The Fenrir team was in an equipment room, surrounded by modified weapons and advanced technology specifically designed for resonants. The white ceiling lights illuminated every corner, highlighting the metallic gleam of the weapons that would soon be charged with threshold energy.
Kai adjusted his modified rifle, meticulously checking each component. Although he wasn't the strongest member of the team, his ability to keep creatures at bay with precise bursts of threshold energy bullets made him invaluable. He looked up at the others and said:
"My weapon isn't the most powerful against aberrations, but at least I can buy you time to act. Plus, if I manage to hit their floating eyes, it disorients them for a few seconds."
Marcus nodded as he inspected his katana, its blade coated with a special material that allowed it to channel threshold energy without overheating.
"That's enough," Marcus responded, his tone calm but firm. "We don't need you to be the strongest, just efficient. That's the key to teamwork."
Lila, on the other hand, held her saber with elegance, slowly spinning it to ensure the energy flowed correctly through it. Her expression was serious, as always.
"The important thing is that our weapons are ready when the time comes," Lila said, briefly glancing at Kai before focusing on Emily, who was inspecting her twin daggers.
Emily, with her usual coldness, tossed one of the daggers into the air and caught it effortlessly, letting out a small satisfied smile.
"These are perfect," she commented, though her tone suggested she expected nothing less. "Ready to cut through anything that crosses our path."
Niel remained silent in a corner, watching as the others prepared their weapons. In his hands rested a short sword, its hilt emitting a faint bluish glow. He didn't need to test it; he knew it would work without issue. For him, conversations about strategies or technical details were irrelevant. The only thing that mattered was the hunt.
Emily, noticing Niel's silence, decided to break it with a sarcastic comment, though keeping her tone low and playful.
"Hey, Niel," she said, crossing her arms as she stared at him, "this time you could leave some creatures for the rest of us, right? It's not fair that you always take all the fun."
Niel looked at her indifferently, his blue eyes glowing faintly under the light.
"It's not my fault they're weak," he replied in his characteristic flat tone, as if stating an unquestionable fact.
Emily let out a brief laugh, almost inaudible but loaded with irony.
"Sure, sure… because obviously, we should all be as 'special' as you."
The other team members exchanged knowing glances, accustomed to the interactions between Emily and Niel. Marcus then intervened, trying to keep the conversation practical.
"Save that for later," he said, placing his katana back in its sheath. "This mission will be different. Harlan told me something important before we came here."
Everyone turned their attention to Marcus, now listening intently.
"First, we won't be using our usual combat gear," Marcus continued. "We'll wear civilian clothes and blend into the city until the threshold event occurs. We can't risk drawing attention to ourselves."
Kai frowned, confused.
"What if creatures appear while we're among the people? It would be chaos."
"Exactly why we need to be ready to act quickly and discreetly," Marcus responded. "But there's more. According to Harlan, not only the military will be involved. Organizations like Erebus and Obsidian Veil will also send resonants. This event is too big to ignore, and they'll want to take advantage of it just as much as we do."
A tense silence filled the room. Everyone knew how dangerous those organizations could be, especially when competing for resources or information related to the mist.
"So, what do we do if we run into them?" Lila asked, her voice calm but full of determination.
Marcus pursed his lips before answering.
"Avoid direct confrontations unless absolutely necessary. Our goal remains gathering information and valuable objects. If Erebus or Obsidian Veil interferes... well, you know how to handle it."
Niel, who had been quiet during the explanation, finally spoke.
"Leave them to me," he said simply, his tone making it clear he didn't consider those rival resonants worthy of concern.
Emily rolled her eyes, though a faint smile curved her lips.
"Of course, because you can handle everything, right?"
Niel didn't respond, simply adjusting his short sword on his belt. For him, words were unnecessary. He knew that when the time came, he would lead the charge, just as he did in Kango.
Marcus sighed, knowing he couldn't change Niel's mindset or the team's dynamics. Instead of insisting, he ended the meeting with a final warning.
"Remember: Geneva isn't like the other places we've been to. There are too many variables at play. Stay calm, stick to the plan, and above all, don't underestimate anyone."
With that, the Fenrir team began preparing to depart.
The Fenrir team arrived in Geneva under the cover of darkness, using one of the undetectable transport ships provided by Umbra Division. These ships, designed with advanced technology to avoid radars and sensors, were essential for missions like this, where any mistake could expose their presence.
As they descended slowly toward the outskirts of the city, the air inside the cabin felt heavier, charged with a strange energy that seemed to vibrate in their bones. It wasn't just the physical environment; there was something else, something latent that everyone could feel.
"Do you feel it?" Kai asked from his seat, his hands still on the ship's controls. His tone was low but filled with unease.
Marcus nodded as he adjusted his seatbelt before landing.
"Threshold energy fluctuations," Marcus responded, his voice calm but alert. "Something big is happening here. We're not just talking about normal threshold events. This… this is different."
Niel remained silent, his gray eyes glowing faintly as he looked out the window. He could feel it too, that familiar energy calling to him, like a distant echo of what he had experienced in Kango. But this time, there was something more.
"Natural resonants," Lila suddenly said, breaking the silence. Her hand rested on the hilt of her saber, as if ready to act at any moment. "There are other resonants here. I can feel them. And they're not ours."
Emily frowned, crossing her arms.
"Rival organizations," she muttered. "Erebus or Obsidian Veil, probably. We knew we wouldn't be alone."
Kai turned to her, worried.
"Do you think they're already looking for the same thing we are?"
"Without a doubt," Emily responded, her tone cold and direct. "But there's something else. I also sense… incomplete resonants. Enhanced soldiers. Surely New Philippines and New Indonesia have already sent their hunting dogs."
Marcus tightened his lips as the ship touched down. The team quickly disembarked, ensuring they blended into the surroundings. Though dressed casually, each of them had access to their modified weapons hidden under jackets and backpacks.
Once on the ground, the Fenrir team decided to move in a civilian vehicle to remain inconspicuous. Marcus drove the car while the others discussed the current situation.
"This doesn't sit right with me," Emily said, breaking the silence inside the vehicle. "If the military is already here, why aren't they evacuating all of Geneva? They usually make up some absurd excuse, block the exits, and clean everything without witnesses. This time, they have more time compared to when it happens near the limits of the mist, where they're always late."
Lila nodded, her expression serious as she observed the urban landscape through the window.
"It's true. Leaving civilians in the city is a huge risk. If the creatures appear en masse, it'll be a massacre. And if someone manages to record something… well, that would be a disaster for them, like in Silver Ridge, except Geneva is hundreds of times bigger."
Kai, from the passenger seat, turned to Emily.
"Maybe they don't have time. Or perhaps…" He hesitated, searching for the right words. "Perhaps they're waiting to see what happens before acting. If this threshold event is as unusual as they say, they might be assessing the situation first."
"Or they're simply underestimating the danger," Niel interjected, his voice flat but full of certainty. "Humans always make that mistake."
Emily rolled her eyes.
"Thanks for the analysis. But you're right. If something goes wrong, thousands of people will die, and the creatures will become worldwide news. What will they do then? Invent another story about 'failed experiments'?"
Before anyone could respond, a pair of military vehicles appeared behind them, turning on their flashing lights. Marcus slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road. A group of soldiers approached the car, their uniforms marked with insignias of New Philippines.
One of the soldiers, a tall man wearing sunglasses despite the night, leaned toward the driver's window.
"Good evening, citizens," the soldier said, his tone professional but firm. "We're proceeding to evacuate Geneva due to an incident at a nearby industrial site. A potential chemical risk has been detected that could affect the population. We ask you to leave the city as soon as possible."
Marcus nodded, maintaining a neutral expression.
"Understood. Thank you for the warning."
The soldier handed them a flyer with evacuation instructions before returning to his vehicle. As they drove away, Emily let out a sarcastic laugh.
"A 'chemical risk,' huh? How original. They don't even bother being creative with their lies."
"It works," Marcus responded, restarting the car. "Most people won't question an official excuse. They just want to get out alive."
"But we're not 'most people,'" Lila said, her tone low but determined. "We know what's really happening here. And if those soldiers are waiting for things to get worse before acting, we might be walking straight into a trap."
Niel, who had been silent during the exchange, finally spoke.
"It doesn't matter. If there are creatures, we'll kill them. If there are resonants, we'll eliminate them. We don't need to wait for others to make decisions for us."
Emily glanced at him sideways, a half-smile on her face.
"Always so optimistic, huh?"
Niel didn't respond. For him, words were unnecessary. He knew that when the time came, the hunt would begin, and nothing and no one would stop him.
The Fenrir team continued toward the outskirts of Geneva, where they planned to set up a temporary base. But everyone knew the real challenge was about to begin. The threshold energy fluctuations grew more intense with each passing minute, and the feeling that something big was about to happen was almost palpable.
As the car continued driving through the deserted streets, Marcus broke the silence with a final warning.
"Remember what I said earlier. Stay calm, follow the plan, and above all, don't underestimate anyone. This won't be like other missions. We're entering unknown territory."
Everyone nodded, their minds focused on what was to come. Geneva wasn't just a city. It was a battlefield, and soon, the first pieces would begin to move.
Suddenly, the air changed. A deep vibration resonated in the atmosphere, as if the ground itself was groaning under the weight of something unimaginable. The night sky briefly lit up with flashes of dark light, like invisible cracks beginning to open.
"What the hell was that?" Kai asked, turning to the others with an alarmed expression.
Before anyone could respond, a sonic explosion shook the vehicle. Marcus braked sharply, and everyone got out of the car to see what was happening.
In the distance, at various points across the city, dimensional fissures appeared—not one, but dozens. Each glowed with a sickly radiance, emanating an energy that distorted the air around them. And from those fissures, creatures began to emerge.
The first to appear were the deformed creatures, twisted and grotesque. Their bodies were an amalgamation of malformed limbs and clumsily stitched-together human parts. Their voices invaded the minds of everyone present, an incomprehensible chorus of whispers that resonated directly in their thoughts.
"This… this doesn't make sense," Lila murmured, unsheathing her saber as she tried to stay calm. "I've never seen so many fissures opening at the same time."
But the worst was yet to come. From some of the larger fissures emerged aberrations. Their bodies, covered in iridescent black scales, shimmered under the streetlights, and the masses of floating eyes on their faces seemed to absorb any trace of hope. Their long, thin claws moved with lethal precision, seeking victims.
"Get ready!" Marcus shouted, drawing his katana as he assessed the situation.
Niel was already in motion, advancing toward the nearest creatures with a maniacal smile on his face. Emily followed closely behind him, her daggers ready to cut through anything that stood in her way. Kai raised his modified rifle, firing bursts of threshold energy to keep the creatures at bay, while Lila and Marcus formed a defensive line.
But then, something different happened. One of the largest fissures, located in the center of the city, began to expand even further. The air around it grew dense, almost liquid, and the shadows seemed to come alive on their own.
From that fissure emerged a tall, thin figure, enveloped in an aura of absolute darkness. Its translucent body glowed with a dark radiance, and the runes floating on its featureless surface emitted a constant hum. It hovered above the ground, its smoke-like wings slowly flapping as its presence filled the space with an unbearable oppression.
"What… what is that?" Kai whispered, his voice trembling as he aimed his weapon at the figure.
Emily took a step back, her eyes fixed on the being.
"It's not a creature… nor an aberration…" she said, her usually cold tone now filled with uncertainty.
The figure tilted its head slightly, as if evaluating the intruders in its territory. Then, its mouth—a thin, imperceptible line—slowly opened, and a sound resonated in the air. It wasn't a scream or a roar, but something deeper, as if the shadows themselves were speaking.
"They're watching us," Niel said, his voice flat but filled with anticipation. "And it wants to play."
The being extended one of its claws toward them, and at that moment, the world seemed to stop. The creatures and aberrations surrounding them froze, as if waiting for an order.
"What do we do now?" Lila asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Marcus tightened his grip on his katana, his gaze fixed on the figure.
"Fight," he responded simply. "We have no other choice."
But before they could make a move, the being launched a devastating attack. A wave of dark energy expanded from its position, disintegrating everything in its path. The Fenrir team barely had time to react, jumping to the sides to avoid being hit.
When the wave passed, the urban landscape was unrecognizable. Collapsed buildings, destroyed vehicles, and the sky covered by a thick, dark mist. The figure remained in the center of it all, immobile but imposing.
"This isn't just an invasion," Emily said, catching her breath as she stood up. "This is a declaration of war."
Niel smiled, his threshold energy beginning to shine brightly.
"Perfect."
And as the Fenrir team prepared to face this new horror, the figure took a step forward, its claws glowing with a deadly light. Whatever it was, it hadn't come to negotiate. It had come to destroy.