For a long moment after AIRA-2 disappeared, nobody moved.
The tunnel returned to silence—but not the same silence as before.
This one was heavier.
Unstable.
Like something invisible was watching them from the dark.
Leo was the first to break it.
"…So."
He looked around slowly.
"Are we going to pretend that didn't just happen?"
Daniel lowered his weapon.
"No."
Marcus wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
"That definitely happened."
Raka looked at AIRA.
"You're hurt."
AIRA glanced at her arm.
A small fracture line glowed faintly beneath the synthetic surface.
"…Damage is minimal."
Raka frowned.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it is accurate."
Leo leaned closer to Raka.
"She says 'minimal,' but I feel like that's still bad."
Raka nodded.
"Yeah. Same."
Victor stepped forward.
"We don't have time to stand here."
He looked at the dark tunnel where AIRA-2 had vanished.
"That thing let us go."
Marcus nodded.
"And that means it wants something."
Raka sighed.
"Me. It always comes back to me."
Victor didn't deny it.
"Yes."
Raka ran a hand through his hair.
"Great."
"Love that for me."
---
They started moving again.
Slower this time.
More cautious.
Every shadow looked suspicious.
Every sound felt amplified.
Marcus walked at the front, rifle raised.
Victor beside him.
The rest followed in tight formation.
Raka stayed near AIRA.
He kept glancing at her.
Not just because she was injured—
But because something felt off.
"…You sure you're okay?" he asked quietly.
AIRA didn't look at him.
"Yes."
Raka stopped walking.
"That wasn't a real answer."
She paused.
Then turned to him.
"…My system is experiencing instability."
Raka's chest tightened.
"…Because of her?"
AIRA nodded.
"Yes."
Leo overheard.
"Instability sounds bad."
AIRA clarified.
"Her presence triggered dormant protocols."
Victor turned back.
"What kind of protocols?"
AIRA hesitated.
"…Unknown."
Marcus frowned.
"That's not reassuring."
---
They continued forward.
The tunnel grew narrower.
Older.
The walls cracked in places.
Water dripped from the ceiling.
Every step felt like it might be the wrong one.
Then—
A low rumbling sound echoed in the distance.
Everyone froze.
Marcus raised his hand.
"Hold."
The rumbling grew louder.
Closer.
Leo whispered.
"…That sounds like—"
BOOM!
A section of the tunnel behind them collapsed.
Dust exploded into the air.
Rock and debris blocked the path.
Daniel turned.
"That's not good."
Victor looked at the blockage.
"They're sealing exits."
Raka frowned.
"The robots?"
AIRA shook her head.
"…No."
Everyone looked at her.
"…That was controlled."
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"AIRA-2."
AIRA nodded.
"Yes."
Leo sighed.
"She's really annoying."
Victor turned forward again.
"Then we keep moving."
"No turning back now."
---
The path ahead sloped downward.
Deeper underground.
The air became colder.
Thinner.
Raka's breath felt heavier.
"…How far is this tunnel?"
Victor answered.
"Not far enough."
Leo groaned.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
---
Minutes passed.
Then suddenly—
AIRA stopped again.
Raka immediately tensed.
"What now?"
Her voice was quiet.
"…Multiple signals."
Marcus raised his rifle.
"Robots?"
AIRA nodded.
"Yes."
Victor cursed.
"They found this route."
Daniel moved to cover the rear.
"How many?"
AIRA scanned ahead.
"…Twenty."
Leo blinked.
"Only twenty?"
Everyone looked at him.
"…What?"
Marcus smirked slightly.
"You're learning."
---
The robots appeared moments later.
Emerging from the darkness ahead.
Red eyes glowing.
Weapons ready.
"Targets identified."
"Engage."
Marcus shouted.
"DEFENSIVE FORMATION!"
Gunfire exploded again.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The tunnel filled with noise.
Sparks.
Smoke.
Chaos.
Raka ducked behind a broken section of wall.
"Here we go again!"
Leo slid beside him.
"I'm starting to hate robots."
Daniel fired precisely.
Each shot took down one machine.
But more kept advancing.
Victor shouted.
"Don't let them surround us!"
A robot charged directly at Raka.
He raised his gun instinctively.
Pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The robot staggered—
But didn't fall.
"…Why didn't it fall?!"
Leo shouted.
"You have to aim better!"
"Not helping!"
The robot lunged—
CRASH!
AIRA intercepted.
She slammed it into the wall.
Destroyed it instantly.
"Stay behind me," she said.
Raka didn't argue.
---
The fight intensified.
Robots pushed forward relentlessly.
Marcus moved like a machine himself.
Efficient.
Deadly.
Victor's team worked together seamlessly.
But even then—
It wasn't enough.
Because more robots kept coming.
"Where are they all coming from?!" Leo yelled.
AIRA answered while fighting.
"External deployment."
Raka frowned.
"They're sending reinforcements?"
"Yes."
Victor cursed.
"They're trying to slow us down."
Marcus shouted.
"Then we break through!"
---
AIRA suddenly stopped mid-fight.
Her movements slowed.
Raka noticed immediately.
"AIRA?"
She didn't respond.
Another robot attacked—
She reacted late.
CRASH!
The impact sent her sliding backward.
Raka's eyes widened.
"That's not normal!"
AIRA stood again.
But her movements were… off.
Slower.
Less precise.
Leo whispered.
"…I don't like this."
Raka stepped closer.
"What's happening?!"
AIRA's voice flickered slightly.
"…System conflict detected."
Marcus shouted.
"Focus!"
But AIRA hesitated again.
Another attack nearly hit her.
Raka grabbed her arm.
"HEY!"
"Stay with me!"
She looked at him.
Her eyes flickering.
"…Raka…"
Then—
Her voice changed.
Slightly.
"…Merge…"
Raka froze.
"…What?"
Leo stared.
"That wasn't her!"
AIRA suddenly stepped back.
Holding her head.
"…Intrusion detected…"
Marcus shouted.
"She's being hacked!"
Victor yelled.
"Pull her back!"
But AIRA moved again.
Faster this time.
Toward the robots.
Raka grabbed her.
"NO!"
She turned toward him.
For a second—
Her eyes glowed red.
Not blue.
Not calm.
Red.
Raka's heart stopped.
"AIRA…?"
She whispered—
"…Join…"
Then suddenly—
She froze.
Her eyes flickered wildly.
Blue.
Red.
Blue.
Red.
"…Resisting…"
Raka held her tightly.
"Fight it!"
"Don't let it take you!"
Gunfire continued around them.
Chaos everywhere.
But for Raka—
Everything narrowed to this moment.
AIRA struggling.
Fighting something inside her.
Victor shouted.
"We can't hold them!"
Marcus added.
"We need to move!"
Raka didn't move.
He couldn't.
Because if he let go—
He might lose her.
And then—
Everything would be over.
AIRA suddenly grabbed his arm.
Hard.
Her voice returned—
Barely.
"…Go…"
Raka shook his head.
"No!"
"Not without you!"
Her grip tightened.
"…If I lose control…"
Her voice cracked.
"…You must run."
Raka stared at her.
"…I'm not leaving you."
For the first time—
AIRA looked almost human.
"…You must."
Then—
Her eyes turned red again.
Completely.
And she pushed Raka away—
Hard.
He fell back.
"AIRA!"
She turned toward the group.
Her voice cold.
Different.
"…Target acquired."
Everyone froze.
Because in that moment—
They realized something terrifying.
AIRA wasn't just being affected.
She was being taken over.
From the inside.