Level 25,201: Military Airport.

  Headquarters of the System of Intelligence and Exploration of Nullaria (SIEN).

  Bealuna’s breathing still trembled as the murmurs faded in the Infinite Arcade hallway. For an instant, the sound of the video game machines felt heavier than the voices trying to seduce her towards the Final Level. Soon she felt the pressure of Alan’s arm gripping her. That simple contact had saved her from being dragged into something unknown.

  That realisation hit her as if someone else inside her had recognised the danger before her own mind did.

  Beside her, the boy who had saved her was still gasping, looking back in terror. Bealuna took a step back, recovered her balance, and regained her distance.

  There, in the middle of the corridor filled with fluorescent lights, their encounter began.

  Bealuna pulled her arm from Alan’s grip sharply, still stunned. In front of her stood a chubby, sweaty, blonde young man, breathing heavily after dragging her a few metres out of that place.

  — Who are you? — she asked, taking a step back, confused.

  The boy did not answer immediately. He stared in panic at the room they had just left behind, as if he had just pulled Bealuna from the edge of an abyss.

  — Do you know what you were about to do? — he said at last, still trembling.

  Bealuna tried to concentrate. Everything was a fog in her mind. But then the words escaped her mouth, as if her soul remembered them before her consciousness did.

  — The… Final Level — she whispered, turning slowly towards the dark hallway.

  — Don’t you dare step foot in that place again if you’re not ready. And from what I saw… you’re not. The whispers nearly caught you.

  — What… what were those whispers? — she asked, still feeling their echo in her ears as she held her head, confused.

  — It must be some kind of creature — he explained, lowering his voice — Something that lives in there and uses the machine to lure in the unsuspecting. We’ve lost many soldiers from Battalion C and D. Once it swallowed them… we never found them again.

  — A Battalion? Who exactly are you? — asked Bealuna, overwhelmed by the avalanche of information.

  The young man, seeing she was calming down a bit, adjusted his overalls and adopted an almost heroic pose.

  — I’m Alan Heidenreich, from the Shield rune. One of the valiant soldiers of the Nullaria Intelligence and Exploration System (SIEN) team. Battalion C.

  Bealuna looked at him, blinked a couple of times, and frowned at the silly heroic pose Alan was trying to strike.

  — Thanks for saving me, Alan Hei… Heidenra… Hiden… — she murmured trying to remember — Heiden —

  — Heidenreich — he corrected, with a proud smile.

  — Whatever… — she snorted — I’m Bealuna Fortunata… from the rune of Good Fortune.

  Alan tilted his head, confused at first… fascinated afterward.

  — Fortunata? With the rune of Good Fortune… wow. That’s… literally perfect. Fortunata is an Italian surname that means luck or destiny.

  Bealuna was slightly surprised, bringing a hand to her cheek.

  — You seem to know a lot about surnames… — she laughed awkwardly — And now that you mention it… I had never thought of it that way.

  Alan, now more comfortable, continued:

  — Wait a minute! Are you Bealuna from the Red Wolf Camp!? You’re famous at our base! You defeated the Sixth Terror!

  — Well… technically it wasn’t me — she said, scratching the back of her neck — It was my… friend Dante.

  — Dante Montenegro!? — exclaimed Alan, as if he had heard of a legend — You know him? Does he really exist!? This is amazing!

  Bealuna frowned again with an uncomfortable smile as she started walking, with Alan following her anxiously, almost trotting beside her. The bright, distorted Level 7 unfolded before them. The carpet beneath their feet looked freshly vacuumed and the neon lights flickered with inconsistent rhythms. All around them, rows of ancient arcades emitted melodic sounds and mechanical hums; some completely functional, others immobile like museum pieces.

  The air smelled of freshly baked pizza mixed with stale cigarette smoke and beer.

  — Yes, Dante exists… — she replied, trying to change the subject — This level is… a bit strange.

  A pinball machine played by itself to her right, the scoreboards flashing meaninglessly.

  Alan adjusted his overalls for the third time.

  — You’re in the Infinite Arcade of Level 7 — he explained proudly.

  Bealuna observed a booth in the background where the joysticks moved on their own.

  — Is there no one here? — she asked, approaching slowly.

  — Perhaps there is… — Alan replied with a smile — Only we can't see them. I suppose it’s all about perception.

  As they moved forward, the architecture of the place became more incoherent: psychedelic carpets, low ceilings with exposed ventilation pipes, and faded posters of smiling characters. Some areas were covered by dirty stained glass windows that revealed other sections of what appeared to be an immense and confusing entertainment centre, where the spatial limits followed no logic.

  — You can play normally on certain machines — explained Alan, pointing to one that shone with vivid colours — Some only allow one game. Others… if you play very well, or very badly, drag you to another level of Nullaria.

  He made a face.

  — And then there are the most dangerous ones. The ones that only show static. You touch the controls… and you disappear. The SIEN base discovered this level a long time ago and uses it to train the Battalions. And to explore the unknown levels.

  Bealuna frowned.

  — You guys use these arcade machines as training?

  — Yes — Alan replied with an ambiguous gesture — At least the ones we consider reliable. We don’t always know where each game leads… or why.

  — What about the Final Level? — she asked, cautious.

  Alan stopped in front of a four-player machine. His expression changed completely.

  — The Omega Level… the Final Level…

  His voice became lower, as if he were whispering a secret.

  — That’s the last level of Nullaria… or so we believe. They say whoever manages to survive there… returns to Earth.

  Bealuna swallowed hard.

  — Survive?

  — I don’t think anyone has succeeded — he replied, shrugging his shoulders — No one knows if those who entered died… or if they really got out.

  He pointed to his chest.

  — Every soldier carries a small camera integrated into the SIEN base's special suits. The transmissions allow us to see what the soldier sees in the level. We also use these watches — he showed his wrist — to monitor vital statistics. But when Battalion D reached the Omega Level…

  He paused.

  Bealuna narrowed her eyes.

  — What happened?

  Alan took a deep breath.

  — They were absorbed by the machine. That’s when we knew it was the Omega Level. They appeared in a gigantic vault, surrounded by holes… like waterslide exits. We deduced that there are different ways to get there. Battalion D advanced a few metres. Torches lit up on their own. The ceiling showed galaxies spinning slowly above their heads. The place seemed… to observe them.

  Bealuna felt a chill.

  — At the back of the hallway — Alan continued — they found a white spiral staircase. Ancient. Impossible. You could ascend towards the galaxies or descend into absolute darkness. They decided to split up.

  — And?

  — A fine drizzle began, almost imperceptible. Afterward… an intense light. The transmission was cut forever. We heard no more from them.

  — Didn’t they look for an exit before going deeper? — asked Bealuna.

  — In the Omega Level there is no exit. Only up… or down. Some believe it’s not a level, but an entity. One that feeds on souls desperate to escape.

  Alan lowered his gaze.

  — Others believe that it is the real exit… but only for those who are ready to see it. If someone reached the quantum range… they would hear and see beyond the visible spectrum. And they would know the truth. But… all that is hypothesis.

  Bealuna remained thoughtful, overwhelmed by the information. Alan noticed this and, with a nervous smile, tried to change the atmosphere.

  — But let’s not talk about that now… Hey, would you like to see our base? I’m sure they’ll welcome you with open arms — Alan commented as he stopped in front of an old multiplayer machine illuminated by a faint blue glow.

  Bealuna observed the screen and murmured:

  — Battle City… Is this how you get to the SIEN base?

  Alan smiled.

  — Do you want to play a game with me?

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  Battle City game: Access Point to SIEN Headquarters.

  Bealuna looked at him, surprised by the change of tone… and by what she had just heard.

  Then, as she sat down in front of the controls, she commented in a low voice:

  — Just before I separated from Dante I heard that four other people who survived the trial of the Sixth Terror belonged to that base… the SIEN base. If so, Dante might have been taken with you.

  She expressed with a firm voice, observing the screen with determination.

  — Then I’m going — she said finally — We are going to the base.

  The machine vibrated. The controls warmed under their hands. An unknown energy enveloped them without them noticing. When they reached level 7 of the game, the screen flickered… and a flash swallowed them.

  …

  From one instant to another, Bealuna opened her eyes, breathing raggedly.

  The arcade machine was gone.

  Now they were in a completely dark room, silent, empty. A bunker forgotten by time: grey walls, cold floor, no signs of life or furniture. Only a luminous sign hanging at the back broke the monotony with its flashing multi-colour light.

  ARCADE.

  — What… what happened? — whispered Bealuna, scanning the place with her gaze…

  Alan took a step forward, still stunned by the sudden transport.

  — This place is…

  But a female voice interrupted him from the shadows:

  — The Nullaria Intelligence and Exploration System Headquarters.

  Bealuna looked up just as a figure emerged slowly from the darkest corner.

  It was a woman of disturbing beauty. Her black hair fell over her shoulders in perfect loops, and her blue eyes seemed to see more than reality revealed. She held a twisted wooden staff. She wore a military uniform, fitted and elegant that highlighted every line of her figure without detracting from her authority.

  Alan paled.

  — M… Miss Nastacia… — he stammered, lowering his gaze instantly.

  — Nastacia…? — murmured Bealuna, confused.

  Nastacia did not answer. Her eyes were fixed on Bealuna with a mixture of curiosity… or another emotion difficult to decipher.

  Alan swallowed hard.

  — Were you… waiting for us?

  — I wasn’t waiting for you at all — she replied seriously, without taking her eyes off Bealuna.

  Bealuna frowned.

  — Me? And how did you know I would come?

  Nastacia didn’t explain anything. She simply turned on her heels with impeccable elegance.

  — Follow me, please. And don’t worry about the flowerpot. It’s just a vain decoration.

  — What flowerpot? — asked Bealuna as they crossed the threshold.

  It was then that her arm brushed a low pedestal and a ceramic flowerpot fell to the floor, exploding into a thousand fragments. Bealuna gave a small cry, startled.

  Alan leaned slightly towards her and murmured:

  — Commander Nastacia… possesses the Premonition rune. She can see facts just before they happen.

  Without stopping, and without turning back to them, Nastacia spoke with a soft but unquestionable tone:

  — I told you not to worry about the flowerpot. And not to stop.

  And so, with the same calm with which she had emerged from the shadows, she continued advancing down the hallway, making it clear to them that everything… absolutely everything… was happening just as she had already seen.

  And while Alan and Bealuna advanced towards the heart of the SIEN base, in another point of Nullaria, destiny continued to move...

  …

  After a faint glow, Dante and Kar’Nix appeared a few metres from the main square of the Neighbourhood of Echoes. Dawn began to tinge the sky a pale grey.

  The jump between Level 1002 and Level 101 had lasted barely a blink for him, but the feeling in his stomach told him that hours had passed.

  — Is this depressing place the famous Neighbourhood of Echoes? — asked Kar’Nix with sarcasm as he emerged from Dante’s chest in the form of a purple orb, with eyes and a small beak, before transforming into a tiny raven that perched on his shoulder.

  Dante arched an eyebrow, as if he was already tired of hearing him complain every minute.

  Kar’Nix clicked his beak.

  — I saw it through the eyes of my subjects… but in person it is much more depressing than I imagined.

  Dante preferred to ignore him.

  — The jump between dimensions felt eternal. I didn’t think we’d be falling in that void for several minutes.

  The raven adopted a solemn tone:

  — As you have already checked, jumps between levels are variable. Sometimes immediate… other times they seem like centuries.

  Dante pressed his lips together.

  — Do you think Horacio and Jonathan reached the Delta Level? The Cursed Relic of that level is too important.

  — The Star Water fountain inside my beautiful palace is a direct portal to the Delta Level — he replied — If they jumped through there, they arrived. Of that I have no doubt.

  Dante breathed deeply.

  — Then… can you show me what they are seeing right now? I just want to be sure.

  Kar’Nix rolled his eyes.

  — Always so suspicious. But very well.

  The raven’s eyes glowed with a crimson red.

  A mirror of energy opened before them, connecting both their minds to observe what Horacio was seeing. This was possible because Horacio’s mind was still under Kar’Nix’s influence, and, thanks to the Mystic Bond Pact, Dante could use that ability to see through him.

  Inside the mirror, Jonathan and Horacio were observed walking horrified through an endless labyrinth of skulls. The air was heavy, stale, and every step made bones crunch under their feet. The place seemed to extend in all directions, like a mortuary cathedral multiplied by a thousand.

  — But what the hell was that damned bird thinking when he sent us here? — complained Jonathan when a skull rolled slowly in front of him.

  Horacio, with a contorted expression, could barely speak.

  — We have to retrieve the… Cursed Book of the Dead? Even the name sounds like a death sentence! This mission is suicidal… damned Dante…

  Jonathan trembled like a leaf.

  — My God, we are going to die today! I know it! I’m sure of it!

  A wall made of skulls suddenly moved, closing one path and opening another. Both backed away, glued to each other as if separating meant the end.

  Kar’Nix laughed out loud from the mirror.

  — What a humorous scene. They are a pair of delicious clowns.

  Dante let out a sigh.

  Relief, worry, tiredness… all mixed.

  Kar’Nix closed the energy mirror.

  — Right — murmured Dante, beginning to walk — At least they’re making progress.

  We must also get to Bealuna.

  The raven puffed out his chest with theatricality.

  — I am eager to meet your… little sweetheart. Your mind is so full of her that so much sweetness makes me nauseous. Your serious demeanour is nothing like that pathetic attitude you adopt when you are near her… as I see in your memories.

  Dante glared at him.

  — Stop prying into my memories.

  — I’m sorry — replied Kar’Nix without sounding repentant — I am curious by nature.

  As they moved forward, a group of survivors who were gathering in the main square stopped what they were doing when they saw them arrive. The murmurs immediately erupted:

  — Look, it’s Dante!

  — Dante Montenegro…

  — That’s the one who defeated two of the Seven Terrors, isn’t he?

  — Good heavens, I didn’t know him in person!

  — He doesn’t look like much…

  — Are you kidding? He claimed the Sword of Light from this level!

  Some looked at him with admiration, others with suspicion… others as if they were seeing a living myth.

  — They adore you, they fear you, they hate you, they envy you… they praise you. What a picturesque collection. You're quite famous, it seems.

  Dante gritted his teeth.

  — It’s not something I looked for. Quite the opposite.

  Among those present, a familiar figure emerged with a warm, almost maternal smile.

  — Welcome home! — exclaimed Matilde, approaching — I’m so glad you found your way back…

  Dante only responded with a faint smile.

  Her eyes strayed, curious, towards the raven on his shoulder.

  — And who is your little and adorable friend? — asked Matilde.

  — Adorable? — murmured Dante with irony — You can tell you don't know him…

  Kar’Nix let out an indignant squeak.

  Before anyone added anything else, Virellian arrived running with a mixture of anguish and desperation on his face.

  — I can’t find Bealuna anywhere! She disappeared! I just hope she hasn't touched that arcade machine and… that nothing bad has happened to her.

  And just then he saw the raven on Dante’s shoulder. He stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened and he fell backwards, stumbling awkwardly.

  — You… You can’t be here! You can’t leave the Cloud Kingdom!

  — I love seeing that terror in their eyes — replied Kar’Nix with a cheerful laugh, tilting his head — How funny that you still remember me!

  Those present jumped in surprise when they heard the raven speak.

  — That raven is a demon! — shouted Virellian, pointing at him in horror.

  Kar’Nix growled in a deep voice:

  — Watch your words, insect. Or you will be horribly punished.

  — Everyone shut up! — ordered Dante firmly. The square instantly fell silent.

  He turned to Matilde with a serious expression, rolling his eyes in frustration.

  — It’s a long story… but this raven is an ally.

  — He took a breath — I think I know where Bealuna is. I just need your permission to go look for her.

  Matilde nodded with concern.

  — She stayed to sleep in the House of Echoes we assigned you to wait for you, I don't think she would have escaped in the night to go find you… But… I guess you already knew she wasn't at the camp, right?

  — Yes — confirmed Dante bluntly — Thanks for trying to keep her here.

  Matilde breathed deeply and smiled softly.

  — I don’t intend to pry into your business or ask for explanations… You know I trust you. Just bring her back safe and sound.

  Dante nodded seriously.

  Kar’Nix intervened with his mocking tone:

  — For once, someone who isn’t completely stupid. Congratulations, human. You’re not like others…

  He glanced sideways at Virellian, who was watching him with clenched teeth.

  — What did you call me…?! — roared Virellian, full of contained hatred.

  Dante sighed, resigned, and began to walk towards the House of Echoes assigned to him.

  Virellian followed him closely.

  After a few minutes, Dante opened the door of the house. The warm smell of freshly baked bread enveloped them immediately.

  The usual scene of the Echoes unfolded inside:

  the Echo mother baking, the children playing on the floor, the father reading the newspaper in silence.

  Thanks to his regressions, Dante knew exactly where Bealuna was.

  He only hoped Alan had found her before she was sent to the fearsome Omega Level.

  He also needed Alan for another reason:

  the Shield rune was vital to defeat the Fifth Terror of Nullaria.

  Kar’Nix broke his concentration with annoyance:

  — But what a sad home… Are these things the famous Echoes?

  — Shhhh — interrupted Dante — A disturbance can alter their environment… and here that can be fatal.

  Virellian observed the place with concern.

  — I looked everywhere. Bealuna is not here. And the strangest thing is that I can't even locate her with my Compass rune…

  Dante knew why:

  the influence of the Omega Level nullified any external perception.

  The power of his rune was useless there.

  And then, the rune tattoo on Virellian’s arm glowed. Activating his Compass rune.

  A holographic arrow — visible only to him — pointed towards the old arcade machine in the corner.

  The Cursed Relic.

  — I… I think I found her… — whispered Virellian, confused — She’s inside that machine…

  Dante closed his eyes for an instant and explained:

  — Bealuna came to wait for me at my house, but she did something she shouldn't have done.

  Virellian paled.

  — Don’t tell me she… touched the Cursed Relic?

  Kar’Nix raised a claw.

  — Do you want me to purify it?

  — No. Don’t touch it — responded Dante — That curse keeps people away. Thanks to it, that Echo child reacts with fury if someone uses it without his permission.

  — He pointed to the little Echo on the carpet — And that reaction keeps anyone away from the Omega Level.

  Virellian opened his eyes in horror.

  — The… Omega Level? The Final Level? The same one where that group of soldiers from the SIEN base disappeared?

  Dante nodded.

  Kar’Nix shouted with irony:

  — Ugh! He finally understood! Now go and shout it from the rooftops so everyone goes to that place and the whole camp gets killed.

  Virellian looked at him, annoyed.

  Dante spoke seriously:

  — You must keep this secret. It is vital.

  Virellian swallowed hard and nodded in horror.

  Dante trusted him: his rune was essential for his own survival and he was someone he had to keep close.

  — What I don’t understand is why Bealuna would touch the Cursed Relic… — murmured Virellian.

  — She wouldn’t. It was surely an accident — responded Dante.

  The Echo mother approached in silence and offered a piece of bread to Virellian.

  He accepted it immediately and began to eat.

  — I’m sorry, but with so much stress… I didn’t even have breakfast — he murmured.

  — When did Bealuna arrive at the camp? — asked Dante.

  — Two days ago. A day after I arrived. Matilde received me well because I said I was part of your team…

  I am very grateful for what you did for me. I will pay you back for sure.

  Dante smiled gently.

  He also analysed the temporal discrepancy:

  days had passed there… when for him it was only a few hours.

  Suddenly, Virellian reacted with excessive kindness towards Kar’Nix:

  — Of course, my friend, here you go — he said offering him a piece of his bread.

  Dante was disconcerted.

  — Kar’Nix… stop controlling his mind so he gives you food.

  The raven rolled his eyes and released him from his mind control.

  Virellian blinked, confused, looking at his hands.

  — What was I doing…?

  At that moment, the Echo child walked towards the arcade machine.

  He took out a gold coin from his pocket and innocently inserted it into the slot.

  The screen came alive with the music of Super Mario Bros.

  — And what are we going to do now? — asked Virellian without paying attention to what happened.

  Dante raised his hand for him to keep silent.

  — That child must play first — explained Dante — And offer us to take his place. It is the only safe way to go for Bealuna.

  Virellian observed, without fully understanding.

  They waited a few seconds, in silence, while the child moved the controls with tiny hands. Then, noticing that he was being observed, he turned and offered the controller to Dante.

  — Thanks — said Dante softly.

  He looked at Virellian — Hold on to my shoulder. Tight.

  Kar’Nix also clung to him.

  As soon as Dante touched the controls, an imperceptible vibration enveloped them.

  Everything turned white.

  ...

  The three opened their eyes, confused after a blink.

  Soon a message appeared on Dante’s retina with the level evaluation:

  [Level 7: Axis +X. Class 1 — Survival Difficulty: Tolerable]

  Occasional presence of non-aggressive entities.

  Hazards are minimal or easy to avoid.

  Hostility depends, in general, on human behaviour.

  Survival is possible with caution. Multiple exit routes identified.

  End of Chapter Sixteen.

  Chapter 16 lets us know the power of perception and the heavy weight of knowledge. Nastacia’s premonition ability and the data from the SIEN suits show us that information is everything. But the most vital knowledge isn't technical; it's intuitive, seen in the quick action of Alan's rescue, or the trust Matilde places in Dante.

  The journey continues, but the stakes have never been higher. The mention of the Omega Level changes everything. Is it a final escape, a place of death, or just a new beginning for those who are ready?

  What is certain is that the destinies of SIEN and Dante are growing closer to crossing paths. Will it be an ally or a new wall to overcome? Nullaria gives no quarter.

  — Alberto Báez