The sound of roaring engines broke through the eerie quiet, announcing the arrival of the S.P.D.F. Several armored SUVs rolled up, their sleek black designs bearing the organization's emblem on the front and "Black Squad" labeled boldly across the back. Behind them, patrol vehicles formed a perimeter around the decrepit apartment building, their flashing lights cutting through the heavy mist that clung to the area.
Two helicopters hovered overhead, their searchlights bathing the decaying structure in stark, unflinching brightness. The patrol officers stepped out of their vehicles, weapons drawn, and positioned themselves strategically, their movements precise and methodical. Standing behind them, two onmyoji, spiritual practitioners, raised their hands in unison. Ancient tomes, carved into stone, materialized above them, glowing with a faint, ethereal light. A shimmering barrier expanded outward, encasing the building to ensure no sinister influence could escape.
From the SUVs emerged the Black Squad, the elite operatives of the S.P.D.F., clad in black armor that seemed to absorb the light around them. Each was heavily armed, carrying high-frequency knives, advanced rifles, pistols, grenades, and specialized gear. These were the organization's best, trained to deal with the most dangerous anomalies, and their swift arrival signaled the gravity of the situation.
Among them was Fenra, changed and fully adorned in the Black Squad's gear, her expression sharp and composed as she strode forward. Standing at a slight distance was Cora, who had opted to remain in a support role. She appeared apprehensive, clutching her communicator tightly.
"You sure about this, Fenra?" Cora called out, her voice laced with concern. "This isn't your average clean-up job."
Fenra glanced back, giving her a small, confident smile. "I'm sure. You just stay here and relay everything back to HQ. I've got this."
The squad formed a line in front of her as she addressed them. Her voice was firm, commanding respect as it carried over the low hum of the choppers. "Listen up! This mission is no walk in the park. We're dealing with Shadow-Dwellers, parasitic entities that drain life essence and erode sanity. We don't know the exact method of their possession, but trust me, you don't want to find out. Keep your eyes and ears sharp. Sweep every corner of that building, and don't leave anything unchecked."
The operatives nodded, their faces grim but determined. Fenra's gaze swept over them, noting the presence of two onmyoji among the six-man squad. "Good. You two," she said, pointing to the spiritual practitioners, "are critical to this mission. Purification is our best option. If execution isn't possible, capture the target until further notice. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," the team responded in unison, their voices resonating with resolve.
Fenra adjusted her rifle, the weight of leadership settling comfortably on her shoulders. She caught Cora's worried gaze and offered a reassuring nod. "We'll be fine, Cora. Keep the comms open."
"Just… be careful, Fenra," Cora urged softly.
Fenra gave her a small smile before turning back to her team. "Let's move."
The squad marched forward, their boots crunching against the moss-covered ground. They came to a halt in front of the apartment building's rusted doors, the air around them thick with tension. Fenra raised her fist, signaling for a defensive position. The onmyoji moved to the front, their hands glowing faintly as they placed protective charms on each member of the team. A faint warmth spread through Fenra's chest as the charm settled over her, a comforting shield against the oppressive energy emanating from the structure.
With a nod from Fenra, one of the operatives placed a small breaching charge on the door. The explosion was sharp but contained, sending the door crashing inward. The team swept in, rifles raised, their movements smooth and synchronized. The first floor was empty, the furniture inside rotted and overturned, the walls stained with mold and grime. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint creak of the building settling.
"Clear," one of the operatives whispered, his voice barely audible through the comms.
But then, they heard it, a deep, guttural groan that seemed to reverberate through the very air. It wasn't a natural sound. It carried a weight, an ominous pressure that settled heavily on their shoulders. The lights from their helmets flickered for a moment, and the air grew colder.
"Did anyone else hear that?" one of the operatives murmured, gripping his rifle tighter.
Fenra raised her hand, signaling them to hold position. "Stay calm. Eyes open. Whatever it is, it could be close."
The groan came again, louder this time, accompanied by a faint shuffling sound that seemed to echo from the floors above. The Moaning Eye, which had hovered at Fenra's side, pulsed with an agitated green light, its glow intensifying as if reacting to the building's dark energy.
One of the onmyoji stepped forward, his tome glowing brightly. "This place is steeped in malevolence," he said, his voice low and steady. "The Shadow-Dweller is here, without a doubt. Its influence is growing stronger."
Fenra tightened her grip on her rifle, her expression unwavering. "Then let's not waste any time. Spread out, stay in pairs, and keep the comms active. We're not leaving until we've dealt with this thing."
The squad nodded, their resolve firm despite the oppressive atmosphere. As they began their ascent into the building, the groaning grew louder, and the air itself seemed to tremble. The hunt had begun.
---
The Black Squad moved methodically through the dim, musty corridors of the apartment building, clearing every opening, every shadowed corner, and every blind spot with practiced precision. Their boots echoed faintly against the wooden floors as they ascended, passing floor after floor in tense silence. Every room they left behind was reported back to Cora.
"First floor clear," Fenra murmured into her comms.
"Second floor clear," she added moments later, her tone steady, keeping Cora updated at every step.
When they reached the third floor, the air seemed heavier, tinged with an almost imperceptible wrongness. The team fanned out, weapons raised as they checked every door and alcove. So far, there was no sign of their target, or anything else. It was unsettlingly quiet.
Fenra's sharp gaze caught movement at the end of the hall, a door left slightly ajar. She motioned for two operatives to flank her, their rifles trained on the door as she pushed it open with the barrel of her weapon.
It was a dining area, the table set with decaying plates and cutlery, long abandoned. But the real horror lay at the center of the table: the lifeless body of a woman, sprawled across its surface as if discarded. Her face was pale and sunken to husk, her expression frozen in terror with black marks.
Fenra grimaced. "Cora, we've got a body," she reported, her voice clipped. "Female, looks drained. Same as the others. We're moving on."
The team withdrew cautiously, filing out of the room to continue their sweep. Fenra led the way, but she stopped suddenly, her body tensing.
"What is it?" one of the onmyoji whispered.
Fenra didn't answer immediately. She strained her ears. There, a faint tapping sound, barely audible, from the ceiling above. Then another. And another. Within seconds, the tapping multiplied, growing louder and more erratic, like dozens of unseen hands drumming against the floors above.
"Stay sharp," Fenra ordered, her voice low but commanding.
The squad raised their rifles, aiming toward the staircase that led to the fourth floor. The tapping grew louder, closer, then suddenly stopped.
"What the hell…?" one operative muttered under his breath.
The silence that followed was suffocating, thick with tension. Fenra's ears caught a faint ticking sound behind her, just barely audible. She turned her head slightly, enough to catch a glimpse over her shoulder. Her heart skipped a beat.
The woman's body. The one from the table. She was no longer lifeless. Her limbs jerked unnaturally, her head twisting at an impossible angle as she lunged toward one of the onmyoji.
"Down!" Fenra barked.
Startled, the onmyoji dropped to the floor just as Fenra's finger pulled the trigger. Her rifle spat rounds into the corpse, sending it crashing back into the table. But there was no time to process the attack.
From the rear of the squad, a scream rang out as one of the operatives was nearly dragged backward by a cluster of pale, clawed hands that emerged from the shadows. Another squad member reacted quickly, grabbing her at an angle and firing into the emerging horde. Bullets tore through flesh, severing limbs and creating an opening for the operative to crawl back to safety.
"Enemies at the back!" the operative shouted, her voice trembling but firm, keeping a the same rate of fire, joined by the other squad member.
Meanwhile, Fenra and the rest of the team focused on the advancing wave of corpses at the front. The air was filled with the staccato crack of gunfire, bullets tearing into the animated bodies. An onmyoji slapped a glowing tome onto the head of the corpse from the dining room, causing it to freeze in place, its movements restricted by the purifying energy.
"Cora, we've got hostiles, repeat, multiple hostiles. They're reanimating, and they're everywhere!" Fenra relayed through the comms.
"Oh my god," Cora's horrified voice crackled back. "Fenra, you need to get out of there!"
"Negative," Fenra cut her off. "We're advancing. Onmyoji are placing charms to weaken them. We're holding."
The squad moved as one, their formation tight. Charms were affixed to walls and doorframes, their faint glow slowing the corpses' movements and buying the team precious time. They cleared floor after floor, cutting through the relentless waves of reanimated bodies with ruthless efficiency.
When they reached the seventh floor, however, they encountered their greatest challenge yet. A massive horde surged down the corridor toward them, a wall of clawing, moaning bodies that seemed endless.
"Hold the line!" Fenra commanded, her voice ringing out above the chaos.
The squad unleashed everything they had. Rifle fire roared, grenades exploded, and purification charms blazed with light, reducing dozens of the creatures to smoldering husks. For every corpse that fell, however, two more seemed to take its place.
"Fenra, we can't hold this forever!" one of the operatives shouted, reloading frantically.
"We don't need forever," Fenra replied, her tone icy calm. She focused on the corridor ahead, where a single door stood at the center of the chaos.
The Moaning Eye pulsed at her side, its green glow intensifying. Fenra's sharp instincts picked up on something,a scent, a pressure, emanating from behind that door.
"That's it," she muttered. "That's where it is."
"Fenra, you need reinforcements!" Cora pleaded over the comms.
"Not enough time," Fenra replied curtly. "We end this now."
She signaled her squad to cover the door. Half formed a protective quarter circle, whilst the rest focused on the bodies up ahead. as she approached the door, her rifle raised. She placed her hand on the handle, glancing back at the team.
"On my count," she whispered. "Three…"
The squad braced themselves, their weapons trained on the door as the battle raged around them.