Onslaught

The secure hideout buzzed with an uneasy silence, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Jade, Hector, Maverick, and Ethan gathered around a flickering monitor displaying static and garbled transmissions. They had been trying to reach Alex, Lia, Gabriel, and Echo for hours, but every attempt was met with dead air. The realization hit them all at once: their friends were out of reach, which could only mean one thing—trouble or worse.

~

Ethan sat in the corner, lost in his thoughts. The weight of their predicament pressed heavily on him. He closed his eyes, focusing on the one thing that might give him an edge—his special ability, Neuron. It had recently upgraded, allowing him to perceive his surroundings within a seven-foot radius. But the ability felt like a cruel joke, offering limited usefulness in the face of the deadly Eradicators.

"It's like seeing the world through a fogged window," Ethan muttered to himself. He could sense movements and shapes, but the details were blurry, indistinct.

He remembered the shield that had once enveloped him, protecting him from harm. But try as he might, he couldn't recall how he had activated it. It had been instinctual, a desperate reaction to danger. Now, with the threat looming closer, he needed that shield more than ever.

A soft chime from his system interface interrupted his thoughts. A message flashed before his eyes:

[Upgrade Neuron to Level 10] enhanced protection, branches of interconnected abilities.

Ethan heart sank. He checked his experience points—he only had enough to upgrade to [level 4]. It felt like he was standing at the base of an insurmountable mountain, ill-equipped for the climb.

"Useless," he whispered, frustration gnawing at him. But he knew that even this limited ability could potentially save his life if used wisely.

He opened his eyes, the dim light of the hideout sharpening into focus. Determined, he resolved to make the most of what he had. Even a flickering candle could pierce the darkness, and he was willing to fight for every bit of light.

Night descended upon the hideout, casting long shadows that seemed to creep ever closer, suffocating the last vestiges of light and hope. Ethan stood near a grimy window, peering out into the darkness. His mind churned with doubt and fear. He had undergone training, yes, but it felt superficial, a veneer of confidence spread too thin over a deep well of inadequacy.

His Neuron ability—perceiving surroundings within a mere seven-foot radius—seemed laughably inadequate. And the shield he had once summoned? A fluke, a desperate gambit he couldn't replicate. He looked down at his weapon: a blunt, heavy metal pipe. He hefted it in his hands, feeling its cold weight, but it might as well have been a twig against the force that was coming.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" he whispered to himself, the pipe slipping slightly in his sweaty palms.

The first sign of trouble was a loud, echoing bang. It reverberated through the hideout, making the walls tremble and dust cascade from the ceiling. Ethan's heart leapt into his throat as the realization struck— the Eradicators had arrived. More banging followed, each thud growing louder, more insistent, a countdown to disaster.

"Everyone, to your positions!" Maverick shouted, his voice cutting through the rising panic.

The team scrambled to reinforce their makeshift defenses. Hector was already by the door, his broad frame tense and ready, while Jade flitted between cover points, her eyes sharp and focused. Ethan felt the weight of his own uselessness bearing down on him.

"Ethan, go hide!" Jade ordered, pointing to a narrow passage that led deeper into the building.

"But—" he started, his protest dying in his throat. He felt a deep sense of guilt and shame, knowing he was being relegated to safety while they faced the danger head-on. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to stay and fight, but he couldn't deny the logic in Jade's command.

Reluctantly, he complied, finding a secure spot behind a stack of old crates. His breath came in shallow, rapid bursts, the air thick with tension. From his hiding place, he could hear the increasing violence of the assault—the Eradicators pounding on their defenses, the walls shaking with each hit.

A faint chime echoed in Ethan's mind, drawing his gaze to a translucent screen that materialized before him. The system quest glowed ominously,

A system message hovered in front of him, its glowing text a cruel reminder of his predicament

[Quest]> Eliminate 5 Eradicators.

Rewards: Experience > +90000

Skill Points> +4

Upgrade Materials > [??]

Ethan swallowed hard. The quest was a mockery, a reminder that the creatures would soon break through. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a countdown to the inevitable. He could hear the muffled sounds of a fierce battle beginning—the crash of barricades, the sharp crack of gunfire, and the unearthly screeches of the Eradicators.

From his hiding spot behind the crates, Ethan's ears were assaulted by the cacophony of battle. The hideout was filled with the deafening sounds of conflict—the crash of barricades being shattered, the shouts of his friends as they engaged the enemy, and the rapid, staccato burst of gunfire. Each sound amplified his anxiety, the walls reverberating with the intensity of the fight outside his sanctuary.

He clenched his metal pipe tighter, feeling the cold, rough surface bite into his palms. His breath came in shallow gasps, his mind racing. The longer he stayed hidden, the more acute his fear became. His friends were out there risking their lives, and he was cowering in the shadows.

A sudden crash, louder than the rest, jolted him into action. Ethan couldn't remain hidden any longer. His conscience wouldn't allow it. Summoning every ounce of courage, he forced himself to his feet, his legs trembling with fear and adrenaline.

"I can't let them fight alone," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Stepping out from his hiding spot, he felt a surge of determination. He would help, even if it meant facing the nightmare head-on. No sooner had he resolved to act than a cold, mechanical eye locked onto him from across the room. An Eradicator, its form a twisted amalgamation of metal and shadow, zeroed in on his position.

The creature accelerated with a terrifying speed, closing the distance in less than three seconds. Ethan barely had time to raise his makeshift weapon before the Eradicator was upon him, knocking him aside with a brutal swipe. He crashed into the wall, the impact sending waves of pain through his body.

Desperately, the Neuron shield activated, a shimmering barrier encasing him just in time to absorb the Eradicator's relentless blows. The shield held, but he knew it wouldn't last forever. Ten minutes was all he had for it consumed a lot of his reserved energy.

He struggled to his feet, bracing himself against the onslaught. The Eradicator's strikes were relentless, each one hammering against the shield, each one a reminder of how unprepared he was for this fight. Despite his resolve, he found himself unable to fight back effectively. The shield was his only saving grace, but it was a temporary reprieve.

With only thirty seconds left on his shield, Ethan felt the pressure mounting. Desperation clawed at him as he swung his pipe wildly, hoping to fend off the relentless foe. Just as the shield was about to fail, a shot rang out. Jade, her expression fierce and focused, fired a precise shot that severed one of the Eradicator's limbs.

"Ethan, get down!" she shouted, moving swiftly. Another shot followed, and the creature's head exploded in a shower of sparks and metal fragments.

"Come on, we have to move!" Jade urged, grabbing Ethan's arm and pulling him towards another exit.

Ethan cast a reluctant glance back towards the room where Maverick and Hector were still fighting. A deep sense of guilt and helplessness welled up inside him, but Jade's grip was firm, and her resolve unshakeable.

"There's nothing more we can do for them here. We need to go, now!" Jade insisted, her voice brooking no argument.

Ethan nodded, swallowing hard. They had to survive to fight another day. As they slipped through the exit, the sounds of battle fading behind them, he resolved to become stronger.