Lagos 2080

Chapter 5: Tech-Lords and Forgotten Gods

Ayo and Ejiro moved through the winding streets of Makoko, the shadows thickening around them as they approached the hidden lab. The information they'd uncovered had led them here, to a warehouse deep in the undercity, one of the many places where the Tech-Lords hid their secrets. But this time, it wasn't just a stash of tech they were after.

They were looking for answers.

Ayo's heart pounded in his chest, every step making him feel like they were stepping closer to something too big to understand. Ever since that night when the Orishas had spoken to him, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were in over their heads. The Sky-Mech had changed him, connecting him to something ancient and powerful. Now, he wasn't sure if he was leading them into a discovery... or a trap.

Ejiro stopped beside him, pressing her ear against the cold metal of the warehouse door. "It's quiet. Too quiet," she muttered.

Ayo nodded, gripping the tool he'd brought as a makeshift weapon. They'd faced danger before, but something about this place felt different. It was like the air itself was warning them to turn back. But they were already here, and they couldn't leave without the truth.

Ejiro hacked the door lock with a quick swipe of her cyber-arm, and the door slid open, revealing a dark, empty hall. The faint hum of machinery vibrated through the floor, and a sickly green light glowed from deeper within.

They slipped inside, sticking to the shadows, moving toward the sound of distant voices. Ayo caught snatches of words — "energy source," "spirit fusion," "control matrix." The more he heard, the more unsettled he felt.

They crept up to a half-open door, peering inside. A group of Tech-Lords stood around a huge glass chamber, wires and circuits branching out from it like veins. Inside the chamber was something that sent a chill down Ayo's spine: a strange, human-like figure, hooked up to machines, glowing faintly. It wasn't a person... but it wasn't just a machine, either.

"What... what is that?" Ejiro whispered, her voice barely audible.

Ayo's hands tightened into fists. "It's what the Tech-Lords have been hiding. They're using forbidden tech... mixing spirit energy with machines."

Ejiro's face went pale as she stared at the figure. "That's... impossible. You can't merge a soul with tech. It's against nature."

But as they watched, the figure's eyes flickered open. They glowed, filled with something dark and hollow, like a shadow pretending to be human. It didn't look at the Tech-Lords, but Ayo could feel its gaze shift toward them, even though they were hidden.

One of the Tech-Lords stepped forward, adjusting the dials on the machine. "This prototype is still unstable, but once we perfect the fusion, we'll have control over forces beyond human understanding," he said with a twisted smile. "The Orishas' power will be ours to command."

Ayo felt a surge of anger. The Orishas were meant to protect, not to be twisted into weapons. He remembered his grandmother's stories, how the Orishas had stood for balance, for life. And here were the Tech-Lords, greedy and power-hungry, trying to bend that power to their will.

Without thinking, he took a step forward, but Ejiro grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "What are you doing?" she hissed. "We can't take them all on by ourselves."

"We have to stop them," Ayo whispered, his voice shaking with anger. "They're turning the Orishas into machines."

But before they could pull away, the figure inside the chamber began to twitch. The Tech-Lords looked on, murmuring in excitement as the figure's movements became more violent. The chamber shook, and the green light intensified, filling the room with a sickly glow.

"Something's wrong," one of the Tech-Lords muttered, frantically typing into a console. "The fusion is destabilizing."

The figure let out a low, guttural sound that seemed to shake the walls. Suddenly, the chamber cracked, and the light flared, filling the room with a blinding flash. Ayo and Ejiro ducked, covering their eyes as the chamber exploded. Glass and metal shards flew in all directions, and the figure — now free — stepped out, its eyes blazing with raw, unrestrained energy.

It was like watching a spirit caught in a human body, struggling against itself. The figure's face twisted, a look of confusion and rage that sent a chill down Ayo's spine. It let out a piercing scream, sending a wave of energy through the room. The Tech-Lords stumbled back, fear flashing across their faces.

"We need to get out of here," Ejiro whispered, tugging at Ayo's arm.

But Ayo couldn't move. He felt the figure's gaze settle on him, and in that moment, he felt something strange — a connection, like he'd felt with the Sky-Mech, only deeper. He realized that the figure was more than just a machine. It was alive, filled with the spirit energy the Tech-Lords had tried to harness.

"Help... me..." the figure whispered, its voice echoing inside Ayo's mind.

Ayo took a shaky step forward, feeling a pull he couldn't explain. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

The figure's eyes softened for a moment, and in that instant, he saw flashes of memories — ancient rituals, sacred places, whispers of the Orishas. It was like looking into a mirror of everything his grandmother had ever told him, only now, it was real.

But the moment didn't last. The figure's face twisted in pain, its body jerking as the machines tried to pull it back under control. The Tech-Lords were already recovering, barking orders and calling for reinforcements.

Ejiro yanked him back, her eyes wide with panic. "Ayo, we have to go. Now!"

He nodded, tearing his gaze away from the figure. Together, they ran, dodging through the maze of machinery, ducking behind crates as guards flooded the room. The sound of alarms blared, filling the air with a deafening wail.

As they slipped out of the warehouse and into the cool night air, Ayo's mind was racing. The Tech-Lords weren't just experimenting with spirit energy. They were trying to control it, to twist it into something that served their hunger for power. But there was a price to pay. He could feel it — the balance of the city was breaking, and something dark was stirring.

They ran through the dark alleys, not stopping until they reached the safety of their hideout. Once inside, Ejiro leaned against the wall, catching her breath. "That... was insane," she muttered. "They're messing with forces they don't understand."

Ayo nodded, his face grim. "And now, they've unleashed something dangerous. If they keep going, they'll tear this city apart."

Ejiro looked at him, her eyes hard. "Then we have to stop them. No one else will."

Ayo clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the journey ahead. The Orishas had spoken to him, and he knew they were watching. But he also knew that the fight wouldn't be easy. The Tech-Lords had the power of machines, money, and now, even spirit energy at their command.

But he wasn't alone. He had Ejiro, the bond with the Sky-Mech, and something even stronger — the strength of the Orishas, whispering to him, guiding him.

As they prepared for the battles to come, Ayo knew one thing for certain: the Tech-Lords thought they could control the gods, but they were about to find out just how wrong they were.