I Got a Notification on my Laptop and Got Legendary Powers

The Hollow Grid trembled beneath their feet as the Guardian surged forward, its colossal form shifting and twisting, adapting to the environment with terrifying precision. Eli barely had time to shove Yumi out of the way as a massive energy blade cleaved through the space where she had just been standing. Sparks flew as the floor beneath them cracked apart, the structure groaning in protest.

Eli rolled to his feet, sword drawn. "Why is it always a death machine?"

Yumi was already moving, her mind racing. The data crystal was too important to lose now, and they couldn't afford a prolonged fight. "We're not equipped to take this thing down," she said, voice tight. "We need an exit—now."

The Guardian recalibrated, its plated limbs whirring as it scanned them. Then, its voice reverberated through the Hollow Grid:

"Unauthorized access detected. Targeting priority: HIGH."

Eli's grip on his sword tightened. "Yeah, I got that part already."

Yumi's interface flashed as she frantically pulled up the map of the Hollow Grid. "There's a maintenance tunnel below us," she said. "It's old, but it should lead us out."

"Should?" Eli shot back, dodging another strike as the Guardian's arm morphed into a serrated blade, slicing through a nearby console.

"It's either that or die," Yumi snapped.

"Fine. But you owe me an explanation about that crystal once we're out of this mess."

Yumi didn't respond—she was already moving. With a sharp command through her interface, she forced an emergency override, causing the floor panel beneath them to flicker and unlock. The hatch released with a hiss.

Eli grabbed Yumi's wrist and pulled her after him just as the Guardian's blade came down, narrowly missing them. The moment they hit the lower level, Yumi slammed the hatch shut, sealing them inside the tunnels. The last thing they saw before the doors closed was the Guardian's glowing eyes, locked onto them.

Then, silence.

They landed hard in the tunnels, the impact sending dust spiraling into the air. The space was narrow, the walls lined with ancient cables that pulsed faintly with residual energy. The only illumination came from their interfaces and the dim flicker of emergency lights.

Eli exhaled sharply. "That was way too close."

Yumi pulled herself up, already scanning for their next move. "We can't stay here. The Guardian will find another way down."

Eli turned to her, frustration evident. "Alright, no more running in circles—what's in that data crystal? What did we really find back there?"

Yumi hesitated, gripping the crystal tightly. "It's not just about the Echo. There's something else buried in the system's code. Something Azrael didn't create."

Eli frowned. "Come again?"

Yumi took a deep breath. "The Echo isn't an accident or a malfunction. It's a message. And whoever—or whatever—sent it knew about Azrael long before he took control of the system."

Eli's expression darkened. "You're saying there's another player in this game."

Yumi nodded. "And we just put ourselves right in their sights."

A voice suddenly echoed through the tunnel, making them both freeze.

"Then it's a good thing you have me."

From the shadows, a figure stepped forward. His cloak was torn, his face partially obscured by the dim lighting. But Yumi recognized the voice instantly.

"Arjun?"

He smirked. "Took you long enough to get here."

Eli stared. "You're alive?"

Arjun dusted off his coat. "More or less. But we don't have time for reunions. If you really have that data, then we're running out of time."

Yumi narrowed her eyes. "You know what's in this crystal, don't you?"

Arjun's gaze hardened. "I know who sent that message. And I know what happens if we don't stop it."

Eli sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Great. More existential doom."

Arjun gestured for them to follow. "Come on. I've been preparing for this."

Yumi hesitated only for a second before stepping forward.

Because for the first time since they started unraveling the system's secrets—

She wasn't sure if Azrael was the biggest threat anymore.