The Price of Survival

The shockwave from the superior being had left Team Fenrir scattered among the rubble. Niel was the first to rise, his gray eyes now glowing with an electric blue as his Threshold energy began to overflow beyond normal levels.

"Control your power, Niel!" Marcus shouted as he got to his feet, his katana ready for combat. But Niel didn't respond; a manic smile spread across his face as he stared at the superior being.

"Too strong... too good..." Niel murmured, his voice trembling with anticipation.

Before Marcus could react, twenty deformed creatures emerged from the shadows. Kai responded first, firing precise bursts of Threshold energy that disoriented the front rows.

"Cover us!" Marcus ordered as Lila and Emily formed a defensive barrier.

The creatures attacked like a dark tide. Lila swung her saber with deadly elegance, cutting through malformed limbs, while Emily danced between them, her twin daggers flashing with Threshold energy. Every movement was precise, every strike fatal.

"This will never end," Emily remarked coldly as she pierced the skull of one creature.

But the worst was yet to come. Five aberrations appeared suddenly, surrounding them. Their bodies covered in iridescent black scales shimmered under the streetlights, and the floating clusters of eyes on their faces seemed to drain any trace of hope.

"Watch out! These are different," Kai warned as he reloaded his modified rifle.

Niel was already moving before anyone could react. With superhuman speed, he closed the distance to the first aberration and plunged both hands into its chest. A burst of pure energy exploded the creature from within, sending fragments of flesh and scales flying in all directions.

"Shit!" Emily exclaimed as she dodged the debris. "What the hell was that?"

The other aberrations tried to take advantage of the chaos but made a fatal mistake: they attempted to absorb the residual energy. When one touched the remains of its companion, a second explosion lit up the street.

"Their energy... it's different," Lila observed as she blocked an attack with her saber. "It's like poison to them."

Marcus seized the confusion to decapitate another aberration. "Retreat! This is a trap."

But Niel wasn't listening. His body was enveloped in a pulsating armor of Threshold energy, his movements more aggressive, more feral. He impaled another aberration with his short sword, and when it tried to regenerate, it simply detonated from within.

The superior being watched everything from a distance, its ethereal figure vibrating slightly, as if it were... intrigued. The runes on its featureless surface glowed brighter as it tilted its head, studying Niel with particular interest.

"Niel, damn it, we need to move!" Marcus shouted as he helped Kai to his feet. The young marksman had suffered a deep gash on his arm during the chaos.

"No... not yet," Niel replied, his voice distorted. "I can still feel more... they're close..."

Emily exchanged a worried glance with Lila. Both knew what was happening: Niel was losing control, his thirst for battle overwhelming any survival instinct.

"Like a cat playing with a trapped mouse," Emily muttered as she threw a dagger that cleanly pierced the skull of the last aberration. "That's exactly what that... that thing is doing."

The superior being slowly extended one of its claws toward them, as if considering something. The air temperature dropped abruptly, and the shadows began to stretch unnaturally.

"It's studying us," Lila whispered, her voice barely audible. "Niel especially."

Marcus made a quick decision. "Kai, prepare the retreat. Emily, Lila, cover our flanks. I'll handle Niel."

But before Marcus could approach, Niel spoke with unexpected clarity, as if part of his sanity had momentarily returned.

"I'll cover you," Niel said firmly, his tone determined. Without waiting for a response, he charged forward directly toward the superior being.

Team Fenrir watched in disbelief as Niel channeled a burst of Threshold energy from his hand, attempting to disrupt whatever attack the being was planning. To their surprise, the being halted its advance and tilted its head, intrigued by the resonant's audacity.

Niel seized the moment to attack with his short sword, launching himself at the being with superhuman speed. But when his blade struck what appeared to be an invisible shield, a shockwave repelled his attack, sending him flying several meters backward.

Far from discouraging him, the rejection only fueled his frenzy. His blue eyes glowed intensely, and then, inexplicably, began to shift to a vibrant purple hue. A surge of power coursed through his body, as if something inside him had been fully unleashed.

"Now we're talking!" Niel roared, his voice resonating with a mix of excitement and madness. With a violent motion, he shattered the being's shield and managed to land a direct hit with his sword, leaving a mark on the translucent surface of the entity.

The being stepped back slightly, as if genuinely surprised by the force of the attack. But it quickly regained composure and responded with a series of devastating attacks. Claws of dark energy erupted from the ground, forcing Niel to move with extreme agility to avoid being torn apart.

The battle between them was brutal and spectacular. Niel unleashed bursts of purplish energy that illuminated the street like lightning, while the superior being countered with precise and lethal attacks that seemed to manipulate the very shadows around it. Despite Niel's ferocity, it became clear that the superior being wasn't being significantly harmed. On the other hand, Niel accumulated deep wounds, blood staining his clothes and dripping onto the pavement.

Meanwhile, Team Fenrir watched from a distance, torn between awe and concern.

"What the hell is happening to him?" Kai asked, adjusting his rifle while keeping an eye on the fight.

"His energy... I've never seen anything like it," Lila murmured, her expression tense. "It's like he's evolving right in front of us."

Just then, a group of soldiers appeared on the scene, some carrying cameras and recording equipment. They seemed determined to document the superior being, ignoring the danger it posed.

"Idiots!" Emily exclaimed, frowning. "Do they really think they can film that thing without dying?"

Niel took advantage of the chaos caused by the soldiers' arrival. As the superior being momentarily distracted itself with the intruders, Niel quickly retreated, deactivating his purplish energy and returning to his usual state. His eyes reverted to electric blue as he ran toward where his team had taken refuge.

"Let's go!" he shouted upon reaching them, his breathing labored and his body covered in wounds.

Marcus looked at him sternly. "Are you ready to follow orders now?"

Niel didn't respond. He simply nodded, though a faint smile crossed his face as he recalled the sensation of purplish power coursing through his veins.

Team Fenrir wasted no more time. With Niel back in formation, they moved swiftly through the devastated streets, distancing themselves from the superior being and the chaos that continued to spread across Geneva.

Team Fenrir moved quickly through the ruined streets, their shadows cast by the distant flashes of explosions illuminating the night sky. Niel led the group, his breathing ragged but steady as he tried to ignore the wounds covering his body. Despite everything, a part of him still vibrated with the thrill of the recent confrontation, as if something inside him longed to return and continue the fight against the superior being. However, he knew it wasn't the time. Not yet.

Marcus maintained a stern expression as they advanced. His katana still smoked slightly from the intense use of Threshold energy during the battle. Finally, after ensuring they were far enough from the immediate chaos, he raised a hand to stop the team.

"Halt," Marcus commanded, his tone firm but controlled. He pulled a communication device from his jacket and activated the direct line with Umbra Division. He knew reporting what had happened wasn't just necessary—it was urgent.

Within seconds, the calm but curiosity-laden voice of Dr. Harlan Greaves echoed through the earpiece.

"Marcus, what's your situation?" Harlan asked, his tone professional but with a hint of barely concealed anxiety.

Marcus adjusted the device as he responded, his gaze fixed on Niel, who stood a few meters away, staring at the horizon as if he could see something no one else perceived.

"We faced a superior being," Marcus said bluntly. "It's different from anything we've encountered before. It controls the aberrations and seems to be coordinating massive attacks across the city. But that's not all..." He paused, glancing briefly at Niel. "Niel has shown new capabilities. His Threshold energy has evolved. He can now generate purplish explosions that are lethal even to the strongest aberrations."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Harlan responded, his tone now clearly excited.

"Incredible..." Harlan murmured, almost to himself. "This confirms our theories. Whatever happened in Kango is reaching its critical point. Niel might be the key to understanding how to replicate this process in other resonants."

Emily exchanged a glance with Lila as she listened to the conversation. Both knew Harlan always saw resonants as walking experiments, not as people. But before anyone could say anything, Harlan continued, his tone turning more serious.

"Listen carefully, Team Fenrir. We've detected a significant energy anomaly in southern Geneva. It's coming from some destroyed underground facilities known as K-17. The readings indicate that this energy might be related to dimensional rifts and the aberrations. It's possible that it's what's attracting the creatures and the superior being to that area."

Niel's blue eyes glimmered with a spark of interest, though his face remained impassive.

"What do you want us to do?" Marcus asked, his tone direct.

"We've sent Teams Nova, Ragnar, and Viper to back you up," Harlan replied. "Wait for their arrival at the coordinates we'll send you. Once assembled, your primary mission will be to infiltrate the ruins of K-17 and retrieve any objects or information emitting that anomalous energy. Eliminate any obstacles in your path—whether they're military personnel, agents from other organizations, creatures, or aberrations. This is a priority. If we can understand what's causing these fluctuations, we might have a chance to comprehend the mist."

Marcus nodded, though he knew the order implied a level of violence that would make this mission one of the most dangerous they'd ever faced.

"Understood," he finally responded. "We're heading there."

Harlan paused before adding one last warning.

"And Marcus... keep an eye on Niel. Whatever's happening with him could be both a blessing and a threat. We can't afford to lose control of this situation."

The call ended, leaving Team Fenrir in silence for a moment. Kai was the first to speak, adjusting his rifle as he looked at Niel with a mix of admiration and concern.

"So... what do we do now?" Kai asked, his voice low but filled with determination.

Marcus put away the communication device and turned to the team, his expression firm.

"We meet up with Teams Nova, Ragnar, and Viper at the assigned coordinates. Then we infiltrate K-17 and complete our mission. No matter who or what stands in our way, we eliminate it. This isn't just a hunt; this is survival."

Niel smiled faintly, as if the idea of facing more enemies thrilled him. Emily noticed and rolled her eyes, though a small smile crossed her face.

"As always, Niel will be thrilled to take all the fun for himself," Emily remarked sarcastically.

Lila adjusted her saber, her expression serious but determined.

"Whatever we find in K-17, we need to be prepared."

Marcus nodded, his gaze sweeping over each team member.

"Remember: stay calm, stick to the plan, and don't underestimate anyone. This is uncharted territory, and everyone here has an objective. We can't fail."

Team Fenrir moved quickly toward the coordinates provided by Umbra Division, their bodies tense and their minds focused on the mission. However, Niel couldn't contain his hunting impulse. While the rest of the team maintained a steady pace, he moved ahead several meters, disappearing into the shadows of the collapsed buildings.

It didn't take long before Niel detected movement in a side street. Five deformed creatures and two aberrations emerged from the rubble, moving like hungry predators. Their floating eyes glowed with a sickly light, and their twisted bodies seemed to vibrate with residual energy. To anyone else, it would have been a terrifying sight. But for Niel, it was simply another opportunity.

With a barely noticeable smile, Niel unleashed a burst of Threshold energy from his hand, striking three creatures simultaneously. The purplish explosions briefly illuminated the street, leaving only charred remains behind. The aberrations tried to counterattack, but Niel was already on them. With precise and deadly movements, he channeled his energy into his short sword, piercing one aberration while the other was disintegrated by a second explosion.

When Team Fenrir arrived at the scene, they found Niel standing amidst the smoking remains, his breathing barely altered. Marcus frowned, approaching quickly.

"Niel, wait," Marcus said, his voice firm but controlled. "We need to coordinate the next move. This isn't over."

Lila crouched beside the remains of the aberrations, collecting something that had survived the destruction: pulsating organs glowing with a sickly purple light. She carefully stored them in a special container.

"With any luck, we escaped that entity a few moments ago," Lila murmured, adjusting her saber with elegance. "We can't afford to lose focus now. Let's concentrate on our mission."

But just as the team was about to resume their march, they all stopped abruptly. A different presence—chaotic and uncontrollable—caught their attention. From a broken window in a nearby house, a figure watched them. It was a woman in her thirties, with messy brown hair and eyes filled with fear and confusion. Despite her fragile appearance, she radiated latent resonance that seemed to fluctuate out of control, as if her Threshold energy were escaping her in erratic waves.

Lila was the first to notice, narrowing her eyes as she assessed the scene.

"Interesting," she said, her voice cold but laced with curiosity. "An untrained resonant. And something tells me she has no idea what she's doing. Her energy is... unstable."

Kai adjusted his modified rifle, looking at the woman with a mix of caution and pragmatism.

"Do we take her?" he asked, his tone practical, as if they were deciding what to do with an object rather than a person.

Marcus frowned thoughtfully before responding.

"We can't afford to get distracted by this now. Umbra Division already has specialized personnel to handle cases like this. We have a mission to complete."

Before anyone could add anything else, Marcus received a new transmission on his communication device. He listened intently for a few seconds before looking up, his expression more serious than ever.

"They just informed us from Umbra Division," Marcus announced urgently. "Teams Nova, Ragnar, and Viper are entering Geneva as reinforcements. We're ordered to regroup at the designated meeting point."

Lila let out a low, almost mocking laugh as she stored the last pulsating organ she had collected.

"Looks like our untrained resonant is no longer our responsibility."

"We're leaving," Marcus ordered, gesturing for the group to move. "She's not our priority now."

With that, Team Fenrir resumed their journey south, leaving the unknown resonant behind. However, as they walked away, Niel couldn't help but glance over his shoulder one last time. The woman was still there, watching them from the window, her Threshold energy fluctuating like an uncontrolled echo in the night air.