In a secret room, isolated from the chaos consuming Geneva, the high-ranking leaders of the world's powers gathered around a large circular table. The room was dimly lit, and the air vibrated with tension as holograms floated in the center of the table, projecting real-time images of what was happening in the devastated city streets. Videos transmitted by surviving soldiers showed scenes of horror: deformed creatures tearing civilians apart, aberrations crushing armored vehicles as if they were toys, and mutilated bodies scattered everywhere.
General Teguh Wibowo, representative of New Indonesia, broke the initial silence. His voice was deep and filled with frustration.
"This is unprecedented," he said, pointing to one of the holograms where a group of incomplete resonants was trying to resist the attack of an aberration. "We've deployed nearly 10,000 soldiers specifically trained to fight these creatures, including our incomplete resonants, but they're falling like flies! Less than 3,000 are still standing!"
Admiral Isabela Reyes, military leader of New Philippines, nodded grimly. Her hands were clasped on the table, and her eyes followed every movement in the transmissions.
"It's useless to send more troops if we don't have a clear plan," Reyes responded, her tone sharp but controlled. "These creatures… these aberrations… are stronger and more numerous than we anticipated. And now, according to reports, there's something worse: a superior being that seems to be coordinating the creatures and aberrations. An entity that not even our most advanced weapons can stop."
Prime Minister Victor Langley, representative of one of the European powers, interrupted with a brusque gesture.
"Coordinating? A superior being?" he repeated, incredulous. "We can't afford to speculate. Whatever it is, we need to capture it. If this entity controls the aberrations, then it's our only chance to stop this massacre."
Wibowo let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.
"Capture it, he says. With what forces, Langley? Look at the transmissions. Not even our best-trained troops can get close to that being without being annihilated. This isn't a conventional war; we're dealing with something beyond our understanding… and beyond our control."
Reyes also stood up, facing Wibowo.
"Maybe we don't have another choice. I've ordered the deployment of another 10,000 soldiers, but I know many of you disagree. Some already see Geneva as a lost city. But if we don't do something, this won't stay confined to Geneva. The rifts will keep expanding, and soon there'll be nowhere left to hide."
President Dmitri Volkov, representative of one of the Euro-Asian powers, leaned forward, his face marked by years of leadership under pressure.
"We can't ignore the obvious," Volkov said, his voice low but authoritative. "We've detected agents from organizations like Umbra Division, Erebus, and Obsidian Veil operating within Geneva. Those bastards have natural resonants among their ranks. Complete resonants, powerful enough to take on dozens of creatures and aberrations simultaneously. While our soldiers are dying by the dozens, those agents are clearing entire streets."
Wibowo slammed his fist on the table, his frustration evident.
"Damn it! Those bastards have decades of advantage over us. Their natural resonants are monsters compared to our incomplete ones! Even the aberrations fall before them! And here we are, sending our best men to certain death because we don't have access to that kind of power."
Langley sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"It's easy to feel jealous, General, but that doesn't help us. What we need is to understand why these organizations have sent so many agents. This superior entity… it must be something special. Perhaps there's an object, some artifact related to dimensional rifts, that's drawing their attention. If we can figure out what it is, we might have a chance to level the playing field."
Reyes nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on one of the holograms where an Erebus team was eliminating an aberration with surgical precision.
"You're right. This entity isn't acting randomly. Something has appeared in Geneva that's attracting both the creatures and these organizations. And if we want to survive this, we need to make sure we get our share of the pie."
Someone mentioned the possibility of negotiating with the organizations. Everyone present turned their heads toward a figure who had remained silent until now. Sitting in a corner of the room, The Custodian observed the scene with serenity and elegance. His posture was relaxed, but his dark, penetrating eyes seemed to calculate every word being spoken.
"Negotiating with the organizations…" Wibowo muttered, looking at The Custodian. "That requires an intermediary. Someone who can speak with them without making us seem like a direct threat."
The Custodian raised his gaze, his expression impassive.
"The organizations don't negotiate. Not in the traditional sense," he said calmly, his deep voice resonating in the room. "But if you want to try, I can open a channel. Though I doubt they'll accept. The last time the high command requested their help was during the destruction of K-17."
At the mention of K-17, everyone in the room fell silent. It was a delicate subject, a painful memory no one wanted to relive.
"K-17…" Reyes murmured, her voice barely audible. "Those facilities have been destroyed for over 20 years. But they're in southern Geneva, underground. And now…" She paused, checking the data on her tablet. "Now we notice that most of the creatures and aberrations are heading there. Even the superior entity moved to the center of Geneva, as if orchestrating everything from the shadows."
Langley frowned.
"What's in K-17 that's drawing their attention? Why now?"
The Custodian slowly stood up, walking toward the table. Everyone watched him intently.
"K-17 was a secret UN facility where forbidden experiments were conducted. They were trying to create more powerful humans by fusing them with aberrations. According to rumors, they succeeded, but they couldn't control their creations. Umbra Division intervened after the destruction, eliminating most of the subjects, though I'm sure some escaped."
He paused, letting the words resonate in the room.
"But that's not all. It's also said that in K-17 they possessed a special artifact obtained during World War II during the appearance of the Mist. No one knows exactly what it does, but when Umbra Division arrived 20 years ago, they searched for it without success. Perhaps those rumors were true, and now something in those ruins is attracting the creatures and aberrations."
Volkov slammed the table forcefully.
"Then send the soldiers south. Have them enter the destroyed facilities and find out what's inside. If we find something valuable, we can use it against these creatures."
Reyes shook her head.
"It's suicide. Those facilities are an underground labyrinth full of traps and dangers. Besides, if we send our soldiers there, they could come face-to-face with the superior entity."
Langley interjected, his tone firmer.
"If there are no results in the next few hours, we'll activate Protocol Omega. We'll launch a tactical nuclear missile and wipe Geneva off the map."
A murmur of disagreement spread through the room.
"What if nuclear weapons don't work against the creatures and the superior entity?" Wibowo asked, concerned.
"We don't know," Reyes replied. "But we can't take the risk. If we don't stop this, the rifts will keep expanding. Besides…" She paused, looking at the others. "This will also give us the opportunity to eliminate the natural resonants of the organizations. It'll be a direct blow against them."
Finally, after long deliberations, they decided to activate Protocol Omega. They ordered the nuclear missile to be launched within a maximum of five hours. Until then, they would send the last available soldiers south, toward the ruins of K-17, hoping to find answers before it was too late.
While the debate over Protocol Omega and the ruins of K-17 reached its peak, a communications officer burst into the secret room. His face was pale, and his hands trembled slightly as he held a tablet containing critical information. Everyone present looked at him with a mix of irritation and impatience at the interruption, but something in his expression made even The Custodian raise an eyebrow.
"Gentlemen," the officer began, his voice tense, "we've received an urgent report from CERN. Apparently, someone managed to infiltrate their facilities a few hours before the mass evacuation triggered by the events in Geneva. This individual accessed classified data directly related to research on the Mist and dimensional rifts."
A heavy silence fell over the room like a thick blanket. Reyes was the first to break it, leaning forward with renewed interest.
"What kind of data? And who is this intruder?" she asked sharply.
The officer swallowed hard before continuing.
"We don't have complete details yet due to the chaos surrounding the evacuation of CERN, but it seems they obtained sensitive files about recent experiments linked to threshold energy fluctuations detected near Geneva. Additionally..." He paused uncomfortably. "There's reason to believe it might be the same person the UN has been actively searching for recently."
Langley frowned, visibly annoyed.
"The UN? Why the hell didn't we know anything about this until now?"
The Custodian then intervened, his voice calm but authoritative.
"Because the UN operates under its own secrecy protocols when it comes to matters involving the Mist. They don't share information with anyone, not even with us. But if they're involved, it means this intruder isn't just anyone. They're likely either extremely dangerous or incredibly valuable, depending on whose side they're playing for."
Wibowo slammed the table again, frustrated.
"Another player in this disaster! First the clandestine organizations, then that superior entity, and now a loose spy with vital information. Will this nightmare ever end?"
Volkov, always pragmatic, crossed his arms as he analyzed the situation.
"If they really have access to that data, they could reveal secrets that none of our nations should know. Whoever they are, we can't afford to ignore them."
Reyes slowly shook her head, showing a hint of resignation.
"With all the current chaos, finding them would practically be impossible. Even if we mobilized additional forces, I doubt we'd reach them before they act or escape. And since the UN is already on their trail, I suggest we let them handle this."
A murmur of agreement spread through the room. Although none of the leaders fully trusted the UN, they all understood that direct intervention would only complicate things further. Besides, with time running out and Protocol Omega scheduled to be executed in less than five hours, they had more urgent priorities.
Finally, Langley spoke, closing the topic with a firm gesture.
"It's decided. We'll leave the UN to deal with this intruder. We'll focus on sending our remaining resources south, toward the ruins of K-17, and prepare to implement Protocol Omega. The last thing we need is another open front in the middle of this crisis."
Everyone nodded, though some reluctantly. They knew they were leaving loose ends, but at that moment, any attempt at absolute control was simply unfeasible.
The Custodian returned to his seat, watching as the world leaders refocused their attention on the holograms and tactical maps. However, his dark eyes remained fixed on the officer who had brought the report, as if sensing something more behind the words spoken.
Outside the room, the world continued to collapse. And somewhere in the shadows of Geneva, Ethan moved toward the unknown, unaware that both the UN and the world powers had set their sights on him.