Into the Lion’s Den

The weight of Rhea's revelation hung over the group like a storm cloud. Three Omega Variants—monsters engineered for war—hidden deep within the Black Citadel.

Kairo took a deep breath, steadying his thoughts. They had faced danger before, but this was something else. If the Syndicate was prepared to unleash these beings, the entire city could be at risk.

They had to move.

And fast.

Arin projected the holographic map of the Black Citadel onto the table. The massive structure sat at the heart of a secured district, its outer walls lined with heavy artillery and automated defenses.

Lena whistled. "That place is a death trap."

Darius crossed his arms. "Even if we get inside, how do we know where they're keeping the Variants?"

Rhea tapped the terminal, zooming in on the lower levels. "I've managed to recover partial blueprints. The facility is divided into sectors. High-ranking Syndicate officials operate from the upper levels, while their labs and containment cells are below."

She pointed to a restricted zone marked in red.

"This is where they'd be keeping the Omega Variants."

Kairo studied the map, his mind already working through possibilities. "So, we need a way in, we need to locate the Variants, and we need to stop them before the Syndicate can unleash them."

Lena raised a brow. "You make it sound so easy."

Kairo smirked. "Nothing worth doing ever is."

Darius sighed. "Alright, so what's the plan?"

Rhea folded her arms. "We infiltrate in two teams. One group will cause a distraction, drawing security away from the lower levels. The second team will break into the labs and destroy the Variants before they awaken."

Arin frowned. "We're sure they haven't been activated yet?"

Rhea hesitated. "Not entirely. But if they were fully operational, we'd already know."

The thought sent a chill down Kairo's spine. If even one Omega Variant had been unleashed, it could spell disaster.

No time to second-guess.

"We don't have long before the Syndicate strengthens security," Kairo said. "We move out in six hours."

The team exchanged glances, then nodded.

This was happening.

Night fell over the city. A thick fog crept through the lower districts as Kairo and his team approached the outskirts of the Black Citadel.

The fortress loomed ahead, its structure illuminated by harsh floodlights. Patrol drones hovered overhead, scanning the perimeter. The Syndicate's defenses were tight—just as expected.

They moved in silence, dressed in tactical gear, their weapons ready.

Kairo glanced at Rhea. "You sure about this entrance?"

Rhea smirked, crouching near a maintenance hatch. "Trust me."

She placed a small device on the panel. A few seconds later, the lock clicked open.

Kairo motioned to the team. "Let's go."

One by one, they slipped inside.

The air was thick with sterilized chemicals and the hum of distant machinery. The corridors were sleek and metallic, lined with reinforced doors.

"Stick to the plan," Kairo whispered. "Rhea, Lena, Arin—you're with me. We go for the Variants. Darius, Ronan—you create a distraction topside."

Darius smirked. "We'll give 'em a hell of a show."

They split up, moving fast.

As Kairo led his team deeper into the facility, his system flared to life.

[ Warning: Unidentified Bio-Signatures Detected. ]

[ High-Level Threats Present. ]

His muscles tensed.

The Omega Variants… they were close.

They reached the containment zone. A massive door sealed off the chamber, its security reinforced with multiple layers of encryption.

Rhea began hacking the panel while Lena and Arin covered the hallway.

"Hurry up," Lena muttered. "I don't like this."

Neither did Kairo.

Something felt… off.

Then—

The alarms blared.

[ Emergency Protocol Activated. ]

[ Omega Variants: Awakening Process Initiated. ]

Kairo's blood ran cold.

They were too late.

Rhea cursed, working faster. "I'm almost in!"

The metal doors shuddered. A deep, mechanical groan echoed from within.

Then, they opened.

And something stepped out.

The figure emerged from the containment pod, its body clad in black armor, muscles bulging with inhuman power. Its eyes glowed a deep crimson, radiating raw energy.

Kairo's system scanned it immediately.

[ Omega Variant I – "Valkir" ]

[ Threat Level: Catastrophic. ]

The being turned its gaze toward them.

Then, it smiled.

A blur of movement—before Kairo could react, Valkir was already upon them.

Kairo barely managed to raise his arms before—

BOOM!

A shockwave threw him across the room, slamming him into the reinforced wall. His vision blurred as pain exploded through his body.

Lena and Arin opened fire, their plasma rounds striking Valkir's armor—but they barely left a scratch.

Valkir moved like a phantom, his form shifting with unnatural speed. He grabbed Lena by the throat and hurled her aside before twisting to dodge Arin's shots.

Rhea fired a charged blast—but Valkir caught it mid-air with his bare hands.

Then, he laughed.

Kairo coughed, struggling to push himself up. His system was flashing warning after warning.

[ Severe Impact Detected. ]

[ Reinforcing Vital Functions. ]

But he wasn't done yet.

Gritting his teeth, he activated Void Stride, his body flickering as he teleported behind Valkir.

With all his strength, he drove his fist forward.

Valkir didn't even turn.

He simply caught Kairo's punch—his grip tightening like a vice.

Kairo's bones cracked.

Valkir leaned in, his crimson eyes gleaming.

"This is what humanity sends to stop us?" he mused.

His grip tightened.

Kairo let out a strangled breath. He couldn't break free.

This wasn't just another Syndicate experiment.

This was a nightmare made real.

And it had just begun.