The morning air was crisp and cool, a gentle breeze rustling through the trees. One by one, the camp stirred awake. Some stretched under the golden light of dawn, others gathered around the embers of the fire to warm their hands. The scent of heated rations and makeshift breakfasts filled the air.
Julian stood silently, sipping from a metal cup, eyes watching the horizon. Clarissa and Aya packed their gear, while Veronica lazily adjusted her gloves, and Emma hummed a tune as she stirred a pot.
After a quick breakfast, the group began dismantling camp. Tents were rolled up, supplies rechecked, and weapons strapped tight. The convoy of vehicles rumbled to life, engines growling in the silence of the morning.
As they drove through the winding forest trail toward the military outpost, Julian spoke without looking back.
"Last night, I killed a raven. It’s been following us for days."
The group fell into silence.
Veronica leaned forward from the backseat of the jeep, raising a brow with her usual smug tone.
"So... someone’s watching us?"
Julian nodded.
"That’s the likely case."
Celestia, sitting beside him, tightened her grip.
Veronica scoffed.
"Let them come. We’ll crush them."
Julian gave a small, sharp smirk.
"No... I’ll find them. And when I do—"
He glanced toward the trees passing by, voice steady.
"I’ll destroy them."
With that, the convoy picked up speed, cutting through the wilderness toward their next destination.
-------×-------
At the heart of the fortified military base, inside the central command chamber, Commander Albrecht stood tall and imposing as he swept his sharp gaze across the room filled with officers and personnel. The air was rigid with discipline.
"Report," he commanded, voice deep and unwavering.
A woman in a crisp uniform, the military operations adjutant, stepped forward with a clipboard in hand.
"Ammunition reserves have stabilized, food rations are improving, and fuel stocks have reached sustainable levels. Medical supplies remain tight, but distribution is under control."
Albrecht gave a curt nod.
"Good. It seems sending civilians into soldier boots wasn’t in vain after all."
He turned toward Colonel Frederick Rourke.
"And your men?"
Frederick responded without hesitation,
"Exhausted, sir. We’ve repelled three waves of mutant-class infected this week alone... but they’re adapting. Growing stronger with each battle."
"Excellent." Albrecht’s tone was more steel than praise.
Next, his eyes landed on Captain Rayden, the leader of the elite skill-user unit.
"Your squad?"
Rayden’s jaw tightened with pride.
"We’re ready for deployment at a moment’s notice."
Albrecht nodded again.
"Coordinate a joint exercise with Colonel Rourke’s forces. Make sure your squads bleed together before they ever do it in battle."
"Understood, sir."
The room echoed with a synchronized salute before Albrecht waved his hand.
"Dismissed."
As the officers began to exit, Albrecht remained behind with his adjutant, a quiet man always standing by his side, known only as Marek.
Albrecht spoke without looking at him.
"What’s the status of Lucia and that medic from the support unit?"
Marek adjusted his glasses, expression unreadable.
"Currently detained, awaiting final assessment. They’re under observation, as you ordered."
"Good," Albrecht said simply. "Keep watching them."
Then without another word, the two men left the command chamber, walking in silence down a long hallway lined with steel doors and flickering overhead lights.
They entered a private lift and descended, far below the surface, into the classified Sublevel Omega.
When the doors opened, they stepped into a vast underground chamber filled with lab equipment, glowing monitors, and rows of tense scientists in sterile suits. The hum of machines blended with faint murmurs of analysis.
At the center of the room stood a massive block of crystalline ice, pulsing faintly with an eerie blue light. Trapped within was a teenage boy, frozen in perfect stillness, his expression peaceful, almost serene.
Albrecht approached without flinching.
"Any progress?" he asked one of the scientists, a pale man with sweat on his brow.
The scientist shook his head.
"We still can’t identify the anomaly inside him. It’s... unlike anything we’ve studied. The crystal resists every scan and temperature change."
Albrecht gave only the faintest nod before turning toward another containment pod at the far end of the room, a transparent capsule containing a small, pulsating piece of flesh. It beat with a rhythm, like a slow heartbeat.
He stood there, arms crossed, watching it silently.
Whatever it was... it was alive.
-------×-------
In the dim light of the underground holding cell, Lucia sat in silence. Her wrists were bound in reinforced cuffs, making it hard to even shift her position comfortably. The cold from the stone walls crept into her bones, but her eyes remained sharp, focused.
The sound of boots echoing down the hall interrupted the silence. With mechanical rhythm, someone approached. The guards at the entrance of her cell quickly snapped to attention and saluted.
A familiar voice followed.
"Step aside. I need a word with her."
The guards complied immediately and stepped away, leaving only Captain Rayden in front of the cell. His usual smirk tugged at his lips as he crossed his arms, staring at Lucia behind the reinforced bars.
"Well, well... looks like our dear Major Lucia finally found a way to skip work."
Lucia narrowed her eyes. "If you’re here to mock me, you can leave now."
Rayden let out a soft laugh.
"Come on. I just missed you, Major."
"You? Missing someone? That’s rich."
The light-hearted banter vanished as Rayden’s voice grew more serious.
"What the hell were you thinking? Hiding a skill-user kid inside the base? Have you lost your mind?"
Lucia’s eyes darkened. "Bold of you to assume you can speak to me like that."
Rayden didn’t back down. He simply watched her, the silence growing heavier.
Finally, Lucia exhaled sharply.
"We didn’t know. Elien didn’t know. None of us predicted that the child’s skill would awaken in such a way. We weren’t hiding anything."
Rayden scoffed.
"There are always signs, Lucia. You should’ve brought it up to medical. You know how paranoid General Albrecht is, he’s always watching, always calculating. One misstep, and it’s over."
Lucia’s gaze dropped, her voice softer this time.
"Maybe... maybe ’stupid’ is the right word for what I did."
Rayden raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning.
"Let me guess. You did it because you’ve gone soft? Maybe... in love with that medic?"
Lucia shot him a glare, but there was no venom in her voice.
"Maybe you’re right."
Rayden blinked.
"Wait, seriously? You’re actually admitting it? You? Falling in love? Aren’t you a little old for that?"
Lucia gave a calm, icy smile.
"If I weren’t cuffed, Rayden, I’d be beating that smug look off your face right now."
Rayden chuckled and leaned against the bars.
"Careful, Major. I’m just saying, be smart. If you explain it clearly, maybe there’s still a chance. You’ve got allies. Don’t throw it all away just yet."
Before Lucia could reply, a soldier hurried down the corridor, stopping at the entrance.
"Captain Rayden. The expedition team has returned. They’re approaching the main gate."
Rayden straightened himself.
"Good. Keep me posted."
He turned back to Lucia, his eyes a little more serious.
"Hang in there, Mayor Lucia."
And with that, he walked away, his footsteps echoing once more down the corridor.
Captain Rayden ascended from the dim underground corridor, his boots clanking rhythmically against the steel stairs. As he emerged into the brighter upper levels of the military base, a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
"There you are."
Standing near the hallway intersection was Colonel Frederick Rourke, arms folded, expression sharp.
"I’ve been looking for you everywhere. What, did you just wake up from a nap?"
Rayden smirked without slowing his pace.
"Just visiting my superior officer."
Frederick’s eyes narrowed.
"Lucia? She’s no longer a major, Rayden. Don’t pretend otherwise."
Rayden stopped briefly, casting a glance over his shoulder.
"That hasn’t been decided. Yet."
Frederick scoffed.
"Well, enjoy the fantasy while it lasts. She’ll be stripped of her title soon enough. Might as well say your goodbyes."
Rayden turned to face him fully now, his tone turning sharp with sarcasm.
"Sure. And you enjoy your last few days before someone puts a bullet through that thick skull of yours."
The colonel’s face twisted with anger.
"What the hell did you just say? You think you can talk to your superior like that?"
Rayden gave a lazy shrug, not the slightest hint of fear in his posture.
"Funny. I don’t recall reporting to you. As far as I’m concerned, Major Lucia is still my commanding officer. So until that changes, don’t bark orders at me."
Frederick clenched his jaw, his fingers twitching slightly as he struggled to hold back his frustration.
"Just handle your returning squad, Rayden."
Rayden gave a mock salute.
"Already on my way."
Without another word, he turned and walked off, his footsteps echoing through the corridor, leisurely, unbothered.
Behind him, Frederick remained frozen in place, his eyes locked on Rayden’s retreating back, the heat of restrained fury burning behind his gaze.