It was a Saturday morning, and the museum was teeming with visitors. Families wandered through the exhibits, children's voices echoing off the high ceilings, and the steady hum of conversations filled the air. Sato Gavin, dressed in his standard security uniform, stood near the entrance of the ancient artifacts wing, his eyes scanning the crowd. He'd done this a thousand times before, but today, something felt different—an unease he couldn't quite place.
The museum was hosting a special exhibition on ancient relics from various civilizations, drawing a larger crowd than usual. People were packed in tight, moving from one display case to another, their faces lit with curiosity and wonder. Sato observed them with a practiced eye, looking for anything out of the ordinary. His training and recent experiences in the alternate world had sharpened his instincts, making him more alert to subtle details that might go unnoticed by others.
As he continued his patrol, Sato's gaze lingered on a group of tourists gathered around a glass case displaying a set of intricately carved amulets. Among them was a man who seemed out of place—his clothes were too shabby, his skin pale and sallow, with a gauntness that made Sato's stomach churn. The man's eyes were sunken, and his movements were jerky, almost unnatural.
Sato's hand instinctively moved toward the Karibama, hidden in his pocket, as he kept a closer watch on the man. Something about him wasn't right. The unease that had been simmering in the back of Sato's mind now came to the forefront, making his pulse quicken.
Suddenly, without warning, the man let out a low, guttural growl that cut through the noise of the crowd. His body convulsed, and before anyone could react, his skin began to tear and blister. The people around him screamed and backed away as the man's transformation accelerated. His clothes shredded as his flesh sloughed off, revealing a grotesque, decaying form beneath—a creature of rot and ruin.
The man was no longer human. He had become one of the Corrupted, a monstrous entity with peeling skin, exposed muscle, and a stench of decay so foul that it made Sato gag. The Corrupted's eyes, now glowing with a sickly yellow light, locked onto the nearest group of tourists, and it lunged at them with a snarl.
Sato's training kicked in. He pushed through the panicking crowd, drawing his baton and shouting for people to move back. The Corrupted moved with unnatural speed, its rotting hands reaching for a terrified woman who had tripped and fallen in the chaos.
Without thinking, Sato leaped forward, striking the creature across the face with his baton. The impact made a wet, sickening sound as the creature's head snapped to the side, but it didn't stop. The Corrupted turned its gaze to Sato, hissing in fury, and lashed out with a clawed hand.
Sato barely dodged the swipe, feeling the rush of air as the claws sliced through the space where his head had been. He could see the creature's decaying muscle tissue, its bones partially exposed through the torn flesh. The smell of rot was overpowering, but Sato forced himself to focus.
The museum's security protocols were clear: protect the visitors at all costs. But this was no ordinary threat. The Corrupted wasn't something Sato had ever trained for, but he knew he had to stop it before it could hurt anyone else.
The creature lunged at Sato again, but this time, he was ready. He sidestepped the attack and brought his baton down hard on the creature's back, aiming for the spine. The Corrupted staggered, its movements slowing as Sato struck it repeatedly, each blow driving it back.
But the creature wasn't alone.
Sato's attention was drawn to another part of the museum where more screams erupted. Two more people had transformed into Corrupted, their bodies twisted and decayed as they tore through the crowd, attacking anyone in their path. The situation was spiraling out of control.
Thinking quickly, Sato reached for the Karibama, feeling its familiar weight in his hand. He concentrated, trying to use its power to freeze the nearest Corrupted in place, even if just for a moment. The creature's body seized up, giving Sato the opportunity to strike with all his strength. His baton connected with the Corrupted's head, and with a sickening crunch, the creature staggered back, dazed.
But it wasn't enough. The Corrupted were relentless, driven by some insidious force that Sato didn't fully understand. He could feel the fear in the air, the panic of the visitors as they tried to flee from the monsters that had appeared in their midst.
Sato knew he couldn't fight them all alone. He needed help.
As if in answer to his unspoken plea, a group of people in dark tactical gear burst through the museum's entrance, moving with military precision. They were armed with strange weapons—rifles that crackled with energy and devices that hummed with an otherworldly power. They moved quickly, efficiently, corralling the fleeing visitors while focusing their attention on the Corrupted.
The leader of the group, a tall man with a steely gaze, barked orders to his team. "Contain the Corrupted! Do not let them escape!"
Sato watched as the newcomers engaged the creatures with a combination of advanced technology and sheer force. The weapons they wielded weren't ordinary—bolts of energy shot from the rifles, striking the Corrupted and causing them to convulse, their decayed flesh smoking from the impact. The creatures howled in pain, but the weapons were clearly effective. One by one, the Corrupted began to falter, their movements becoming sluggish as they were overwhelmed by the mysterious group.
The leader of the group noticed Sato in the midst of the chaos, holding his ground against one of the Corrupted. With a quick gesture, he motioned for his team to cover Sato as they closed in on the creature.
Sato didn't hesitate. He delivered a final blow to the Corrupted he had been fighting, knocking it to the ground. The mysterious team moved in swiftly, subduing the creature with their weapons and restraining it with high-tech shackles that pulsed with a dull blue light.
Once the last of the Corrupted had been contained, the leader approached Sato, his expression unreadable. "You handled yourself well," he said, his voice calm despite the chaos that had just unfolded.
Sato, still catching his breath, glanced around at the now-secure museum. The visitors were being escorted out, their faces pale with shock, while the Corrupted were being loaded into reinforced containment units.
"Who are you?" Sato asked, his voice steady but filled with curiosity.
The leader removed his helmet, revealing a stern face marked by years of experience. "We're with the Interdimensional Response Unit—IRU. We're tasked with dealing with threats that come from beyond our world, like those creatures."
Sato's eyes widened. "Interdimensional? You mean… those things aren't from here?"
The man nodded. "Correct. They're called the Corrupted—humans who have been transformed by exposure to dark energies from another dimension. They're just one of the many threats we face. And judging by the way you handled yourself back there, you're not exactly new to dealing with the unusual."
Sato hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I've… encountered things like this before. But not here, not in our world."
The IRU leader studied Sato for a moment before speaking again. "Our world has been compromised. These creatures are just the beginning. We've been tracking the spread of interdimensional rifts for some time now, and it's getting worse. We could use someone like you on our team."
Sato felt a surge of adrenaline at the offer. The battle had confirmed what Alaric had warned him about—his world was under threat, and it was only a matter of time before the situation escalated. But the weight of the decision hung heavy on him. Joining the IRU meant fully embracing this new reality, with all the dangers and responsibilities that came with it. It wasn't something he could take lightly.
Sato hesitated, his mind racing. "I… I appreciate the offer," he began, choosing his words carefully. "But this is all happening so fast. I need some time to think about it, to process everything that's happened."
The leader nodded, his expression understanding but firm. "I get it. What you've just experienced is a lot to take in. But time isn't exactly on our side. The situation is deteriorating, and we need people who can handle the kinds of threats we're dealing with. That said, we won't force you into anything. Take the time you need, but don't wait too long."
Sato looked around at the now-secure museum. The visitors were being escorted out, their faces pale with shock, while the Corrupted were being loaded into reinforced containment units. The reality of the situation was undeniable—his world was changing, and these threats were becoming more frequent. But joining the IRU would mean stepping away from the life he knew, from the small semblance of normalcy he still had.
"I need to figure out where I stand in all of this," Sato admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "There's a lot I don't understand yet, about the Karibama, about what's happening to our world. I'm not sure if I'm ready to take that next step."
The leader removed his helmet, revealing a stern face marked by years of experience. "I respect that. But know this, Sato—whether you join us or not, these threats won't wait. The Corrupted, the interdimensional rifts, they're only going to get worse. You have abilities that could make a difference. When you're ready, you know where to find us."
He handed Sato a small, metallic card with a symbol engraved on it—an emblem that Sato didn't recognize but felt was significant. "This will get you in touch with us when you're ready. Until then, be careful. The fact that you've already encountered these things means you're on their radar. They'll come for you again, whether you're with us or not."
Sato took the card, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on him even more. "Thank you," he said, slipping the card into his pocket. "I'll think about it. I just need some time."
The leader nodded again, a hint of urgency in his eyes. "We'll be waiting. But remember, time is of the essence."
With that, the IRU team finished securing the Corrupted, their work swift and efficient. The leader gave Sato a final nod before turning to join his team as they prepared to leave. The museum, now eerily quiet after the chaos, seemed like a different place entirely.
As the IRU team exited the museum, Sato stood in the now-empty hall, the echoes of the recent battle still reverberating in his mind. He looked around, trying to grasp the enormity of what had just happened. The world he knew was slipping away, and a new, more dangerous reality was taking its place.
Sato's thoughts were a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He had the power to make a difference, to fight back against the encroaching darkness, but he also felt the weight of what that decision would mean for him—for his life, his relationships, and his future.
Alaric's words echoed in his mind. "Practice using your abilities. Become familiar with them. Strengthen your connection to the Karibama and the Orb." Sato knew that no matter what decision he made, he couldn't ignore the powers he had been given or the threats that were emerging.