Faces Behind the Mask

The air grew thick with tension as the ship's hatch hissed open, releasing a swarm of figures clad in sleek black armor, their faces hidden behind reflective visors. They moved with a precision that spoke of ruthless training — soldiers who knew no fear, no mercy.

Kaela's pulse quickened. She stepped forward, every muscle coiled like a spring. "Show yourselves!" she demanded, voice echoing through the empty streets.

A leader emerged from the shadows — taller than the rest, with an air of cold authority that made even the bravest flinch. His visor caught the dying light, flashing crimson like the eyes of a predator.

"We are the Ashen," he declared, voice modulated but dripping with menace. "And we have come for what belongs to us."

Kaela's gaze sharpened. "What do you want?"

The Ashen leader tilted his head. "The Project Echo line. You. Your kind. You are the key to a new era."

Behind Kaela, Ava tightened her grip on her makeshift weapon. "We won't let you enslave anyone else."

The Ashen leader chuckled — a cold, humorless sound. "Enslave? No. We will evolve. And you will join us — or be erased."

A low hum spread through the street as drones descended, casting harsh blue light and scanning the rebels like they were prey.

Kaela's jaw clenched. The war had shifted. The enemy was no longer just a name from the past — they were here. And this time, the stakes were higher than ever.