Chapitre 23: The Phantom Strikes
The air in the core chamber was thick with tension. The faint hum of the AI core pulsed rhythmically, casting an eerie blue glow across the room. And standing there, in the shadow of the technology he had brought to life, was Viktor Zaitsev—the mastermind behind everything. His figure was calm, his eyes sharp with intelligence and malice, as though the chaos we had caused in his empire was little more than a nuisance.
"You've been a thorn in my side for far too long," Zaitsev said, his voice cold but unshaken. "But you've barely scratched the surface of what I'm capable of."
I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. This was no ordinary man. There was an air of power around him, as if the AI itself was an extension of his will. He wasn't just a puppet master pulling strings from the shadows—he was the architect of everything we had been fighting.
Rook stood at my side, her gun drawn, her eyes locked on Zaitsev. "You won't walk away from this, Zaitsev. We're taking you down."
Zaitsev smiled, a cold, calculating expression that sent a chill down my spine. "You think it's that simple? That by destroying a few AI cores, you've crippled my operation? You have no idea what's coming. The network is far bigger than you realize, and it will continue to grow. You can't stop it."
My hand tightened on my weapon. "We'll see about that."
Zaitsev's eyes gleamed as he took a step back, closer to the core. "This is just the beginning. You'll face more than just drones and AI systems from now on. You're about to step into a war you can't win."
New Villain Objective: Viktor Zaitsev's Unfolding Plan
Zaitsev reveals that the AI network is only one part of his grand scheme. As the story progresses, his influence will expand beyond technology, manipulating governments, militaries, and entire regions to consolidate his power. His actions will worsen, bringing chaos to the world. Wells and his team must dismantle his empire piece by piece while uncovering the true depth of his control.
Rook glanced at me, her voice low but firm. "We need to take him out. Now."
But before I could move, the core began to pulse with increasing intensity, the lights flickering as the entire facility seemed to come alive. Zaitsev's grin widened, and I realized too late what he was doing.
"I don't think so," he said, his voice a hiss. "Goodbye."
In an instant, the room filled with blinding light as the core's defenses activated. A barrier of energy pulsed around the core, cutting us off from Zaitsev as he disappeared into the depths of the facility. The ground shook as alarms blared, and I knew we had only seconds before the entire place went into lockdown.
"We need to move!" I shouted, grabbing Rook's arm as we turned toward the exit.
The facility was collapsing around us, walls buckling and systems going haywire as the core destabilized. Zaitsev had planned for this—a trap to keep us distracted while he made his escape. As we sprinted through the halls, dodging debris and security drones, the weight of what Zaitsev had said began to settle in.
This wasn't just about the AI anymore. Zaitsev had plans far bigger than we had imagined. If we were going to stop him, we would need to go beyond hunting down cores. We had to dismantle his entire network, and that meant going after his allies, his resources, and the governments he had manipulated.
New Objective: Escape the Phantom Facility
Objective: Survive the collapsing facility and regroup with Levi's team
Threat Level: Critical
Reward: XP: 5000, ???
Failure Penalty: Death or Capture
We burst through the last set of doors just as the facility began to implode. The roar of engines filled the air as Levi's team swooped in, their jets laying down suppressing fire on the drones that had started to swarm the area.
"Wells! Rook! Get in!" Levi's voice crackled over the comms as a transport helicopter lowered onto the landing pad.
We sprinted across the tarmac, dodging gunfire and drones as we made it to the helicopter. I grabbed the edge of the ramp, pulling Rook up behind me as the engines roared to life.
"We're clear!" I shouted into the comms as the helicopter lifted off, the facility collapsing into a smoking ruin below us.
Levi's jet flew alongside the chopper, his voice steady. "You made it out just in time. What about Zaitsev?"
"He got away," I muttered, frustration boiling inside me. "He was one step ahead of us the whole time."
Rook leaned back against the wall of the chopper, her breathing heavy. "We'll get him next time. He won't be able to run forever."
But I wasn't so sure. Zaitsev was far more dangerous than we had realized. Every time we thought we were close, he pulled us deeper into his web, manipulating events from behind the scenes.
New Objective: Hunt Down Viktor Zaitsev
Objective: Track down Zaitsev's next move and dismantle his network
Reward: XP: 15,000, ???
Failure Penalty: Zaitsev's Control Grows
As we flew away from the ruins of Phantom, the horizon darkened with storm clouds. This was just the beginning. Zaitsev's reach extended far beyond Erusea. He was already setting the stage for his next move, and we had no idea where that would lead us next.
But one thing was clear: we couldn't keep fighting like this. The F-16s we were flying were reliable, but Zaitsev's forces were getting stronger. His drones were faster, his air defenses more advanced, and his technology was evolving. We needed something more.
Rook seemed to be thinking the same thing. She glanced over at me, her eyes focused and sharp. "We can't keep up with this pace. Zaitsev's drones are getting smarter, more lethal. We need an edge."
I nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. "The F-16's been good, but it's not enough anymore. We need something faster, more advanced."
Rook raised an eyebrow. "You're thinking about the Super Raptors?"
"The F-22 is what we need," I said, my mind already racing. "It's got better stealth, faster speeds, more advanced systems. It's the only thing that can stand up to Zaitsev's drones and whatever else he's got cooking."
Levi cut in over the comms, his tone serious. "I know a guy who can get you one. But it's going to come at a price."
I didn't hesitate. "Set it up. Whatever it takes."
New Objective: Secure an F-22 Super Raptor
Objective: Obtain an F-22 Super Raptor to face Zaitsev's evolving forces
Threat Level: High
Reward: XP: 8000, Advanced Aircraft Capabilities
Failure Penalty: Reduced Effectiveness Against Zaitsev's Forces
The storm clouds ahead mirrored the growing tension in the air. This was no longer about simple AI cores or drone squadrons. Zaitsev was building an empire, and if we were going to stop him, we needed to be ready for anything.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone