Elias stood at the entrance of the hidden chamber, heart pounding as golden light flickered from ancient consoles, illuminating the rows of forgotten technology and sealed archives ahead. The room was untouched by time, its walls lined with weapons, artifacts, and data cores that pulsed faintly with stored knowledge.
Marco let out a low whistle. "Okay. Not gonna lie. This is a dream come true."
Lira flicked a dagger between her fingers. "I dunno. I was kinda hoping for a pile of treasure or something."
Reinhardt grinned, stepping forward. "If you squint hard enough, this is treasure. Glowing treasure."
Ivy, scanning the room, sighed. "The kind of treasure that probably comes with a horrible price."
Varian, still composed, stepped beside Elias. His golden eyes reflected the flickering light. "This is the legacy of a forgotten age. If we can unlock its secrets, we may find what the Vanguard never could."
Elias exhaled, adjusting his gauntlet. "Alright. No pressure or anything."
Then, before anyone could stop him, he walked straight toward the nearest console and poked it.
Lira groaned. "Why are you like this?!"
The moment Elias's gauntlet made contact, the room shuddered. Symbols along the walls flared, ancient machines hummed to life, and a voice—deep, mechanical, and mildly annoyed—echoed through the chamber.
"System activation detected. Verifying clearance."
Cecilia muttered, "Please tell me that's not a death alarm."
The voice continued, unbothered by her sarcasm. "Primary user recognized. Vanguard Core detected. Authentication… complete."
The tension in the room shifted.
Elias blinked. "Wait… that's good, right?"
Marco checked his readings. "I mean… you didn't immediately explode, so yeah, I'd say that's a win."
The main console unlocked, revealing a holographic projection of the entire world—except not as they knew it.
This was a map of the past.
Cities long lost to time, battlefields that had been erased from records, and—most notably—structures that didn't exist anymore.
One of the largest locations pulsed in crimson light. Marco zoomed in on it, eyes narrowing. "Hold up. That's… not an Academy site."
Varian's gaze sharpened. "That is not a Vanguard site either."
Elias leaned closer, studying the data stream. The console was attempting to decrypt classified files, but one thing was clear—this location had been deliberately hidden.
"Okay," Elias muttered. "So what's behind Door Number Two?"
As if answering him, the hologram shifted, displaying a name burned into ancient code.
Project Genesis.
Silence.
Lira crossed her arms. "Yeeeah. That definitely doesn't sound like a horrible world-ending experiment or anything."
Reinhardt smirked. "Could be a new brand of war mechs."
Cecilia sighed. "Or a weapon so dangerous, it had to be erased from history."
Elias exhaled. "Well, considering the Academy is already on their way here, I say we figure it out before they do."
Ivy frowned. "Can you access the full records?"
Marco typed rapidly, his console flickering. "Trying. This thing's security is insane. It's got more layers than an overcomplicated pastry."
Elias tilted his head. "How long?"
Marco didn't look up. "If I do it carefully? Two hours."
Lira groaned. "We don't have two hours."
Marco smirked. "If I do it recklessly?"
"Marco—"
He slammed a button.
The console flashed violently, code streaming at a breakneck pace. Alarms screamed, and for half a second, Elias was sure he was about to be vaporized.
Then—the system unlocked.
Marco grinned, looking far too pleased with himself. "Twelve seconds."
Elias just stared. "You're actually insane."
Marco shrugged. "You knew what you were getting into."
The files finally decrypted, displaying a series of classified reports. As Elias skimmed through the data, his stomach tightened.
Project Genesis wasn't a weapon.
It was something much worse.
Ivy read over his shoulder, her voice quieter than usual. "It's… an archive."
Lira frowned. "An archive of what?"
Varian answered, his expression grim.
"Every failed experiment the Academy ever conducted."
Silence fell over the room.
Marco slowly removed his glasses, rubbing his temples. "Oh. That's bad."
Cecilia crossed her arms. "So let me guess. They didn't erase this place to protect the world."
Elias's jaw clenched. "They erased it to cover up their failures."
The files detailed experiments gone wrong, entire civilizations wiped out, attempts to harness forbidden magic, and worst of all—failed creations that had been sealed away because they couldn't be controlled.
One of the final entries was dated centuries before the fall of the Vanguard.
The Genesis Vault has been sealed indefinitely. Unauthorized access is punishable by total erasure. No records shall remain. No truths shall be spoken.
Elias exhaled. "Well. That's not ominous at all."
Lira ran a hand through her hair. "Alright, so now what? We break into this forbidden nightmare vault before the Academy does?"
Reinhardt grinned. "Sounds like a terrible idea."
Cecilia smirked. "So, business as usual?"
Elias looked around at his team—the people who had followed him this far, who had fought beside him against impossible odds. He knew what this meant.
The Academy wasn't just rewriting history. They were hiding something bigger than anyone had imagined.
If they wanted to change the future, they had to uncover the past.
Elias cracked his knuckles. "Alright."
"We go to the Genesis Vault."
Ivy sighed. "Here we go again."
Lira smirked. "Well, at least if we die, it'll be in the name of historical accuracy."
Marco adjusted his glasses. "And reckless stupidity."
Cecilia grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
Varian simply nodded, his golden eyes sharp.
"The path forward is clear."
Elias turned back to the hologram, watching as the map pulsed with secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Whatever the Academy had buried, whatever they were trying to keep hidden—
They were about to dig it back up.