The halls buzzed with hushed whispers. Cher walked through, overhearing two passersby.
"Have you heard? Trance and his team…"
"Yeah. Rare, but… seems they failed their mission."
Cher slowed, her brows furrowed.
"Trance… he was with Commander Briggs days ago."
Deep in thought, a sudden tap on her shoulder jolted her, out of reflex, her fist shot out, smacking Eric square between the eyes. "Gaaah!" Eric toppled to the floor, clutching his face. "Oh! Eric, I'm sorry!" Cher gasped.
From across the hall, Gilbert witnessed Eric's shenanigan, sighing heavily. "What's up with you two…" He strode over, grabbed Eric by the collar, and hoisted him up. "We're being summoned. Let's hurry."
Inside the chamber, Commander Briggs sat at the table's edge, a projector humming at the center.
Cher, Eric, Gilbert, and four others, Hammil, Jun, Irvine, and Circe bowed in unison, Briggs raised a hand, they straightened and took their seats.
Click, the projector lit the room. Briggs' deep voice carried the meeting. "The reason I've called you here… we're facing a predicament."
He placed a metal shell, wrapped in muddied cloth, onto the table. Circe, adorned in fine garb with linen wraps and metallic bands on her arms, stepped forward with a second artifact, a chip, Briggs inserted it into the port.
A spark, smoke hissed, a four-sided blue diamond flickered to life, white traces coursing through it.
"This, is an Ar-hex core, years' worth of research focused in finding Veyrith's origin, Warwick laboratories finest work. Their base was destroyed by a mysterious force, few who survived salvaged what they could."
The room shifted uneasily.
"Approximately a day ago, Trance and his squad were sent to recover the remaining three core. Their last report confirmed success." His gaze darkened. "But they never manage to return."
Hammil stood, his voice tight. "Commander… my brother. Was he… with them?"
Briggs hesitated, then nodded, Hammil sank back, jaw clenched. Irvine, clad in psy-ops gear, placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.
Briggs pressed on. "That is why you're here. Jun, Irvine, Circe, Hammil you will conduct reconnaissance mission in swampy regions of Alberan. Your task is to locate Trance's squad and verify the cores' status. No combat. If danger proves too great, retreat and report immediately."
He turned to Cher, Gilbert, and Eric. "You three will serve as backup. Your runes are uniquely suited for this mission, if Veyrith appear, survival is the priority."
Eric puffed up his chest. "Of course, Commander! My beast companion will be at your service." Gilbert groaned. "He just doesn't stop…"
Briggs ignored him, unrolling a map across the table and laid out their point of entry and exit.
Later, engines hummed softly in the dark, inside a camouflaged Humvee, the two teams sat together, weapons ready, Jun drove in silence, bearded man with sleek leather armor, as his gloved hands gripped the wheel, his rune concealed the vehicle, blending it seamlessly into the swampy night.
The road stretched into shadow, the Humvee's faint hum was swallowed by the night as the two teams disappeared down the broken trail.
From the watchtower, Briggs stood rigid, fixed his gaze on their fading silhouettes. His voice was low, almost carried away by the wind. "Cher… this will be your first mission without your father, have faith in yourself."
Footsteps echoed behind him. Hendrick approached, bowing slightly. "Commander, a transmission, Trance's signal came through."
Briggs' eyes sharpened, he pressed the receiver to his ear, a muffled voice crackled through, distorted, broken by static, no words. Only fragments like someone screaming through water.
Briggs froze, his jaw clenched as he lowered the device, concern etched deep across his face. He reached into his pocket, fingers curling around his radio, for a moment, he almost gave the order to call them back.
But he stopped, his hand trembled, then slowly fell away. He turned his gaze back to the road where Cher's convoy had vanished.
"…No, they can do it." Looking optimistic.
The night offered no answer only silence.
The Humvee rumbled to a halt, swallowed by the swampy territory, Cher and the others pressed low, gazing towards the wetland gloom. Above, fireflies flew like dying embers, the only light in the suffocating dark.
Irvine moved first, tossing thumb-sized markers into the muck, each one pulsed faintly before vanishing beneath sludge. Circe lifted her hands, whispering incantations, a pale sphere unfolded in her palms, shimmering like water. Within it, hazy trails bound to Trance's belongings, leading to Trance's last recorded path.
Cher leaned forward, watching every movement with hungry eyes. "So, this is how professionals work… "
The swamp finally opened before them, the air is foul and humid. The smell could easily turn anyone's stomach, Eric gagged, clamping his nose, witheyes watering, Cher pressed his shoulder gently. He straightened, forcing himself upright, desperate to preserve his bravado.
At Hammil's signal, the main four proceeded into the swamp's depths, Cher, Eric, and Gilbert stayed behind under the camo net, guarding the Humvee. The silence grew heavier, broken only by Eric's stifled snort before a sneeze almost escaped. Gilbert's hand clamped over his mouth just in time, only for warm mucus to seep between his fingers.
Gil froze, veins pulsed in his temple, then smack! He cuffed Eric's head with a muffled growl.
Cher ignored them, inspecting the map Briggs had given her, the inked lines blurred under the lantern light, but her mind kept circling back to the same thought.
"I still can't believe Trance failed a mission," Gilbert muttered, wiping his hand. "Twenty-four successful operations, five of which inside Veyrith's territory… a huge record under his belt."
The radio on the table crackled faintly alerting them, then fell silent again, Cher's hand drifted to her locket. "Father… what would you do in this situation?"
Hammil led the way, boots sinking into the mud with a wet pull each step, the four moved with disciplined precision, their breaths muffled behind clenched jaws.
Jun froze, something hard scraped against his boot, he crouched, pushing aside muck and weeds until his fingers closed around a shard of steel, a dagger, he brushed away more filth and stopped cold.
A pale hand, severed at the elbow.
Jun recoiled, dread rising in his throat, Irvine stepped forward, steady, and knelt, he lifted the limb with grim care, studying the clean tear of flesh, he signed quickly, not beasts… sharp… deliberate.
Hammil's hand went up, ordering them to be at ease, the group halted, tension thick in the humid air. Circe's face paled, "There's something wrong going on here…" she whispered, her voice almost lost to the swamp's heavy chorus of insects.
But Hammil didn't waver, his eyes, sharp with iron resolve, stayed fixed ahead. "We continue," he said, his tone bears no opposition.
Jun exhaled sharply, frustration in the sound, but fell back into line. They pressed forward, their steps ripples through the thick mud.
Above, something, a figure lingered in the tangled branches, its eyes two faint embers in the dark, peering, waiting.
Hammil and his team manage to retrieve one of three capsule still clinging on a corpse, torn in half, it's blood mixing with the mire creating a black substance that is both filled with mystery and violence, Irvine threw a flare in-front revealing more corpses, Hammil identified two of them as part of his brother's squad, he clenched his fist and waved his hand to continue Jun and Irvine looked at each other looking worried.
Eric slouched in his chair, flicking a coin between his fingers and kicking at the ground with restless feet. "Crazy, huh? Twelve years ago, this would've bought you dinner. Now… Just shiny scrap."
Gil's boot snapped against his chair leg, jolting him upright. "Focus on the mission."
"Yeah, yeah…" Eric grumbled, rubbing his side, Cher tried to hide her chuckle, but it slipped out anyway.
Eric puffed his chest, about to retort, when the underbrush stirred. All three stiffened, weapons raised and eyes locked on the movement.
A soft rustle then something leapt from it.
Out bounded a creature no bigger than a loaf of bread, fluffy white fur, long ears, round glossy eyes, and a fuzzy tail twitching like a question mark. It landed squarely in Eric's lap.
The trio exhaled in unison.
"Oh-ho! Look at that, it likes me!" Eric grinned, scratching its fuzzy chin, but the little beast's nose twitched toward his pocket, in a flash, it snatched his coin and darted off into the shadows.
"Hey! That's mine!" Eric lunged, tripping over himself in a frantic chase, the creature zig-zagged effortlessly, vanishing into the gloom with his treasure.
Before he could dash after it, Gil grabbed his collar and yanked him back.
"Back to your post idiot."
Eric sagged to his knees, mournful. "That was my lucky coin…"
Cher's heart tugged, she reached into her pouch and held out a small crystal, its faint light shimmering in the dim, "here, a charm from our last mission, consider it a trade."
Eric blinked, then broke into a wide smile. "Really? Thanks, Cher." He clutched it like it was priceless, the sting of loss already forgotten.
Then the radio buzzed again, it's someone, a person speaking but the voice is muffled, Cher looked ahead and worry etched on her face "What's going on?"
Irvine laid a hand on Hammil's shoulder. "Hey, Hammil, I mean… leader, you holding up?"
Hammil glanced back, eyes like cold steel, and said nothing.
Jun scowled, with growing frustration, "our mission is to find the capsule, and Trance's trail, don't let your emotions drag us under!"
The words barely left his lips before Hammil spun, fist crashing into Jun's face, before hitting the mud hard, clutching his cheek, glaring upward with defiance. Circe hurried to his side, shaking her head.
Before the silence could thicken.
Splash!
Something massive slithered beneath them, rippling the swamp water around their boots. Irvine snapped a flare alight, its harsh glow revealing the monster, a serpentine behemoth, gills flaring like sails as it uncoiled from the mire.
Its tail lashed Whoop! A sonic boom tore the air, slamming Irvine aside.
Hammil opened fire without hesitation, muzzle flashes cutting into the dark, Circe dove for Irvine, dragging him back as Jun hurled explosives, the blasts forcing the serpent to recoil into the depth.
But it was fast, too fast, it vanished under the swamp, leaving only tremors.
Jun hoisted Irvine over his shoulders, gritting his teeth, Hammil pointed toward the broken ruins of a lab platform, they scrambled up, laying Irvine down. Circe tore off his vest, revealing skin already blooming purple from the serpent's strike, she quickly crushed salve into the wound.
Jun, keeping watch, spotted a gleam across a mound of bones and shredded coats. He pushed through the muck, pried it free, another capsule, half-buried but intact.
"Leader." He pressed it into Hammil's hands. "That's the last one. We've got them all. We can go."
Hammil slid it into the vacuum case with trembling hands, for a moment, relief broke through his mask, three capsules secured, but the absence of his brother's trail made the weight in his chest heavier. He flicked two fingers upward and in, the signal to retreat.
Jun and Circe allowed themselves the faintest smiles.
Then the world shattered.
A shadow streaked from the trees aiming at Hammil, Jun pushed him aide just in-time, shink! A blade sank deep into his side.
"Jun!" Hammil barked, but Jun shoved him away, blood spilling as he collapsed, their attacker leapt to the broken pillar above, tongue running across its beaming blade's edge.
Hammil snarled, weapon snapping up.
The serpent's roar cut him off, water exploding as the monster coiled around the ruins, Yufer's silhouette loomed above, and the beast encircled them below.
No exits, death closing in.
Cher then received a go signal from Circe, "We need backup!" The trio springs into action as Eric whistles and swoosh, a giant bird came to his aid, riding at its back, "good girl Betsy," as it let out a sound like an acknowledgement while Eric cheering directly to the battlefield they departed.
Hammil's rifle fires in desperation, but every shot whistled past empty air. Yufer moved with the grace of a predator born for war, towering frame and sharpened reflexes putting Hammil at a crushing disadvantage. Each slash of Yufer's blade tore sparks from broken stone, each dodge mocking Hammil's mortal limits.
Circe expanded her sphere, the translucent shield ballooning around her and the unconscious Irvine. Serpent's blows sent tremors through the barrier, barely holding on.
Jun, pale and struggling from his sustained wound, still lifted his rifle. His rounds ricocheted uselessly with hands trembling, he caught Hammil's eye, and for a moment the battlefield blurred.
Memories struck him two brothers-in-arms standing back-to-back a decades ago, when humanity was still free of Veyrith rule.
Jun smiled faintly. "Heh… we had a good run, didn't we?"
Slowly, he traced the line of his vest zipper, pulling it down to reveal a row of compact bombs strapped tight across his chest, his finger slipped to the trigger.
Hammil's breath caught. "No, Jun, don't! Please!"
Jun ignores his plea and chose to do the best course of action, his eyes stayed locked on Yufer, who sneered at the sight of his prey, playfully leaping from tree-to-tree.
Hammil though in so much pain he couldn't form a word, just in time he runs out of ammunition decided to accept his friend's sacrifice, threw his gun and went and went inside Circe's dome as they braced themselves for the explosion.
Jun smiled one last time and closed his eyes, Yufer's pupils narrowed as he lunged, but it was too late, the switch had already been pressed.
The battlefield erupted, a deafening explosion shook the swamp as flame and shrapnel tore through water, earth, and ruin, "There!" Cher shouted, leading her squad as they rushed toward the explosion.
When the smoke and vapor began to dissipate, the serpent writhed on the cracked, dried swamp bed, its scales charred and trees snapped like twigs. Chunks of ruined concrete and broken pillars lay scattered in the crater's wake.
At its center Jun was gone.
Circe's dome flickered and collapsed, its surface burned and frayed, but it had held, she fell to her knees, panting hard, while Hammil steadied her by the shoulder, his eyes lingered on the empty crater, closing with a sharp breath as grief bit into him.
But the fight is far from over.
A figure emerged from the haze, Yufer, bandages on his chest ripped out, his left arm and half his face oozed dark liquid, flesh hissing, his chest heaved, his fangs dripping as he released a guttural roar.
Then his body melted into the shadows, dozens of needle-sharp spikes erupted from the ground, slicing toward the survivors.
"Not on my watch!"
Gil descended like a meteor, slamming his hand to the ground, a crystalline wall of bluish glass shot upward, catching the storm of shadows with a loud boom.
Mid-air, Cher's eyes glow, she clutched he chest as pink-white light blazed through her, rune pulsing in wild rhythm, shadows unfurled from her arm, twisting into a makeshift lance.
Her attack struck, but as the shadow bent and spiraled, forming a circle, the lance shot through the gap, striking nothing. Eric fell on the ground making a loud thud, "Ow!"
Yufer's laugh echoed from everywhere at once as it retreated back to the shadow and preparing to attack again.
Far off, perched upon a broken ridge, Vell crouched in silence savoring the moment, two other figures joined in, their eyes glowing faintly as they watched the battle unfold below… meanwhile, wood splintered, a massive hand clawed deep, armored in blackened exoskeleton, dug into the trunk of a tree, burning eyes flared briefly under the darkness of the forest, a monster is on the hunt.