Missing in Action

Chapter 44: Missing in Action

The explosion's shockwave had torn through the street, leveling what remained of nearby buildings. Flames flickered from scattered debris, and a thick cloud of smoke hung in the air.

Maya coughed, covering her mouth as she searched frantically. "Kael?! KAEL!"

Elijah's eyes darted across the ruins. "He was right there… How could he just disappear?!"

The ground where Kael-X had stood was nothing but a smoldering crater. No sign of him. No movement. Nothing.

For the first time, Maya felt a deep sense of fear creep into her. He couldn't be dead… right?

But before she could think further, a mechanical voice crackled through the destroyed battlefield.

"Target status: Unknown. Probability of survival: 27%."

Elijah turned sharply. "What the hell was that?"

From the flames, a small drone hovered into view. Its sleek black surface reflected the burning wreckage, and a red scanning light flickered over the crater.

Maya's heart sank. The drone bore the insignia of Zypheron-5.

They were watching.

They were still tracking Kael-X.

Elijah grabbed Maya's wrist. "We need to move. Now."

Maya hesitated, glancing back at the crater. "But—"

"If he's alive, they're already searching for him." Elijah's voice was grim. "And if they find him before we do, we might never see him again."

That was enough to make her move. They disappeared into the ruins, weaving through the wreckage as the drone continued its analysis.

Then, without warning—

The drone abruptly turned and shot off into the sky, heading in a new direction.

It had found something.

And deep beneath the rubble, far below the streets—

Kael-X stirred.

Darkness surrounded him. His body ached, his mind hazy. The last thing he remembered was the explosion… and then falling.

Falling far.

Now, he lay in what felt like an underground cavern. His senses were scrambled. The shockwave must have thrown him deep into the Earth, past the ruins and into some hidden place beneath the city.

And as his vision adjusted to the dim light, he realized—

He wasn't alone.

Something moved in the shadows. Something ancient.

Kael-X clenched his fists, trying to push himself up.

A deep, rumbling growl echoed through the cavern.

His eyes flickered with energy.

Whatever was down here… had just awakened.

Chapter 44 (Continued): Beneath the Ruins

Kael-X's body ached, his limbs felt like lead, but his instincts screamed at him—move!

The growl echoed again, low and reverberating through the cavern walls. Something massive shifted in the darkness.

Kael-X forced himself up, dust and debris sliding off his shoulders. His enhanced vision slowly adjusted to the low light, revealing the underground chamber he had fallen into. The walls were smooth, unnatural—almost metallic. This wasn't just some random cave beneath the city.

It was constructed.

Then, he saw it.

A pair of glowing eyes stared at him from the shadows. Their amber hue burned like molten gold, watching him with intelligence… and hunger.

Kael-X barely had time to react before the creature lunged.

Boom!

The impact sent him skidding backward, his boots grinding against the smooth ground. He barely managed to dodge as a massive claw slammed into the spot where he had been, splitting the earth like butter.

Kael-X's eyes widened. The thing was huge.

Its body was a swirling mass of darkness and smoke, but it had physical form—black fur, razor-sharp claws, and a wolf-like snout filled with serrated teeth. Its presence was unnatural, like a shadow given flesh.

A living nightmare.

Kael-X cracked his neck, feeling adrenaline flood his veins. "Alright… I don't know what you are, but if you wanna fight—"

The creature lunged again, faster than before.

Kael-X twisted, barely dodging as the monster's claw scraped against his shoulder. His coat was torn.

His patience snapped.

Fine. If it wanted a fight, it was getting one.

Kael-X blurred forward, his speed sending shockwaves through the cavern. He dodged under another swipe, then retaliated with a powerful punch to the creature's ribs.

Boom!

The shockwave cracked the ground, sending dust flying—but the creature barely flinched.

Instead, it grinned.

Kael-X's eyes narrowed. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me."

Then, without warning, the shadow beast opened its jaws—and from within, a surge of dark energy exploded outward.

The blast slammed into Kael-X at point-blank range, sending him crashing through the cavern wall.

For the first time in a long while… Kael-X felt pain.

He groaned, shaking off the impact as rubble tumbled around him. The creature was strong. Too strong.

And yet…

Kael-X wiped a streak of blood from his lip. He was smiling.

This was fun.

His fingers flexed, energy crackling at his fingertips. "Alright, shadow dog. Round two."

The beast roared in response.

And the fight began again.

The air rippled with raw energy as Kael-X shot forward, his speed distorting the very space around him. His fist met the creature's chest with a resounding boom, sending a shockwave through the cavern. But the beast barely staggered.

Its molten-gold eyes gleamed with something terrifying—amusement.

Kael-X barely had time to react before its massive claw swung at him. He twisted his body at the last second, avoiding a fatal blow, but the sheer force still sent him crashing into the wall.

Crack!

The impact left a crater behind him. Dust and rock rained down as Kael-X coughed, his body aching from the sheer force. He had fought countless enemies before, but this thing… it was different. It wasn't just powerful—it was alive in a way that shouldn't have been possible.

It felt intelligent.

The shadow beast let out a deep growl, stepping forward, its smoke-like body twisting unnaturally.

Kael-X exhaled, his grin widening. "Alright. You're tougher than you look." He cracked his knuckles, lightning crackling around his fingertips. "But so am I."

With a burst of speed, he vanished—only to reappear behind the creature, his leg swinging in a devastating roundhouse kick.

Boom!

The impact finally sent the beast skidding backward, its claws carving deep trenches into the cavern floor.

Kael-X didn't let up. He followed through, launching a flurry of rapid strikes—each one enhanced by his speed, each one sending shockwaves through the underground chamber.

The beast snarled, deflecting some attacks, absorbing others, but it was clear—Kael-X was overwhelming it.

Then, suddenly, it stopped moving.

Kael-X hesitated. "What the—"

The beast's form began to shift, its smoky body condensing. The dark energy surrounding it grew heavier, oppressive.

And then, for the first time, Kael-X felt it.

A connection.

A pulse of something deeper. A link, almost like… an understanding.

The beast's growl softened. It no longer lunged at him. Instead, it lowered its head slightly, golden eyes staring at him with something more than hunger—recognition.

Kael-X's eyes narrowed. His breathing was steady, controlled, as he took a cautious step forward.

"…You're not just some mindless beast, are you?"

The creature didn't respond in words. But the energy between them shifted. It was like the beast had been testing him.

Kael-X exhaled, his instincts screaming that something was happening—something beyond just battle.

Then, the beast bowed its head.

Kael-X froze.

He understood.

This wasn't a fight to the death. This had been a challenge. A test of dominance.

And he had won.

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Heh. So that's how it is, huh?"

He stepped forward, placing a hand on the beast's head. Its smoky form rippled, but it didn't resist. The moment his fingers touched its fur, a surge of energy passed between them.

The bond was formed.

Kael-X looked into its golden eyes and grinned. "Looks like I've got myself a new pet."

The shadow beast let out a low growl, almost approving.

And from the shadows above… something else stirred.

They were not alone.

The battle may have ended, but Kael-X was only beginning to understand what he had truly awakened beneath the ruins.

Something much, much bigger was coming.

To Be Continued