Chapter Two β The Armory
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The elevator descended for nearly a full minute before slowing with a hydraulic hiss.
Cold light spilled through the widening doors and revealed a massive underground complex β the Iron Veil Central Armory.
Rows of engineers, analysts, and armored operatives moved beneath suspended holographic displays.
Aiden followed Lieutenant Mira across a catwalk as transparent screens flickered to life around them, showing dissected demon anatomy and weapon schematics.
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π The Demon Genesis
A hologram of a human cell appeared, then twisted β the nucleus pulsing black.
> "Thirty-four years ago," Mira began, "the first mutation occurred in the irradiated zones of the Eurasian Crater."
The projection shifted to footage of burned cities and twisted silhouettes moving through smoke.
> "A spore-like pathogen β we call it Hex-Gene Ξ β rewrote human DNA, producing thermal-resistant, feral organisms we now call demons."
The cause wasn't spiritual; it was chemical collapse.
The pathogen fed on carbon and silicon β the backbone of life and technology alike.
But it had weaknesses.
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π§ͺ Allergies
A diagram flashed:
Pure Iron β causes metallic oxidation shock in demon tissue, disrupting bio-conductivity and cellular repair.
Blue Rose Extract β a synthetic compound derived from genetically altered roses; releases Ferrocene B, a catalyst that enhances iron's toxic effect by 600%.
> "We weaponized both," Mira said. "Iron in bullets and blades. Blue Rose in gas, bombs, even aerosol drones."
Aiden nodded, finally understanding why every soldier carried the faint floral scent that clung to their armor.
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βοΈ Classification Protocol
The next hologram displayed a ranking pyramid.
> Demon Rank System (Threat Index)
E-Class: Feral, unintelligent. Easily neutralized by standard units.
D-Class: Slight mutations; can mimic movement patterns.
C-Class: Organized packs, minor elemental traits.
B-Class: Specialized abilities β heat bursts, shadow fades, toxin clouds.
A-Class: City-level threats, strategic intelligence, regenerating tissue.
S-Class (Calamity): Nation-level threats. Only six recorded in history.
Each rank also carried an Affinity Type:
Elemental β manipulates matter: fire, frost, storm, or acid.
Shadow β light-absorbing forms that disrupt sensors.
Transformation β can alter shape or mimic humans.
Speed β hyper-reflexive muscle fibers, limited armor resistance.
Psychic β rare; emit subsonic pulses that affect neural pathways.
Titanic β massive bodies, high endurance, low speed.
> "Affinity determines engagement gear," Mira explained. "Elementals get plasma nets; Shadows get thermal floods; Titans get orbital lances."
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ποΈ Intelligence Scale
Another chart scrolled by.
Unintelligent: Act on instinct; minimal threat alone.
Semi-Intelligent: Use basic tactics, tool-level reasoning.
Intelligent: Strategic, speech-capable, capable of infiltration.
Adaptive: Learn, evolve, plan β only recorded among A and S-Class.
> "The smarter they get," Mira said quietly, "the more they hate us."
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π± The Legendary and Numbered
Aiden's eyes locked on a list labeled Calamity Class / Numbered Demons.
Six entries glowed in red:
1. No. 01 β Infernal Bishop (π₯ Elemental | Intelligent) β First known demon, burned half of Cairo Sector.
2. No. 02 β Mire Queen (𧬠Transformation | Adaptive) β Can absorb biomass to duplicate herself.
3. No. 03 β Null Seraph (β οΈ Shadow | Adaptive) β Erased entire surveillance grids; no confirmed image.
4. No. 04 β Eon Breaker (β‘ Speed | Semi-Intelligent) β Fought the Iron Veil for eight minutes; twenty-three thousand casualties.
5. No. 05 β Ragnar Vermis (πͺοΈ Titanic | Unintelligent) β A subterranean worm large enough to eat metro lines.
6. No. 06 β Crimson Warden (π§ Psychic | Intelligent) β Currently dormant beneath the Siberian Front.
> "We call them the Calamities," Mira said. "Every numbered demon that survives more than ten years gains a legend. Each time one awakens, the world resets its clock."
Aiden stared at the names, feeling the weight of what humanity was really fighting.
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βοΈ The Iron Veil Initiative
Finally they entered the central lab β a cathedral of metal and light.
Robotic arms assembled rifles, armor plates, and exo-frames suspended in gravity rings.
Dr. Renn Oka, head of Weapons Research, turned from a terminal.
"Ah, the field-promotee," he said with a grin. "You've met our toys?"
He guided Aiden past sealed glass cases:
Icarus Frame Mk IV β jet-assisted exosuit with adaptive recoil dampers.
Pulse Spear System β blue-rose catalytic charge lances.
Neural Sync Interface β allows a soldier to command combat drones via thought impulse.
Iron Veil Satellite Array β tracks demonic thermal signatures worldwide.
> "We've turned chemistry into defense," Renn said. "Every piece of this facility exists because iron and blue rose taught us what demons fear."
Aiden looked around, eyes wide. "And yet we're still losing ground, aren't we?"
Renn's smile faded. "For every demon we kill, two adapt. You engineers are the real soldiers now."
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π©Έ Understanding the Enemy
Later, alone in the observation deck, Aiden watched captured footage: a swarm of D-Class demons tearing through a ruined outpost; an A-Class Elemental detonating like a bomb of living magma.
He whispered, "How do you fight something that learns faster than you build?"
Mira's reflection appeared in the glass beside him. "You don't. You out-engineer it."
Aiden clenched his fist, the faint smell of oil and iron filling the air. The badge on his chest gleamed under the sterile lights.
He was no longer just repairing weapons β he was designing humanity's last line of defense.