Chapter 16: The Ashes of Tomorrow
The storm hadn’t stopped since the Core went dark.
Rain hammered the ruined city like a pulse from the heavens — relentless, unfeeling. The skyline shimmered with fractured lights, half the power grid offline after the cascade Ethan triggered. Every tower flickered like a dying candle, and somewhere deep below, Elysium’s weakened heart still beat in silence.
The team moved through the flooded streets, soaked and exhausted, their breath misting in the cold air. Hannah led the way, scanning each corner with her rifle; Maya leaned against Ethan, her strength wavering from the surge that nearly tore her mind apart. Dr. Taylor carried a portable case filled with recovered data shards while Dr. Myles walked in silence, her mechanical eye flickering like a hea
