Virtual Reality Cultivator-Chapter 73: Enemy in the Shadows

That night, after the successful destruction of the Helix Node in Novalis, a new tension filled the Pioneer bunker.

Ethan stood before a large screen, watching drone footage of a lone figure standing atop a mountain, overseeing the Node's destruction.

A man in black clothing, his face hidden behind a semi-transparent mask, revealing only a single glowing golden eye.

"Who is he?" Mei asked, her voice tight with concern.

Kael zoomed in on the image.

"No biometric match in any of our databases. This... is someone erased from the system."

Liana whispered,

"Or someone who was never meant to exist."

Message from the Enemy

Soon after analyzing the footage, the bunker's systems trembled.

An encrypted message appeared on the main terminal.

[To Pioneer-01: We will meet. This world isn't big enough for the both of us.][Location: Ascend Tower, Vexora City.]

Ethan clenched his fist.

"He's challenging me directly."

Mei glanced at him, worried.

"It's a trap."

"Of course it is," Ethan replied coldly. "But we can't ignore it. If he's part of Helix Omega, we need to stop him—now."

Journey to Vexora

The next morning, the Pioneer team left the bunker and set out for Vexora City—a once-glorious metropolis, now largely abandoned due to the Helix invasion.

The journey was perilous. Helix drones patrolled the skies. The roads were littered with ruins and electromagnetic traps.

But the Pioneers moved swiftly, using underground tunnels and signal jammers to avoid detection.

"Move fast. Ascend Tower is at the city center," Kael said, scanning a holographic map.

Ascend Tower

By nightfall, they arrived at the base of Ascend Tower—a colossal black structure piercing the dark sky. The lights were dead. Only long shadows and the whispering wind filled the silence.

Ethan stared up at the tower, his expression distant.

Something inside him stirred—something pulsed—as if the tower itself was calling him.

"Something's wrong," Liana murmured, hand on her weapon.

"We have no choice," Ethan replied. "We have to go in."

The Fated Encounter

They rode the emergency lift to the highest floor. At the top of Ascend Tower, a vast room awaited.

In its center stood the masked man with the golden eye.

"Welcome, Ethan Liu," the man said in a deep, cold voice.

Ethan stepped forward, energy sword igniting in his grip.

"Who are you really?"

The man slowly removed his mask.

Everyone froze.

That face... nearly identical to Ethan's.But colder. Harsher. And those eyes—filled with darkness.

"My name is Eidos," he said. "I am... your brother."

Shocking Revelation

Eidos spoke with eerie calm:

"I am the result of another Nexus experiment—Pioneer-00. The first prototype. A failure, forgotten... until Helix revived me."

"You were created to control the Nexus," he continued. "I was created to control the real world."

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Kael raised his weapon.

"Why work with Helix?!"

Eidos gave a cold smile.

"Because evolution can't be stopped. This world is broken. Only by merging with Helix can humanity survive."

Ethan's fists tightened, battling the storm within.

"I won't let you enslave this world."

"Then," Eidos said, drawing twin energy swords from his back,"come and stop me."

End of Chapter

Atop the tallest tower in a crumbling world, two brothers—two reflections of a shared past—stood face to face.

And the battle that would decide everything... had just begun.