9th Stealth Division Camp
In the stillness of the quiet night, three soldiers stood vigilant outside the camp, alert but silent. The stars, dim and clouded, seemed to hide behind a shroud of mystery, casting only a faint glow. The usual cold of the evening was slowly giving way to an unsettling warmth that drifted in like an invisible fog.
"What's going on? Why's it getting warm?" Ramirez whispered, wiping beads of sweat from his brow.
"Quiet!" Reyes hissed sharply. "Something's not right."
Ramirez gave a silent nod, though he couldn't shake the strange feeling that crawled over his skin, like something unseen moving around them. Just then, their watches---standard military timepieces that appeared ordinary but held a unique supernatural detection function---began to emit an unusual signal.
The watches glowed with a faint red pulse, intensifying until they resembled ominous, watchful red eyes strapped to their wrists.
"Guys... the watches are glowing!" Santos whispered, feeling a chill crawl up his spine despite the warmth lingering around them. His voice was tense as he swallowed hard, aware that this wasn't a good sign.
Inside the camp, a soft, ominous red light slowly spread as three Shift-Type Devourers slipped like shadows through the corridors, phasing in and out of sight, blending seamlessly with the walls and darkness.
Captain Kerubin, who had just returned, sensed their presence almost immediately. He gripped his shotgun, an unassuming weapon at first glance, but it was a specially enhanced firearm, capable of taking down even the most formidable supernatural entities.
Without a word, he signaled to his two Shaman Lieutenants, Jinu and Aya, who responded with a firm nod, positioning themselves in front of him. "We are ready, sir," they murmured, a hint of tension underlying their words.
Kerubin felt a surge of resolve ignite within him as he saw his lieutenants' determination. A single gesture was all it took for them to fall into action---Jinu, wielding a Silver Spear that glowed with an intense red light, and Aya, brandishing a Magic Whip that radiated a strange, otherworldly energy. The air grew thick with tension as the faint sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Taking a deep breath, Kerubin's mind raced through possible strategies. "Three Shift Types... they've managed to infiltrate without triggering any of the outer sensors," he murmured, his eyes narrowing as he considered their potential target---the Library, a room housing the division's most vital PDF documents.
"Aya, Jinu," he whispered, "no direct engagement until we've located all of them. They're here either to gather intelligence or to create chaos; we must stay ahead."
Jinu frowned, his concern evident. "Sir, if these creatures are able to mimic us, we might find ourselves fighting... ourselves." His grip on the spear tightened. "At this close range, they could cause confusion in an instant."
Kerubin nodded, considering the weight of Jinu's words. "He's right," he thought. "A direct assault could backfire. We'll rely on strategy." He indicated their glowing watches, which pulsed steadily in the dim light, an unmistakable signal of the supernatural presence nearby. "Aya, you'll act as our scout. Move silently, observe any strange behavior or movement from these entities---report immediately if you spot anything suspicious. Jinu, you're with me. We'll try to drive them into a position where we hold the advantage."
Meanwhile, inside the PDF bar, Captains Lubo, Maharani, and Valdez were engaged in a tense discussion over the looming threat of a Shift Type incursion.
"If the Shift Types manage to breach HQ," Valdez said gravely, taking a slow sip of his beer, "they'll study our routes... and us." There was a noticeable edge of both anger and fear in his voice, emotions he seldom displayed.
"Based on the information shared by Head Captain and Head Shaman, it's likely that these Shift Types can mimic our personnel to a frightening degree. They won't just observe us---they'll learn every tactic we might use against them," Maharani added, taking a drink and nodding thoughtfully.
Captain Lubo, seated with them, nodded in agreement. "Battles with Devourers are never easy. These creatures are skilled at bypassing even our tightest defenses. The real issue is identifying them before they can strike. If they've become even stronger, it's possible they've mastered perfect human imitation---even down to movement, voice, and even subtle details."
An uneasy silence settled over the group as they contemplated this. Each of them sensed the weight of an unseen threat, though none could articulate exactly what it was.
Suddenly, their radios crackled to life, breaking the silence: "Emergency report from Captain Kerubin. Three Shift Types have infiltrated the 9th Stealth Division Camp, likely targeting the Library."
Captain Valdez was on his feet in an instant, his eyes flashing with determination. "It's time to move."
Back at the 9th Stealth Division camp, Captain Kerubin and his lieutenants were now stationed near the Library. Darkness wrapped around them like a thick blanket, broken only by the faint red glow of signal lights in the hallway, casting an eerie, watchful presence over the scene.
Moments later, a figure emerged from the shadows---an exact copy of Lieutenant Jinu.
Kerubin's instincts sharpened instantly. He glanced briefly at the real Jinu standing beside him, who clutched his spear tightly, visibly tense but resolute.
"These creatures are clever, using mimicry to provoke doubt and confusion," Kerubin thought grimly.
The duplicate Jinu smirked, moving forward with a perfect imitation of the real Jinu's stance.
"Sir, it's me," it spoke, the voice uncannily identical to Jinu's.
Aya held her breath, her whip ready, but Kerubin motioned for her to wait. He knew that the real Jinu would provide a subtle signal if he sensed their enemy's true nature. Without hesitating, Jinu glanced at Kerubin, lowering his spear slightly---a signal they'd agreed upon beforehand. However, the duplicate, noticing this, raised its spear instead.
A slight smile played across Kerubin's face. That was all the confirmation he needed.
Without a moment's hesitation, he fired his shotgun. The blast struck the duplicate head-on, flinging it backward. Its form trembled as the illusion dissolved, revealing a mass of dark, shifting shadows beneath the imitation.
Aya moved swiftly, whipping her Magic Whip around the creature before it could attempt an escape. The Shift Type hissed and writhed, trapped by Aya's whip, but its eyes glowed with a malice that spoke of intent beyond mere trickery---it was calculating, patient, perhaps even taunting.