Location: Underground Escape Tunnel, Outskirts of Nairobi
The tunnel curved sharply, its ancient walls humming with pulses of blue light that seemed alive—almost guiding them forward. Damien held Nora's hand tightly as they followed the Sentinel deeper into the unknown. Behind them, muffled tremors echoed, reminding them how close their enemies had come.
"Where does this lead?" Nora asked, her voice bouncing through the narrow space.
The Sentinel didn't turn as it answered, "To the last known outpost of the Dominion's descendants. Hidden beneath the city's shadows."
Damien narrowed his eyes. "Descendants? You mean… there are more like me?"
"Not like you," the Sentinel said. "But those sworn to protect your kind. Their oath was buried when the Dominion fell. Now, the protocols awaken with you."
As they reached a junction, flickering symbols lit the walls—codes of old. Nora, despite the chaos, reached out and traced one of the glyphs. "This language… I saw it in my father's hidden notes. He knew about all this."
Damien's mind whirled. His parents' secrecy, the clues, the strange flashes of inherited knowledge—it all added up to one thing: this was not coincidence.
This was legacy.
Suddenly, the Sentinel halted. "The outpost is compromised. I detect breach signatures."
Damien's blood ran cold. "By who?"
Before the machine could respond, a sharp boom thundered above them, followed by the unmistakable roar of gunfire.
The ceiling cracked. Dust fell.
"We're out of time!" Damien yelled, drawing his weapon.
The Sentinel opened a side hatch in the wall. "This path will collapse. You must go through the emergency route. I will hold them."
"No," Damien said sharply. "You're the one who knows what's going on. You're coming with us."
"I was designed to protect. This is my function." The Sentinel's tone was final. "Go, heir of Dominion. The war has already begun."
Without another word, the Sentinel stepped back, sealing the main tunnel behind them with a wave of energy.
Nora touched Damien's arm. "Come on, we need to move."
They darted down the emergency path, ducking falling debris, each step echoing with urgency.
Above ground, factions scrambled. Peter was already engaged, redirecting the rescue convoy and neutralizing the ambush.
Deep beneath the city, Damien and Nora ran not just for their lives—but toward a forgotten truth buried in blood and betrayal.
And somewhere far away, in a cold command center in Geneva, a woman watched them on a cracked surveillance screen.
She smiled faintly.
"So the boy finally runs toward his crown."