In an elevated observation room, Dr. Harlan Greaves and Dr. Elias Vermier watched through a bulletproof glass panel as Niel faced a group of 25 cloned aberrations in an underground testing chamber. The blue LED lights flickered intermittently, illuminating the chaos unfolding below.
"It's impressive, isn't it?" Harlan said with a satisfied smile as he adjusted his glasses. His tone was calculating, almost proud, as if he were watching his masterpiece come to life.
Elias, however, seemed more concerned than pleased. His eyes followed every move Niel made, analyzing every fluctuation in his threshold energy.
"Impressive, yes," Elias responded slowly, crossing his arms over his chest. "But also dangerous. We don't know how far we can control him. This… this goes beyond what we anticipated."
Harlan let out a low laugh, full of confidence. He turned to Elias, leaning against the panel.
"Control is not the same as understanding, Elias. And believe me, we are understanding much more than we expected. Look at how he handles his threshold energy now. He no longer just uses it to enhance his physical abilities or project it onto his weapons. Now he can manipulate it outside his body, launching it like a weapon. It's something no natural resonant has achieved before."
Elias frowned, looking at Harlan with a mix of admiration and distrust.
"And what happens if we can no longer stop him? Whatever happened in Kango... it's changing who he is. He no longer seems completely human."
Harlan raised an eyebrow, his expression unshakable.
"And does that really matter? Think about it, Elias: we could finally have absolute control over these aberrations. We could eradicate them completely."
Elias fell silent for a moment, watching as Niel tore apart another cloned creature with a burst of pure energy. The blue glow of his power illuminated the chamber like lightning in a storm.
"Or we might be playing with fire," Elias murmured finally, his voice barely audible. "We're dealing with forces we don't fully understand. What if what changed Niel wasn't just contact with the aberrations? What if there's something else involved? Something... external."
Harlan smiled, but this time there was a glint of cruelty in his gaze.
"Then we'll have to find out. After all, science always advances through risks."
Inside the testing chamber, Niel was in his element. Twenty-five cloned aberrations, simplified versions of the ones he had faced in Kango, surrounded the young resonant. They were fast, aggressive, and designed to mimic the abilities of real aberrations, though they lacked the superior intelligence some of them possessed.
But that didn't matter. To Niel, they were just obstacles in his path, moving targets that needed to be eliminated one by one. His breathing was steady, his posture relaxed but alert. In his hands shone a dagger covered in threshold energy, its bluish light contrasting with the darkness of the chamber.
The creatures attacked first, moving like living shadows toward him. Niel smiled, a grin that distorted his usually cold face into something almost maniacal. With a fluid motion, he extended his free hand forward and released a burst of threshold energy that struck three creatures simultaneously, sending them flying against the walls of the chamber. Their bodies crackled briefly before disintegrating into black ashes.
One of the creatures managed to get close enough to try to attack him with its sharp claws. Niel blocked it effortlessly, using his dagger to cleanly cut off the creature's arm. Before it could recover, Niel channeled his threshold energy directly into his fist and delivered a devastating punch that pierced through the creature's chest, reducing it to dust.
"Too easy," he muttered to himself, his voice filled with an emotion bordering on madness. His eyes glowed intensely, reflecting the bluish light of his power.
The rest of the creatures charged at him in a coordinated assault. Niel jumped back, dodging their attacks with superhuman agility. Then, with a guttural roar, he extended both arms to the sides and released a wave of threshold energy that swept away all the nearby creatures. The beasts' bodies disintegrated instantly, leaving only charred remains on the ground.
But not all of them had been eliminated. Five creatures remained standing, cautiously retreating as they assessed their opponent. Niel tilted his head to one side, his smile widening even further.
"Come on, is that all you've got?" he asked aloud, his tone mocking and challenging.
The creatures responded with a collective roar, lunging at him from different angles. Niel spun around, moving so fast that he seemed like a blur. He used his dagger to cut one creature in half, then launched a burst of threshold energy at another that was trying to attack him from behind. Two more creatures fell to the ground, turning into ashes.
The last creature managed to grab him by the arm, sinking its claws into his flesh. Niel growled in pain, but instead of retreating, he wrapped his free hand around the creature's neck and channeled all his threshold energy directly into it. The creature screamed, its body trembling violently before exploding into a cloud of black smoke.
Niel fell to his knees, panting slightly as he surveyed the remains of the creatures around him. His body vibrated with adrenaline, and a visceral sense of satisfaction overwhelmed him. He had enjoyed every second of the fight, every death. It was as if something inside him had awakened, something that craved violence and destruction.
Back in the observation room, Harlan and Elias continued discussing as they watched Niel slowly recover in the chamber.
"This confirms our theories," Harlan said, pointing to the readings on the screens. "His ability to manipulate threshold energy outside his body is not just a side effect. It's a deliberate evolution. Something in him has changed at a fundamental level."
Elias nodded slowly, though his expression remained somber.
"Yes, but at what cost? Look at his eyes, Harlan. He no longer sees like a human. He's losing control. What if there comes a point where we can no longer stop him?"
Harlan shrugged, indifferent.
"Then we'll neutralize him. But until then, he's still our best weapon against the aberrations. Besides, think of the possibilities, Elias. If we can replicate this process in other resonants, we could have an army of perfect hunters."
Elias fell silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on Niel.
"Or we might be creating something worse than the aberrations themselves."
After observing Niel systematically eliminate the 25 cloned creatures, Harlan Greaves turned to Elias Vermier with a thoughtful expression on his face. Although both scientists were impressed by Niel's enhanced abilities, Harlan was already planning the next move.
"Geneva," Harlan said abruptly, crossing his arms as he looked at the screens displaying the data collected during the test. "We've detected small fluctuations of threshold energy near the city. This could be an indication that a threshold event is about to occur."
Elias looked surprised, raising an eyebrow.
"A threshold event outside the limits of the mist? That's never happened before. Are you sure?"
Harlan nodded firmly, adjusting his glasses.
"We're not 100% certain, but our sensors have picked up anomalous readings consistent with previous threshold events. If this is true, it would be unprecedented. And if there are aberrations or creatures involved… we'll need to be prepared."
Elias frowned, worried.
"Sending agents into such a large and populated city is risky. We can't just let them act as they would in remote areas. The military is probably already deployed there, and any mistake could expose us."
Harlan smiled slightly, his tone calculating.
"That's exactly why I want to send Team Fenrir. They're our best agents. Marcus knows how to handle delicate situations, and Niel… well, we've seen what he's capable of. Besides, this mission isn't just about eliminating threats. It's primarily about gathering information. We need to understand what's causing that fluctuation and if there's anything valuable we can acquire."
In another room within the Umbra Division facilities, Marcus received the order directly from Harlan. The leader of Team Fenrir listened attentively as he reviewed the preliminary report on Geneva.
"So, a threshold event outside the limits of the mist?" Marcus asked, his tone filled with disbelief. "That doesn't make sense. How can something like that happen so far from the limit?"
Harlan, who had entered the room along with other members of Team Fenrir, responded calmly:
"We don't know exactly how or why, but our theories suggest that dimensional fissures may be expanding. Whatever is happening in Geneva, we can't ignore it. If we manage to understand it, we could gain a significant advantage against the mist in the future."
Niel remained silent in a corner of the room, his blue eyes glowing faintly as he processed the information. For him, this was another opportunity to hunt, to face creatures that others feared.
Marcus continued:
"What if we find survivors? We know that after threshold events, sometimes potential natural resonants remain. Do we follow the usual protocol?"
Harlan shook his head, his voice cold and sharp.
"No. This time is different. Geneva is a big city, and we can't afford mistakes. If we find survivors, we'll evaluate whether they hold any value for us. But remember: our priority is information. Only act if absolutely necessary. Umbra Division doesn't exist to save innocent lives; it exists to protect its objectives. If anyone or anything gets in our way, eliminate them without mercy."
Kai, one of the younger members of Team Fenrir, interjected:
"What if the military is already in the area? What do we do if they interfere?"
Harlan stared at him, his tone relentless.
"Avoid unnecessary confrontations, but if the military becomes an obstacle, do whatever is necessary to complete the mission. No one must interfere with Umbra Division."
Lila, known for her lethal precision, added:
"What if we find technology or artifacts related to the dimensional fissures?"
Harlan smiled, pleased with the question.
"That's exactly what I hope you'll find. If there's anything that can help us control the aberrations or understand the mist, bring it immediately. But remember: if something seems too dangerous, destroy it. We can't allow it to fall into the wrong hands."
Emily, always attentive and extremely efficient, simply nodded, ensuring her equipment was ready for the mission.
As Team Fenrir discussed the mission details, Harlan provided more context about what they expected to find in Geneva.
"Threshold events generally bring hostile creatures, but also physical and energetic anomalies. We might find unique technology or artifacts related to the dimensional fissures since this is a special event. If we manage to recover something like that, it could accelerate our progress in understanding the mist."
Marcus nodded, taking mental notes.
"Understood. We'll keep a low profile until we have a clear idea of the situation. If the military is present, we'll avoid unnecessary confrontations. But if aberrations appear…"
"Act without mercy," Harlan interrupted, completing Marcus's sentence. "And if you find anything… or anyone… that seems connected to the threshold energy fluctuations, report it immediately."
Niel, who had been silent until now, finally spoke:
"What if the aberrations are different? What if they're not like the ones we've faced before?"
Harlan looked at him with interest, noticing the spark of anticipation in Niel's eyes.
"Then we'll adapt our strategy as needed. But I trust that you, Niel, will be able to handle whatever appears. After all, you've proven to be… unique."