The room was completely white, overwhelmingly bright, and contained nothing but a simple table, a medical cot, and an IV stand hooked up to Walter's right arm.
"Stevens, what are you going to tell the boss when he gets back? He's going to find out the kid is dead and that you messed up with the bullet you shot him with," Walter whispered from his seat, watching his partner, who looked completely lost in thought.
"I'll prepare for the punishment and take full responsibility."
"We'll take the responsibility together."
Stevens' expression softened, his anxiety visibly easing. "Axcel reporting in."
"Stevens and Walter here, sir."
"Today was a wild day, full of surprises. I want you two ready in ten minutes. It's time to head back to base."
"Yes, sir!"
…..
The facility was sterile, stark white, and brightly lit like a hospital wing. Inside, a massive computer monitor tracked the exact real-time locations of agents, monitoring their vital signs and combat statuses.
A woman with brown hair and sharp black glasses was currently screaming at the top of her lungs from her chair.
"WHY AREN'T YOU ANSWERING, AXCEL?!"
No response.
"Simple. Because I jammed your communications with him… Evergreen." "Liris! I already told you, Axcel is under my direct command! Why are you interfering?!" Evergreen roared, glaring up at Liris with an arrogant expression.
"Yes, he is your agent, and he follows your orders. However, we found evidence incriminating you in the mass murder of agents under your command."
Liris snapped open a slim briefcase packed with files detailing the agents who had served under Evergreen.
File One.
Agent Number One: Lucas. Age: 25.
Country of Origin: England. Brain Capacity Percentage: 50% Control Element: Fire.
Current Status: Deceased.
File Two.
Agent Number One: Janeskha. Age: 24.
Country of Origin: Russia.
Brain Capacity Percentage: 50% Control Element: Water.
Current Status: Missing.
File Three.
Agent Number One: Nathael.
Age: 23.
Country of Origin: Sweden. Brain Capacity Percentage: 60%
Control Element: Water and Earth. Current Status: Suicide.
"And the most intriguing part about these three subjects—including Axcel—is that they all ruthlessly slaughtered a hybrid."
"Do you actually have proof that I had anything to do with that?" Evergreen asked, a smug, proud smile spreading across her face.
"Shut your mouth, Evergreen. I'm not finished yet," Liris snapped, her face flushed with rage. She pulled even more files from the briefcase while Evergreen remained entirely unfazed.
File One.
Slaughtered Hybrid: Sam.
Age: 16.
Country: USA.
Brain Capacity Percentage: 40%
Type: Augmenter.
Cocytus Host: High Rank.
Control Element: Fire and Electricity.
Current Status: Murdered.
Executioner: Axcel.
File Two.
Slaughtered Hybrid: Sara.
Age: 14.
Country: Brazil.
Brain Capacity Percentage: 40%
Type: Augmenter.
Cocytus Host: High Rank.
Control Element: Water. Current
Status: Murdered.
Executioner: Lucas.
File Three.
Slaughtered Hybrid: Sonia.
Age: 20.
Country: Italy.
Brain Capacity Percentage: 40%
Type: Booster.
Cocytus Host: High Rank.
Control Element: Water, Air, and Earth.
Current Status: Murdered.
Executioner: Nathael.
"STOP IT already!" Evergreen yelled, her face twisted in fury as she glared at Liris. "Don't you dare try to pin the deaths of those kids on me, Liris! You still don't have a shred of proof that I was involved!" She kept her eyes locked onto her.
Wow, this woman is completely delusional.
"Leonardo, play the video, please," Liris commanded loudly inside Evergreen's office. "Right away, Liris. Playing video…"
"The moment I get inside, I'll confront Evergreen, Commander. She'll drop her guard instantly, and I'll record everything without her noticing," Alisha's voice rang out on the recording.
The video showed them inside Liris's office, casually eating chocolate cookies together.
"She even recorded our snack time. This girl never ceases to amaze me."
…
That clever little brat. I should have gotten rid of her sooner.
…
"Alright, I trust you to get everything out of her."
"I'll try… but that woman terrifies me, Commander," Alisha murmured, her face full of dread on screen.
"I know, but we need hard proof to clear Axcel."
"Alright, I'll give it my all to save him!" she smiled.
….
"Alright, here goes nothing."
Knock – Knock – Knock
"Who on earth is it at this hour?... I'm opening it."
"Ah… it's you, Axcel's little shadow," Evergreen muttered, staring at her with a cold expression.
You old witch, I'm not his shadow. Alisha glared back, her eyes burning with irritation.
"Can I come in? I need to discuss tomorrow's mission." "Fine, come in and tell me what you're throwing a fit about."
Both stepped inside, locking the door behind them before sitting across from each other at a table.
"Wolf Fang: Absolute Vacuum," Evergreen whispered, pressing her right index finger near her lips.
They say this technique ensures that not a single sound within its radius can be detected. This mysterious woman could murder you, and no one would ever know.
"There. Now you can talk all you want," Evergreen said, her face completely expressionless as she looked at Alisha.
Ding! Ding! "It turns out—"
"Oh, the tea is ready," Evergreen interrupted, her voice shifting to a pleasant tone as a smile broke out. She stood up and headed to the kitchen.
"My apologies for cutting you off, Alisha. Give me just a moment, please."
Ugh, what a pain. Now I have to accept a drink from her, or I'll never get her to spill anything.
….
"Here you go, Alisha. Tea time," Evergreen announced, sliding a full cup over to her.
"Go on, drink up before it gets cold," she smiled warmly.
Alisha picked up the cup with her left hand and took a sip. Almost instantly, her vision blurred and her head began to spin.
What's happening?... I can't steady myself. What did she put in it this time? Evergreen sat back down, staring intensely into her eyes.
"So, what were you saying… Alisha?" she asked softly, gently stirring her tea.
"It turns out… I don't…" Alisha stammered, sweating profusely as she tried to wipe her brow with her left hand, her consciousness rapidly slipping away.
"What's wrong? Why don't you finish your sentence?"
"It turns out I don't agree with tomorrow's mission. Axcel is completely broken right now; he needs to rest!" Alisha breathed heavily, forcing the words out with the last of her energy as she locked eyes with Evergreen.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Evergreen's vibration began to rattle the entire room, her face twisting into absolute rage. She violently threw herself out of her chair,
sending the table crashing hard against the ceiling. Striding forward two paces, she seized Alisha by the throat with her right hand and slammed her brutally against the wall behind her.
Crack… Crack.
Alisha coughed up blood, her trachea fracturing slightly under the grip.
"Listen to me, you little brat. You don't give the orders around here, do you
understand?!" Evergreen roared, holding Alisha suspended in midair. Tears began to stream down Alisha's face.
…
Damn you, you little insect.
…
Evergreen is finished…
She slowly lowered Alisha until her feet touched the ground, leaning in to whisper viciously in her ear.
"You know I could easily force you to surrender your first time, right?"
"No… please. Don't do that," Alisha whimpered, her voice broken.
"Just remember that I'm the one who decides who lives and dies around here. That kid Axcel slaughtered was a threat to Helix, and he needed to be neutralized. So
tomorrow, you will go on that mission with Axcel and keep your mouth shut, or I will reassign you to a meat-grinder squad. Do we have an understanding?" she smiled sharply, letting go of Alisha as she slowly deactivated her ability. The fractured wall behind her began to slowly piece itself back together.
"Understood, Commander," Alisha rasped, slumped on the floor with her legs splayed out, her entire body trembling violently, her gaze hollow.
"Get out of my sight. I want to rest."
Alisha dragged herself up, staggering toward the door as it slid open to let her out.
The moment she cleared Evergreen's room, Alisha collapsed to the floor, spit up blood twice, and lost consciousness.
"That's all, Liris."
"Understood, Leonardo."
"Did you know that after that incident, Alisha was unconscious for three whole days?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. It's not my fault the girl was so weak."
You absolute piece of human garbage, Evergreen.
"I've heard enough, Evergreen. Under suspicion of murder, forced disappearance, and the physical and psychological abuse of a high-ranking Helix agent… you are under arrest. You no longer belong to Helix. Honestly, you're nothing but a damn Helium."
Several agents stormed into the office to apprehend Evergreen. In a flash of panic, she surged her vibration and unleashed a lethal strike aimed directly at Liris.
"Wolf Fang: Shred!" she shrieked, extending two fingers of her right hand toward everyone in the room.
However, Liris blocked the attack with her bare right hand, effortlessly deflecting it straight into the ceiling within a fraction of a second, her eyes locked onto Evergreen the entire time.
What kind of foolishness is she trying to pull?
The severed heads and limbs of the arresting agents thudded against the floor, painting the room crimson. Evergreen instantly unleashed a second strike.
"Wolf Fang: Double Shred!" she screamed, flashing both hands like claws toward Liris.
Here we go again.
"Dragon Fang: Rising Pyramid," a voice whispered from outside the room. A
shimmering barrier materialized around Liris, completely neutralizing both attacks simultaneously.
"You didn't need to step in, Elizabeth. I had everything under control."
"Doesn't matter, Boss. Trash like this doesn't deserve a single shred of your effort," Elizabeth shouted, stepping into the room.
Before her foot even hit the floor, a bead of sweat rolled down Evergreen's face, slipping into her left eye and forcing her to blink.
But before she could even snap her eyes back open, she was already slammed face-first into the floor. Her glasses were shattered, several teeth were knocked clean out of her mouth, and she was completely incapacitated. Elizabeth was casually sitting on her back, tearing open a pack of cookies.
"I'm home, Boss," Elizabeth chirped with a bright smile, taking a big bite out of a cookie.
"Welcome back, Elizabeth."
…..
"Valentine. Jack is going to die if you don't do something."
"What do you want me to do?! I'm too weak!" she wailed, sobbing hysterically.
"You're right, you are a pathetic, weak crybaby," Cocytus stated, his face dead serious. "But that weakness is exactly what keeps you human… and that's something we will never possess," he whispered, extending his right hand.
Valentine began to slowly slip into unconsciousness.
"Don't worry. I'll save Jack… and then, I think I'll taste a little bit of his flesh," Cocytus chuckled with a massive, terrifying grin.
"Hey… please… don't hurt him…" she murmured as she went limp in Cocytus's arms.
…
*I have no intention of killing him, but who knows what the Cocytus inside his own
body is thinking. Jack won't die, because I want to know what it means to love and be loved. Will you teach me… Valentine?*
…
…
Damn it, he's going to kill him, and I still haven't found a distraction. I just need him to look away for one single second.
…
Axcel's fist was closing in on Jack's face, but it ground to a halt. A crushing pressure of vibration emanating from his left completely stopped him in his tracks.
Valentine was slowly rising from the ground, balancing precariously on her single good leg. Her eyes were completely white, and her right leg began to visibly regenerate at a rapid pace.
Axcel canceled his attack, lowered his hand, and turned his gaze toward her while still holding Jack suspended in the air. Jack also forced himself to look over at Valentine.
"Hello, Jack. It's been quite a long time since we've had the pleasure," she spoke aloud, staring at him with a bloodcurdling, monstrous grin.
Panic seized Jack. His entire body began to shake violently, his eyes filling with pure terror.
No way… that thing again? This time, it's really going to eat me.
…
Wow, fascinating. The girl possesses a highly powerful Cocytus. Axcel noted.
…
"Alright, it's time for you to drop my prey."
The ground beneath them began to shatter into dust, and the sky turned completely pitch-black. Cocytus took two steps forward, and a torrential downpour erupted alongside deafening cracks of thunder.
…
*He actually altered the weather and camouflages himself in the darkness with every step. An absolute monster. I need to eliminate him right now. No, I need to save her
right now.*
…
…
This is my chance! Alisha thought.
…
Cocytus lunged at Axcel to rip Jack from his grasp, but before he could close the distance, Alisha was already airborne, dropping right on top of Axcel.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, ALISHA?!" he roared.
But it was too late. Alisha had already driven a syringe into his neck, plunging a lab sample deep into his veins, while Cocytus successfully snatched Jack into his arms.
"Saving your life," she whispered as Axcel dropped heavily to his knees. "Thank you… Alisha," he muttered, crashing unconscious onto the wet dirt.
Cocytus stood watching them intently as Jack tried to weakly crawl away.
…
Is it possible… that that is what love is?
…
Cocytus immediately snapped his gaze back down to Jack, grabbing him by the feet and dragging him back to his side.
"Hey. Don't be so rude to me," he spoke loudly, bringing his monstrous face right up to Jack's.
Jack was completely defenseless, battered, his throat crushed, unable to speak from pure terror. He began to black out.
"Ah-ah… I won't let you do that," Cocytus whispered, driving a finger deep near Jack's lungs. The shock snapped Jack violently back to consciousness.
Damn it, he won't even let me pass out, and I can't do anything! I don't want to die here!
"It's time to claim your life, boy," Cocytus hissed, sinking his teeth into Jack's neck and tearing away a chunk of flesh.
Simultaneously, Jack's body began to rapidly regenerate, restoring his voice.
"There. Now you're dead," Cocytus mocked, laughing in his face. Jack still couldn't find the words to speak.
Cocytus swallowed the flesh and leaned into his ear.
"I'm not going to kill you. Because if you were to die… I would cease to exist!"
"Hey… explain that to me! I don't understand what's happening!" Jack managed to yell, utterly bewildered and terrified.
"Shhhhh… keep quiet for now. You'll find out when the time is right," Cocytus whispered.
With that, she collapsed unconscious right onto Jack's chest. Her leg reverted to its injured state, the torrential rain abruptly stopped, and the storm clouds began to scatter, allowing the bright sun to reclaim the sky.
Seconds later, Jack slipped back into unconsciousness.