The sky above remained dark and oppressive, a heavy canopy of distorted clouds pressing low over the ruined landscape, while a cold, metallic wind swept through the broken remains of the city, carrying with it the faint scent of rust and decay as fragments of debris shifted and scraped against one another across the fractured ground, creating an unsettling, hollow rhythm that echoed through the emptiness.

In the distance, movement broke that stillness.

A young man had been cornered.

His back pressed against the remains of a collapsed structure, his breathing ragged, his grip tight around a crude iron rod that he wielded with desperation rather than technique, as the robotic figures closed in on him from multiple directions, their movements precise and relentless.

He swung wildly and forcefully.

The rod connected with one of the machines, producing a sharp metallic clang that reverberated through the air, but the impact did little more than stagger it for a fraction of a second before it corrected itself, its mechanical frame absorbing the force without meaningful damage.

Another unit moved in from his blind side.

Its strike came clean and direct.

The young man barely managed to raise his weapon in time, but the sheer strength behind the blow sent the rod flying from his hands as his body was thrown sideways, crashing against the debris with a painful impact that left him momentarily disoriented.

Before he could recover, the robots advanced again.

Closing in. Ending the distance.

From behind a large fragment of broken structure some distance away, Damon, Serena, and Mira observed the scene in silence, their presence concealed as they watched the unfolding fight with focused attention.

Mira’s hands tightened slightly as she watched the young man struggle, her voice breaking the silence with quiet urgency.

"W-we should help him... right?"

Damon did not immediately respond.

His gaze remained fixed on the scene ahead, but instead of answering Mira, he turned slightly toward Serena, his expression thoughtful, questioning without words.

Serena met his gaze.

Understanding instantly.

"Did someone fall into the breach as well?" she asked, her tone measured, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considered the possibility.

Damon’s thoughts moved quickly.

Calculating and analyzing.

"...Can’t he be a part of the ’breach’?" he replied, his voice low, his eyes still on the struggling figure.

Serena fell silent for a moment, her gaze shifting back toward the young man as she assessed the situation, the pieces beginning to align as her expression sharpened with realization.

"If that’s the case..." she said slowly, "...then saving him is probably tied to the breach’s clearing condition."

For a brief moment, the two of them held each other’s gaze.

Then—

They nodded.

Agreement reached.

Mira, who had been watching the exchange with growing anticipation, tilted her head slightly, her eyes moving between them as she tried to follow their reasoning, before asking with a hopeful uncertainty.

"I-it means... w-we are saving him... right?"

The oppressive wind continued to sweep through the fractured ruins as Damon made the first move, stepping out from behind the debris with deliberate intent, his posture tightening as his gaze locked onto the cluster of machines surrounding the injured young man, while Serena followed a heartbeat later, her grip already shifting on her weapon as Mira stayed close behind them, her presence guarded within their formation.

They did not rush blindly.

Damon advanced just enough to draw the robots’ attention, positioning himself as a barrier between Mira and the incoming threats, his stance grounded and ready to intercept, while Serena moved past him in a smooth, decisive motion, taking the offensive without hesitation.

Her whip cracked through the air.

Sharp and precise.

The first strike coiled around a robot’s arm mid-swing, tightening instantly before she pulled with force, tearing the limb free as sparks erupted from the joint, the machine’s balance faltering just long enough for her to follow through with a second lash that carved across its torso at an angle, splitting through the weaker connection points with clean efficiency.

Another unit lunged toward her from the side.

She pivoted.

Her body twisting just enough to let the strike graze past her as she redirected her momentum, the whip snapping low this time, wrapping around its legs before yanking sharply, collapsing its base and sending it crashing forward, where a final downward strike crushed its upper frame against the debris.

Two more advanced together.

Serena adjusted her footing, her movements tightening as she managed both angles simultaneously, her whip weaving through the air in controlled arcs as she alternated between offense and defense, deflecting incoming strikes with minimal movement while targeting exposed joints, dismantling each unit piece by piece rather than relying on brute force.

Behind her, Damon remained steady, intercepting any unit that strayed too close to Mira, using positioning rather than direct engagement to control their approach, his eyes constantly shifting between Serena’s movements and the surrounding threats, ensuring no blind spot was left unguarded.

The young man, slumped against the broken structure, watched with disbelief as the tide of the battle shifted, his breathing uneven, his body battered, yet his eyes filled with a fragile hope as the machines that had cornered him moments ago were systematically taken apart.

"T-thank you..." he managed to say, his voice weak but sincere, the words barely escaping through his strained breath.

One of the remaining robots paused mid-motion.

Its eyes flickered.

A scanning beam swept across Damon, Serena, and Mira.

Then—

A mechanical voice rang out.

"ADDITIONAL HUMANS DETECTED. MATCHES THE PROFILE REPORTED BY L3-84. BACKUP ALREADY REQUESTED."

Serena didn’t let it finish processing.

Her whip lashed forward instantly, striking across its upper frame with concentrated force, the impact severing its core connection as the machine collapsed before completing any further transmission.

Within moments—

Silence returned.

The last of the robots lay dismantled across the broken ground.

Serena exhaled lightly, lowering her weapon as the immediate threat was cleared, faint bruises and scratches marking her continued exertion, though her posture remained composed.

Damon, meanwhile, had already shifted his attention elsewhere.

He moved toward one of the destroyed machines, kneeling beside it as his fingers brushed against its damaged structure, his gaze sharpening as he examined the internal components with focused interest.

...It seems similar to the ones we encountered earlier.

Profile matches...

His thoughts moved quickly.

Which means they all share the same network... same database...

His eyes narrowed slightly.

L3...

Could refer to anything... level three perhaps? 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Behind him, Serena had finished clearing the remaining debris of the fallen machines, ensuring no unit remained active, while the young man leaned weakly against the wall, his body visibly bruised, his eyes half-lidded as exhaustion began to take over.

"T-thank you..." he repeated faintly, his voice softer now, barely holding together.

Mira stepped forward immediately, concern evident in her expression as she raised her hands, a soft golden glow already beginning to form.

"I-I will help you..."

She moved toward him—

Only to be stopped.

Damon’s hand caught her wrist firmly.

"Wait a moment."

Damon’s grip on Mira’s wrist loosened only after he had made his intent clear, his gaze already shifting back toward the injured young man as he stepped forward with measured caution, closing the distance before lowering himself into a crouch in front of him, his eyes sharp and observant as they scanned every detail of the man’s condition.

"Who are you?" Damon asked, his voice calm but firm, leaving no room for evasion.

The young man’s lips parted as he struggled to respond, his breathing still uneven as he tried to gather himself.

"M-me... I—I am—"

Before he could finish, Mira stepped closer again, her concern overriding the tension as she spoke softly, "W-we should probably heal him first..."

Damon gave her a brief side glance, one that carried restraint and patience.

"M-my back pocket..." the young man said suddenly, his voice weak but urgent.

Damon’s brows furrowed slightly at the request.

Without hesitation, he moved.

His hand pressed against the young man’s shoulder, pushing him slightly aside despite the groan that escaped him, as Damon reached behind and pulled out a small, injection-like device filled with a thick black substance, its surface sleek and unfamiliar.

He examined it briefly.

Then handed it back.

The young man wasted no time, grabbing it with trembling fingers before driving it into his own shoulder, the mechanism releasing the dark fluid into his system as his body tensed for a moment before slowly beginning to stabilize.

Damon observed him in silence.

Then glanced back briefly.

Behind him, Mira had already begun healing Serena, the soft golden glow enveloping her as the minor injuries she had sustained faded under Mira’s touch, while Serena stood still, allowing it without comment.

When Damon looked back again, the young man had shifted into a sitting position against the broken wall, his breathing still heavy but far more controlled, his complexion improving noticeably as whatever he had injected took effect.

Moments later, Serena and Mira stepped forward, coming to stand beside Damon, both of them watching the young man with quiet curiosity.

Damon spoke again.

"Now," he said, his tone steady, "can you answer... who you are, and how you ended up here?"

The young man lifted his head slowly, his gaze moving across the three of them, studying their faces one by one.

Then—

His eyes widened.

A strange light flickered within them.

"Y-you...?" he said, his voice filled with disbelief, "a-are you all really... humans?"

Damon’s brows knit together slightly as he turned his head just enough to glance at Serena, who responded without hesitation, her whip snapping sharply against the ground with a loud crack that echoed through the ruins, the message clear.

Damon looked back at the young man, a faint smile forming on his lips, calm yet carrying an edge.

"Now," he said softly, "can you answer my questions?"