To City Z

The team arrived at the military outpost. A rusted fence, half-collapsed and overrun with vines, encircled the perimeters giving the place an air of desolation. 

"It doesn't look abandoned enough for my liking." Alexia murmured, her katana ready in her hand.

Quinn scanned the area, his shadows slithering forward like silent scouts. "It's not. I can feel movement inside."

Damien's brow furrowed, his energy field flickering faintly around him. "Then we should stay sharp. This outpost might have what we need, but the people inside might not give it up without a fight."

The trio slipped through a gap in the fence, their movements deliberate and quiet. The air inside was stale, the faint smell of blood and decays lingering. 

A man came out of one of the crumbling buildings, he had grizzled features and an air of stubborn authority followed by exhausted and emanciated looking gaurds, Damien walked up to the man, and they spoke for about thirty minutes, Damien walked back with an air of frustration followed by the man. 

He stood before them, arms crossed tightly over his chest. He exuded a sense of control, but Alexia could see the cracks in his facade.

"We don't need your help," Grey said, his tone sharp and dismissive.

Damien's jaw tightened, his calm exterior betraying a flicker of frustration. "Your walls won't hold when the horde arrives. You've got half-trained guards and no real defenses. Let us help---"

"I don't need outsiders meddling in my outpost," Grey interrupted. "Take your group and leave before i make it official."

Damien stepped forward, his presence commanding as he stared Grey down. "If you think this outpost can survive the horde without help, you're signing everyone's death warrant."

Grey's lip twitched into a bitter smile. "We've made it this far. We'll manage. Now get out."

Alexia placed a hand on Damien's arm, pulling him back. "It's not worth it," she murmured, her eyes locked in Grey. "We've done what we could."

Damien nodded his head, at first, he came here looking for supplies but later he felt the need to stay till the horde passes so they can protect this outpost, but he felt it wasn't needed anymore, so he turned around with the team in tow.

The group had barely made it a mile from the outpost when Alexia's system pinged:

[Proceed to City Z. Location critical for upcoming events. Prepare for immediate threats.]

[40 hours before the horde.]

Alexia frowned, recalling it told her to also head to City Z earlier. "The system wants us to head to City Z."

"City z?" Quinn asked, raising an eyebrow. "That place has been overrun for months now."

Damien glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Does it say why?" 

Alexia shook her head. "Just that it's critical for something coming."

Damien sighed, running a hand through his hair. 

"Then we go. If the system says it's important, we trust it."

Quinn glanced at her, his dark eyes flickering with curiosity. "You're getting more directives lately. Any ideas why?"

"No," Alexia admitted. "But if it gets us through this, I'm not questioning it."

City Z was a ghost town. Buildings stood half-collapsed, their windows shattered, and walls scorched. The streets were eerily silent, save for the occasional creak of metal or rustle of debris in the wind.

"Stay close," Alexia warned, her voice low.

The system guided them through the city, its direction precise and unerring. They reached an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts, its heavy metal doors slightly ajar.

"This is it," Alexia said.

The group slipped inside; weapons drawn. The air was thick with dust, but the space was clear of immediate threats.

"We'll regroup here," Damien said, surveying the area. "But we need time to prepare."

Alexia nodded, beckoning on the others to come closer.

Alexia flashed them all into the system's sanctuary, the world around them shifted. They stood in a vast, serene space bathed in soft light. The air was crisp, and the endless expanse offered an almost calming backdrop.

Alexia turned to the group. "We have time here. Let's make it count."

In the sanctuary, the group were busy training for their next fight, Alex was fixing and conjuring up drones, building little bots for automated defenses, he even built a housekeeper for Alexia. He muttered to himself as he scanned the blueprints provided by the system, his eyes alight with excitement.

"These turrets will cover blind spots," he explained to Alexia, pointing to a holographic map. "And the drones can scout infected movements once we're back in the city."

Quinn, on the other hand, focused on his shadows. He practiced summoning tendrils of darkness, shaping them into blades and barriers. Alexia watched as he immobilized holographic targets with ease, his movements fluid and precise.

"Not bad," she said with a smirk.

Quinn shot her a rare grin. "Just wait until I use this in the field."

Damien sat cross-legged; his eyes closed as he concentrated on his telepathic abilities. Alexia could feel the subtle ripple of his power as he reached out, testing his limits.

He opened his eyes and looked at her. "I can't read you," he said, a hint of frustration in his tone.

"You've mentioned that before, and I let you know the system has something to do with that." Alexia replied.

"Tell it turn whatever it's doing off," Damien said with a hint of begging in his tone. 

Alexia just looked at him with a hint of something in her eyes before she sashayed away.

Alexia also spent her time sparring with the group, her skills shining as she devised strategies for the horde. She pushed them hard, her own skills pacing with theirs.

When they returned to city Z, the sun was beginning to set. Alex quickly deployed his defenses, setting up turrets and traps in key locations. The group worked seamlessly, their time in the sanctuary paying off.

Alexia's system pinged again:

[10 minutes before horde arrives. Threat level rising.]

She turned to the group, her expression steely. "This is it. Everyone ready?"

They nodded, determination etched into their faces.

The first wave of horde hit like a tidal wave. The group held their ground, their defenses holding strong against the onslaught.

Then, out of nowhere, a figure appeared in the chaos. He moved with deadly precision, his hands glowed as he manipulated the infected. Muscles locked, nerves short-circuited, and the creatures combusting and falling like marionettes with their strings cut.

"Who the hell is that?" Quinn shouted, his shadows slicing through a cluster of infected.

Alexia's eyes narrowed. "Let's find out."

When the dust settled, the figure stood amidst his carnage, his chest heaving. He turned to the group, his expression wary but intrigued.

"If you're still standing after that, maybe you're worth sticking around for," he said. "Just don't get in my way."

Alexia looked at the others confused but still replied, "Okayyy."

"Name's Devon by the way," he said.

Alexia met his gaze, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Alexia, Damien, Quinn and Alex," she said pointing to the guys, as each exchanged nods.

"Welcome to the team I guess."