Viridion Island

Planet Meldora

2010 CE

The fog was thicker than anything Lewis Reed had ever seen, a suffocating veil that seemed to cling to the skin like damp, icy fingers. The rumble of the boat's engine was swallowed by the mist, rendering everything eerily silent. Only the dark silhouette of the island loomed ahead, a murky shadow on the edge of the world.

Reed stood at the bow, his strong, rugged face set in a grim expression, his brow furrowed as he squinted into the fog. He was dressed like the rest of his team: thick, reinforced uniform in mottled shades of gray and black, designed to blend into nearly any environment. His gloved hand rested lightly on his weapon, a small sign of his readiness. The only thing that set him apart was the badge pinned on his chest, emblazoned with the symbol of a dagger. The others bore different badges—some with the symbol of infinity, some with an open book. But all wore the same expression of quiet dread.

"Do you think they're sending us to our deaths?" whispered Jacob, a lanky young man with wide eyes and the infinity symbol on his chest. His voice quivered as he addressed another team member, Carla, who bore the book emblem on her badge.

She glanced over, her face impassive but tense. "Captain Reed's been here before. If anyone can guide us through this, it's him," she replied, though her voice lacked conviction.

Jacob swallowed hard, eyes darting to Reed, who stood as still as a statue. "But he was the only one who survived. What if it's just… luck? What if—"

"Prepare to disembark!" Reed's voice cut through the tension, snapping everyone to attention. His words were steady, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of something deeper, something unsettled. The boat lurched as it struck the shore, and Reed's chest tightened as he looked out at the island. It was different this time, unnervingly so. The last time he was here, this shore had been more open, and the trees less gnarled. Now, thick vines clung to twisted trunks, and the air was stale with the scent of decay.

The team stepped onto the soft, mossy ground, their boots sinking slightly as they took in the surroundings. Small creatures scurried in the underbrush—odd, rodent-like animals with translucent skin, darting under leaves. The trees were twisted, their bark covered in a strange, mottled fungus that pulsed faintly, as though alive. Despite the calm, Reed's instincts screamed at him that something was wrong, that they weren't alone. The jungle felt alive, as if it were watching, waiting.

He tried to hide his unease from the others, but his eyes kept darting from tree to tree, assessing every shadow. This wasn't like last time, he thought, clenching his jaw. The island felt… hungrier. He pushed the thought aside, forcing himself to focus.

Suddenly, a flash of movement—a blur of black fur and gleaming claws—erupted from the jungle behind them. Before anyone could react, the creature lashed out, a blur of speed and malice. Its clawed hand tore through Michael, a team member with the infinity badge, who barely had time to scream before his skull shattered under the force. Blood and brain matter spattered the ground as his body crumpled, his empty eyes staring at the forest canopy above. The team froze, horror etched onto their faces as they stared at Michael's mangled form, the back of his head an open wound, brain matter spilling from his shattered skull.

"What the hell was that?" Carla gasped, voice thick with terror.

Reed's instincts kicked in. "Stay sharp! Eyes on the jungle!" he commanded, though his voice was tense. He glanced around, signaling to Ben, the empath, who wore the book symbol. Ben closed his eyes, taking deep, shuddering breaths, trying to center himself as he reached out with his ability to sense emotions. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he forced himself to calm down, tuning into the raw, primal hunger pulsing from a presence up in the trees.

"There!" Ben whispered, eyes snapping open. "Top of that tree. It wants to kill us."

Reed gritted his teeth, drawing his twin daggers from his thighs. They were crafted from a dense alloy, one strong enough to cut through the island's mutated wildlife. His telekinetic power surged through him, and the daggers flew, spinning, toward the top of the tree. He felt them connect, striking something solid, heard a sharp hiss of pain. But before he could react, the creature—a mutated horror, thickly muscled and covered in coarse black fur—launched itself from the tree, its red eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

The beast was a nightmare made flesh, its jaws lined with serrated teeth, each stained with the blood of past victims. One arm hung at an odd angle where Reed's daggers had struck, but its gaze burned with a fierce, unyielding hunger. As it leapt, Sam, a short but agile team member with the dagger badge, slid into action. Using his ability to manipulate friction, he skidded across the ground faster than any human should, and at the last moment, slashed at the beast's ankles. The creature stumbled, crashing to the ground.

The team had a brief moment to study their foe. Its body was a grotesque blend of animalistic features and twisted mutations, its skin covered in pulsing veins and patches of exposed muscle. Its claws, each a foot long, glistened with a viscous yellow fluid that smelled of rot. It writhed, growling low, saliva dripping from its jaws, which were filled with sharp, jagged teeth. Reed felt a small, grim satisfaction as the beast struggled, but his relief was short-lived.

A shriek echoed from the trees. Then another. And another.

The jungle seemed to come alive as more creatures emerged from the shadows, their glowing red eyes fixed on the team. The horde descended upon them with savage intensity. Reed watched in horror as his team was torn apart, one by one. Carla tried to shield herself but was ripped open by a beast's claws, her body falling lifelessly as her intestines spilled to the ground. Ben screamed as jaws clamped down on his shoulder, tearing his arm from its socket before another beast pounced, crushing his skull underfoot.

Reed's mind raced as he watched his team reduced to shreds, blood pooling around him as bits of flesh and bone littered the ground. This isn't how it went before, he thought, the realization dawning with cold dread. Where's the room? Why haven't I been taken?

The beasts grew closer, blood dripping from their mouths as they circled him. He took a step back, his mind flashing to the last time he'd seen his wife and son. A final, futile hope flared within him that he'd somehow escape as he had before. But as one creature lunged forward, jaws open wide, he knew there would be no escape.

With one swift, brutal motion, the beast's jaws closed around his head, tearing it from his body in a spray of blood. As his headless body crumpled to the ground, the monsters feasted, gnashing their teeth, his last thoughts lost to the blood-soaked soil of the island.