SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: You are reading [Threshold Walker: The Silver Circuit]
Jin crouched in the shadows of an abandoned maintenance tunnel, feeling the cold concrete against his back. Above him, Seoul's evening traffic hummed, oblivious to the operation about to unfold. According to Dr. Ha's inside contact, the Division transport would pass overhead in exactly twelve minutes.
"All teams, final position check," Tae-Woo's voice came through the secure comm device Su-Min had provided.
"Team Alpha in position," came a response from another Network operative stationed two blocks ahead.
"Team Beta, ready," confirmed a second voice.
Jin touched his earpiece. "Jin at primary intercept point."
Next to him, Su-Min methodically checked her equipment—a specialized toolkit designed to disable the transport vehicle's threshold dampening systems. She hadn't spoken much since they'd evacuated the compromised Network facility twelve hours ago, her focus entirely on the mission.
"Extraction window is exactly ninety seconds," Su-Min reminded him, her voice low and precise. "Any longer risks Division response teams."
Jin nodded, studying the silver lines that illuminated the tunnel in his enhanced perception. They pulsed with increasing intensity—a side effect of his growing integration with threshold energy. After the crystal revelation, the changes had accelerated. This morning, he'd noticed geometric patterns forming in his irises when he used his abilities.
"Transport approaching checkpoint," Tae-Woo reported. "Five minutes to intercept."
Jin closed his eyes, extending his awareness through his Path Finding ability. The hidden routes he'd discovered earlier remained clear, connecting their position to the street above where the transport would pass. But something felt off—a subtle distortion in one of the pathways.
"Su-Min," he whispered, "something's wrong with the eastern exit route."
She glanced at him sharply. "What do you mean?"
"The path is... altered. Like someone's interfering with it."
Su-Min frowned, checking her tactical display. "Nothing on sensors." After a pause, she asked, "Is this one of your threshold abilities?"
"Threshold Signature Recognition," Jin confirmed. "I can sense different types of threshold energy patterns now. And something's definitely affecting our exit route."
Su-Min's expression tightened. "The traitor?"
"Possibly. Or..." Jin hesitated. "Something else."
Before Su-Min could respond, Tae-Woo's voice cut in. "Transport just passed Checkpoint Alpha. Two escort vehicles, standard protocol. Proceed with primary plan."
Jin put aside his concerns for the moment. The mission had to come first. Dr. Ha's rescue wasn't just about saving an ally—her knowledge would be crucial for activating the remaining convergence points before the temporal window closed.
Su-Min touched her earpiece. "Copy. Moving to intercept position."
They climbed a maintenance ladder to a service grate that opened onto an access road running parallel to the main street. From this position, they could see the approaching Division convoy—a black transport van flanked by two unmarked SUVs.
"Wait for my mark," Tae-Woo instructed.
Jin focused on the silver lines connecting to the transport, seeing the faint glow of threshold dampening technology surrounding the vehicle. His recent ability evolution allowed him to perceive not just the presence of threshold technology, but its specific function and vulnerabilities.
"Transport reaching target zone in three... two... one..."
As the convoy passed over the threshold weak-point Jin had identified during planning, Tae-Woo gave the signal: "Now!"
Team Alpha activated their distraction—a minor threshold resonance pulse that would trigger the Division's detection systems without presenting as an immediate threat. As expected, the lead SUV slowed, security protocols requiring investigation of any threshold anomaly.
Su-Min moved with practiced efficiency, sprinting across the access road to the now-separated transport van. Jin followed, using his Line Manipulation ability to create a momentary silver bridge across a section of broken pavement.
They reached the transport's blind spot just as the Division agents from the lead vehicle began scanning the area with specialized equipment. Su-Min produced a small device from her toolkit and attached it to the transport's undercarriage.
"Dampening system override in progress," she reported. "Twenty seconds."
Jin kept watch, his enhanced perception tracking the Division agents' movements. So far, everything was proceeding according to plan.
Until it wasn't.
"Alert! Second Division team approaching from south!" Tae-Woo's urgent voice came through the comms. "Not on scheduled patrol route!"
Jin tensed. This was exactly what they'd feared—the compromised extraction plans. Someone had tipped off the Division.
Su-Min didn't miss a beat. "Accelerating override. Jin, prepare for immediate extraction."
The device on the transport beeped softly, indicating success. Su-Min nodded to Jin.
"Dampening disabled. You're up."
Jin pressed his palm against the transport's metal exterior, focusing his perception inward. With the dampening field down, he could sense the occupants—two Division agents in the front and Dr. Ha in a secured compartment in the back. Using his Partial Phasing ability, he slipped his fingers through the metal, finding the internal locking mechanism of the rear door.
It took intense concentration, but Jin managed to manipulate the lock. The rear door unlocked with a soft click.
"Security breach!" shouted one of the agents from the lead vehicle, finally noticing the tampering.
Su-Min moved instantly, pulling the door open while Jin created a silver barrier to temporarily block the agents' view. Inside, Dr. Ha sat handcuffed to a bench, her eyes widening at the sight of them.
"Right on schedule," she said with remarkable composure.
Su-Min made quick work of the handcuffs while Jin maintained the barrier. "Extraction complete," Su-Min reported. "Moving to extraction route."
They helped Dr. Ha from the vehicle, ducking into the maintenance access point just as Division agents opened fire. The bullets struck Jin's silver barrier, which wavered but held long enough for them to disappear underground.
"Eastern route compromised," Jin reminded Su-Min as they navigated the tunnels. "We need to find another way."
Dr. Ha studied Jin with concern. "Your threshold integration has accelerated significantly."
"Later," Jin said, focusing on their escape. "We need to reach the rendezvous point."
Su-Min consulted her tactical display. "If the eastern route is compromised as you say, our only option is the maintenance shaft leading to the old subway line."
Jin extended his Path Finding ability, searching for the route. "Found it. This way."
They moved quickly through the labyrinthine maintenance tunnels, the sounds of Division pursuit growing behind them. Jin's silver lines pulsed with increasing brightness as they approached another threshold weak-point—a feature he'd begun to recognize as potentially useful for evasion.
"The Division is deploying threshold tracking technology," Dr. Ha informed them as they ran. "It's a new system designed specifically to trace Walker signatures."
"How do you know that?" Su-Min asked sharply.
"Agent Song told me," Dr. Ha replied. "Not everything is as it seems with the Division."
They reached a junction where three tunnels converged. Jin paused, his Threshold Signature Recognition ability detecting something unusual.
"Someone's waiting ahead," he whispered. "Not Division... different signature."
Su-Min drew a compact taser. "Evolved?"
Jin nodded grimly. "And behind us, Division."
"Trapped between two enemies," Dr. Ha observed. "Quite the predicament."
Jin assessed their options. The Division forces would be equipped with standard containment protocols—non-lethal but effective against threshold-sensitive individuals. The Evolved, however, were an unknown quantity with unpredictable abilities.
"I have an idea," Jin said. "But you'll need to trust me."
Su-Min's expression was skeptical but resigned. "What's the play?"
"I'm going to attempt a partial threshold transit," Jin explained. "Not a full Walk, but enough to get us past both threats."
Dr. Ha looked alarmed. "Jin, that's extremely dangerous without proper stabilization. Your father's research indicated that unanchored transit could result in permanent displacement."
"We don't have a choice," Jin replied, extending his hand to both women. "Hold on to me and don't let go, no matter what you experience."
Su-Min hesitated only briefly before gripping his arm. Dr. Ha did the same.
Jin closed his eyes, focusing on the threshold weak-point he'd detected earlier. Using his Line Manipulation ability, he began constructing a temporary pathway—not into the deep Threshold, but into the shallow layer between realities that his father had called the "Between-Space."
The air around them shimmered, reality wavering as Jin pushed against its boundaries. The silver lines of his perception expanded, enveloping all three of them in a cocoon of threshold energy.
"Now!" Jin gasped, pulling them forward into the transit.
The world shifted, colors inverting and sound becoming distorted. They moved through a silver-blue haze, the physical tunnel still visible but seeming distant and unreal. Jin could see the Division agents rushing toward their previous position and, ahead, three figures with distinctive silver-blue eyes—Evolved operatives waiting in ambush.
Neither group seemed able to perceive them in this partial threshold state.
"Keep moving," Jin urged, feeling the strain of maintaining the transit. Blood trickled from his nose, the physical cost of his evolving abilities.
They passed directly between the Evolved operatives, who stood unnaturally still, heads tilted as if listening for something just beyond perception. One of them—a woman with geometric patterns visible beneath her skin—turned directly toward Jin, her eyes narrowing.
"She can sense us," Jin realized with alarm.
"Hurry," Su-Min urged, supporting Jin as his steps faltered.
They pushed through the final section of tunnel, Jin's strength rapidly fading. As they reached the exit point—an abandoned subway maintenance room—Jin released the transit, reality snapping back into focus around them.
All three collapsed to the floor, disoriented from the partial threshold experience. Su-Min recovered first, immediately checking the security of the room while Dr. Ha examined Jin with concern.
"Your integration rate is accelerating dangerously," she said, noting the silver lines visible beneath his skin. "We need to stabilize you before attempting the convergence point activations."
Jin wiped blood from his nose, trying to focus. "Did we lose them?"
Su-Min nodded, returning from securing the perimeter. "For now. Rendezvous point is two blocks from here. Tae-Woo is waiting with transport."
They rested briefly before continuing. As they prepared to leave, Su-Min suddenly froze, pressing her finger to her lips in warning. Jin extended his perception and sensed it too—someone approaching from the tunnel they'd just traversed.
A moment later, a figure emerged from the shadows. Not Division, and not quite Evolved—something in between. The woman from the research building, her eyes now more silver than blue, geometric patterns visible beneath her skin.
"Jin Seo," she said, her voice carrying harmonic undertones. "Dr. Seo's son."
Su-Min raised her taser, but Jin motioned for her to wait.
"You're following us," Jin observed. "Why?"
"Not you specifically," the woman replied. "We follow the circuit. As your father intended."
Dr. Ha stepped forward. "What do you know about Dr. Seo?"
The woman smiled, the expression eerily detached. "He continues his work in the Between-Space, as we do ours here. The merger approaches regardless of your efforts."
"What merger?" Jin demanded.
"Reality and Threshold, becoming one," she replied, as if stating an obvious fact. "Your father understood the inevitability. The circuit is merely his attempt to control the process."
Division voices echoed from deeper in the tunnel. The woman glanced back, unconcerned.
"The Division will not capture you today—we have ensured this. In return, we ask only that you deliver a message to your sister."
Jin tensed. "Stay away from Jin-Ah."
"The message is simple: The mathematical key is incomplete. There is a second sequence embedded in her dreams—one she has been avoiding. Without it, your circuit activation will fail."
Before Jin could respond, the woman melted back into the shadows. Seconds later, sounds of conflict erupted from the tunnel—Division agents encountering something unexpected.
"We need to move," Su-Min urged. "Now."
They slipped out of the maintenance room into the back alley of a commercial district. Tae-Woo waited in an unmarked van, expression relieved as they approached.
"Any complications?" he asked as they climbed in.
Jin exchanged glances with Su-Min and Dr. Ha. "Nothing we couldn't handle," he said, deciding to share the Evolved encounter once they were safely away.
As the van pulled into traffic, Jin felt the familiar presence of silver lines connecting to distant points across the city—the activated convergence points pulsing in sync with his own energy. The circuit was building strength, but time was running out.
Less than forty hours remained before the temporal window closed.
The safe house was a modest apartment above a 24-hour convenience store in a quiet residential neighborhood. Jin-Ah and Dr. Park had already set up their equipment, transmitting the data they'd salvaged before evacuating the Network facility.
Jin-Ah embraced Jin tightly upon their arrival, then greeted Dr. Ha with equal emotion.
"We were worried when we heard about the additional Division forces," Jin-Ah said.
Dr. Park looked up from his workstation. "The extraction was successful, I see. Excellent. We have limited time to review this data before proceeding with the convergence point activations."
As Su-Min and Tae-Woo secured the perimeter, Jin recounted their encounter with the Evolved operative, including her message about Jin-Ah's mathematical key.
Dr. Ha frowned. "The Division is equally interested in the mathematical component. Director Choi specifically mentioned it during my interrogation."
"And there's still the matter of the traitor," Tae-Woo added, joining them. "Someone compromised our extraction route."
Dr. Park's expression darkened. "I've been analyzing the communication signatures from the facility. The leak came from someone with access to our primary security systems."
"That narrows it down to about a dozen Network members," Tae-Woo noted.
Jin studied the faces around him, his newly developed Threshold Signature Recognition ability searching for anomalies. Everyone appeared normal—no signs of the distinctive Evolved pattern or Division technological signatures.
"Whoever it is, they're not here now," Jin concluded. "But we need to operate under the assumption that our plans might be compromised again."
Dr. Ha moved to Dr. Park's workstation, examining the crystal data. "May I?"
Dr. Park nodded, stepping aside. For several minutes, Dr. Ha reviewed the projections in silence, her expression growing increasingly troubled.
"Jin-Woo's calculations were precise," she finally said, looking up. "According to this data, we have exactly 39 hours before the temporal window for circuit completion closes. After that, the Evolved won't need us to complete it—they'll force a merger their way."
"What does that mean?" Jin-Ah asked.
"It means," Dr. Ha explained, "that the circuit has two potential outcomes. When properly activated with both keys—Jin's genetic signature and your mathematical formulas—it creates stable corridors between realities. But if forced through artificial amplification..."
"Catastrophic merger," Dr. Park finished grimly. "Uncontrolled threshold breach on a citywide scale."
Jin felt the weight of responsibility settle more heavily on his shoulders. "Then we have no choice. We need to activate the remaining points before the window closes."
Dr. Ha nodded. "But first, you need threshold stabilization treatment. Your integration rate is approaching critical levels."
"There's no time," Jin argued.
"Make time," Dr. Ha countered firmly. "You won't help anyone if you complete your transformation before activating the final points."
As they debated next steps, Jin noticed something strange—a subtle shift in his silver lines, pointing toward Jin-Ah. She sat quietly, seemingly lost in thought, but her expression showed the focus of intense concentration.
"Jin-Ah?" he called softly.
She blinked, returning to awareness. "Sorry, I was thinking about what the Evolved woman said... about a sequence in my dreams." She hesitated. "I've been having these recurring dreams since we found Dad's notebooks. Mathematical patterns that seem to shift and evolve each night. I thought they were just stress or imagination, but..."
Dr. Park leaned forward intently. "Those dreams could be threshold-induced memory access. Your father may have encoded the complete mathematical key in your subconscious."
"Which means the Evolved are right," Jin realized. "Without that complete sequence, our activation could fail."
"Or worse—trigger the catastrophic merger they want," Dr. Ha added.
Jin-Ah looked overwhelmed. "How am I supposed to access mathematical formulas from my dreams?"
Dr. Ha exchanged glances with Dr. Park. "There are methods. Threshold-assisted memory retrieval. It's experimental, but given the circumstances..."
"It's risky," Dr. Park cautioned. "But so is attempting activation with an incomplete key."
Jin felt a subtle vibration from the crystal they'd recovered, which now sat on Dr. Park's workstation. The geometric patterns on its surface were shifting, responding to the conversation.
"I think Dad's trying to tell us something," Jin said, approaching the crystal.
As soon as he touched it, the crystal illuminated, projecting a simple geometric pattern into the air—a modified version of the circuit diagram, with one significant difference. At each convergence point, two distinct energy signatures were indicated: one silver (clearly Jin's) and one gold (presumably Jin-Ah's).
"Dual activation," Dr. Park breathed. "The circuit was always designed for both of you."
Jin-Ah approached hesitantly. "Which means we both need to be at each remaining point."
Jin nodded, understanding the implications. "No more separate teams. We stay together for the final activations."
The projection shifted again, showing a countdown timer.
38:47:23
The urgency of their situation couldn't be clearer. They had just over thirty-eight hours to retrieve Jin-Ah's complete mathematical key, receive Dr. Ha's stabilization treatment, and activate two convergence points—all while evading both Division and Evolved pursuit.
As the team began rapid preparations, Jin noticed the silver patterns beneath his skin pulsing in sync with the crystal's countdown. His transformation was accelerating alongside the temporal window's closure.
Time was running out in more ways than one.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Ability [Line Manipulation Level 3] has evolved!
Author's Note: The countdown is on! With less than 39 hours remaining, how will Jin and Jin-Ah activate the final points while dealing with Jin's accelerating transformation? And who is the Network traitor? Share your theories in the comments!
Coming Next: Chapter 11: Countdown - Jin undergoes threshold stabilization while Jin-Ah attempts to recover the complete mathematical key from her subconscious. Meanwhile, as the team prepares for the point activations, a shocking revelation about the traitor's identity threatens to derail everything.