Smokes and Circuits (Veils of Kaizhun #1)

The Devil You Know

The gunfire ricocheted off the narrow alley walls, sharp and deafening in the claustrophobic space. Adira pressed herself flat against the cold concrete, her heart racing as bullets zipped over her head. Zac was right next to her, eyes scanning the chaos with military precision. His jaw was clenched, that unreadable mask back in place, but she could feel the tension radiating off him. He was calculating—always calculating.

"Kai!" Zac shouted over the din, his voice cutting through the gunfire like a whip. "Get us a window!"

Kai, already on the move, fired off a few shots, his movements fluid and controlled. He ducked behind an overturned crate, eyes flashing with something Adira hadn't seen in him before—something darker. For all his playful arrogance, in moments like these, he became lethal. The way he moved, the way he calculated his angles, there was no mistaking it: he was a predator.

The Kirxia forces were advancing, closing in fast. Their black-armored figures moved with military precision, and Adira could see now that this wasn't a regular hit. These weren't just street soldiers. This was a tactical assault, coordinated and efficient.

Zac fired a few rounds, his expression hardening as he turned to Ren on comms. "We need an exit. Now."

Ren, crouched behind a pillar, was furiously working his tablet, sweat dripping down his forehead. "I'm trying! They've got jammers up. I can't break through the perimeter—"

A blast of energy exploded nearby, cutting Ren's words short. The shockwave sent Adira stumbling, her ears ringing. Zac pulled her back up, steadying her. His grip was firm, grounding, even as chaos raged around them.

"Stay close," Zac ordered. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, something beneath the surface that told her he wasn't going to let anyone die here—not on his watch.

Kai, meanwhile, was already moving again, weaving through the hail of bullets like it was a dance. He popped up, firing off precise shots that took out two Kirxia soldiers with eerie accuracy. But even as he moved with deadly grace, Adira noticed his eyes scanning the area, always a step ahead.

"They're pushing us into a corner!" Kai shouted over his shoulder, gritting his teeth. He seemed almost frustrated, like the Kirxia forces were beneath him, like this wasn't the real fight he was looking for. "These aren't the heavy hitters. They're herding us."

Zac glanced at him, eyes sharp. "Then where's the hammer?"

Just as the words left Zac's mouth, a deafening crack split the air. Something massive smashed through the far wall of the alley—a hulking, armored Kirxia exosuit, towering over the soldiers. Its red eyes glowed with menacing intent as it stomped forward, weapons systems powering up with an ominous hum.

"That's the hammer," Kai muttered, eyes narrowing.

The exosuit's massive cannon charged with a low whine, locking onto their position. Zac's instincts kicked in immediately. "MOVE!"

Adira barely had time to react before Zac pulled her to the side, just as a pulse of energy shot from the cannon, obliterating the cover they had been behind moments before. The force of the blast shook the entire alley, sending debris flying.

"We can't take that thing head-on!" Adira shouted, adrenaline surging through her veins.

"No shit!" Ren yelled back, scrambling for better cover. "What do we do?"

Zac's mind raced. They were boxed in, pinned down, and outgunned. But there was always a way out. Always.

"Kai!" Zac barked. "You got any toys on you?"

Kai grinned, that dangerous glint in his eyes returning. "Always."

With a fluid motion, Kai reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, spherical device. He tossed it in the air, catching it with a flourish. "EMP charge. Should fry that big bastard's systems—if we can get close enough."