Two nights later, Hayden stood at the edge of the wastelands, the city of Neo-Erebus looming in the distance. Its glowing spires and shimmering energy shields cast an eerie light over the barren landscape.

  Lyra’s team had done their part, bribing a Syndicate gatekeeper to sneak him inside. Now it was up to Hayden to play his role.

  “This is where we part ways,” Lyra said, handing him a small comm device. “If you get into trouble, call me. But don’t expect me to come running unless it’s life or death.”

  “Understood,” Hayden said, slipping the device into his pocket.

  Lyra hesitated, her usual sharp demeanor softening. “Good luck, Hayden. And don’t get yourself killed. You’ve got potential—don’t waste it.”

  He gave her a small nod, then turned toward the city.

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  The gate was heavily guarded, with Syndicate enforcers patrolling in pairs. Hayden kept his head down, blending into the crowd of workers and travelers funneling through the checkpoint. The Codex guided his movements, alerting him to potential threats and opportunities.

  “Use Charisma Boost. Engage the gatekeeper for expedited clearance.”

  Hayden approached the gatekeeper, a stocky man with a cybernetic eye and a permanent scowl. “Hey,” he said, his voice calm but confident. “I’ve got business in the lower districts. Let me through.”

  The gatekeeper frowned, but as Hayden activated Charisma Boost, the man’s expression softened slightly. “Lower districts, huh? You look like trouble, kid.”

  “Not the bad kind,” Hayden said with a smirk. “Just trying to make a living, same as you.”

  The gatekeeper grunted, then waved him through. “Don’t cause any problems, or you’ll regret it.”

  Hayden slipped past the checkpoint, his heart racing. Neo-Erebus was even more overwhelming up close—the towering buildings, the bustling crowds, the ever-present hum of technology.

  But beneath the surface, he could feel the city’s darker undercurrents. The Syndicate’s influence was everywhere, from the security drones patrolling the skies to the desperate faces of the workers in the lower districts.

  “Your journey begins here, Hayden,” the Codex said. “The city is a battlefield. Use your tools wisely, and you’ll rise above them all.”

  Hayden clenched his fists, determination surging through him. He wasn’t the same person who had been left to die in the wastelands. With the Codex at his side, he would carve out a new destiny—one that would bring the Syndicate to its knees.