## Chapter 40: The Lure of the Black Ash Blade and the Decoy Alexia maintained the projection, the roaring noise of the raw energy overwhelming the medical bay. She focused solely on maintaining the integrity of the decoy signal, showing Zephyrus the Hunter remained the only dominant kinetic force available for strategic deployment. She was pushing the massive, shimmering kinetic projection outward towards the incoming targets. It was an illusion of immense power, a ghost image of the kinetic surge Veridian had unleashed, amplified by her own trauma and the sheer will to keep Nexus Omega's power core secure. The three remaining suicide assets, which looked like heavily armored drones without visible propulsion systems, violently altered their vector. They immediately honed in on the massive energy signature Alexia radiated. They completely ignored the Nexus Omega facility itself, perceiving Alexia's energy output as the greater, primary threat. "They're taking the bait," Silas reported, tracking the assets' trajectory. His face showed clear tension as he balanced monitoring Alexia's input with managing the facility's internal safety protocols. "They've locked onto A1-01's kinetic signature. Drawing them into the containment field now." Alexia winced as the internal strain intensified. Pushing this level of unstructured energy through her stabilization suit felt like running pure electricity through damaged wires. Her teeth ground together, fighting for fine-tuned control. The energy was massive, chaotic, and dangerous. It amplified every neurological tremor and every somatic ache left over from the brutal fight with Veridian and the compressed deal with Zephyrus. "*Focus on the rhythm*," she commanded herself, channeling Ouroboros's prior training on controlled kinetic deployment. This was not a weapon strike. It was a beacon. It needed to appear organic, overwhelming, yet stable enough to convince the incoming assets they had found their target. The suicide assets, oblivious to the decoy's true source, accelerated. They rocketed toward the projected energy signature, now centered in a remote, heavily shielded stabilization area designated for extreme power discharge testing. This area was specifically designed to contain uncontrolled kinetic eruptions, equipped with multiple layered dampening fields and automated implosion protocols. "One hundred meters to stabilization field perimeter," Silas counted down, his words crisp. "Alexia, maintain maximum decoherence until contact. Do not drop the field prematurely." Alexia increased the discharge, forcing the kinetic surge to bloom outward. She imagined it as a golden, overwhelming wave, too massive to be anything but a genuine primary target. Her breath hitched in her throat, a physical response to the energetic demand placed on her system. The small tremor that had reasserted itself earlier now threatened to become a full-body seizure. Every muscle screamed a protest against the internal storm. The first suicide asset hit the outermost dampening field. It immediately overloaded the field, causing a deafening, high-pitched screech of compressed energy. The asset, designed to execute a self-destruct protocol upon a target's maximum kinetic reaction, continued to drive forward. "Contact, first unit!" Silas shouted, his eyes scanning the diagnostics for systemic feedback. "Field integrity holding at seventy percent!" The second and third units immediately followed, slamming into the weakened field. Alexia felt the kinetic-dump of their impact reverberate through the air, even within the shielded medical bay. The pressure wave hit her like a physical blow, temporarily overwhelming her balance. She staggered against the terminal, gripping the edge to keep from collapsing again. The golden projection, though destabilized by the kinetic impact, somehow snapped back into place. Alexia fought the wave of nausea and the searing heat building within her core. She pushed more energy, reinforcing the unstable signature. "They're overloading the field simultaneously," Silas observed, the strain evident in his voice. "Decoherence critical! Initiating localized implosion sequence now." Alexia heard a series of heavy, guttural pops as the automated implosion protocols kicked into effect. The stabilization field, pushed past its limits, violently compressed the three suicide assets onto themselves, neutralizing their volatile payload before they could achieve full kinetic dispersal near the Nexus Omega power core. A violent, localized static discharge followed, briefly overwhelming the internal sensor array and plunging the medical bay into near-total darkness before the emergency lighting restored the soft blue glow. Alexia slumped forward against the console, utterly depleted. The kinetic energy that had been storming through her system vanished, leaving behind a terrifying, cold vacuum. The internal pain instantly returned with a vengeance, no longer masked by the adrenaline and sheer focus of the massive power expenditure. Her mind momentarily blanked, grasping for something, anything, solid to anchor her consciousness. "A1-01, internal status?" Silas demanded, already reviewing the post-incident diagnostics. Alexia forced air into her lungs, trying to speak, but only a dry, rattling cough escaped her throat. She fought against the sudden, overwhelming desire to simply let go and allow the exhaustion to claim her. "Operational... stability compromised," she managed, finally finding her voice. It was a raw whisper, scratching against her larynx. Silas gave her a quick, professional glance. He then turned his full attention back to the holographic display, which still showed the massive, but clean, spike of kinetic discharge followed by the total drop-off. The systemic failure warning lights flashed less violently now, replaced by a deep red alert indicating profound biological depletion. "Decoy achieved total operational success," Silas confirmed, allowing a hint of professional satisfaction to enter his tone. "The assets are neutralized. The core is secure. And more importantly..." He rotated the holographic display back to the tactical map showing the secured perimeter. The red dot representing Master Zephyrus had completely vanished moments after the discharge. "Zephyrus registered the full, unmitigated kinetic displacement," Silas stated. "He confirmed the authenticity of your power signature. He received the visual confirmation of Nexus Omega's operational capacity, or rather *your* operational capacity, exactly as Ouroboros required." Alexia remained hunched over the terminal, trying to regulate her ragged breathing. The price of securing the alliance felt total. She had utilized her own systemic capacity to its absolute maximum, pushing herself past her breaking point not for raw combat, but for a piece of massive, destructive theater. The medical bay door hissed open. Ouroboros walked back in, his posture unchanged, radiating that same cold, absolute concentration. He ignored Alexia entirely for a beat, his golden eyes fixed on the diagnostic array. "Full telemetry of A1-01's displacement field," Ouroboros commanded, his voice devoid of congratulations or concern. Silas immediately pulled up the specific data stream, illustrating Alexia's kinetic output during the final moments of the engagement. The lines spiked into an obscene, unstable peak, hundreds of percentage points above even the initial spike registered during the Veridian engagement. "The integrity of the signature was volatile but immense," Silas explained, pointing to the chaotic curve. "A momentary lapse in control could have resulted in a total systemic implosion or an uncontrolled dispersal that would have compromised the facility containment field anyway." Ouroboros stepped closer to the readout, his presence intense. He was examining the numbers, not the effort. "The power output, Silas," Ouroboros stated, cutting to the core. "The sustained energy required for that magnitude of decoy signature. Where did she draw the reserve from after the initial Veridian breach depleted her internal reserves?" Silas paused, his professionalism slightly strained. "The stabilization suit telemetry indicates a massive spike in externally drawn kinetic energy. The Black Ash Blade." Alexia lifted her head, her exhausted gaze locking onto the shielded coffer across the room. The Black Ash Blade was there, secured under multi-layered dampening fields, yet she could still perceive the faintly humming residual power held within the coffer. "The blade acts as both a siphon and a focusing lens for kinetic chaos," Silas continued, laying out the raw data. "It absorbed the residual force from the Veridian breach, and when A1-01 focused on the decoy, it provided the catastrophic energy required to sustain the image." "Unstructured power," Ouroboros observed, tilting his head slightly. "A truly magnificent display of raw potential. But deeply concerning." He finally looked at Alexia, but his sight was distant, assessing a piece of dangerous technology, not a person. "The systemic failure of the Black Ash Blade protocol is total," Ouroboros declared. "It amplifies the Hunter's inherent kinetic potential beyond any reasonable threshold for operational safety or control. This chaotic energy expenditure is not a calculated risk; it is an unacceptable vulnerability." Alexia pushed herself off the console, struggling to stand upright. She focused on the cold logic Silas had instilled in her. She was a weapon, and weapons needed maintenance and deployment. "The Black Ash Blade secured the objective, Master Ouroboros," Alexia pushed back, her voice firmer now, drawing on the last reserves of her will. "It provided the necessary force multiplier. Without it, the deception would have failed, Zephyrus would have remained hostile, and the core would have been breached." "And without it, you would not be prone to spontaneous, catastrophic kinetic discharge that can be registered three sectors away," Ouroboros countered, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Your value is defined by your precision, A1-01. That blade compromises your precision. It introduces a factor of pure, statistical chaos we cannot manage." He stepped away from the diagnostic array and walked toward the heavily shielded coffer where the blade was stored. "The Black Ash Blade is no longer a tactical asset for deployment," Ouroboros stated, reaching out a hand and placing it on the cold metal surface of the coffer enclosure. "It is now classified as an unknown variable. Its storage is mandatory." Alexia instantly moved, her exhausted body responding with a surge of denial. "You cannot remove the blade! It is an extension of my bloodline's capacity. It is necessary for my function!" "Your function is defined by Nexus Omega, A1-01," Ouroboros corrected, his voice hardening into a final tone of command. "Your capacity is defined by the needs of the operation. That blade violates the terms of secure operation. It belongs to Nexus Omega's classified inventory, effective immediately and permanently." He gave a slight hand signal to Silas, who stood completely still, watching the exchange with professional detachment, despite his own earlier warnings about the blade's danger. "Silas, initiate the deepest-level magnetic suppression on the coffer," Ouroboros ordered. "Increase the gravitational locking mechanism to 990 points. The residual kinetic decay must be stabilized and completely contained." Silas moved to a secondary console, his fingers flying across the controls. Alexia saw the energy readings on the coffer spike momentarily as the containment field intensified, isolating the blade entirely. The faint humming sound disappeared completely. Alexia took a step forward, the sheer injustice overriding her exhaustion. Ouroboros was stripping her of the one resource that gave her a definitive edge in power against the remaining threats. She needed that blade for the confrontations that were still to come. She knew they were coming. The final reckoning with the Coven was still ahead. "The blade is *mine*," Alexia insisted, a thread of raw, Hunter inheritance lacing her voice. "It is the Thorne Relic. You cannot simply requisition it." "Nexus Omega requisitions what is necessary," Ouroboros said, finally turning to face her fully. His expression was utterly dismissive of her historical claim. "You are not a museum curator, A1-01, you are a deployed weapon. Weapons are stored securely when they present a risk to the facility or the mission parameters." He gestured to the diagnostics. "That uncontrolled discharge, while tactically effective against Zephyrus's preconceptions, demonstrated that you are incapable of fine-tuned control while utilizing the blade. The political cost of a publicly destabilized Hunter weapon is too high." Alexia straightened, pushing against the sheer physical weight of her systemic collapse. She fought down the desperate, primal urge to simply take the coffer by force, a move she already knew would be impossible against Ouroboros, especially in her compromised state. "The alliance with Zephyrus is predicated on my continued, dominant kinetic deployment," Alexia argued, focusing on the strategic consequences. "He requested me as the sole contact point. He respects the raw violence of my contact. Stripping me of the capability that demonstrated this violence weakens our strategic position." Ouroboros paused, his golden eyes assessing her tactical grasp of the situation. He did not deny the validity of her strategic point. "Zephyrus sees a capability, not a specific tool, A1-01," Ouroboros corrected. "He witnessed your capacity for chaos and controlled violence. He does not know the full, specific data regarding the blade’s mechanics. He confirmed the level of force you can wield. Your continued association with Nexus Omega, coupled with your strategic intelligence, is sufficient to maintain the necessary tactical illusion." He walked toward Alexia, stopping barely a foot away. The heat of his presence was overwhelming, even now. "Your mission now is to recover and integrate the residual kinetic charge," Ouroboros instructed, his voice low and firm. "You will not require that unpredictable relic to complete the final phase." He looked her up and down, his gaze stopping briefly on the still-trembling tendons in her neck. "The raw success of that decoy demonstration confirms the next phase of the plan," Ouroboros informed her. "Zephyrus will now act as our unintentional surgical element, clearing out the remnants of Veridian's political allies. This leaves only the operational core of the Coven leadership, which Kaelen represents. We will conclude this operation with absolute precision." "Kaelen," Alexia managed, pulling the name from her operational memory. The corrupt Master, currently destabilized by the exposure of his financial irregularities, was the final target. "Precisely," Ouroboros affirmed. "He is distracted, compromised, and now without political recourse thanks to Zephyrus's impending power consolidation. Kaelen's assets are currently mobilizing for a counter-strike, a desperate, final stand against the inevitable political collapse." He turned back to Silas. "Full analysis of A1-01's biological recovery ceiling. Initiate a restorative neuro-saline saturation cycle immediately. No dampeners. She needs to maintain full cognitive clarity for the deployment." Silas stepped toward Alexia, carrying a fresh batch of IV units. Alexia accepted the procedure in silence. Resistance would be futile and unnecessary. She needed the recovery. As Silas began the slow saturation, injecting the restorative agents directly into her arm, Ouroboros continued to lay out the tactical requirements. "The political vacuum we created with the Zephyrus alliance will force Kaelen's hand," Ouroboros explained, watching the medical procedures with detached interest. "He needs to acquire a powerful variable to re-enter the main conflict line. The only political variable remaining is Krystina Veridian, his former political pawn." Alexia frowned, attempting to access the data on Krystina. The emotional leverage against Veridian was gone, but Krystina still represented significant Coven knowledge and potential operational capacity. "Kaelen's strategy will be to seize Krystina, forcing a direct confrontation with Zephyrus, who will undoubtedly view Krystina as a necessary asset for his own political legitimacy," Ouroboros deduced. "This creates a contained, brutal conflict outside of Nexus Omega's operational zone." "Where is Krystina currently secured?" Alexia asked, the clarity returning slowly as the restorative agents began their work. "She is in a secure, deniable processing center, designated Failsafe Zulu-Nine," Ouroboros responded. "We cannot hold her there indefinitely. Kaelen is mobilizing a specialist infiltration unit, his most loyal, brutal assets, to extract her before Zephyrus even consolidates his political advantage." He looked directly at Alexia. "Your deployment is immediate, A1-01. You will be the primary extraction defense mechanism. You need to secure Failsafe Zulu-Nine against Kaelen's final aggression." Alexia focused on the task, ignoring the residual searing pain still radiating through her limbs. She was operational again, or would be soon enough. "I need access to the data stream on Kaelen's deployment strategy," Alexia requested. "Full tactical readout of Zulu-Nine's defense matrix." "Silas has already uploaded the necessary data into your suit protocol," Ouroboros confirmed. "Your gear is being prepped now. Elara will provide immediate transport as soon as Silas confirms a 70% recovery coefficient." Ouroboros paused, his focus returning briefly to the heavily shielded coffer containing the Black Ash Blade. "A final note, A1-01," Ouroboros stated, a sharp edge entering his voice. "The success of your decoy operation rested entirely on the sheer, reckless audacity of the kinetic force displayed. It served its purpose. But that power is now *my* power, contained and controlled by Nexus Omega. Any deviation, any attempt to access or utilize resources outside of what Nexus Omega provides, will be seen as an immediate and aggressive threat to operational integrity. Do you understand?" Alexia understood the warning completely. Ouroboros was establishing absolute control over every aspect of her existence, using the blade's terrifying power as justification for her total subjugation. "Order understood, Master Ouroboros," Alexia confirmed, her gaze hardening. She would not let him see her absolute denial of his claim. The blade was hers, and she fully intended to reclaim it when the political moment allowed. Silas finished the restorative cycle, pulling the IV from her arm with mechanical efficiency. "75% operational recovery, neurological static contained," Silas reported to Ouroboros. "She is ready for immediate deployment." Ouroboros nodded, accepting the readiness report. "Elara awaits, A1-01. Secure the asset. Do not allow Kaelen's desperation to compromise the final phase." Alexia moved from the medical cot, her movements still stiff, but instantly regaining the controlled pace of a deployed Hunter. She walked toward the gear preparation area where her stabilized kinetic suit waited, now visibly lacking the Black Ash Blade. A brief, cold flash of panic ran through her. She had relied on that blade, on the sheer amplification of her ancestral power, for every major confrontation since acquiring it. Now, it was gone, locked away by the one entity she had chosen to trust. *I am a weapon,* Alexia reminded herself, *and a weapon is defined by its operator, not its attachment.* She quickly donned the specialized kinetic suit, the familiar pressure of the armor settling around her. She focused on the raw data Silas had managed to transmit: Kaelen's infiltration unit, their trajectory, their likely primary objective, and the deep-layered defense matrix of Zulu-Nine. She exited the medical bay, moving into the main hangar of Nexus Omega. Elara waited by a sleek, heavily armed extraction vehicle, its matte black surface absorbing the hangar lights. Elara's expression was grim. "Ouroboros looks even more focused than usual," she observed, her voice low as Alexia approached. "You brought him back a victory, but the cost looks heavy." "The Black Ash Blade is confiscated," Alexia confirmed, already climbing into the passenger seat and preparing her comms. "He deemed it too great a risk to Nexus Omega's operational security." Elara's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she quickly masked it with professional focus. She nodded, understanding the immense loss of power this represented for Alexia. "Zulu-Nine," Elara confirmed, firing up the vehicle's engine. "Kaelen's last gasp. We need to be surgical. If we compromise the containment field, Krystina is exposed." "We won't compromise the field," Alexia assured her, checking the kinetic charge of her standard issue energy weapons, a significantly diminished force compared to the blade's potential. "We will intercept Kaelen's assets before they reach the inner perimeter, utilizing the urban terrain as a deflection point." Elara expertly guided the extraction vehicle out of the hangar. They rapidly ascended through the underground labyrinth of Nexus Omega. The facility was now operating on a heightened alert status, reflecting the desperate political situation outside. As they reached the exterior, the city lights below looked distant and sterile. The vehicle accelerated, tearing through the night sky toward the remote sector where Failsafe Zulu-Nine was located. Alexia reviewed Kaelen's anticipated movements. His unit, designated 'Scylla', was composed of three highly skilled operatives, known for deep penetration and brutal, close-quarters combat. They were not kinetic specialists, but they were experts at utilizing the environment against a superior force. *I need the blade,* Alexia thought, a purely pragmatic assessment. The blade would have allowed for an immediate, systemic neutralization of the Scylla unit without requiring close-quarters engagement. Now, she would have to rely entirely on tactical superiority and controlled energy deployment. She forced herself to focus on the terrain map. Zulu-Nine was located beneath a massive, defunct communications tower, surrounded by a complex weave of subterranean tunnels and abandoned logistical centers. The complexity was the defense. "Kaelen's assets will use the drainage tunnels for infiltration," Alexia stated, analyzing the most likely vector. "They will prioritize speed and stealth over frontal assault. We need to secure the primary egress point before they can establish an anchor." Elara adjusted the vehicle's trajectory. "We'll deploy at the north complex. It gives us maximum visibility on the primary drainage access point. We'll utilize the integrated sensor platform for early detection." They reached the designated area quickly, a sprawling, dark landscape of abandoned infrastructure. The communications tower loomed silently, an oppressive presence against the night sky. They disembarked swiftly. Alexia moved with a calculated economy of motion. Her body was healing, but running a deficit. She had to ensure every movement, every energy burst, was absolutely necessary. They established a perimeter around the north drainage access, a massive, barred conduit descending into the tunnels below. Alexia activated the sensor platform integrated into her suit, immediately sweeping the area for non-local heat signatures. "Nothing yet," Elara reported, her own weapons drawn, covering the rear flank. "They're moving deep cover." Alexia compressed her vision, focusing on the kinetic signature deep within the earth. She was still a magnet for kinetic energy, amplified even without the blade by the sheer trauma of the last few engagements. A subtle disturbance in the energy field registered on her suit's display. It was a complex weave of energy disruption, moving beneath the earth. "They're localized," Alexia confirmed. "They're utilizing a passive energy shield, acoustic dampening. Low-force, high-stealth." She leveled her energy weapons at the massive drainage conduit. "They're approximately one hundred yards out. Entering the primary staging area now. We have less than two minutes before they breach the surface." "Plan of engagement?" Elara asked, her voice steady, ready for the violence. "Non-lethal neutralization of two assets," Alexia decided, thinking strategically. "We need to preserve them for interrogation. The third is expendable if necessary." Alexia focused her energy. Without the Black Ash Blade's terrifying, unstructured mass, she had to rely on pure targeting efficiency. She aimed her forearm-mounted kinetic emitters at the bars of the conduit. She fired a precise, sustained burst of controlled energy, not at the assets, but at the metal bars. The metal instantly superheated and warped, creating a chaotic web of distortion inside the conduit. The distortion instantly negated the Scylla unit's passive energy dampening field. The three heat signatures appeared violently on Alexia's display, clustered beneath the breach point. They were caught completely off guard. The conduit bars gave a final, protesting shriek and collapsed inward. Before the first head could surface, Alexia fired a pulse of focused, non-lethal concussive force directly into the staging area below. The specialized kinetic pulse was designed to compromise the assets' central nervous systems without causing permanent neurological damage. The effect was immediate. Three distinct thuds registered, followed by silence. "Non-lethal neutralization, two of three confirmed," Alexia reported, reviewing the data stream. "The third is compromised but active." A figure scrambled out of the conduit, clearly injured but still combat effective. He was heavily armored, moving with the brutal, pragmatic speed of Kaelen's elite. He immediately targeted Alexia, his energy weapons raised. Alexia did not hesitate. This asset was dangerous and close. She unleashed a second, sustained kinetic burst, this time aimed entirely at neutralizing force. The energy struck the asset squarely, ripping through his armor plating and throwing him back into the conduit with brutal force. "Asset neutralized," Alexia confirmed, adjusting the settings back to observation mode. "Elara, secure the entry point. I'm going in to assess the remaining units and process." Elara secured the perimeter, maintaining her watch on the terrain. Alexia descended into the conduit, dropping smoothly into the subterranean staging area. The floor was wet and cold. The three Scylla units lay sprawled on the ground. One was completely still, the lethal pulse having found a critical failure point in their armor. The other two were groaning, their central systems temporarily shut down by the concussive force. They were secured. Alexia moved toward the surviving asset, who had been thrown back into the conduit tunnel. He lay motionless amongst the twisted metal and debris. She placed her foot against his chest, applying professional pressure. He did not move. He was completely out of the fight. Ouroboros's voice immediately chimed into her comms. "A1-01, assessment of asset status. Report." "Three assets neutralized," Alexia confirmed, keeping her voice level. "Two secured for extraction and processing, one is... permanently compromised." "Confirmation of the permanent asset," Ouroboros commanded. "Immediate retrieval is necessary." "Understood," Alexia confirmed. She took a deep breath, fighting the violent internal exhaustion. She had executed the mission with cold precision, but the effort without the blade's amplification was immense. She moved to the most critical asset, utilizing the comms link to inform Ouroboros of the success and securing the final asset for retrieval. This was the raw, necessary violence the war demanded. "A1-01, you are to hold the perimeter until the asset retrieval team arrives," Ouroboros instructed. "Do not engage the inner layer of the Zulu-Nine defense. Tactical priority is security until the final phase is authorized." "Understood," Alexia confirmed. She retreated slightly, utilizing the shadow of the conduit to maintain her vigil. She was hyper-aware of the missing kinetic charge the Black Ash Blade usually provided for her internal equilibrium. She felt exposed, immensely capable, yet profoundly vulnerable. She watched the shadows, waiting for the retrieval team. The air was thick with the sterile scent of burned ozone and damp earth. Minutes passed, marked by the rhythmic, steady hum of the Nexus Omega retrieval team arriving on site. They descended professionally, securing the two immobilized Scylla units and processing the third compromised unit's weapon and sensor data. "Extraction complete, A1-01," the retrieval team commander confirmed. "You are relieved of the perimeter watch. Return to Nexus Omega for debriefing." Alexia ascended from the conduit, rejoining Elara on the surface. They immediately moved toward their extraction vehicle. "Clean," Elara noted, nodding in appreciation of the swift neutralization. "Very clean." "Necessary," Alexia corrected. She did not require praise. She required functional capacity. They boarded the vehicle, and Elara quickly piloted them back towards the Nexus Omega facility. Alexia used the travel time to run a full diagnostic on her suit and her own biological systems. The recovery had completely stabilized her, but she was running hot, too close to the edge of what her biological system could handle without rest. They landed back in the hangar bay. Ouroboros was not present, but Silas was, waiting by a secured, pressurized containment unit. "Immediate processing, A1-01," Silas commanded, his face betraying no emotion. "We need to ensure zero compromise from Kaelen's assets." Alexia moved into the containment unit, allowing the automated systems to scan her suit and body for any trace of Kaelen's specific kinetic interference. The scan confirmed she was clean. She exited the unit, finding Ouroboros now standing there, his gaze fixed on her. He had already reviewed the transmitted data. "Efficient, A1-01," Ouroboros said. It was less praise and more a confirmation of satisfactory performance. "You secured the tactical advantage without the unnecessary expenditure of the blade's erratic power. The precision was... admirable." He dismissed Silas with a slight nod. "We have obtained critical intelligence from the secured Scylla units. Kaelen's desperation is total. He is deploying his final, most aggressive assets for a simultaneous strike against the Coven political structure. He has mobilized a deep-cover unit, capable of striking at Zephyrus's political base." Alexia instantly registered the shift. Kaelen was going all-in, targeting the new power structure before it could take hold. "Zephyrus will require immediate tactical intelligence to manage that asset," Alexia stated. "He will receive it," Ouroboros assured her, a cold satisfaction in his golden eyes. "We will ensure Zephyrus remains focused on external threats, managing the Coven political conflict so we can focus on the final retrieval. Silas, ensure the political intelligence on Kaelen's deep-cover unit is transmitted through the localized kinetic channel." Ouroboros paused, his focus returning to Alexia. He took two steps closer. "Your operational ceiling is still rising," Ouroboros stated, measuring the data. "The trauma from the decoy operation, coupled with the immediate kinetic defense of Zulu-Nine, has integrated your Hunter capacity even further. You are now fully weaponized, A1-01." He reached out, placing his hand against the cold metal of her kinetic suit, right over her chest piece. The warmth of his touch was unsettling, a proprietary claim. "The uncontrolled element, the variable of the Black Ash Blade's chaos, is unnecessary," Ouroboros reiterated, confirming the permanence of his decision. "It compromises the purity of your operational mandate. It belongs to Nexus Omega now." He released the pressure and stepped back. "Prepare for immediate deployment," Ouroboros instructed. "The final phase does not tolerate delay." The Black Ash Blade remained silent inside its magnetically sealed containment coffer, now fully belonging to Nexus Omega's classified inventory.