Chapter 20: The Depths of Beta-13
The faint red emergency lights flickered ominously as Alex and Carter moved cautiously through the narrow corridors of the Beta-13 facility. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of mildew and something far worse—decay.
The walls were lined with shattered glass panels and rusting machinery, remnants of what must have once been an advanced research station. Now, it looked more like a tomb.
"Why do these places always feel like a bad horror movie?" Alex muttered, his Plasma Blade glowing faintly as he held it at the ready.
"Because they are," Carter replied, scanning the hallway ahead with his rifle. "Only difference is, you don't get a second take if you screw up."
The system chimed in Alex's mind:
> System Notification:
Environmental Hazard Detected. Increased Presence of Mutagenic Spores. Activate Filtration Mask.
Alex tapped the side of his helmet, engaging the filtration system. A soft hiss signaled that the air he was breathing was now purified. He glanced at Carter, who had already done the same.
"Mutagenic spores," Alex said. "That's new."
"Not really," Carter replied. "You're lucky the system warned you. These spores can kill you fast—or worse, turn you into one of them."
Alex shuddered at the thought but pushed it aside. "Let's find that control room and get out of here."
---
The First Encounter
The corridor opened into a massive chamber, its ceiling towering high above them. Flickering lights illuminated rows of broken containment pods, each one large enough to hold a human—or something worse.
"What the hell were they doing here?" Alex whispered, stepping closer to one of the shattered pods. The glass was smeared with dried blood, and deep claw marks gouged the metal frame.
"Genesis Core wasn't just about curing diseases," Carter said, his tone grim. "They were experimenting—trying to create 'super soldiers' immune to infection. Obviously, it didn't work out."
Alex frowned, his eyes scanning the room. "Then what happened to the test subjects?"
As if on cue, a guttural growl echoed through the chamber.
The system pulsed urgently:
> Hostile Presence Detected: Alpha Variant.
Threat Level: Extreme.
Alex barely had time to react before a massive figure emerged from the shadows. The Alpha Variant stood nearly eight feet tall, its body a grotesque blend of muscle and spines. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Alex, and it let out a deafening roar.
"Back up!" Carter shouted, firing his rifle. The bullets struck the creature's chest, but it barely flinched.
Alex activated his Plasma Blade and darted to the side as the Alpha charged, its claws tearing through the ground where he had been standing moments earlier.
---
The Fight for Survival
The Alpha was fast—much faster than anything Alex had faced before. It lunged at him with terrifying speed, its claws swiping dangerously close. Alex ducked and rolled, slashing at its leg with the Plasma Blade. The weapon cut deep, and the creature howled in pain, but it didn't slow down.
Carter provided covering fire, aiming for the creature's head and joints. "Keep moving! Don't let it pin you!"
"Easy for you to say!" Alex snapped, narrowly avoiding a swing that would have crushed his ribs.
The Alpha turned its attention to Carter, leaping toward him with shocking agility. Carter dove behind a piece of debris, firing a grenade from his rifle. The explosion sent the Alpha staggering, but it quickly regained its footing, now angrier than ever.
Alex saw his chance. He charged at the creature's exposed back, driving the Plasma Blade into its spine. The blade hissed as it cut through flesh and bone, and the Alpha let out a guttural scream.
> Alpha Variant Vital Point Hit: +300 SP. Current SP: 930.
The creature thrashed violently, throwing Alex off. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him. The Alpha turned toward him, its eyes glowing with rage.
"Finish it!" Carter shouted, tossing Alex a grenade.
Alex caught the grenade, his mind racing. He activated the Plasma Blade's overload function, channeling its remaining energy into a single, devastating strike. As the Alpha lunged, Alex threw the grenade into its open mouth and plunged the overloaded blade into its chest.
The resulting explosion rocked the chamber, sending debris flying in all directions. When the dust settled, the Alpha lay motionless, its massive form scorched and broken.
> Alpha Variant Eliminated: +500 SP. Current SP: 1,430.
---
Deeper Into the Facility
Alex sat up, coughing as he removed his cracked filtration mask. His body ached, but he was alive.
"Nice work," Carter said, offering him a hand. "Not many people can take down an Alpha."
Alex took the offered hand and stood, wincing. "Yeah, well, I'd rather not make a habit of it."
Carter smirked. "Let's move. That thing's roar probably attracted every infected within a mile."
They continued deeper into the facility, the tension in the air thickening with every step. The corridors grew narrower, the walls covered in strange, organic growths that pulsed faintly.
The system chimed again:
> Warning: Bio-organic Entity Detected. Genesis Core Experimental Prototype Active.
"Experimental prototype?" Alex asked, glancing at Carter.
Carter's expression darkened. "That's not good. Prototypes are worse than Alphas. Smarter, deadlier, and almost impossible to kill."
"Great," Alex muttered. "Why do I feel like you knew about this?"
Carter didn't answer.
---
The Revelation
They reached a massive, reinforced door, its surface covered in glowing symbols and strange markings. Carter stepped forward, placing his hand on a scanner embedded in the wall.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked, his instincts screaming that something wasn't right.
The door hissed as it began to open, revealing a dark chamber beyond.
Carter turned to Alex, his expression unreadable behind his helmet. "There's something you need to see."
Alex hesitated, his grip tightening on the Plasma Blade. "What are you talking about?"
Carter stepped inside, gesturing for Alex to follow. "The truth about Genesis Core. About the infection. About why you're still alive."
Alex's heart raced as he stepped into the chamber, the door sealing shut behind him.
In the center of the room stood a massive cylindrical tank, filled with a glowing, green liquid. Inside was something that made Alex's blood run cold—a humanoid figure, its body covered in strange, pulsating growths.
The system chimed one last time:
> Objective Updated: Confront the Genesis Core Prototype.
Alex turned to Carter, his voice low and filled with suspicion. "What aren't you telling me?"
Carter's helmet retracted, revealing a scarred face hardened by years of survival. "You're not just fighting to stop this infection, Alex. You're part of it."