Immersed in the darkness of the research complex, Jenna carefully penned the final lines of her journal. Sitting on the edge of an iron bed in a cramped room, her hand moved across the paper, leaving behind a farewell to a world she knew she would never see again. The flickering light of a bedside lamp cast shadows on the gray walls, stained with blood and soot. Jenna paused, contemplating the final sentence.
"If anyone finds this journal, know that we fought. Not for glory, but to give a chance of survival to those who come after us.
It has been several weeks since we were sent into the wastelands near Mont Chongryu, searching for a rumored deposit of white meteorite. We hoped to extract enough profit to pay for medical care for our comrades suffering from the effects of the black meteorites. However, what awaited us there was far worse than a mere mirage. This place, marked by prohibition signs, housed an abandoned guard post surrounded by fences delineating a sinister perimeter. What we discovered defied understanding: countless mutant creatures, each more terrifying than the last, cooperating in a way astonishing for their species. These monsters, usually aggressive toward each other, seemed to obey a higher will. It was undeniable that an entity or unknown force was orchestrating this monstrous organization.
According to our intel, this site once housed a research center where a white meteorite was stored. But an order of mutants had stormed the facility, leaving behind a scene of utter carnage. We had believed they were mere wild beasts, driven by an insatiable thirst for destruction. The reality, alas, was far different. The one leading these abominations, a creature we named 'the Alpha,' knew exactly what it was doing. By seizing the white meteorite, it amplified its supernatural abilities, becoming a threat of unimaginable proportions.
The first days of our mission were marked by relentless battles. We pressed forward, braving dangers and eliminating the creatures in our path. But soon, tragedy struck. A monstrous, humanoid creature began stalking us without respite, slaughtering most of our comrades with unparalleled brutality. Isolated and cut off from reinforcements, we now lack supplies. The morale of my men has crumbled to dust. We live in constant terror of an ambush. Every sound, every shadow, could signal our end. We hide like rats, hoping to escape the one we also call 'the Stalker,' named for its ability to detect the faintest life signatures.
But today, the time for the final battle has come. We have decided to pool our meager forces to give the injured a chance to escape. This bold strategy will seal our fates. We know that sacrifice is inevitable, but we accept it without hesitation.
This will be my final entry in this journal. My name is Jenna, captain of the fifth brigade of the Pacifista. A captain who, in the end, will have failed. Let this account endure, even if we do not."
Her hand trembled as she closed the journal, placing it carefully on a nightstand beside a worn photo of her brigade. The bright smiles of her comrades, frozen in time, contrasted starkly with the haggard, exhausted faces she saw today. Slowly, she stood, adjusting the strap of her makeshift armor. The cold touch of her sword against her back offered meager comfort, a reminder that she was not entirely powerless. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.
When she stepped out of her room, the sight in the hallway made a lump form in her throat. The brigade's soldiers moved in silence, adjusting their weapons and attaching explosives to their armor. Their hollow faces and determined gazes betrayed a shared understanding: few of them would see dawn.
"Listen to me," Jenna said, her voice cutting through the silence.
Everyone turned toward her, focused on her words. Her tone was calm but firm.
"We all know why we're here. Our mission is simple but crucial: draw the Alpha away from those who can no longer fight. Our sacrifice will give them a chance to escape. Those who follow me… I won't lie to you. This is likely our final battle. But if we fail, no one will survive. So, no matter what happens, stay strong. For them."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the ranks, followed by silent exchanges of glances. Some soldiers exchanged furtive embraces; others whispered inaudible prayers. A young man, barely more than a boy, trembled as he secured his helmet. Jenna placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, meeting his eyes.
"You're ready. Don't forget why you're fighting."
The boy nodded, his jaw clenched.
Under her command, the brigade split into two groups. One team began organizing the evacuation of the wounded, advancing slowly through the darkened corridors. Jenna and her group moved in the opposite direction, their footsteps echoing faintly on the floor. When they reached a crossroads in the complex, Jenna gave a discreet signal. A soldier pulled the pin on a flash grenade and tossed it down a side corridor. The ensuing explosion shattered the oppressive silence.
The roar that followed made the walls tremble. The Alpha was close.
"Move!" Jenna shouted, and the group began sprinting at full speed.
The ground seemed to quake beneath their feet, each step of the creature heralding their doom. When it finally appeared in Jenna's line of sight, she felt her breath catch. The creature was immense, nearly too large for the confined hallways of the complex. Its body, a grotesque amalgamation of flesh and black carapace, oozed a corrupting energy that made the air almost unbreathable. Its eyes glowed with a crimson light, and its claws, as long as swords, scraped the walls with a piercing screech. Jenna, her senses on high alert, darted to the side in one fluid motion, narrowly avoiding the strike that could have cleaved her in two.
"Scatter formation!" she yelled, retreating with practiced agility.
The soldiers obeyed instantly. Two of them flanked the sides, firing bursts at the Alpha to distract it. But the bullets ricocheted off the creature's black armor. The Alpha lunged at the first shooter, sweeping its massive arm and slamming the soldier against the wall. Jenna seized the diversion to attack. She charged at full speed, gripping her sword with both hands, and executed a technique she called Crescent Moon, an upward slash meant to pierce defenses. Her blade traced a luminous arc as it struck the Alpha's flank, but the creature's carapace absorbed the impact with a dull thud.
The counterattack was immediate. The Alpha spun swiftly, its claws slashing at Jenna. She parried the blow with her sword, but the force of the strike sent her sliding backward, her boots screeching against the floor. The Alpha leapt again, its movements unnervingly fast for its massive size.
"Fall back!" Jenna shouted, raising her weapon for another strike.
She unleashed a series of blows, targeting the creature's joints. Her Zenith Strike, a downward vertical slash, struck its right shoulder, followed by her Circular Dance, a sequence of horizontal slashes intended to disorient her foe. But the Alpha was too fast. It dodged with a backward leap and retaliated by slamming the ground with its claws, sending a shockwave that toppled several soldiers.
As one of the men struggled to rise, the Alpha turned its focus on him, ready to strike. Jenna reacted instinctively. She hurled her sword forward, using a thrust technique called Silver Lance to draw the beast's attention. The tip of her weapon grazed the monster's arm, enough to redirect its gaze. The Alpha roared, its crimson eyes locking onto Jenna, and charged with renewed ferocity.
Jenna scrambled backward, her breath ragged. Her mind raced, searching for a weakness in the creature's impenetrable defense.
Behind her, a soldier threw a grenade, which exploded a few meters away, enveloping the area in thick smoke. Jenna seized the moment to reposition her team.
"Aim for the joints!" she commanded.
The soldiers complied, targeting the Alpha's knees and elbows. But the creature, as if driven by a sadistic intelligence, used the wall to propel itself, suddenly appearing behind them.
The attack was brutal. It seized a soldier in its claws, lifting him like a ragdoll before slamming him to the ground. The impact was fatal.
Jenna's heart clenched, but she grit her teeth. She had to stay focused.
She shifted into a new stance, bending her knees slightly, her hands gripping her sword tightly. The Swallow's Guard—a defensive position poised to counterattack at any moment.
The Alpha lunged again, its claws ready to strike. Jenna sidestepped, allowing the creature's momentum to leave it exposed. She executed a Rending Thrust, a swift, precise attack aimed at the creature's groin, where the carapace seemed thinner. For the first time, the Alpha let out a cry of pain. The blow had landed.
But the victory was short-lived. The Alpha turned with astonishing speed and lashed out with its tail, striking Jenna square in the chest. She was flung backward, colliding with a wall. Pain radiated through her body, but she forced herself to stand, growling in defiance.
The corruption within her stirred, a burning heat in her mind.
As she prepared for a desperate attack, a sharp whistle cut through the air. A figure emerged from the shadows, wielding a sword glowing with a crimson aura.
Jin Kang Soo.
He landed between Jenna and the Alpha, adopting a low stance he called the Rock Anchor.
"Rest. I'll handle this."
His tone was calm, but his gaze was that of a predator.
The Alpha roared and charged at him. Jin pivoted, dodging the claws and countering with a horizontal slash so powerful it shattered the creature's armor at its forearm. He followed with the Wind Dance, a complex sequence of circular movements that disoriented the Alpha. His blade traced luminous red arcs in the air.
When the Alpha attempted a counterattack, Jin used a defensive technique called Invisible Wall, blocking the claws with an immaterial barrier.
The Alpha, enraged, swung its left arm in a wide arc. Jin leapt back, then used the wall to propel himself over the creature. Mid-air, he executed a Lightning Strike, his blade descending vertically onto the Alpha's head.
The impact staggered the creature, which attempted to flee. But Jin, swift as lightning, closed the distance in an instant. He unleashed one final technique, the Lunar Reaper, a powerful circular strike that severed the Alpha's head cleanly.
The massive body collapsed with a resounding crash, motionless.
Jin sheathed his sword, wiping sweat from his brow.
Behind him, Jenna and the survivors remained frozen, unable to look away from the man who had just saved their lives. A heavy silence settled, almost surreal.
The survivors looked at Jin with a mix of awe and fear.
Jenna, still on her knees, lifted her eyes to him.
"Who… who are you?" she whispered.
Jin sheathed his sword, his intimidating gaze meeting hers.
"Jin Kang Soo," he replied simply. " You're going to need me. "