Ren did not waste any time. As soon as the Chain Core Lacrima in Sector 2 was destroyed and the slave chains fell, he immediately jogged toward the spiral staircase connecting Sector 2 to Sector 3.
His steps were light and fast, like a shadow that didn't want the wind to notice it. The chaos Vane created behind him grew louder—screams of slaves, clanking of chains, and panicking shouts of wardens—more than enough to cover the sound of his own footsteps.
"Kael said the Lacrima in Sector 3 is the lower floor alarm center," Ren murmured to himself while running.
"If it turns on, the whole tower will know in seconds. I have to destroy it before they realize."
The spiral staircase was dark and narrow. Ren skipped two steps at a time. Bungee Gum appeared faintly on the soles of his feet, giving him extra propulsion every time he landed. In less than a minute, he arrived at the iron door of Sector 3.
Sector 3 – Small Lacrima Factory
The room was spacious and brightly lit by blue light. Dozens of workbenches were lined up, with small Lacrimas on top being shaped by technicians. In the middle of the room, exactly as Kael had described, stood the Sector 3 Main Lacrima—a blue orb as big as a human head, hanging from the ceiling with eight thick Ethernano cables spreading throughout the factory. It was the brain of the alarms and lighting for the lower floors.
Ten technician guards were busy at work. Four of them were armed with Lacrima rifles, while the rest only held work tools. They hadn't realized that the chaos below had already exploded.
Ren slipped in through a narrow side vent. His small body entered easily. He hung from the ceiling with Bungee Gum attached to an iron beam, mimicking an invisible little spider.
His eyes narrowed at the main Lacrima.
"Now."
With one swift motion, Ren released Bungee Gum from his right hand. The strand of gum stretched long and thin like a thread, gliding silently through the ceiling's shadows. The gum attached directly to the base of the Main Lacrima.
Sticky + Contract.
Ren pulled his hand back with full force. The Lacrima orb jerked violently downward, its Ethernano cables creaking under the strain.
The nearest guard turned around.
"Huh? What was that—"
Too late.
Ren leaped from the ceiling, the Bungee Gum in both of his hands forming two elastic whips. He swung the whips toward the two guards armed with rifles.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
The gum whips wrapped around the barrels of their weapons, and Ren twisted his wrists. The Lacrima weapons snapped back and slammed hard into their owners' faces. The two guards collapsed without even getting a chance to scream.
Three other guards ran toward Ren, shouting,
"Intruder! Activate the alar—"
Ren gave them no chance. He shot Bungee Gum from his right foot to the ceiling, pulling his body like a bungee swing into the center of the room. In mid-air, he punched the Main Lacrima with both fists, heavily reinforced with gum.
Bungee Gum — Double Impact!
KRRAAAKKK!
Blue cracks spread instantly. The Lacrima orb shattered into flying blue shards. The lights in the entire Sector 3 went out immediately. The alarm that was just about to ring only managed to make a faint click sound before dying completely.
The room went pitch black.
The remaining guards panicked, unable to see a thing. Ren landed lightly in their midst. Bungee Gum shot from both of his hands like a living spiderweb, wrapping the hands and feet of all four remaining guards at once in a matter of seconds. They fell to the floor rolling, utterly helpless, without getting to activate anything.
Ren stood in the middle of the Lacrima debris, which was still emitting faint blue smoke. His breathing was slightly fast, but a thin smile appeared on his dust-covered face.
"Sector 3... complete. The alarm didn't get to ring."
Now the entire lower floor was in complete darkness. The slaves in Sector 2 could move much more easily. Vane was definitely laughing with satisfaction down there. Ren wiped his gum-sticky hands, then glanced toward the stairs leading to Sector 4.
"Another Lacrima down. Still eight Lacrimas left."