Prologue - Part 2

Agito clutched desperately at the blood-soaked cloth covering his corrupted eye. A searing pressure bloomed behind it, oppressive like a storm ready to erupt.

His vision blurred—

A vision consumed him—brief, terrible, undeniable. His own corpse lay mutilated upon the stone, limbs twisted unnaturally, eyes wide in eternal agony, mouth locked open mid-scream. He could hear his own final, choked breath escaping.

A voice broke through the horror.

Soft, cold, right inside his skull:

"Run."

Enma.

He didn't know the name. But it was part of him.

The beast charged again, shattering stone as it moved.

A malformed limb lashed out like a whip tipped with claws.

Instinct took hold – Agito dodged desperately, diving aside as the ground shook fiercely beneath him.

His boot slipped against slick stone, sending him crashing painfully onto one knee.

The impact stole the breath from his lungs, but fear forced him onward.

The tunnel echoed with a monstrous roar as the abomination surged forward, jaws gaping monstrously wide, teeth glistening with decay, breath foul as a burning sewer.

Agito braced himself for the inevitable, muscles seizing in hopeless anticipation.

From the darkness shot a flash of metal, striking the creature with brutal force.

Bone shattered audibly, black ichor exploding outward in a grisly fountain.

Agito spun toward the source of the attack.

A man emerged through the swirling smoke—tall, broad-shouldered, his scarred face set in determination.

His military jacket hung torn and filthy, dog tags and an old, battered locket bouncing rhythmically against his chest.

Gripped firmly in one bloodied hand was a bent metal pipe.

"You wanna die here?" the stranger barked, voice coarse as gravel. "Be my guest. But if you wanna live—fucking move!"

Agito gasped sharply.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Cain," the man growled, already pivoting toward a narrow side tunnel.

He paused only briefly to shout over his shoulder, "This way!"

Another tremor shook the cavern fiercely, accompanied by the wet, slapping sound of the creature's approach.

Cain didn't wait for a response.

Agito scrambled after him but stumbled, pain searing through his knee as fresh crimson streamed down his leg.

He nearly fell again, but Cain caught him roughly by the collar, dragging him forward.

"Not now, fucker—keep moving!"

They rushed onward through the claustrophobic, winding tunnel, the creature's enraged howls following close behind.

A flicker of faint, uncertain light appeared ahead.

In their path stood another figure—slim and small, gray-haired with pointed ears, eyes obscured by blinking-lensed goggles.

In his hands glowed a holo-map, casting distorted shadows across the tunnel walls.

The stranger showed no trace of fear.

He merely tilted his head slightly, studying the approaching monstrosity with detached curiosity, as if examining a malfunctioning machine.

"Come on, rotbags," he said evenly, almost bored. "Come say hi to Vaxtor."

Agito blinked, stunned by the man's calm indifference amidst chaos.

Vaxtor raised one hand sharply.

Small metal drones swiftly surged around him, each humming softly, their spherical bodies glowing faintly as they snapped into perfect offensive formation—like a swarm of metallic hornets awaiting a single command.

His voice rang out with chilling authority:

[1]"Senmetsu Jinkei: Zanka no Mure!"

The drones erupted simultaneously, illuminating the gloom in a flash of coordinated firepower.

Precision shells sliced mercilessly into the abomination's horrific flesh, each volley choreographed with deadly accuracy.

The first barrage tore through its body, spattering viscous black ichor across the walls.

The second assault ripped deeper, wrenching a tortured howl of agony from the beast as parts of its twisted form were violently shredded away.

Vaxtor stood immobile, eyes coldly tracking every shot, orchestrating his lethal symphony without hesitation or mercy.

Cain growled softly, suspicion edging his tone.

"Definitely not human."

Yet the abomination writhed still, regenerating unnaturally fast—wounded but far from defeated.

Vaxtor stared flatly as his drones exploded into useless scraps of metal, his expression shifting from mild interest to clear annoyance.

He sighed, shaking his head in disgust.

"Well, that's disappointing," he muttered dryly.

Without another word, he spun sharply on his heel, turned his back on Cain and Agito, and sprinted off down the corridor—clearly done with the whole situation.

Cain gaped, momentarily stunned. Then rage surged through him as he realized Vaxtor had just left them for dead.

"That little fucker—!" Cain snarled, grabbing Agito roughly by the arm and hauling him forward. "Move your ass, now!"

They ran—fast, furious, desperate.

The drones bought them mere seconds—barely enough. Another tremor shook the tunnel as the abomination broke through, regenerating with terrifying ease, rapidly closing the distance behind them.

Cain sprinted like a man possessed, boots pounding stone, grip on the pipe never loosening.

Behind them, the beast roared, gaining ground relentlessly.

Ahead, Vaxtor glanced casually back at the unfolding disaster.

"Huh," he said dryly, raising one eyebrow. "Well, that usually works."

Cain snapped, furious disbelief clear in his voice. "Usually? Are you fucking serious? Do something already!"

Vaxtor didn't even flinch, entirely unfazed by Cain's fury.

"Relax," he drawled lazily. "You'll get worry lines on that murderous face."

Behind them, Agito stumbled, barely keeping up, muttering curses beneath ragged breaths.

Cain's knuckles whitened around the pipe, visibly fighting the urge to bash Vaxtor's skull rather than the creature chasing them.

"If we survive this," he growled, eyes burning into Vaxtor's back, "I'm killing you first."

Vaxtor shrugged, utterly indifferent.

"Fair enough."

Just then—another voice.

Not from outside.

From within.

Enma.

Her whisper sliced through Agito thoughts like a blade of ice:

"Run."

A shiver ran down his spine.

He could feel it.

Danger still lingered.

The creature was catching up.

"Light!" Vaxtor shouted. "Go for the light!"

Agito looked up.

At the end of the tunnel—a pale glow flickered faintly.

And within that glow—

A woman.

Tall. Sharp. Implants running along her arms, glowing with cold purple fire.

Her black hair whipped in the wind.

Her eyes locked on them like targeting systems.

"Faster!" she barked. Her command echoed through the chaos. Cold. Commanding. "This thing isn't waiting. Move—or die!"

Cain burst through the tunnel mouth first.

Vaxtor followed, panting.

Agito pushed himself forward, legs burning.

Behind them—a roar.

Close. Vile. Hungry.

[1] Annihilation Formation: Swarm of Burning Sparks