The Blood Root Syndicate.
A name that Mri had never heard before… but somehow, it felt familiar.
> "What do they want?" Mri asked.
The man crossed his arms. "Power. Control. Their leader believes that monstrous evolution is the key to human dominance. They don't just want to create creatures like the Panda.
> They want to turn themselves into monsters."
Jasmine's breath caught. "That's insane."
> "No. That's the future they want."
Mri's mind raced.
The Monstrous Panda was just a test.
Luwanto's research had been stolen.
And now, the Blood Root Syndicate was using it to create an army.
> "Where is Luwanto now?"
The man hesitated. "He's in hiding. But not for long. They're hunting him down as we speak."
Mri's jaw clenched.
> "Then we find him first."
Race Against Time
The team had no time to rest.
Shahid's loss still weighed on them, but they couldn't stop now.
They had to find Luwanto.
> "There's an old research facility deep in the jungle," the man said. "That's where he was last seen."
Mri turned to the others. "Gear up. We move now."
They ran.
Through the jungle. Past the ruins of battle. Toward the truth.
But they weren't alone.
Something was following them.
And this time… it wasn't just a beast.