The titans wreckage still smoldered behind them as they moved deeper into the ruins.
Kai legs ached with every step but adrenaline and determination kept him upright.
Beside him Lune was unusually silent scanning their surroundings with sharp wary eyes.
Eira walked ahead, leading them with uncanny precision, as if some inner campass guided her.
Kai jogged up to her side.
Where are we going? He asked.
Eira didn't look at him. Somewhere safe for now.
Lune snorted behind them. There no such thing as safe anymore.
Still she didn't argue and kai took that as a good sign.
They traveled through ruined street choked with debris.
Vehicles lay overturned, their surfaces rusted and burned.
Building stood like hollowed out corpses glassless window gaping at the dead sky .
Finally after hours of walking. They reached what looked like an old subway entrance it iron gate broken open, the darkness within yawning like a month.
Eira paused at the threshold.
This way she said descending into the blackness.
Kai hesitated.
His system whispered warning unstable structure energy anomalies but something deeper urged him forward.
At the bottom of the stairwell, old emergency light flickered weakly painting the walls with sickly yellow.
And there hidden behind a false panel in the wall , Eira revealed a heavy blast door scarred but intact.
She placed her palm against a scanner embedded in the metal.
The door shuddered , groaned and slid open.
Inside was something kai hadn't dared hope for life.
Men and women in scavenged armor glanced up weapon half raised but when they saw Eira they relaxed some even saluting.
One man order grizzle with a cybernetic eye implant stepped forward.
Eira he said voice thick with disbelief.we thought you were gone.
I was lost she replied simply. But now I am found.
Kai and lune exchange glances as the man turned his gaze to them .
Who are thy,? He asked.
Allies Eira said.
The man studied them carefully,then nodded once.
Name riven he said. Leader of this little corner of resistance.
He extended a rough hand and kai shook it .
You're just in time, riven added grimly things are about to get worse.
He led them deeper into the hidden base a maze of old maintenance tunnel retrofitted into living quarters, workshop and a command centre.
Kai marveled at the sight real tecnology being repaired real food being cooked .
Hope fragile but real.
Riven gestured to a large holographic map projected onto a cracked table.
Two days ago he said the mechas started gathering at the core spire something big coming bigger than titans.
And we've got almost no time to stop it.
Kai felt the weight of the moment settle over him .