The celebration of their recent victory was short-lived. Hayden was reviewing a map of the upper districts with Griff when an urgent message crackled through their comms system.

  “Hayden, we’ve got a situation,” Tessa’s voice said, tense and clipped.

  Hayden stood immediately, his muscles tensing. “What is it?”

  “Kael,” she said. “The Syndicate’s enforcer. He’s in the lower districts, and he’s looking for us.”

  The name sent a chill down Hayden’s spine. Kael was infamous throughout Neo-Erebus for his brutality. The Codex quickly provided a profile:

  “Kael: Syndicate Elite Operative. Threat Level: Severe. Enhanced physical capabilities. Tactical precision.”

  Griff muttered a curse under his breath. “Kael doesn’t come out unless it’s serious. He’s here to make an example of us.”

  “Then we’ll give him one,” Hayden said, his voice firm.

  The room grew quiet as everyone looked at him. Tessa appeared in the doorway, her glowing tattoos flickering like embers. “You have a plan?”

  “We can’t let him control the narrative,” Hayden said. “We need to take the fight to him. Ambush him before he knows we’re onto him.”

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  Griff frowned. “Easier said than done. Kael isn’t some grunt. He’s got enhancements that make him nearly impossible to kill.”

  “Nearly,” Hayden said, his lips curling into a smirk. “And that’s enough for me.”

  The Codex chimed in his mind:

  ?Mission Initiated: Neutralize Kael. Utilize Team and Terrain Advantages.

  They set the ambush in the industrial sector, where the maze of old factories and piping provided ample cover. Hayden’s crew spread out, each armed with a mix of scavenged weapons and makeshift traps.

  Kael arrived just before midnight, his massive frame cutting an imposing figure in the dim light. His eyes scanned the area, and his voice boomed.

  “Come out, rats! Let’s get this over with.”

  Hayden signaled his team to hold. He could feel the Codex guiding him, analyzing Kael’s movements and calculating probabilities.

  When Kael stepped into position, Hayden gave the signal. Explosives rigged to the nearby pipes detonated, sending a shower of sparks and debris into the air.

  Kael staggered but didn’t fall. Instead, he let out a roar, his cybernetic arm smashing through a metal support beam. “You think you can stop me with this?”

  Hayden emerged from the shadows, his crew following suit. “No,” he said. “But it’s a start.”

  The fight was brutal and chaotic. Kael was a force of nature, his strength and speed unmatched, but Hayden’s team fought with determination and strategy. Tessa’s glowing tattoos illuminated the battlefield as she darted in and out, landing precise strikes, while Griff coordinated the others.

  Hayden faced Kael head-on, relying on the enhancements from the Codex to keep up. Each blow Kael landed felt like a truck, but Hayden’s agility allowed him to counter with precision strikes.

  Finally, with a coordinated effort, they brought Kael to his knees. Hayden stood over him, breathing hard, as the Codex delivered its final analysis:

  “Target Neutralized. Reward: +500 Pleasure Points. Skill Upgrade: Advanced Combat Reflexes.”

  Kael looked up at him, blood dripping from his lips. “You think this changes anything?” he growled.

  “It changes everything,” Hayden said, his voice cold. With a final blow, he ended it.

  The crew stood in silence, the weight of their victory sinking in. They had taken down one of the Syndicate’s strongest enforcers—and sent a message that the lower districts were no longer theirs to control.

  As the group regrouped, Tessa approached Hayden, her expression unreadable.

  “You did it,” she said.

  “We did it,” Hayden corrected.

  Tessa smirked, her glowing tattoos dimming slightly. “You really are dangerous, Hayden. And I like it.”

  Hayden felt the Codex hum with approval. This was only the beginning.