Assailants

Daniel's mind was in a jumble. The shock of the shot, the sight of the blood, and the ensuing chaos overwhelmed his senses. He realized someone had shot one of the Forsaken, but it clearly wasn't him. However, it was enough to ignite the simmering distrust and anger among the Forsaken.The Forsaken who had cursed at him earlier pointed an accusing finger. "YOU!"In an instant, the rest of the Forsaken surged forward with angry shouts, curses, and growls. Their initial hesitation and restraint were gone replaced by a feral rage."Goddammit!" Daniel cursed inside his mind. The situation had spiraled out of control, and now it was a fight for survival.Adrenaline surged through his veins. He clutched the briefcase tightly and dashed toward the nearest exit. His body moved on instinct, driven by the enhancements SELENE provided. He ducked and weaved through the oncoming attackers, his mind focused solely on escape.A Forsaken lunged at him from the side, but Daniel was faster. He delivered a powerful punch to the man's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground.Another Forsaken came at him from the front, swinging a makeshift weapon. Daniel dodged the strike and countered with a swift kick to the man's midsection, doubling him over in pain.Daniel punched, kicked, and elbowed his way through the mass of bodies. Each movement was precise, guided by SELENE's strategic analysis.["User, head toward the left exit. It's your best chance for escape,"] SELENE's voice cut through the chaos, providing a lifeline of clarity.Daniel followed her instructions, his path becoming clearer as he fought his way through. The Forsaken's furious cries echoed around him, but he didn't dare look back. His focus was on the exit, the promise of safety beyond the alley.Daniel tried to avoid using his rifle as much as possible. He still didn't want to kill these people. However, if the situation really pushed him, Daniel thought that maybe he would have to.Finally he broke free from the throng of attackers and dashed toward the left exit. His breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles burning from the exertion.Suddenly, a Forsaken lunged at Daniel from the side, and another grabbed his leg from behind. Before he could react, a third Forsaken tackled him from the front, sending him sprawling forward. The briefcase flew out of his grasp, skidding across the rough ground.Daniel hit the ground hard, the impact jolting through his body. The Forsaken who had tackled him wrapped his arms around Daniel's torso, holding him in a vise-like grip. Daniel struggled, but the mutated man's strength was formidable.The Forsaken holding his leg tightened their grip, their nails digging into his skin. Daniel gritted his teeth, his heart pounding as he tried to free himself. The chaos around him seemed to amplify, the shouts and curses of the other Forsaken growing louder.With the briefcase now out of reach and his body pinned, Daniel's situation had gone from dire to desperate.Suddenly, from the shadows of the crumbled building, a dozen or more men in combat gear emerged, their weapons trained on the Forsaken.BANG!BANG!BANG!The night erupted in gunfire as they started shooting, their precision and firepower overwhelming the Forsaken.The Forsaken holding Daniel looked up, shock and fear etched across his mutated features. Daniel himself was equally shocked, his heart pounding in his chest as he processed the sudden turn of events."What the hell is happening now, SELENE?" Daniel asked.["User, multiple hostiles have entered the area. They appear to have been lying in wait for several minutes before launching their attack,"] SELENE responded, her tone calm despite the chaos."Why didn't you inform me earlier?" Daniel demanded, frustration creeping into his voice.["At our current level of assimilation, my ability to provide comprehensive insights into the surrounding area is limited. I am unable to perceive all threats in real time while also helping you to survive."]Daniel cursed under his breath, realizing the danger of his situation. The Forsaken around him were falling back, some managing to return fire, while others succumbed to the onslaught.The Forsaken holding him loosened his grip momentarily, distracted by the sudden attack.Seeing an opportunity, Daniel wrenched himself free from the mutant's grasp and rolled to the side. He glanced around, spotting the briefcase a few meters away. The firefight raged on, bullets whizzing past him as he made a desperate dash for the briefcase.Daniel quickly unslung his rifle from his back, his movements fueled by adrenaline. Raising the weapon, he took aim at one of the attackers and fired.BANG!His shot found its mark, and the man crumpled to the ground.Daniel felt a surge of satisfaction. "My aim's definitely better with SELENE's help," he thought, momentarily impressed despite the chaos.He dashed toward the briefcase, dodging bullets and weaving through the pandemonium. Grabbing the handle, he clutched it tightly, his heart pounding in his chest.Amid the cacophony of gunfire and shouting, he heard a voice from the hostile group cut through the noise. "TAKE THE DATA AND EQUIPMENT! THE BRIEFCASE IS EMPTY! KILL ALL OF THEM!"Daniel's eyes widened. He realized that now the Forsaken and the new attackers both vying for control, the situation had become even more dangerous.They knew that if the briefcase was already empty, it meant they had been observing from the beginning. They would now likely focus on killing the Forsaken, especially the big man who most likely had all the contents from the briefcase.Daniel's heart felt a little bitter knowing that these poor people would likely be slaughtered. They just wanted to cure their ailment, yet they would die for it.He couldn't just stand by and watch them be massacred. Raising his rifle again, he took aim at the attackers. His enhanced senses guided his shot, and with a pull of the trigger he took down one more of them. The hostile man crumpled to the ground, a lifeless heap amid the chaos.And also, this could be a good opportunity to train himself.---