Lightning exploded down Aria's arm into Kai's wrist—white-hot, controlled. The fusion surged through him like adrenaline on steroids. His borrowed knife lit up, edge crackling.
The three Knife thugs barely had time to react.
Big guy in front lunged with suppression cuffs glowing dull red—relic tech meant to dampen skills. Kai met him head-on, fusion slash carving through the cuffs like paper. Metal sparked, relic shattered. The thug staggered, eyes wide.
Second one fired a sleep dart from the shadows. Aria's free hand snapped up—bolt forked, vaporized the dart mid-air. Third tried to flank, blade out.
Kai Echo Stepped—world blinked. He reappeared behind the flanker, knife buried to the hilt. Guy dropped without a sound.
Big thug roared, swung a fist wrapped in some strength relic. Kai ducked; Aria's lightning chained off his blade into the guy's chest. Fusion again—clean, no backlash this time.
Thug hit the wall hard, slumped.
Whole fight: maybe twenty seconds.
Hallway smelled like burnt ozone and blood. Neighbors' doors stayed shut—Dockside rule: mind your business.
Aria breathed hard, grip still on his wrist. "You good?"
"Yeah." Kai pulled free gently, knelt by the big guy. Still breathing. "You?"
"Fine." She scanned the hall. "We drag answers out fast."
Kai slapped the thug awake. Guy groaned, eyes unfocused.
"Warehouse 14," Kai said low. "Mina Veylan. Talk."
Thug spat blood. "Boss wants the synced freaks. Crown's golden girl and her pet. Said you'd come running for the old lady."
Aria's eyes went cold. Lightning danced on her fingertips.
Kai leaned in. "Where exactly?"
"Main floor. Caged. But it's bait, idiots. Trap gate's primed. Rogue core rigged to blow if you dive wrong."
Aria hauled the guy up by his collar. "Who's boss tonight?"
Thug grinned red. "You'll see."
She zapped him unconscious—controlled pulse. Dropped him.
They left the bodies—Dockside cleanup would handle, or Knife would. Didn't matter.
Old docks: ten minutes sprint through back streets. Fog rolled in off the water, thick and salty. Warehouse 14 loomed—rusted metal, broken windows, faint violet glow leaking from cracks in the doors.
Rogue Gate inside. Unstable.
Kai felt the tether pull—ten meters tolerance, but Strain nibbled if they split. Shared Perception hummed, ready.
Aria nodded toward a side entrance. "Quiet first."
They slipped in.
Inside: crates stacked high, relic black-market stalls half-packed. Velvet Knife grunts—eight, maybe ten—patrolling catwalks. Center: iron cage on the concrete.
Mina inside, tied to a chair, gag in mouth. Head up, eyes sharp. Alive. Pissed.
Relief hit Kai so hard his knees almost buckled.
But around the cage: circle of unstable violet—mini Rogue Gate, edges fraying. Core floating above Mina like a bomb.
Boss stood nearby—tall woman in velvet-trimmed leathers, scar across her throat. Knife emblem tattooed on her neck.
She clapped slow as they stepped into the light.
"Ice Queen and Dockside boy. Right on schedule."
Aria's voice cut cold. "Let her go."
Scar-woman smiled. "Can't. She's the lure. But you're the prize." She gestured. Grunts raised relics—binding chains, dampeners. "Word's out. Soulmate Sync. Rare. Valuable. Crown thinks they own you—Knife thinks different."
Kai's knife hand tightened. "You're selling us?"
"Studying. Selling. Depends who bids highest." Scar-woman tapped a tablet. "Choir of the Root's interested too. Say your bond's 'divine pairing.' Cute."
Mina mumbled through the gag—eyes locked on Kai. Warning.
The mini-gate pulsed. Core Law flickered visible:
[Bait Law: Harm the hostage, Gate explodes. Clear without contact, Sync Collapse triggers.]
Trap perfect.
Scar-woman grinned wider. "Clock's ticking. Gate destabilizes in ten. Save her clean, or watch her burn. Either way, you're weakened when we bag you."
Grunts closed in.
Aria glanced at Kai—quick, loaded.
He nodded.
Shared Perception triggered—ten seconds.
World shifted: he saw through her eyes too. Perfect overlap.
Plan formed instant.
Aria blasted lightning wide—distraction chain, frying relics.
Kai Echo Stepped—not to a thug. To Aria.
Reappeared beside her, hand in hers.
Fusion surged. Dual Cast intermediate—no backlash.
He slashed air; her lightning rode it—wave of storm-blade cutting chains, dampeners, grunts in one sweep.
They moved together—ten meters apart when needed, closing instant with Step.
Scar-woman snarled, pulled an artifact—black dagger glowing.
Mini-gate flared, sucking wind in.
Mina's chair teetered on the edge.
Kai dove—grabbed her as the floor cracked.
But the core detonated early.
Violet light swallowed them.
They spilled into a pocket Domain—twisted warehouse mirror, monsters spawning from crates.
Scar-woman landed opposite, dagger out.
"Welcome to phase two."
And behind her, deeper in the fog—a second figure.
Juno Vale. Crown leathers pristine.
Smiling like he belonged.
"Change of plans," he said calmly. "Crown's taking custody. Thanks for the assist, Knife."
Scar-woman's face twisted betrayal.
Aria's hand tightened on Kai's.
The tether burned—rage shared.
Juno's eyes locked on their joined hands.
"Sorry, Aria. But you're coming home. Without him."
(To be continued…)