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Sebastian's Side – Preparing for War
The bunker was silent except for the hum of Chloe's laptop and the occasional crackle from the emergency lights. The air was thick with tension.
Sebastian leaned over the rusted table, tracing his finger across a map of Alaric's known facilities. "We don't have much time. If we let Alaric keep pushing us back, we'll be fighting this war on his terms. We need to hit him first."
Marcus exhaled sharply. "A preemptive strike. Sounds great—except for the part where he has an army of genetically enhanced freaks and we have… what? Guns?"
Claudia smirked, tightening the straps on her combat vest. "Guns. Strategy. And people who don't give a damn about playing fair."
Sebastian nodded. "Exactly." He tapped a marked location on the map. "This is one of Alaric's research labs. Intel suggests it's where they process the Ascended serums before they reach the main facilities. If we take it out, we slow down production. Maybe even force him to reallocate resources."
Chloe frowned. "If we can infiltrate it. I managed to tap into some of their encrypted channels—security's been tightened after the last attack. And it's not just Ascended soldiers anymore. There's something new."
Dominic, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke. "New how?"
She hesitated. "I don't know yet. But there are references to a 'Prime Subject.' Something… worse than what we've seen before."
Marcus scoffed. "Great. Because the bulletproof, regenerating bastards weren't bad enough."
Sebastian straightened. "Then we'll adapt. We'll go in fast, plant charges, grab whatever data we can, and get the hell out."
Dominic cracked his knuckles. "I'm in."
Claudia rolled her shoulders. "Let's make some noise."
Chloe sighed, tapping furiously at her keyboard. "I'll work on hacking into their systems. If I can disrupt their sensors long enough, you might have a small window to get in unnoticed."
Sebastian's gaze hardened. "Then let's move. We end this before it starts."
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Alaric's Side – A New Monster Awakens
Far from the chaos in the bunker, in the heart of Alaric's underground facility, something stirred.
The containment chamber pulsed with an eerie glow, thick mist swirling within the reinforced glass. The figure inside remained motionless, but the energy radiating from it was unmistakable—raw, violent, and barely contained.
Dr. Iliana Voss stood beside Alaric, her arms crossed. "You're activating him now?"
Alaric didn't take his eyes off the chamber. "Sebastian Kane thinks he has the upper hand. That he can fight back." His lips curled into a smirk. "It's time to remind him why that's a mistake."
Voss's fingers tightened around the data pad in her hands. "He's not stable. We haven't finished testing the modifications."
Alaric turned to her, his voice calm but edged with finality. "He doesn't need to be stable. He needs to be effective."
Inside the chamber, something shifted. The mist began to swirl violently. A deep, guttural growl reverberated through the speakers. The figure's muscles tensed against the restraints, veins pulsing with an unnatural glow.
Voss swallowed. "If he loses control—"
Alaric silenced her with a raised hand. "That's the beauty of it."
He pressed a command on the console. The energy feeding into the chamber intensified, causing the restrained figure to arch in pain. The growl became a snarl, then a roar—deep, resonant, filled with something inhuman.
Then, the restraints snapped.
A blur of motion. The chamber shattered.
The creature landed in a crouch, steam rising from its skin. Its massive frame dwarfed even the largest of the Ascended soldiers. Fangs. Claws. Red eyes glowing with unrestrained fury.
For a moment, it was still.
Then, with unnatural speed, it lunged forward.
The first guard barely had time to react before his throat was torn open. The second reached for his weapon—too late. A massive hand crushed his skull against the wall.
Blood painted the steel floor.
The remaining guards stepped back, raising their rifles, but Alaric lifted a hand.
"Stand down."
The creature froze mid-motion, its breathing ragged, its claws still dripping with fresh blood. Its glowing red eyes snapped to Alaric.
Alaric smiled.
"Good."
The creature straightened, its massive chest rising and falling with slow, controlled breaths. Despite its sheer brutality, it obeyed.
Voss exhaled shakily. "You… you actually controlled it."
Alaric stepped forward, looking up at the beast without a hint of fear.
"I own it."
The monster merely stood there, silent, waiting.
Alaric's smirk widened.
"Now let's see how well Kane's team survives against this."
---
Collision Course
As Sebastian's team finalized their preparations, Alaric's newest creation was being unleashed.
One side moved with strategy.
The other moved with raw power.
War was coming.
And there would be no mercy.
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