THE LAST SURVIVOR

THE HIDDEN SIGNAL

The words echoed through Ethan's mind.

"Ethan... don't trust... the Guardian..."

His heart pounded.

"What did you just say?" Ethan whispered.

The Guardian stood motionless, its golden eyes fixed on him.

"Commander, your vital signs are elevated."

"I detected no complete transmission."

Ethan took a cautious step back.

"Then why did I hear my mother?"

The Guardian remained silent for a moment.

"Transmission source unknown."

Before Ethan could question it further, ARIA's voice interrupted.

"Warning."

"The signal was encrypted."

"Its origin cannot be confirmed."

Raven rushed to Ethan's side.

"Ethan! We have to move!"

Black Phoenix soldiers were closing in from every direction, firing pulse weapons that tore through trees and sent splinters flying.

Lucas, clutching his wounded shoulder, pointed toward the eastern ridge.

"There's an evacuation tunnel beneath the mountain."

General Victor Kane nodded.

"It was built during Project Eclipse."

"It's our only chance."

Magnus Voss laughed from the cliff above.

"Run if you like."

"My hunters are already waiting."

He raised his crimson-glowing hand.

The corrupted survivor let out a deafening roar and charged straight toward Ethan.

"No!" Lucas shouted.

"E-11! Fight it!"

For an instant, the creature hesitated.

Its crimson eyes flickered back to blue.

"E... Ethan..." it growled weakly.

"Run..."

Then the corruption overwhelmed him again.

He lunged.

The Guardian stepped between them, but the monster was faster this time.

It slammed the Guardian into the mountainside, sending boulders crashing down.

Dust filled the air.

"Ethan!" Raven grabbed his arm.

"Now!"

The group sprinted toward the ridge while explosions echoed behind them.

As they reached the cliff, Lucas stopped.

"Where's Ava?"

Everyone froze.

One of the survivors was missing.

A young woman with short black hair had disappeared during the battle.

"She was right behind us," another survivor said.

A faint scream echoed from the forest.

Magnus smiled.

"Looking for someone?"

He stepped aside.

Two Black Phoenix Hunters dragged Ava into the open.

Her hands were bound with glowing chains.

Blood trickled from a cut above her eye, but she stood defiantly.

"You'll never get the pendants," she spat.

Magnus chuckled.

"Oh, I don't need all of them today."

He looked directly at Ethan.

"I only need one."

He pressed a button on a small device.

The chains around Ava crackled with red electricity.

She cried out in pain.

"Ethan..." Lucas whispered.

"If we stay, we'll all be captured."

Raven's voice trembled.

"But if we leave..."

"Ava dies."

Ethan looked at the terrified faces around him.

His friends.

The Guardian.

The enemy.

Every choice carried a terrible cost.

He clenched the pendant around his neck.

Then he made his decision.

"I'm going back."

Raven grabbed his arm.

"You can't!"

Ethan met her eyes.

"If we abandon each other now..."

"We're no better than the people hunting us."

Without another word, he turned and ran back toward Magnus Voss.

Magnus smiled.

"I knew you would."

He slowly drew a long black sword that shimmered with crimson energy.

"Let's see..."

"...whether the Last Survivor deserves that title."