The crew reached the bridge leading to the chasm. As they approached, countless red dots materialized in the darkness ahead. Drawing closer, they saw ten heavily armored robots with glowing crimson eyes, their metallic bodies fortified with thick plating.
Each machine appeared as formidable as the one Michael had confronted during his initial reconnaissance of the chasm. But now he was stronger—and he wasn't alone.
"These weren't here during my first visit," Michael observed, his crimson eyes narrowing. "There was only a single sentry then, which I dispatched. Steel must have manufactured replacements—and reinforcements."
Michael assumed a perfect iaido stance, the Shimobe Blade humming softly at his side. James activated his right gauntlet with a mechanical whir, while Violet smoothly loaded an energy orb into one of her plasma guns.
"Remember your training," Michael said quietly. "Focus on precision, not power. Their armor has vulnerabilities at the joints and neck."
The robots attacked simultaneously, their movements synchronized with mechanical precision. Michael unsheathed his katana with blinding speed, performing a flawless iaido strike that cleaved through four of the machines in a single motion. The Shimobe Blade cut through their armor as if it were paper, leaving perfect bisections that sparked and smoldered.
James lunged forward with explosive force, his upgraded gauntlet connecting with devastating impact as he systematically destroyed three more robots. Each punch collapsed their reinforced cranial chambers, sending showers of components and circuitry raining across the bridge.
"Behind you, James!" Violet called, taking aim with practiced calm.
She fired three perfect shots in rapid succession, her enhanced plasma guns obliterating the remaining robots' heads with surgical precision. The decapitated machines collapsed lifelessly, their power cores fading to darkness.
Violet examined her weapon with newfound appreciation. "These upgrades exceed all expectations," she said, holstering the still-warm gun. "The targeting system's response time is virtually instantaneous."
"You're right," James agreed, flexing his gauntlet as its systems cooled. "The force distribution is perfectly calibrated. I barely felt the impact resistance."
Michael nodded appreciatively. "Your natural talents made the modifications more effective than my initial calculations suggested."
As they crossed the threshold into the chasm itself, both siblings fell silent, words failing them at the horror before their eyes. The landscape had deteriorated dramatically since Michael's previous visit. Where pockets of humanity had once existed, now only monstrosities remained—creatures of twisted metal and corrupted flesh fighting, moaning, or simply standing immobile in silent suffering.
Michael's expression darkened. "The transformation is accelerating. Last time, at least twenty percent of the population remained human. Now..."
"This is genocide," James whispered, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles whitened. "Why are you doing this, Steel? What could possibly justify this level of suffering?"
Violet's usual sardonic demeanor vanished as she surveyed the landscape. "Some of these were children once," she murmured, watching a small, hunched creature weeping in the shadows. "I can still see traces of humanity in their movements."
They proceeded in solemn silence, unable to find words adequate to address the atrocities surrounding them. The central tower dominated the landscape, its imposing 200-meter structure rising from the center of the chasm like a monument to corruption.
"I've never seen architecture of this scale in the Undercity," James said, craning his neck to view the tower's upper reaches. "The structural engineering alone would require resources beyond imagination. How powerful must Steel be to command such capabilities?"
Michael's expression remained resolute. "We need to reach the tower immediately. The corruption is spreading more rapidly than I anticipated. We must destroy the tree before the effect reaches us as well."
"The contamination is airborne?" Violet asked, her hand instinctively moving to cover her mouth.
"No," Michael replied. "The energy signature requires direct contact or prolonged exposure. But we shouldn't test those limits unnecessarily."
A sudden shadow fell over them, accompanied by an ominous whistling sound from above. They looked up to see a massive beast plummeting toward them, jaws stretched impossibly wide as it descended.
"Scatter!" Michael commanded.
They evaded the attack with practiced coordination, each moving in different directions as the creature crashed into the ground where they had stood moments before. Its enormous teeth shattered against the concrete, and it began emitting a high-pitched wail that sounded disturbingly like human sobbing.
Before they could regroup, another corrupted being lunged toward Violet, its distorted voice creating a grotesque approximation of speech.
"Beatrice..." it moaned, reaching for her with malformed limbs.
"Stay back!" James shouted, unleashing his biotech arm with devastating force. His enhanced punch sent the creature flying backward several meters, where it collapsed in a broken heap.
As the dust settled, James stared at the being's eyes—unmistakably those of a child, perhaps no more than ten years old before the corruption took hold.
"This is unsustainable," Michael said, his voice tight with controlled urgency. "We're wasting precious time, and these encounters will only increase in frequency." He extended his hands toward the siblings. "Take hold of my arms. We'll fly directly to the tower."
"What?" Violet questioned, eyeing his outstretched hands with skepticism. "Those wings can carry all three of us?"
"The upgrades I implemented allow for significantly increased lift capacity," Michael explained. "But we must move now. Every moment we delay costs more innocent lives."
"He's right," James said, gripping Michael's right forearm firmly. "We can't help these people by fighting our way through. We need to strike at the source."
Violet hesitated only a moment longer before clasping Michael's left arm. "If you drop me, I'm coming back to haunt you," she muttered.
"Hold tight," Michael instructed as his magnificent wings unfurled to their full span. With a powerful downstroke, they launched skyward at tremendous velocity, breaking the sound barrier moments later. The world below became a blur of darkness and corrupted forms as they soared toward the tower.
After approximately two minutes of flight, Michael descended with perfect control, landing them gently before the tower's enormous entrance.
The gate loomed before them, towering at least thirty meters high and constructed from what appeared to be solid metal of impossible thickness.
"Let's enter quickly," Michael said, studying the enormous doors. "Steel undoubtedly knows we're here already."
They approached cautiously, testing the weight of the doors. With their combined strength, they managed to push them open just enough to slip inside.
The interior chamber stretched upward nearly sixty meters, its walls adorned with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and move when viewed directly. At the center of the vast room stood a colossal figure—humanoid in basic shape but standing at least eight meters tall. In its massive hands, it clutched an iron greataxe that gleamed with malevolent energy. The being emanated an aura of tremendous power that made the air itself feel heavy and oppressive.
"Welcome, heroes," the giant figure announced, its voice resonating throughout the chamber with authority and menace. "I am Harma, once a champion not unlike yourselves." The giant's eyes flickered with what might have been regret. "I too sought to challenge Steel, but my failure transformed me into what you see now—the first of his Steel Soldiers, condemned to guard this gate for eternity."
Harma lifted his greataxe, assuming a combat stance that belied his enormous size with its fluidity. "You must defeat me to proceed further. Those are the rules of this tower—rules even I cannot defy." His massive head tilted slightly as he studied them. "But perhaps you will succeed where I failed. Perhaps you truly can reach the summit and confront Steel himself."
Michael drew the Shimobe Blade, its crimson glow intensifying in response to the challenge ahead. "We have no quarrel with you, Harma, but we will not be deterred."
"How many others have tried this path?" Violet asked, her hands hovering near her holstered weapons. "How many have fallen?"
Harma's laugh was hollow, devoid of humor. "Hundreds over the decades. Some I slew myself. Others perished on higher floors. None have ever reached Steel."
"Then we'll be the first," James declared, activating both gauntlets simultaneously. The biotech hummed to life, energy coursing through the advanced circuitry.
"I hope you are," Harma replied with surprising sincerity. "But hope alone won't grant you passage." He raised his greataxe high. "Now prove your worth or die where you stand!"
***
High above, on the tower's uppermost floor, Steel smiled as he watched through supernatural means. He sat motionless on his throne of living metal, eyes glowing with malevolent crimson energy.
"Michael Florescent," he murmured with cold amusement. "So you've finally entered my domain. Let's see if you can ascend this tower and face me." His smile widened, revealing teeth too perfect, too white to be human. "Let's see if you can truly change the fate of the Undercity, or if you'll become just another failed hero in my collection."
His laughter echoed throughout the upper chamber, a sound utterly devoid of humanity or mercy.