The fog had not lifted by dawn. It rolled in waves over the ruined terrain outside the factory's walls, thick enough to swallow the dim perimeter lights and turn them into faint halos in the mist. The gate creaked open slowly, the metal screaming as if it resented the movement. Beyond it, Sector Twelve stretched into darkness—a broken landscape of collapsed buildings, twisted machinery, and earth scarred by corruption.
Reid stepped through the gate with steady breaths, each one tasting of cold iron and decay. His pack was secured tight, rifle strapped across his back, knife at his hip, and every sense sharpened by the tension in his veins. Behind him, soldiers watched silently, their silhouettes faint in the mist. None spoke; the mission's danger was understood without words.
The Bond's voice coiled through his mind like smoke. "Finally, away from their eyes. Out here, there are no rules but ours." Reid ignored it, focusing on the path ahead. The fog seemed to thicken as he walked, swallowing the factory until it was nothing but a memory.
The terrain shifted quickly from gravel to cracked asphalt littered with the skeletons of rusted vehicles. Metal husks leaned against each other, their surfaces pitted and corroded. Black vines crept over the ground, pulsing faintly as if they were alive. Reid moved carefully, Veil Sense tingling at the edge of his awareness. Every shadow looked like it might move.
A distant screech broke the silence, echoing through the fog. He froze, crouching low. The sound faded, leaving only the faint drip of water from a broken pipe nearby. The Bond whispered, its tone almost playful. "You feel it, don't you? Something hunts here. Will you let it strike first?"
Reid continued forward, boots crunching softly. He scanned the ruins, noting a collapsed building that matched part of the drone's last recorded coordinates. The walls were cracked, the roof sagging, and black residue coated the edges of every surface.
System text flickered faintly:
[Objective: Locate the scout drone]
[Warning: Hostile Presence Detected]
He tightened his grip on his knife. The silence was too perfect.
The corrupted came fast—three of them, their bodies twisted mockeries of once-living creatures. Their limbs were too long, their movements jerky yet impossibly quick. Reid dodged as the first lunged, its claws slicing through the air where his chest had been moments before. He rolled, came up on one knee, and slashed its side in a single fluid motion. Black ichor sprayed, sizzling against the cracked ground.
The Bond laughed. "Yes! More! Show them what you are!"
He spun, avoiding the second creature's charge, then drove his blade upward into its exposed chest seam. The third leapt at him from behind, but Veil Step flared, distorting the air as he vanished from its path and reappeared behind it, stabbing deep into its spine. The creature shrieked, then collapsed into a pool of steaming black.
[Essence Absorbed: +2]
[Stamina Reduced – Veil Step Drain Active]
Reid steadied his breathing, wiping the blade against his leg armor. "That all you've got?" he muttered to the mist. The Bond purred. "Not even close."
Hours passed as he pressed deeper into Sector Twelve. The fog never thinned; if anything, it grew heavier, clinging to his skin like a second layer. The ruins became denser, buildings leaning against each other like drunks, their interiors dark and silent. He finally found the drone wedged between two collapsed walls, its frame cracked and sparking faintly.
He crouched, prying the data core from its housing. The Bond stirred again, voice low and urgent. "Something comes. Bigger than before."
Reid's instincts screamed a warning. He shoved the core into his pack and spun, rifle coming to his hands. The ground trembled faintly. From the fog, a massive shape emerged—towering, its body crawling with black vines and glowing cracks. Its eyes burned like coals.
[Threat Detected: Corrupted Alpha – Class Unknown]
[Recommendation: Evade or Terminate]
The Bond roared with delight. "Yes! Let it test you. Let it break you so I can rebuild you!"
Reid exhaled slowly, finger tightening on the trigger. The fight for survival had only just begun.
The Alpha moved slowly at first, each step shaking the fractured ground beneath its feet. Its massive frame was draped in black vines that twitched as if alive, glowing cracks pulsing faintly across its hide. Reid could feel its presence through Veil Sense—it wasn't just large, it was radiating power that made the air heavy.
He took a step back, rifle raised. The Bond's voice rose to a near fever pitch. "It feels you, host. It knows what you are. Show it. Tear it apart!"
The creature let out a guttural roar that shook the ruins, scattering loose debris. Then it charged.
Reid dove to the side, the Alpha smashing through a concrete wall as if it were paper. He rolled, came up on one knee, and fired. The bullets tore into its side, but instead of falling, it only screamed louder, the cracks in its body flaring bright.
He switched to his knife as it lunged again. Veil Step flared, twisting the air around him, and he reappeared at its flank, driving the blade into a glowing seam. The creature shrieked, thrashing violently. Reid was thrown back, crashing against rubble, pain lancing up his ribs.
[Stamina Critical – Veil Step Cooldown Active]
[Bond Influence Rising]
The Bond hissed, almost ecstatic. "Let me take control, and it dies now."
"No," Reid growled, forcing himself to stand. "Not like this."
The Alpha stalked toward him, each step cracking the ground. Reid ducked behind a broken pillar as it slammed into the spot where he'd been standing, shards of stone flying. He fired another burst, aiming for its eyes, forcing it to rear back with a pained bellow.
He sprinted to the side, using the ruins for cover, keeping just out of reach as the creature smashed through everything in its path. The Bond whispered sharply. "You're bleeding out energy. Stop running. Strike!"
Reid gritted his teeth, waiting until the Alpha barreled past him before launching into a full sprint, using Veil Sense to anticipate its next move. He slid under its legs, slashing at the vines holding its torso together. Black ichor sprayed, burning where it touched the ground. The Alpha howled, twisting wildly to crush him.
He barely escaped, heart pounding. His breathing was ragged now, arms trembling from exertion. The Bond surged like a storm. "You can't win like this. Call on me. Just once."
The Alpha lunged again, catching him with a glancing blow that sent him tumbling across the dirt. His vision blurred, the taste of blood sharp in his mouth. The Bond's voice became overwhelming, drowning out thought. "Call me, or die. Choose."
Reid's fingers tightened on the knife. He exhaled shakily. "Fine."
The Bond roared in triumph. Power flooded his veins, burning and freezing all at once. His vision sharpened, every detail of the Alpha's movements slowing to a crawl. He dashed forward, Veil Step erupting violently around him, each movement leaving a distortion in the air. He climbed up the Alpha's back, stabbing again and again into the glowing cracks.
The creature writhed, but he clung on, driving the blade into its neck seam. Black ichor gushed as its roar turned to a dying gurgle. With one final surge, he plunged the knife into its head, twisting hard. The Alpha shuddered, then collapsed with a thunderous crash, the vines curling and burning away.
[Threat Eliminated: Corrupted Alpha]
[Essence Absorbed: +5]
[Bond Surge Active – Control Degrading]
The Bond's laughter echoed like thunder. "Glorious! More! Give me more!"
Reid fell to his knees, gasping. He forced the power back, clawing his way to control. Slowly, the burning receded, leaving only exhaustion.
The ruins were silent again, save for his labored breathing. The Alpha's corpse steamed, glowing cracks fading into darkness. Reid wiped his blade clean, chest heaving.
System text flickered faintly:
[Objective: Retrieve Drone Core – Completed]
[Secondary Quest: Survive Extraction]
The Bond's voice softened, almost pleased. "You see? Together, we cannot be stopped."
Reid staggered to his feet, pack heavier with the recovered core. "This isn't your victory," he muttered.
"We'll see." The Bond's chuckle faded to a purr.
With one last look at the smoldering Alpha, he turned toward the mist, knowing the hardest part—getting back alive—was still ahead.
The ruins were eerily quiet after the Alpha's death, as if the entire sector had paused to watch what would happen next. The fog swirled thickly around the steaming carcass, carrying the metallic stench of corrupted blood. Reid stood still, regaining his breath, senses straining for any movement. His ribs ached from the earlier blow, and every muscle screamed in protest, but stopping here was not an option.
He pulled the drone core from his pack to inspect it. The casing was cracked, sparking faintly, but the data light still pulsed dimly. Relief washed over him briefly—until the Bond's voice cut through.
"You think it's over? This place is never empty. They are coming."
Reid swore under his breath and began moving, weaving through the collapsed streets. Every step was cautious. His Veil Sense prickled like static; something was following. He glanced back—nothing visible, yet he knew better than to believe he was alone.
The first creature emerged from the fog with a guttural hiss, low to the ground and moving on four twisted limbs. Then another appeared to the left, and another to the right. Smaller than the Alpha, but faster, their glowing eyes burned with feral hunger.
Reid ducked behind a crumbling wall as they closed in, his rifle coming up. The first rushed him, claws scraping sparks from stone. He fired in controlled bursts, the rounds shredding through its chest. It shrieked, collapsing, black ichor pooling beneath it.
Two more charged. He rolled aside, dodging claws by inches. One swiped across his arm, tearing armor and drawing blood. Pain flared hot, and the Bond hissed with dark pleasure. "Let me loose, and I'll end this in moments."
"Not yet," Reid growled, stabbing the second through the throat as he spun away from the third. He kicked its legs out, plunging his knife deep before twisting free. Their bodies twitched and stilled, the fog swallowing them again.
[Threats Neutralized: 3]
[Stamina Levels Falling – Recovery Needed]
He kept moving, weaving between ruined structures, every corner a potential ambush. Shapes flickered in the mist—more creatures keeping their distance. They didn't attack, but they followed, glowing eyes blinking in and out. It felt like running a gauntlet where each step might trigger death.
The Bond whispered, almost amused. "They watch because they fear. They fear because they sense me in you."
Reid ignored it, focusing on the faint light of the factory perimeter in the far distance. The walk stretched into hours, each step a battle against exhaustion. Blood dripped from his arm, staining the dirt. His legs burned, but he kept going.
Finally, the shapes in the fog stopped following. He crossed into the outer sector, where the mist thinned just enough for the factory to come into view. The gates loomed ahead, figures moving along the walls.
As he approached, the guards tensed, weapons raised until they recognized him. Holt's voice crackled over the comms. "Gate open! Move!" The metal doors screeched as they parted, and Reid stumbled through, the tension finally breaking as the heavy gates slammed shut behind him.
Mara was there, eyes wide as she rushed forward. "You're alive." Her voice cracked slightly, but she caught herself quickly. "You're bleeding—sit down."
Lira appeared seconds later, smirking despite the concern in her eyes. "Well, look at you. Battered, bleeding, but still breathing. I'd say you pass—for now." She crouched beside him, scanning his wounds with a portable medkit. "Hold still, hero."
Selene stepped out from the shadows, her expression unreadable. "You retrieved the data?"
Reid handed her the core with a bloodied hand. "Intact."
Selene took it, studying him. "You survived. Impressive. But survival isn't enough. Next time, we'll see how far you can really go." She turned sharply and left, her soldiers trailing behind.
[Quest Complete: Solo Recon]
[Reward: Increased Trust (Minimal)]
[Hidden Effect: Bond Influence Grows]
The Bond purred. "They see your strength now. But they'll never understand what you carry."
Reid leaned back against the cold wall, letting the medkit's sting bite into his wounds. The factory lights glowed overhead, but the darkness of Sector Twelve clung to him like a shadow.
The factory's infirmary smelled faintly of antiseptic and metal. Reid sat on the edge of a cot while a medic wrapped the torn armor plate around his arm. His ribs throbbed under the bandages, but he stayed silent, watching the white lights flicker above.
Mara stood nearby, arms crossed but her expression betraying relief. "You're lucky you made it back in one piece," she said. "Sector Twelve doesn't let people walk out often."
Reid smirked faintly. "Guess I'm not most people."
Lira leaned against the doorway, tablet in hand. "You really like scaring people, don't you? First the council, now the rest of us." She tapped the screen, pulling up his vitals. "Not bad for someone who almost bled out."
Mara shot her a glare. "Not the time, Lira."
"Oh, relax." Lira's smirk softened slightly. "I'm just saying he did well. Better than most." She winked at Reid before slipping away down the hall.
The Bond whispered, low and taunting. "Two women fight for scraps of your attention while they have no idea what truly hunts inside you. Delicious."
Not long after, Holt entered, her expression grim. "Selene wants you in the command room. Now."
Reid rose slowly, wincing as he adjusted his gear. Mara reached out as if to stop him but hesitated. "Be careful what you say in there."
The walk to the command room felt longer than the mission itself. Selene stood by a projection table when he entered, the drone core already connected, streams of data flashing across the screen. She didn't look up at first, only spoke as she studied the feed. "You survived. Retrieved the data. Even killed an Alpha."
Finally, she turned to face him, eyes sharp. "You're full of surprises, Veylan. I don't like surprises. But…" She stepped closer, her voice dropping. "You're useful. For now."
Reid held her gaze. "Glad I could meet expectations."
She smiled thinly. "Don't get comfortable. You've bought time, nothing more. The council still watches you, waiting for the day you slip."
[Quest Completed: Solo Recon – Trust Level Slightly Improved]
[New Quest Unlocked: Gain Allies Within the Council]
Selene's voice sharpened. "Rest while you can. The next task will test you harder than this one ever could."
The corridors were quiet when Reid returned. Mara was waiting outside, her relief obvious. "So?" she asked.
"They'll let me breathe a little longer," he said, a trace of humor in his tone.
She exhaled, shoulders easing. "Good." She hesitated, then added softly, "Don't keep doing this alone."
The Bond chuckled. "She wants to save you. She doesn't understand—no one saves you from me."
Reid pushed open the barracks door, fatigue settling over him like a heavy cloak. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new dangers, but for now, he allowed himself the smallest victory—he had survived.