NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: No Way Back
The loud boom sounded like distant thunder. But its effects were felt right away. Dust and bits of rubble fell from above, making it hard to breathe. The soldiers coughed, waving their arms to clear the air as they checked on each other. The noise of stones crashing echoed everywhere, and the ground shook under their feet.
> "Everyone sound off!" Rael shouted, cutting through the chaos with his strong voice.
One by one, soldiers called out. Some were steady while others showed pain.
> "Kren here! Just some cuts!"
"Harlow, I'm good!"
"Janis—ah! My leg's stuck!"
Rael quickly looked to where the call came from. He took charge and pointed to two soldiers nearby.
> "You two, come with me. Lift on my mark."
The three braced against a big piece of stone.
> "One… two… three!" Rael grunted. His muscles strained as the slab moved just enough for Janis to pull his leg free. His face was a mask of pain, but he tested the leg and nodded.
> "I can move, sir," he grit out.
Rael patted him on the back.
> "Good. Stick in the middle of the group. No trying to be a hero."
As the dust settled, they could see the blocked entryway. Big rocks and twisted metal bars sealed it off. It was more than just blocked—it was destroyed. Kael stepped closer, his face serious.
> "That's it," Kael said, tapping a loose rock with his boot. "No way back."
Rael looked down the only path left. It was dark and seemed endless. His jaw clenched.
> "We keep moving."
---
The tunnel ahead was different from where they started. The smooth stones changed into a black, shiny surface with faint blue lines glowing. It was like walking inside a giant machine.
> "This... doesn't feel right," a soldier said, running a finger over the material. "Feels like it's alive."
> "Don't touch anything," Rael snapped. "This place was quiet. Let's not wake it up."
Lyssa stayed at the front with her scanner, looking at the readings. She kept glancing at their surroundings.
> "I'm detecting weak energy signals ahead," she said, tapping her scanner. "This place is... active."
Kael scoffed and looked back at her.
> "Active? As in alive?"
> "No, as in it might be watching us," Lyssa shot back.
Kael went quiet, feeling the weight of her warning.
---
After 20 minutes of careful walking, the corridor opened up into a massive chamber. The ceiling was high and made of hexagonal panels that glowed red. The walls were covered in strange symbols that flowed like water.
In the center of the room was a big circular console. It floated several feet off the ground, spinning slowly like a giant coin. Holograms danced around it like fireflies.
Kael whistled.
> "Now that's something."
Rael held up his hand to stop the team. He looked around the room for anything that could be a trap. When nothing was off, he signaled for Lyssa to check it out.
> "Lyssa, what do you think?"
She moved closer, focused and serious. The glow from the console lit up her face as she pulled out her scanner.
> "It's not just a terminal," she said at last. "It's a control node. This is the heart of the place."
Rael scanned the room for other exits.
> "Can you shut it down?"
> "Shut it down?" she replied, frowning. "No. But I can make it listen."
She tapped some symbols on her scanner, and the holograms on the console changed into a familiar pattern. It looked like an ancient puzzle coming together.
> "It's responding…" Lyssa said, excitement mixing with worry in her voice.
The air felt heavy. The low humming sound grew louder and the ceiling panels changed from red to blue. Suddenly, every soldier clutched their ears as the deep vibration shook their heads.
> "What did you do?" Kael shouted, trying to stay steady.
> "It's not me!" Lyssa yelled, her eyes wide. "I didn't turn it on! It just... woke up!"
---
Click. Click. Click.
The noise was quiet at first, like small stones rolling. Then it got louder. Metal clanking.
Rael looked at the walls.
> "Get in position! Defensive formation, now!"
Soldiers jumped into place, holding their rifles tightly.
Slots appeared in the walls. Slowly, panels opened, revealing mechanical limbs. Metallic creatures crawled out, their eyes glowing red. They moved fast, like robots.
> "Contacts! Four o'clock, six o'clock, eight o'clock!" a soldier shouted.
> "Fire! Fire!" Rael ordered.
Bullets flew. Sparks erupted as they hit the guardians, but the machines danced out of the way. One soldier screamed as a guardian lunged at him, its sharp claw scratching his armor.
> "Aim for their joints!" Rael shouted, shooting with deadly aim.
Two guardians fell as they hit their legs, but more kept appearing.
> "They just keep coming!" Kael yelled, shooting wildly.
> "They're here to defend the control node!" Lyssa called from cover.
> "Then let's shut it down!" Rael growled, smashing one guardian with his rifle. "Lyssa, figure it out or destroy it!"
> "On it!" she shouted, fingers flying over her scanner.
Another pulse shook the ground harder than before.
---
The hum grew deeper and louder. All soldiers froze as the floor shifted beneath them.
> "What now?" Kael mumbled, moving back.
The floor split open. Dark panels pulled back to reveal a black pit. From the shadows, two giant red eyes blinked.
The ground shook as something massive crawled up. Claws grabbed the edge, then a huge serpentine machine pulled itself into view. It glowed with ancient runes and had a face like a predator, glaring at them.
> "Rael," Kael said in a shaky voice. "Tell me that thing isn't real."
> "Oh, it's real," Rael replied, taking aim. "And it's looking right at us."
The machine narrowed its eyes and let out a roar like grinding gears.
Rael looked at his soldiers, his expression tough.
> "Get ready. We're staying to fight."
The battle for their lives was about to start.