through the air, getting closer. Helicopters.
"Damn it," I muttered, picking up the pace. They were hunting me already.
The system's voice spoke again, more direct now. "Two enemy helicopters inbound. ETA: three minutes. Evade or engage."
Evading would mean staying hidden in the dense forest, but they'd eventually find me. Engaging would be riskier, but I'd eliminate the immediate threat. My mind raced, weighing the options as I moved deeper into the cover of the trees.
New Skill Unlocked: Tactical Disruption
Tactical Disruption: Temporarily disables enemy radar and communications for 60 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes.
The new skill appeared in my vision, the system already offering me a lifeline. I didn't fully trust it yet, but I needed every advantage I could get.
I crouched low behind a fallen tree, activating the skill. A faint hum buzzed through my mind as I felt the system take control of the surrounding electronic signals. The helicopters above whirred closer, but their movements suddenly became erratic, as if they'd lost their bearings.
"Tactical Disruption active. Move now," the system urged.
I didn't need to be told twice. I bolted through the trees, the sound of the helicopters fading behind me as I sprinted toward the old road that led down the mountain. My lungs burned from the cold air, but I pushed forward, knowing I couldn't afford to slow down.
As I reached the clearing where the road began, the faint outline of an old, beat-up jeep came into view. It was part of Rook's plan—a backup escape vehicle in case things went south. And right now, they were going south fast.
I yanked open the door, threw my gear inside, and slid into the driver's seat. The jeep roared to life, the engine sputtering for a second before catching. I slammed the accelerator, kicking up snow as I tore down the narrow, winding road.
New Objective: Rendezvous with Rook at the extraction point
Location: Northern Border of Belka
Reward: XP: 1000
Failure Penalty: Capture or Death
The snow-covered path was treacherous, the tires slipping on the ice as I navigated the twists and turns. The sound of helicopters was still faint behind me, but growing louder. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my mind racing. Rook was waiting at the extraction point, and I had to make it there in one piece.
The road opened up, and I saw the distant outline of the border ahead—just a few more miles. But before I could reach it, a flash of movement caught my eye. A dark figure stepped out onto the road, and I slammed on the brakes, the jeep skidding to a halt just in time.
It was Rook.
She stood there, her flight suit covered in frost, her eyes cold and focused. Behind her, a military-grade transport chopper sat ready, its blades whirring.
"Cutting it close, Wells," she said, her voice barely audible over the roar of the wind. "Get in. We've got company."
I didn't waste any time. I grabbed my gear, sprinting toward the chopper as Rook climbed in behind me. The doors slammed shut, and the helicopter lifted off, rising into the dark sky as the ground disappeared beneath us.
Inside, Rook was already at the controls, her hands steady on the throttle. "Those weren't just random mercenaries, were they?" she asked, her eyes scanning the horizon.
I shook my head, catching my breath. "No. They were sent to stop me from shutting down the AI. Whoever's behind them has access to the network."
Rook's jaw tightened, but she said nothing. The helicopter cut through the sky, heading south toward the border. The sound of the rotors was a steady hum, but my mind was still racing, piecing together what had just happened.
I glanced out the window, watching the snowy mountains disappear into the distance. The system was quiet now, but I could still feel its presence. It had helped me survive, but I knew it wasn't done yet. It had a purpose—a goal. And whether that aligned with mine was still up in the air.
As we flew, Rook's voice cut through the silence.
"Whatever you did back there, it's got people worried," she said, glancing over at me. "I've been monitoring comms. There's chatter about you—and about Kessler. They want him. And they want you."
I frowned. "Why? The AI core is dead. There's nothing left."
Rook shook her head. "There's always something left, Wells. Whatever Kessler knows, it's valuable enough for them to kill for. And you've got a target on your back now."
I leaned back, the weight of her words sinking in. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
And as I stared out into the night sky, I could feel the system stirring again, like a sleeping giant slowly waking.
"We are not done yet," the system whispered, its voice soft but insistent. "There are others."
Others? I didn't ask. I didn't want to know. But I knew, deep down, that this was far from the end.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone