The lights of Solaris flickered in the distance as the group moved through the underground canals, the echoes of the battle still resonating in their minds. Orpheus walked at the head, his expression unreadable. His presence, already imposing, felt even heavier after what had happened in the theater. Now that they knew The Key existed, the race against Viktor was official.
Akihiko adjusted the hilt of his katana. "Viktor already knows we're after The Key. We can't afford to rest too long."
"Not just Viktor," Orpheus chimed in, his voice raspy. "If the Order is moving its pieces, that means there are more players in this game. And not all of them are predictable."
Kael typed on his device. "I intercepted some encrypted transmissions. It seems there's another faction interested in the Tree of Eden. We don't know who they are, but they're gathering information on the same target as Viktor."
Aria crossed her arms. "This is turning into an open war. And we're in the middle of it all."
Orpheus stopped and looked Akihiko straight in the eyes. "It's not just a war. It's destiny itself that's at stake. The Key isn't just an individual; it's an anomaly in the flow of time. And you're about to play with forces you don't even understand."
Silence fell over the group. For the first time, they felt the true weight of what they were chasing.
Visions of the Past
Before continuing, Orpheus approached a stone wall in the tunnel and placed his palm on it. He closed his eyes, and his power began to manifest. A violet glow illuminated his skin as the Resonance of Fate activated the echoes engraved there.
The walls whispered.
"Centuries ago, there was a pact here... An agreement sealed in blood. The Key was not to be found. It was not to be remembered. The Tree's very existence depended on its forgetting."
Spectral images began to emerge from the stones. Hooded figures could be seen engaged in an ancient ritual, surrounding the Tree of Eden in a sacred circle. An old man in dark robes raised his hand and spoke words in a forgotten language. With each syllable, the image of a human figure faded, as if it had never existed.
Akihiko frowned. "If The Key is so dangerous, why does Viktor want it?"
Orpheus opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a razor. "Because Viktor doesn't fear fate. He seeks to control it."
An Ambush in the Shadows
Before they could process the revelation, a chill ran through the air. Aria was the first to react. "They found us."
The shadows in the tunnels began to move, as if alive. From the darkness emerged figures wrapped in black cloaks with golden symbols on their gloves.
"They're not from the Order," Helena whispered. "They're others."
One of the men stepped forward. His voice was deep and firm. "You have disturbed the balance. The Key must remain forgotten. If you continue this way, you will be eliminated."
Isabella laughed coldly. "I'm sorry, but we're not good at following orders."
The fight erupted in an instant. Akihiko drew his katana and blocked the first blow from an incredibly swift enemy. Helena used her metal control to form a barrier, deflecting projectiles before launching a steel spear at her opponents.
Orpheus, for his part, moved with almost unreal fluidity. He dodged attacks fractions of a second in advance, as if he had already seen each move before it happened. His eyes glowed with a faint glow as his Fate Resonance allowed him to adjust in real time.
"You can't win this fight," Orpheus said calmly as he struck an enemy with lethal precision, leaving him motionless on the ground. "Because you've already lost it."
The attackers hesitated. One of them muttered something in an unknown language before a silent command made them retreat.
"This is not your time," said the hooded leader. "But we will meet again. And when we do, it will be the end of your story."
With an almost ritual movement, the figures vanished into the darkness of the tunnel.
Decisions and Conclusions
The group caught their breath, knowing it wasn't a victory, but a warning. Akihiko looked at Orpheus. "Do you know who they were?"
Orpheus nodded slowly. "Guardians of Oblivion. A faction that ensures forbidden secrets are never revealed. And now, we're on their list."
Kael sighed. "First Viktor, then the Order, and now these guys. Any other enemies we should expect?"
Orpheus smiled slightly. "Fate always has hidden cards. And I doubt we're seeing all the pieces on the board."
Isabella looked into the shadows where the Oblivion Guardians disappeared. "If Viktor and the Order are searching for the Key, but this faction wants it to remain forgotten... that means the Key is not only dangerous to the world, but also poses a threat to the history of the Tree of Eden itself."
Akihiko clenched his fists. "It doesn't matter who gets in the way. We're going to find The Key. No matter what it takes."
The group prepared to continue. Now they knew they were closer than ever to the truth. And with each step, the echo of destiny grew louder, guiding them toward the inevitable.