Kane dragged the corpse of the Kunlun spotter deep into the shipping container.

  Crag followed behind, his massive frame nearly sealing off the entire passage.

  The interior of the container was far deeper than it appeared from the outside. A rusted metal staircase spiraled downward into the earth, flanked by a few flickering kerosene lamps that cast a dim, jaundiced light against the walls.

  The air was thick with mold, machine oil, and a cloyingly sweet scent of rot.

  Kane tossed the corpse aside near the stairs and continued down.

  "Kid, this place..." Crag grumbled in a low voice.

  "I know," Kane interrupted. "It's crawling with traps."

  At the end of the stairs stood a heavy metal door. A rusted iron plate was welded to its center, with jagged characters etched into the metal: THE RAT RUN—LIVING ENTER, DEAD EXIT.

  Kane stopped before the door and knocked three times.

  The rhythm was slow.

  The metal door groaned open, releasing a concentrated wave of stench.

  Behind the door stood a scarred brute of a man. His left eye was a cybernetic ocular implant, and his right hand gripped a heavily modified shotgun. He sized up Kane and Crag, his gaze lingering on Crag’s massive body for several seconds before his lips curled into a grin.

  "New faces?"

  Scarface's voice was as rasping as sandpaper on stone.

  Kane didn't offer a word. He reached into his vest, pulled out a stack of Kunlun Credits, and tossed them at the man's feet.

  "Toll."

  Scarface looked down at the bills, then back up at Kane, his grin turning predatory.

  "Ten thousand per head. Two of you make it twenty."

  Kane narrowed his eyes. "I heard the rate was five thousand."

  Scarface shrugged.

  "That was the old price. Now that Kunlun Corp is hunting all over the city, the risk is higher. Naturally, the price follows."

  He paused, his red ocular implant flickering.

  "If you think it’s too expensive, you’re welcome to use the front gate."

  Kane remained silent for a few seconds before producing another stack of bills and dropping them onto the floor.

  "Twenty thousand."

  Scarface bent over to retrieve the cash. He counted it meticulously, and only after confirming the amount did he step aside to clear the path.

  "Get in. But remember the rules of The Rat Run—"

  "Don't look back, don't stop, and don't trust a soul."

  Kane stepped through the metal door with Crag following. Behind them, the door slammed shut with a heavy, muffled thud.

  Scarface watched their receding backs, the red light of his mechanical eye flashing rapidly. Once they were out of earshot, he pulled an encrypted communicator from his pocket.

  "Target has entered The Rat Run. Prepare the net."

  Kane stood in a narrow underground passage. Rusted metal walls lined the sides, while a tangled mess of pipes and cables crisscrossed overhead. The tunnel stretched forward, vanishing into absolute darkness.

  "Kid, something's wrong here," Crag whispered.

  Kane nodded. "I know."

  He activated [ Kinetic Boost ], simultaneously engaging The Predator in low-power mode. Faint blue electric arcs began to flicker across his legs.

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  The two moved forward, their footsteps echoing through the cramped space.

  Occasional forks appeared in the tunnel walls, but Kane didn't hesitate. He moved according to the map Kyrie had provided, heading toward the nearest exit.

  After roughly ten minutes, Kane suddenly came to a dead halt.

  Crag stopped as well, scanning the surroundings with heightened alertness.

  "What’s wrong?"

  Kane didn't answer. He simply stared into the darkness ahead.

  His danger intuition was screaming at him, a frantic warning ringing in his mind.

  A second later, the sound of rhythmic, heavy footsteps echoed from the gloom.

  At least ten men.

  Kane’s pupils constricted. He spun around instantly.

  "Run!"

  The word had barely left his lips when the metal door behind them exploded. Figures lunged through the swirling dust and smoke.

  Leading them was a brute equipped with a military-grade exoskeleton, gripping a heavy machine gun. Behind him, the others were outfitted with standard rifles and tactical armor, their movements disciplined and professional.

  "Target confirmed! Code name B-07!"

  "Fire!"

  The muzzle of the heavy machine gun spat tongues of flame. A hailstorm of lead poured down the narrow corridor.

  Kane activated [ Aerial Step ]. His body pulled into a jagged, unnatural angle within the cramped tunnel, hurtling toward a fork in the path ahead.

  Crag let out a roar. He ripped a massive metal shield from his back and slammed it into position, tanking the barrage of bullets as he charged after Kane.

  Sparks flew as rounds hammered into the stone giant's shield. Stray bullets grazed Crag’s skin, but he didn't falter. With a low grunt of pain, he pushed forward.

  Kane dashed into the side passage and glanced back at Crag.

  "Forget about me! Keep up!"

  Crag nodded, putting on a burst of speed.

  The two fled frantically through the subterranean labyrinth, the pursuers hot on their heels.

  Kane’s neural load began to skyrocket.

  The explosive power of The Predator gave him incredible speed, but every activation of [ Aerial Step ] sent his neural strain surging. He could feel his right index and middle fingers beginning to spasm uncontrollably. Cold sweat soaked through his hood.

  How much longer can I hold? Kane asked himself.

  At most... three more [ Aerial Steps ].

  The pursuers were closing the gap.

  The lead brute roared, engaging his exoskeleton’s thrusters. His speed doubled instantly, cutting the distance in a heartbeat. He raised the heavy machine gun and pulled the trigger on Kane.

  Bullets whistled past Kane’s hood, striking the walls ahead in a shower of sparks.

  Kane spun mid-stride, leveling The Cyclone at the brute.

  Bang—!

  A blade of compressed air erupted, precisely slicing through the thruster housing on the brute’s exoskeleton.

  The man lost his balance, slamming violently into the wall with a screech of grinding metal. He didn't stay down, though. He let out a feral roar and resumed the chase.

  The rest of the squad surged past him, rifles blazing in a continuous spray.

  Kane activated [ Aerial Step ] again. His body became a streak of black lightning, darting into another junction.

  The neural load spiked once more. Agony washed over him like a tide.

  Crag lumbered behind, his massive frame nearly sealing the tunnel. The pursuers tried to bypass him, but Crag spun around, swinging his shield in a brutal horizontal sweep.

  Two soldiers were sent flying, bone-crunching impacts against the walls knocking them unconscious instantly.

  Crag didn't stop to admire his handiwork; he kept charging toward Kane.

  "Kid! It's a dead end up ahead!"

  Kane looked up.

  The tunnel terminated in a solid, heavy metal wall. No exits. No vents.

  Instead of slowing down, Kane accelerated.

  He activated [ Phase Burrow ]. His body sank into the floor instantly, vanishing from the corridor.

  Crag blinked in surprise, then quickly realized the plan. He skidded to a halt and turned back to face the incoming squad.

  "Come on then."

  Crag let out a low growl and raised his shield.

  The pursuers surged toward him. The lead brute roared, leveling his heavy machine gun and pulling the trigger.

  Bullets poured out like a torrential rain, hammering against Crag’s shield in a chaotic spray of sparks.

  Crag gritted his teeth, tanking the leaden storm as he forced himself forward, step by step, closing the distance.

  The brute’s expression shifted to one of pure terror. He tried to retreat, but it was already too late.

  Crag swung the massive shield with a sudden, violent burst of strength, slamming it into the man's chest.

  The exoskeleton buckled and caved in instantly. The brute was sent flying backward, smashing into the wall and losing consciousness on impact.

  Seeing this, the remaining pursuers began to scramble back in a panic.

  But at that exact moment, the ground split open. Kane rose from the earth directly behind the squad.

  He didn't waste a single word. He pressed The Cyclone against the back of the nearest soldier's head and pulled the trigger.

  Bang—!

  The soldier's helmet shattered, and he was killed instantly.

  The rest of the squad turned in horror, but Kane had already vanished back into the shadows.

  In the ensuing chaos, Kane and Crag broke away from the engagement and sprinted into another junction.

  The pursuers attempted to follow, but Crag reached up and tore a massive section of piping from the ceiling, hurling it down to block the tunnel entrance and cut off their path.

  The two fled through the subterranean labyrinth for another ten minutes until they finally stumbled upon a hidden, derelict room.

  Kane leaned against the wall, gasping for air.

  His neural load was reaching the breaking point; his legs were beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

  Crag stood guard at the doorway, whispering, "Kid, you okay?"

  Kane didn't answer. He simply pulled the encrypted communicator from his vest.

  A new, unread message was displayed on the screen.

  Sender: Felix.

  Kane stared at it for a moment before tapping it open.

  A single line appeared on the display:

  "Want to live? Come to Exit 3 of The Grey Channel. I'm waiting for you."

  Kane stared at the text in silence.

  Crag walked over and glanced at the screen.

  "Felix?"

  Kane nodded.

  "He wants to make a deal."

  Crag frowned.

  "You trust him?"

  Kane let out a cold, sharp laugh.

  "Not for a second."

  "But right now..."

  He looked up at Crag.

  "We don't have a choice."

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