Three days after the escape from the Genitech facility, the world began to show terrifying changes.
Strange news spread across different parts of the globe—massive disruptions in electrical systems, the appearance of "strange individuals" with physical and psychic abilities far beyond normal humans. Several small cities lost all contact.
The government remained silent. The military was confused. The world... slowly descended into a quiet chaos.
Yet in the shadows of destruction, Ethan Liu was building something.
The Secret Base
An old bunker beneath an abandoned city became their first headquarters. Cracked concrete walls, covered with graffiti from a forgotten past.But for Ethan, it was enough.
Mei led the reconstruction of the communications system.Kael rebuilt the underground network terminal.Liana mapped potential recruitment locations.
In the center of the bunker, a large hologram now stood—projecting a world map, marked with two colors:
Red: Areas fallen under Helix control.
Green: Free territories, though fragile.
"We need more people," Mei said. "The three of us alone can't fight a global network."
Kael nodded. "I've contacted a few underground groups. Ex-hackers, former soldiers, even extreme VR users. They all know something strange is happening."
The Pioneer Force
Over the next few days, one by one, people began arriving at the bunker.
Riven: A former elite hacker who once breached military servers.
Asha: A neurosurgeon who understood psionic body modifications.
Milo: A gifted young man, former world VR champion, with reflexes almost machine-like.
They all shared one thing—a desire to fight back.
Ethan stood before them at their first gathering.
"This world is on the brink of collapse. But we still have a choice.We may not be soldiers. We may not be heroes.But we are the only hope left."
He clenched his fist.
"We are not just humans.We are Pioneers.Pioneers of a new world."
A small cheer filled the bunker for the first time.
The Secret Weapon
Kael and Riven worked together to develop the Helix Penetration Weapon—a digital virus designed specifically to infect Helix's psionic systems.
"If it works," Riven said, "we can disable an entire Helix unit with a single data shot."
"But the risk is huge," Kael added. "If they detect it, they could strike back—into our minds."
Ethan nodded. "Then we must use it at the perfect moment."
First Mission: Assault on the Helix Node
Intel from the underground network revealed the location of a Helix Node—a small station used to coordinate Helix forces—in the ruins of Novalis City.
Ethan pointed at the map.
"We hit this Node.It will be the first sign to the world that Helix... can be defeated."
The mission was simple: infiltrate, destroy the server, escape.
But everyone knew—once they struck, there would be no turning back.
The Night Before the War
That night, atop the bunker, Ethan sat alone, gazing at the dark sky.The stars seemed dim, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Mei approached, sitting beside him.
"Afraid?" she asked.
Ethan gave a small smile. "I'd be crazy if I wasn't."
Mei looked up at the sky."You know, sometimes I wish things had stayed the same.The virtual world... simple games... no Nexus, no war."
Ethan took a deep breath.
"I wish that too.But we can't go back.We can only choose what we do now."
Mei nodded quietly, then quickly grabbed Ethan's hand.
"If you fall... I'll pull you back."
Ethan turned, meeting her gaze. His smile grew wider.
"Then I won't fall."
End of the Chapter
The next morning, with full gear, weapons in hand, and hope burning in their hearts, the Pioneer team departed for Novalis.
Their first mission had begun.
And soon...the world would know that the war for the future had begun.