The safehouse trembled, concrete groaning under the weight of the Skraith's screech outside—metal tearing, too close, the sound clawing at my skull. I gripped the alien weapon, its green pulse syncing with the kinetic energy humming in my bones, twelve hours left on this new power. Mimicry Active: Tier 1 Kinetic Energy Manipulation. Output Stable. Energy Weapon Analysis: 28% Complete, my system chimed, cold and steady, cutting through the chaos.
Tucker stood by the door, machete raised, muscles tensing as the shadow loomed outside—tall, jagged, armor glinting wet under the moon. Liv's hands crackled blue, sparks dancing, while Jace clutched his stun baton, ribs bruised but stubborn. Rylan groaned on the cot, bandages soaked red, barely conscious.
"Hold it," Liv hissed, pistol trained on the door. "Wait for it to come in."
I nodded, the kinetic energy itching in my palms, a heavy pulse begging to burst. Force Projection Available. Recommend Target Acquisition, the system whispered, syncing with the weapon's hum. I pointed the rod, heart slamming, ready to fire if that thing busted through.
The door shuddered—claw marks raking the metal, sparks flying. Tucker swung, machete flashing, but the Skraith smashed through, armor gleaming, weapon flaring green. I fired—a jagged beam laced with kinetic force, cracking its shell, sending it staggering back. Liv blasted, blue sparks searing its arm, and Tucker lunged, machete biting deep into its leg. It roared, claw swinging, knocking Jace into a crate with a sick crunch.
"Down!" Rylan shouted, weak but firm, firing a faint kinetic burst from the cot. It clipped the Skraith's head, buying seconds.
I lunged, kinetic energy flaring, and slammed a shockwave into its chest—raw force, heavy and wild, shoving it against the wall. The weapon hummed, syncing tighter, and I fired again—a beam laced with force, cracking its armor, dropping it hard. Black blood pooled, stinking sour, as it twitched once, then stilled.
"Clear," Liv panted, lowering her pistol, sparks fading.
Jace groaned, pulling himself up, ribs likely cracked worse. "Nice shot, Kai."
"Lucky," I muttered, wiping sweat from my forehead, the kinetic energy buzzing on. Twelve hours left—and it felt stronger, sharper, syncing with the weapon like it was part of me.
"Luck's bullshit," Rylan rasped, struggling up. "You're getting better."
I didn't argue, just stared at the weapon, the hum syncing tighter. My system pinged. Biological Integration Detected. Kinetic Energy Enhancement Possible. Recommend Sample Collection for Permanent Modification.
I froze, glancing at the Skraith's blood pooling on the floor—black, thick, wrong. Permanent modification? From that? My stomach twisted, sour and heavy, but the hum pushed—eager, insistent. Twelve hours left, and I couldn't lose this, not with Skraiths crawling the city.
"Kai, help me patch Jace," Liv said, sharp, hands glowing as she knelt by him.
I nodded, crouching, the kinetic energy pulsing. My fingers brushed Jace's blood—red, human, superhuman—and the sting hit, sharp and hot, syncing with the hum. Temporary Mimicry Refreshed: Tier 1 Kinetic Energy Manipulation. Duration: 24 Hours.
I exhaled, shaky, standing. The flame, the sparks, the force—they were stacking, pulling me deeper. Twelve hours left on the old mimicry, but this was fresh, raw, and mine for now.
"Keep it quiet," Liv muttered, eyeing me. "We've got enough trouble."
I nodded, the weapon humming, the hum buzzing on. Twelve hours—and I was still changing.
The safehouse felt smaller now, its concrete walls pressing in, the stink of Skraith blood and human sweat thick in the air. I sat by the door, the alien weapon pulsing in my lap, its green glow syncing with the kinetic energy buzzing in my bones, eleven hours left on this fresh mimicry. Mimicry Active: Tier 1 Kinetic Energy Manipulation. Output Increasing. Energy Weapon Analysis: 32% Complete, my system chimed, cold and steady, cutting through the quiet.
Liv patched Jace, hands glowing faint, while Tucker cleaned his machete, the scrape of steel on stone grating my nerves. Rylan rested, pale but breathing, bandages tighter now. The radio crackled, spitting static—Sector 9, still silent, a graveyard we'd barely escaped.
"You're off again," Liv said, voice low, cutting through the hum. "What's eating you this time?"
"Nothing," I lied, sharper than I meant. The weapon hummed louder, syncing with the force in me, heavy and alive. I could feel it—the Skraith's blood on the floor, black and wrong, whispering to the system. Biological Integration Possible. Skraith DNA Compatible. Recommend Sample for Enhancement.
I swallowed, stomach twisting. Skraith blood? Permanent power from that? My hands shook, the kinetic energy itching to flare, but I held it back, staring at the pool on the concrete. Eleven hours left. What if I lost the kinetic energy, the sparks, the flame—everything I'd stolen? What if this was my edge, my only shot against those bastards?
"Kai, talk," Liv pressed, eyes sharp, pistol on her lap.
I hesitated, then nodded at the blood. "That… I can use it. Maybe. Make something permanent."
Her eyes widened, then narrowed. "Skraith blood? You're crazy."
"Maybe," I muttered, wiping sweat from my forehead. "But I'm not losing this."
She didn't argue, just watched me, tense. "If it fries you, don't expect me to scrape you off the floor."
"Fair." I crouched, the weapon humming, and pressed my fingers to the blood—black, thick, wrong. The sting hit—sharp, hot, a burn racing through me, deeper than before. I gasped, knees buckling, but held on, the hum syncing with the pulse.
Integration Initiated: Skraith Biological Component. Minor Physical Enhancement Unlocked. Durability Increased by 10%. Permanent Modification Pending Full Analysis.
I stood, shaky, the kinetic energy stronger, sharper, syncing with my skin—tougher now, harder, like armor. My system buzzed. Analysis Ongoing. Recommend Further Samples for Optimization.
"Holy shit," I whispered, voice cracking.
Liv stared, pistol ready. "You alive?"
"Yeah," I rasped, flexing my hand. A shockwave rippled out, faint but solid, cracking the concrete. "Better, maybe."
She shook her head, smirking faintly. "You're a damn puzzle, Kai."
A screech outside—metal tearing, too close—snapped us straight. Tucker cursed, machete raised, as Liv's hands crackled. My system buzzed. Proximity Alert. Skraith Energy Signature: 10 Meters.
"Skraiths," I whispered, raising the weapon, kinetic energy pulsing.
We were in it now—deep, bloody, and alive.
The safehouse shook, concrete groaning as the Skraith's screech tore through the night—metal on metal, too close, the sound clawing at my skull. I gripped the alien weapon, its green pulse syncing with the enhanced kinetic energy in my bones, ten hours left on the mimicry, my skin tougher now, 10% more durable from that Skraith blood. Mimicry Active: Tier 1 Kinetic Energy Manipulation. Output Optimized. Physical Enhancement: Stable. Energy Weapon Analysis: 35% Complete, my system chimed, cold and steady, cutting through the chaos.
Tucker stood by the door, machete raised, muscles tensing as the shadow loomed outside—tall, jagged, armor glinting wet under the moon. Liv's hands crackled blue, sparks dancing, while Jace clutched his stun baton, ribs bruised but stubborn. Rylan groaned, pale but breathing, bandages tighter now.
"Hold it," Liv hissed, pistol trained on the door. "Wait for it to come in."
I nodded, the kinetic energy itching in my palms, a heavy pulse begging to burst. Force Projection Available. Recommend Target Acquisition, the system whispered, syncing with the weapon's hum. I pointed the rod, heart slamming, ready to fire if that thing busted through.
The door shattered—claws raking, armor smashing through, green weapon flaring. I fired—a jagged beam laced with kinetic force, cracking its shell, sending it staggering back. Liv blasted, blue sparks searing its arm, and Tucker lunged, machete biting deep into its leg. It roared, claw swinging, knocking Jace into a crate with a sick crunch.
"Down!" Rylan shouted, weak but firm, firing a faint kinetic burst from the cot. It clipped the Skraith's head, buying seconds.
I lunged, kinetic energy flaring, and slammed a shockwave into its chest—raw force, heavy and wild, shoving it against the wall. My enhanced skin held, tougher, as I fired again—a beam laced with force, cracking its armor, dropping it hard. Black blood pooled, stinking sour, as it twitched once, then stilled.
"Clear," Liv panted, lowering her pistol, sparks fading.
Jace groaned, pulling himself up, ribs likely cracked worse. "Nice shot, Kai."
"Lucky," I muttered, wiping sweat from my forehead, the kinetic energy buzzing on. Ten hours left—and my skin felt different, harder, like steel under flesh.
"Luck's bullshit," Rylan rasped, struggling up. "You're getting dangerous."
I didn't argue, just stared at the weapon, the hum syncing tighter. My system pinged. Biological Integration Optimized. Recommend Further Skraith Samples for Enhanced Durability and Strength.
I froze, glancing at the blood pool—black, thick, wrong. More Skraith blood? Permanent power from that? My stomach twisted, but the hum pushed—eager, insistent. Ten hours left, and I couldn't lose this edge, not with Skraiths crawling the city.
"Kai, help me with Rylan," Liv said, sharp, hands glowing as she pressed them to his wounds.
I nodded, crouching, the kinetic energy pulsing. My fingers brushed Rylan's blood—red, human, superhuman—and the sting hit, sharp and hot, syncing with the hum. Temporary Mimicry Refreshed: Tier 1 Kinetic Energy Manipulation. Duration: 24 Hours.
I stood, shaky, the durability holding, the force stronger. Nine hours left on the old mimicry, but this was fresh, raw, and mine.
"Keep it quiet," Liv muttered, eyeing me. "We've got enough trouble."
I nodded, the weapon humming, the hum buzzing on. Ten hours—and I was still changing, steel and shadow both.