Chapter 6 Hybrids

The Evolved roared, its massive form crashing through the debris. I'm running out of options. But then, an idea sparked in my mind. I quickly accessed my spatial storage, my fingers flying across the interface. I grabbed several containers of gasoline, the volatile liquid sloshing within. With a swift motion, I hurled the containers at the Evolved, drenching it in the flammable substance. The gasoline clung to its thick hide, a shimmering sheen under the harsh light. Now, all I needed is a spark. I pulled out my lighter, flicking it open. The small flame danced in the air, a beacon of hope in the face of this monstrous threat. I tossed the lighter at the gasoline-soaked Evolved. The flames erupted, engulfing the creature in a blazing inferno. The Evolved roared in agony, its monstrous form writhing in the flames. The heat is intense, even from a distance. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, a grim reminder of the creature's monstrous nature. The flames danced and crackled, consuming the Evolved. Slowly, its movements weakened, its roars turning into whimpers. Finally, with a shuddering groan, it collapsed to the ground, the flames slowly dying down, leaving behind a charred and smoking husk. The threat is over. For now.

The Evolved's charred husk lay smoldering on the ground, a testament to the ferocity of the battle. But I'm not taking any chances. Even in death, these creatures could be unpredictable. I approached the remains cautiously, my short sword still clutched in my hand. With a swift, decisive motion, I severed the Evolved's head, ensuring its complete and utter destruction.

The adrenaline began to subside, leaving me feeling a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. I surveyed the scene – the scattered bodies of the infected, the damaged gate, the lingering smell of gasoline and burnt flesh. It is a grim reminder of the world we now lived in.

Seeing the threat neutralized, my team rushed to action. They moved quickly and efficiently, clearing the perimeter of any remaining infected and tending to the injured. Han So Chul, his face grim but resolute, directed the cleanup efforts, his leadership skills shining through. They were a well-oiled machine, their training and teamwork evident in their every action.

The victory was hard-won, but it is ours. We had defended our fortress, proving our resilience and strength. And we have learn a valuable lesson – even the most formidable of enemies could be overcome with strategy and determination.

The aftermath of the attack was a flurry of activity. We worked tirelessly to repair the damaged gate, reinforcing it with steel plating and concrete. We assessed the overall condition of the base, checking for any weaknesses in our defenses. Thankfully, we had managed to avoid any fatalities or severe injuries, a testament to our training and teamwork.

However, the close call with the Evolved had driven home the point that we needed to be stronger, faster, more resilient. We can't afford to be complacent. We need to push our limits, to evolve just as the world around us is evolving.

Remembering the reward boxes I have accumulated from previous missions, I accessed my spatial storage. I had been saving them for a moment like this, a moment when we needed a significant boost. I opened each box, revealing an assortment of potions, elixirs, and other enhancements. These aren't just ordinary concoctions; they are products of the system, designed to enhance our physical and mental capabilities beyond human limits.

I gathered the potions and distribute them amongst myself and the strike team. "Drink these," I instructed, my voice firm. "They will enhance your strength, speed, and endurance. We need to be prepared for anything."

I took a potion myself, feeling the familiar surge of energy coursing through my veins. I knew that these enhancements will not make us invincible, but they will give us a significant edge. We will continue to train, to adapt, to evolve. We will become stronger, faster, more resilient. We must be ready for whatever the future hold.

The rhythmic clang of metal against metal echoes through the training yard, a constant reminder of the world we now inhabit. We push our bodies to their limits, honing our skills, preparing for the inevitable challenges that lie ahead. Suddenly, a familiar chime sounds, but only I can hear it. A system notification pops up, visible only to me:

New Mission: Rescue Mission

Shi Yan Deng (Iron Fist)

Freidrick Richards (Tank)

Mission: Recruit Hybrids

0/2

Reward: Awakening Skill: Body of Steel

My breath catches. Shi Yan Deng and Freidrick Richards. Iron Fist and Tank. These are formidable individuals, powerful hybrids whose skills are legendary, even in the previous timeline. They are survivors, resourceful and strong. And they are in danger.

And a side mission to recruit 2 hybrids, this is a very good mission.

The reward, "Awakening Skill: Body of Steel," is intriguing. The name alone suggests enhanced durability, a valuable asset in this chaotic world. I know I cannot ignore this mission. These are not just random survivors; they are potential allies, powerful assets that can significantly bolster our defenses.

I take a moment to compose myself, making sure my expression remains neutral. I cannot let the team know about the system or the specific individuals involved. I need to present this as a standard scouting and rescue operation.

"Training is suspended," I announce, my voice cutting through the clang of metal. "We've detected a distress signal from a nearby settlement. We're going to investigate and rescue any survivors we find."

I keep the details vague, but the team's expressions show their readiness. They are eager to put their skills to the test, to prove themselves. They have proven themselves in the defense of the fortress, and they are ready to do it again. This is a chance to prove themselves, and for me to recruit powerful allies.

We ride in our heavy armored long van, the engine a low growl beneath us. As we pass through the skeletal remains of buildings, I detect eyes watching us. Survivors? The question hangs in the air, unanswered. We press on, arriving at the location pinpointed by the distress signal.

Shi Yan Deng, Iron Fist, is there. He's gasping, weakened, his body battered and bruised. I rush to his side. "What happened?" I ask, my voice urgent.

He narrates a horrifying tale. Hybrids have seized control of this base, torturing the other survivors. They're even feeding humans to controlled Evolved. My blood runs cold. The depravity of it is sickening.

He explains that he tried to defend a woman from the boss's sexual advances, and for his trouble, he was beaten nearly to death. The boss, whoever he is, seems to revel in cruelty and power.

The heavy armored van rumbles to a halt, the engine's low growl a stark contrast to the eerie silence of the desolate street. The air hangs thick with the familiar stench of decay, a grim reminder of the world we now navigate. As we disembark, my senses are on high alert, scanning the ruins for any signs of danger. The location, pinpointed by the distress signal, is a once-grand hotel, its elegant facade now marred by decay and neglect. The windows are boarded up, the once-bright paint peeling, and the grand entrance is now a barricaded doorway.

Shi Yan Deng, Iron Fist, is there, slumped against a rusted metal door, the hotel's service entrance. His breathing is ragged, his body a canvas of bruises and cuts. His face, usually a mask of stoic determination, is etched with pain and exhaustion. I rush to his side, my concern palpable, but carefully masked. I can't let him know I recognize him, not yet. "You're injured," I state, my voice neutral. "What happened?"

He looks up at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and desperation. "They're inside," he gasps, his voice barely a whisper. "Hybrids… they've taken control of the hotel. They're torturing the survivors."

His words send a chill down my spine. "Torturing?" I ask, my voice hardening, but still maintaining an air of detached concern.

He nods, his breathing labored. "They're… they're feeding humans to controlled Evolved," he says, his voice thick with disgust. "Like… like animals."

The depravity of it is sickening. The image of humans being used as fodder for the infected fills me with a cold fury, but I keep my expression carefully blank. "Who's in charge?" I ask, my voice low and dangerous, but devoid of any personal emotion.

"A man… he calls himself 'The Overseer'," Iron Fist says, his eyes filled with hatred. "He's… he's a monster. He controls everything. He… he beat me."

He lifts his head, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. "I tried to stop him," he says, his voice trembling with rage. "He was… he was trying to… to take a woman. I wouldn't let him."

His words paint a horrifying picture of the situation inside the hotel. A ruthless leader, a group of sadistic hybrids, and innocent survivors trapped in a living nightmare. "We need to get you out of here," I say, my voice firm, but still detached. "You're in no condition to fight."

"No," he says, his voice strained. "I can't leave. My family… they're inside. He's holding them captive."

His determination is admirable, but his condition is deteriorating rapidly. "We'll rescue them," I say, trying to reassure him, but keeping my tone professional. "But you need to come with us. We can't help anyone if you're dead."

He shakes his head stubbornly, his eyes filled with a desperate plea. "Please," he whispers. "You have to help them. They'll… they'll kill them."

As he pleads, his eyes roll back, and he slumps against the wall, unconscious. I quickly check his pulse. He's alive, but barely. "Get him into the van," I order my team, my voice sharp and efficient. "Apply first aid. We need to stabilize him."

I step back, my mind racing. This situation is far more complex than I initially anticipated. I can't let him know that I know who he is, or that I know what he will become. I need to keep my knowledge hidden, to play my role carefully. We can't just barge into the hotel unprepared. We need a plan, a strategy. We need to gather more information about the base, the Overseer, and the hybrids.

"We're returning to the fortress," I announce to my team, my voice professional and devoid of any personal connection to Shi Yan Deng. "We need to formulate a plan. This isn't a simple rescue mission. We're dealing with something far more dangerous."

The van rumbles to life, and we head back to the base, Iron Fist lying unconscious in the back. As we drive, I access the AI interface, searching for any information about the Overseer or the hotel. The results are sparse, but they paint a grim picture. The Overseer is a former security chief, known for his brutality and control. He's a hybrid, possessing enhanced strength and agility. The hotel, while not heavily fortified, is a maze of corridors and rooms, making it difficult to navigate. He has placed lookouts at key points, and has a number of hybrids under his command.

The information confirms my suspicions. This is a highly dangerous operation. I need to be prepared for anything, and I need to be careful. I can't let my knowledge of the future affect my actions, not in a way that will be obvious to anyone. Back at the fortress, I gather my team, displaying the information I've gathered. "This is what we're dealing with," I say, my voice serious and professional. "The Overseer is a ruthless hybrid, and the hotel is a complex structure. We need a plan."

Shi Yan Deng stirs, his eyelids fluttering open. He groans softly, his body clearly protesting the movement. I help him sit up, propping him against the wall of the infirmary. He's wrapped in bandages, his wounds carefully dressed. He's still weak, his movements slow and deliberate.

He looks at me, his eyes filled with a desperate plea. He reaches out, his bandaged hand closing around mine, his grip surprisingly strong despite his weakened state. "Please," he says, his voice hoarse, "you have to help me. You have to rescue my family."

I meet his gaze, my expression neutral, but my resolve firm. "Tell me everything," I say, my voice calm and steady. "Details about the Overseer, the hotel, everything."

He nods, his eyes filled with a grim determination. "There are five hybrids who control the hotel," he begins, his voice gaining strength as he speaks. "Before… before the Overseer took over, it was a sanctuary. A place where survivors could find shelter, food, and protection."

His voice trails off, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "But then… then the Overseer grew powerful. He changed. He became… ruthless. Evil."

He pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing. "He controls some Evolved," he says, his voice trembling with disgust. "He… he feeds them human flesh. To keep them in check."

He looks at me, his eyes filled with a chilling intensity. "Even the Overseer… he eats humans," he whispers, his voice barely audible. "He says it… it enhances his strength, his abilities."

My stomach churns at the sheer depravity of it. Human cannibalism, Evolved controlled by human flesh… it's a level of cruelty I hadn't even imagined. "Tell me about the command structure," I say, my voice low and steady. "Who are the five hybrids?"

He narrates each hybrid, their abilities, and their usual location. He also describes the location of his family, and any other information that might be useful. Every word he speaks reinforces my resolve to end the Overseer's reign of terror.

"Hybrids," Shi Yan Deng continues, his voice strained but resolute, "are individuals who awakened skills and abilities beyond human understanding. It happened during the start of the Apocalypse. Some people, instead of succumbing to the virus, or becoming mindless Evolved, underwent a transformation. They awakened… something more."

He pauses, as if searching for the right words. "They gained powers. Abilities that defy explanation. Enhanced strength, speed, heightened senses, even the ability to manipulate elements. It's… it's like something out of a myth."

He looks at me, his eyes filled with a grim understanding. "The Overseer and his five lieutenants are all hybrids. They've used their abilities to seize control, to dominate and terrorize the other survivors."

He clenches his bandaged fist, his knuckles white. "They've turned the hotel into a fortress of cruelty. They use their powers not to protect, but to exploit. To torture. To kill."

He describes each of the five lieutenants in detail:

* Viper: A slender woman with the ability to move with incredible speed and agility. She favors bladed weapons and is known for her swift, deadly strikes.

* Boulder: A hulking man with superhuman strength and durability. He's a brute force specialist, capable of crushing bones and tearing through walls with his bare hands.

* Whisper: A shadowy figure with the ability to manipulate sound and light. He can create illusions, disorient enemies, and move undetected.

* Scorch: A volatile man with the ability to generate and control flames. He's prone to fits of rage and uses his powers to incinerate anything that stands in his way.

* Shackle: A calculating woman who can control metal objects with her mind. She uses this ability to restrain, torture, and manipulate her victims.

"They each have their own domain within the hotel," Shi Yan Deng explains. "They enforce the Overseer's will, ensuring that no one dares to challenge his authority."

He then describes the layout of the hotel, detailing the locations of key areas, including the holding cells where his family and the other survivors are being held. He also mentions the location of the Overseer's personal quarters, a heavily guarded suite on the top floor.

"The Overseer is the most dangerous of them all," he warns. "He possesses a combination of enhanced strength, speed, and a chilling charisma that allows him to manipulate and control others. He's also… he's also become addicted to consuming human flesh. It's made him even stronger, even more unpredictable."

He finishes his narration, his eyes filled with a desperate plea. "Please," he says, his voice barely a whisper. "You have to stop him. You have to save them."