The ocean raged below as Kafi descended through storm clouds, her engines whispering against the gale. Beneath the surface of the black waters lay an ancient Nexus vault, long abandoned—until now.
"Coordinates confirmed," Kafi announced. "Subaqueous entry in 20 seconds. Liam, brace. Ava, weapons systems at your command."
Liam tightened his grip on the control ring embedded in his gauntlet. Ava stood beside him, her newly awakened powers humming with anticipation.
Kafi dived, splitting the waves.
Beneath the sea, the hidden vault revealed itself—a black metal fortress surrounded by mechanical sea beasts and automated defense drones.
"They know we're coming," Liam muttered.
"Let them know who we are," Ava replied, summoning her kinetic blade.
The sea battle erupted.
Torpedoes surged toward them. Kafi's energy shields flared to life, absorbing the blasts. In retaliation, she launched hydro-charged plasma pulses, disrupting drone formations.
Liam activated the Overclock Module, Syra's warning flaring in his vision.
> "Caution: Overclocking may destabilize neural integrity."
"Do it," Liam growled.
His thoughts exploded into clarity. Equations, velocity vectors, enemy paths—all rendered in perfect 3D.
"Kafi, tilt 36°, fire triple beam cannon on my mark—NOW!"
Three beams of light tore into the enemy lines, splitting the seabed.
"Vault door in sight," Ava said. "But someone's guarding it."
From the depths rose Virex, the Nexus Enforcer. Part-machine, part-organic, and all rage. With six arms, two railguns, and a mind tethered to Nexus's hive AI, he was a walking war machine.
"Target acquired," Virex intoned. "Omega Ava. Liam 034. Terminate with prejudice."
Ava struck first, charging through the water with impossible speed, her kinetic blade slicing sparks off Virex's armor. Virex retaliated with a sonic pulse that cracked the seabed.
Liam shouted, "Kafi—separate armor configuration, form 'War Frame Alpha'!"
Kafi split, wrapping Liam in a mech-like suit formed of her nanites. Boosters flared as he launched into the fight.
Liam's punch collided with Virex, powered by kinetic storage. The impact sent shockwaves through the ocean floor.
Ava and Liam fought in perfect sync.
Virex fell.
The vault cracked open.
Inside? A secret laboratory, files on Ava's past... and a device labeled NEXUS CORE: ORIGIN SEED.
Liam reached for it, but Syra's voice stopped him.
> "Liam... that seed is alive. And it knows your name."