Chapter 8: The Evolution of a Warrior
The battlefield was pure chaos: the shrill cries of the Proximars cutting through the air from all directions, but leading them-the actual danger-were six towering Vanguards, elite guards of the hive leader.
The six Vanguards strode forward. Their massive frames parted the swarm, which seemed to coalesce around the outline of Caden's team. Each of them began to form glowing orbs of energy radiation that hung over their claw-like hands.
Caden stood his ground for half a second, feeling the raw power emanating from them.
"Caden, we need to fall back!" Mira yelled, firing off another shot that barely impeded a Proximar.
Caden clenched his teeth. "No."
Without another word of dissent, the Vanguards took action. The orbs above their heads flared with increased intensity, crackling with pent-up energy, before they hurled them in perfect synchrony from one another. Six shining spheres of annihilation streaked toward Caden's position.
Caden acted on instinct. He drew upon everything the system had given him thus far, his body straining to the limit. With a slash through the air in front of him, a burst of energy released and struck the orbs.
The blast was deafening. The ensuing shockwave tossed Ava, Darius, and Mira off their feet, sending them tumbling across the dirt. Proximars were obliterated within the radius of the blast, but that did nothing to the orbs.
The force of Caden's attack had only destabilized them. The unstable orbs moved towards him, culminating into one big sphere that collapsed at his feet.
"Caden!" Ava screamed, but the explosion drowned her voice.
The blast was destructive, and the ground cracked under the force, sending debris in every direction.
At the epicenter, Caden slumped into a crater, which belched smoke everywhere. His katana was buried a few feet away. His mask lay shattered and his protective vest was already torn to pieces; his bloodied body shone through where the fabric wasn't torn open. His breaths became shallow, with his body holding on for life.
Inside his mind, a familiar voice stirred,
Warning: host in critical condition. Fatality imminent. Emergency protocol activated.
Caden's vision flickered, his sight blurring, as the system's presence seemed to spring to life in ways it never had before.
Radiation energy being absorbed… Stabilizing host. Additional energy required for evolution detected. Evolution started.
The radiation remaining in the air began to coalesce, streams of glowing energy racing towards the broken body of Caden, wrapping around him like ribbons-warm, in juxtaposition to the cold void dragging him under.
The pain hit him like a sledgehammer. Every nerve in his body screamed as the system forced his cells to adapt, to absorb the energy.
Host evolution initiated.
Enhancing physical and cognitive attributes…
System evolution underway.
Caden's muscles spasmed, his veins glowing faintly with absorbed radiation. His body was being reforged, every fiber of his being pushed to the limit.
The voice of the system softened then, became almost humanlike, as if it were alive.
Evolution complete. Displayed updated stats below.
Strength: 80
Agility: 80
Endurance: 80
Intelligence: 80
Perception: Maxed
Energy Reserves: 2000
New Ability Unlocked: Passive Starlight Absorption.
Caden's eyes snapped open, faintly glowing. He groaned, pushing himself up to his feet as the crater beneath him was still smoldering. His body felt different-stronger and faster.
"System?" he said, and he was surprised at just how deep his voice sounded.
"Yes, Caden," the voice replied, startlingly clear and warm. "You and I just went through evolution "
Caden blinked. "What do you mean?"
New System functions unlocked.
Shop: Access to weapons, tools, and upgrades.
Inventory expanded: 200 units available.
Stronger AI integration: I can now support you in making strategic decisions.
Before Caden could process it all, a shrill cry snapped his attention toward the battlefield.
A distance away, Ava, Darius, and Mira slowly rose, staring in wide-eyed wonder at the glowing figure standing within the heart of the crater.
"Caden?" Ava's voice full of incredulousness
He turned toward them, his katana flying into his hand as a new determination ignited within his eyes as he grinned. The fight wasn't over.
The explosion had created a temporary wipeout of the Proximars, but the Proximars were already regrouping. Caden landed lightly at the edge of the crater, his movements sharp and deliberate. His team stared at him, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"What… happened to you?" Mira asked, breaking the silence.
Caden didn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the six remaining Vanguards, their hulking forms crackling with fresh energy.
"We don't have time for questions," he said, his tone flat. "They're not done yet."
"They're powering up for another attack," Ava warned, raising her hand to conjure a psychic shield. "We can't take another hit like that!"
Caden turned around, eyes scanning his team; his face was steady but firm. "Focus on the Proximars. Leave the Vanguards to me."
"Are you insane?" Mira snarled, surging forward. "Those things nearly killed you!"
"They didn't," Caden replied, "Trust me, I'll handle this." Caden said with a smirk on his face.
Before any could argue, he was off. The Vanguards growled as one, their claws crackling with energy as they readied another combined strike. The Proximar swarm surged ahead, their advance emboldened by the presence of their leaders.
"Protect him!" Ava yelled, her shield expanding to envelop Darius and Mira as the Proximars descended.
Caden charged toward the Vanguards, quicker than any of them could see, his katana ablaze with dim light. The system interface flickered before his eyes; a single notification came forward.
**Prototype Energy Core Available. Free Item Redeemed.**
A sphere of blue light materialized in his hand, humming with restrained power.
"What's he doing now?" Darius muttered as he fired into the swarm.
"I don't know, probably something stupid," Mira grumbled, firing her energy guns at a Proximar that lunged at her.
The first Vanguard roared and lunged at Caden, its large claw swinging down. Caden crouched low and slid beneath the strike, he slashed upward with his katana. His blade tore into its skin immediately, splitting the vanguard into two.
The others attacked as one, concentrating their spheres into a single blinding salvo that streaked toward Caden. He sprang into the air, tossed the core high, and swung through it in midair.
The core exploded, loosing its raw energy in a wave that ripped through the Vanguards' attack and sent them tumbling off their feet. The blast shredded across the battlefield, sending debris flying every which way and vaporizing Proximars.
When the dust settled, only one Vanguard remained, its body cracked and smoking. Caden strode towards it, his long katana dragging lightly on the ground.
The creature roared in defiance, swinging his claw in a final desperate attack. In one smooth sidestep, Caden dodged and made a sharp cut to behead the Vanguard.
The battlefield behind them quieted. The Proximars were in hesitation, their leaders beaten down. Darius, Mira, and Ava regrouped, all of them huffing as they looked around in survey.
"Remind me never to doubt you again," Mira remarked, a hint of awe in her tone.
Caden sheathed his katana. His face was stoic. "Let's keep moving," he said matter-of-factly, nodding toward the entrance of the hive. "This isn't over yet."
The team circled Caden cautiously, his destruction still not fully processed. Mira glanced over at Ava, who seemed focused, though her movements were sluggish.
Before them stood the hive, its opening an ominous, raw organic structure.
Caden reached the threshold and froze, his razor-sharp eyes studying the alien construction. "Keep sharp, and keep close," he growled. "No telling what's inside."
"No kidding," Mira muttered, smearing a stripe of blood off her cheek. She squeezed her pistols tightly, eyeing the hive's walls nervously.
Ava leaned in closer to Caden, her voice a whispered hiss. "You sure you're okay? Whatever just happened back there… it's not normal, and you don't look normal."
Caden didn't answer for a while, his gaze stuck in the blackness ahead. Finally, he said, "Later, I will explain. For now, let's finish this."
No further words were said when he stepped into the hive.
The air inside was heavy, full of metallic tangs clinging to their throats. Veins of light pulsed along the walls, casting an eerie red glow that hardly illuminated the twisting corridor. Footfalls echoed faintly.
"Doesn't anyone else get the feeling we're walking right into a trap?" Darius whispered, tension etched into his voice.
"It's not a trap," Caden said, his voice deadpan. "It's a battlefield. Keep your guards up."
As they went further into the complex, the corridor opened into a large, high chamber. Dripping stalactites of organic matter dripped their viscous liquid down to the floor. The massive cocoon, the size of a large tent, filled the space with its undulating, twisting surface as something inside fought to break out.
Ava's breath caught. "Is that… the hive leader?"
"Looks like it," Mira said, her eyes scanning threats around the chamber.
Caden stepped forward, his katana aglow with a faint green tint of light. The system's voice reverberated across his mind: **Host proximity to Hive Core detected. Energy levels rising. Prepare for engagement.
Before anyone could utter a word, the cocoon splintered with a wet tearing sound. Something huge came into view: an enormous creature the color of rocky masses covered all over its body with some viscous green fluid. Its six smoldering eyes locked onto them, and from its throat came a throaty growl.
Proximars flowed into the room from behind crevices until their shrieking filled the air.
"Fall into formation!" Caden shouted above the din.
With a great stroke of fortune, Ava had cast her psychic shield in time, deflected a barrage of projectiles emanating from the swarm. Mira moved in by her side, firing controlled bursts of her pistols that managed to decrease the horde closing in; Darius went into a rampage, smashing proximar with his rocky body.
The hive leader launched itself at Caden, its huge claws swiping down with incredible speed. He sidestepped, his katana flashing as he countered with a precise strike to its leg. The blade bit deep, ichor spraying from the wound, but the creature barely flinched.
"Caden, it seems not to feel pain!" Mira shouted, blasting a Proximar off Ava's shield.
"It's not invincible," Caden returned calmly. "Keep the swarm off me. I'll handle this."
The hive leader let out a great roar; waves of energy from his body sent Caden flying backward until he stamped down upon the floor, catching himself against his backsliding into the wall, and the glowing katana even more intensely as the system pumped extra energy into his blows.
New combat technique unlocked: Radiant Strike. Katana damage increased by 300%.
Power surged through Caden as he gripped his katana tight and charged, moving in a blur around the large hive leader's form. Every strike of his blade ripped through the creature's armor-like exoskeleton, leaving trails of glowing destruction.
"Hold the line!" Ava screamed as her shield faltered under the continual hail of the Proximars. Darius fought with much fury, and his attacks quickly synchronized with Mira's as they held the swarm off.
The hive leader roared once more, his energy flaring as he readied a devastating attack. Huge orbs of crackling green light formed above his claws, the air distorting around them as the energy gathered in the hive leader's mouth.
"Caden, it's charging something big!" Ava warned.
"I see it," Caden replied. His katana gleamed brighter as he raised it high, the system's interface flashing before his eyes.
**Radiant Strike: Maximum charge reached.**
Caden leaped into the air, his katana tracing a blazing arc of energy. The hive leader launched its attack, as it released a beam of destructive light toward him with explosive force.
In one smooth decisive swing, Caden's blade clashed with a light beam. His blade, having slashed through the beam of light with its momentum still on, kept moving and made a downwards slash, diagonally dividing the hive leader into two parts.
The monster let out one last agonized roar before collapsing-the great body dropped to the earth. The rest of the Proximars had screeched and scattered away, fleeing with their leader defeated.
The hall was silent suddenly.
Caden pulled his katana from the ground; the glow faded as he turned to his team. They stared at him with a mixture of awe and exhaustion.
"Is it… over?" Mira asked hesitantly.
"For now," Caden said, his voice calm but firm. "Let's rest for now before moving. Other teams might still be in danger."
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