The journey to find the third scientist was as treacherous as it was ominous. The team of eight moved in tense silence, their breath visible in the frigid air. Karael led Team 2—Liora, Thane, and himself—while Ryan guided Team 1—Jim, Elyas, and Dain. Despite their shared purpose, the weight of unease pressed heavily on all of them. The promise of answers was overshadowed by the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
The jagged landscape stretched endlessly, the blood-red peaks of the Spires looming ever larger as they trekked through barren, icy plains. Every step felt like a whisper of something ancient, something that had been waiting for their arrival.
Elyas broke the silence first, his voice thoughtful yet grave. "Do any of you know about the beast Dr. Voss mentioned?"
Liora frowned, her hand instinctively tightening around her weapon. "We were hoping you'd tell us," she said.
Elyas adjusted his scarf, his eyes distant as he began. "They call it *Erythros*. It's not just a creature—it's a remnant of something far older than Mars' nations. The stories say it's been here since humans came to earth , some say it existed on mars even before humans came here . It's no ordinary beast. It hunts in silence, it kills without mercy, and it leaves nothing but ruin in its wake."
"Erythros," Thane echoed, his voice low. "A fitting name for something that thrives in blood."
Jim glanced at Elyas, skeptical but intrigued. "How do you know all this? It's not exactly bedtime story material."
"My family's stories," Elyas said simply. "The beast was said to have been seen near our homeland centuries ago, hunting the unlucky. My great-grandmother swore she saw it herself once—nothing but a shadow with eyes like molten lava."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Elyas' tale settling heavily upon them.
Karael broke the tension, his voice sharp and unyielding. "Erythros isn't the only shadow hanging over this mission."
The others looked at him, confused. Karael's eyes were hard as he continued. "Dr. Moreau didn't die in the Crimson Nova disaster. She survived."
Liora stopped in her tracks, staring at Karael. "What are you talking about? Dr. Moreau's death is a fact. It's in every historical record we've ever seen."
"Records can be rewritten," Karael said grimly. "My great-grandmother told me the truth before she died. A man—some say a nobleman, others just a wanderer—visited Moreau's lab in the late 80s, seeking immortality. She gave it to him, but at a price he wasn't willing to pay. After he got what he wanted, he threw her from the Crimson Peaks, leaving her for dead."
Ryan narrowed his eyes, suspicion lacing his voice. "How do you know this isn't just a myth? Your great-grandmother could've been mistaken."
Karael shook his head. "She wasn't mistaken. The man survived the disaster, and Moreau's body was never found. My family's been keeping this secret for generations, waiting for the day it might matter."
Dain scoffed lightly, though unease flickered in his expression. "So what you're saying is that Moreau could still be alive? After all these centuries?"
"Not alive," Karael said firmly. "But her legacy… that's another matter."
Liora turned to Ryan, her brow furrowed. "What's the Crimson Nova disaster? You've been quiet since Karael brought it up."
Ryan hesitated for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Then, with a deep breath, he began. "It happened 440 years ago, during the height of Mars' first great era of technological advancement. Dr. Moreau's work was revolutionary—genetics, immortality, bioengineering. Her lab, known as the Crimson Nova, was the epicenter of Mars' scientific breakthroughs.
"But ambition blinded them. Moreau's experiments grew more dangerous, more unpredictable. The disaster began with a chain reaction—an explosion that tore through the her lab, unleashing bioengineered horrors upon the world. The Crimson Nova was wiped off the map, and Mars plunged into chaos. Millions died in the aftermath, not just from the initial explosion but from the creatures that escaped her lab."
Liora's eyes widened, her voice barely above a whisper. "Creatures like Erythros."
Ryan nodded grimly. "Exactly. And that wasn't all.
Jim let out a low whistle. "And now we're headed straight into the heart of it."
"The Crimson Peak might hold the answers we need," Karael said, his voice steady despite the tension in the group. "But it's clear we're walking into a legacy of death and destruction. If Moreau's name is tied to this, then it's bigger than anything we've faced before."
The group fell silent, the weight of history pressing down on them as they continued their journey. The Crimson Peak loomed ever closer, their jagged peaks glinting like blood-stained teeth against the pale sky.
For Liora, the journey was more than just a mission. It was a descent into the unknown, into a past that refused to stay buried. And as they neared their destination, one thought lingered in her mind: