The dim emergency lights flickered as Leon led the way deeper into Sector B. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional dripping of water from broken pipes and the distant hum of flickering monitors. The air was stale, filled with the scent of antiseptic, rust, and something faintly rotten.

Dr. Carter clutched her scanner tightly, eyes darting between the dim corridors and the device in her hands. "The signal is still ahead... but it’s erratic. It keeps shifting."

Eric exhaled sharply. "That thing is toying with us."

Leon ignored the rising tension and pressed forward. The halls of Blackwood Research Facility were unnervingly clean, aside from the deep claw marks carved into the walls and doors. Whatever happened here was violent, but there were no bodies. No bloodstains. No sign of the personnel who once worked here.

Just emptiness.

They reached the reinforced doors of the Central Data Room. A small control panel blinked weakly beside it, the screen cracked but still functioning. Dr. Carter quickly moved to the panel, fingers flying across the surface as she worked to bypass the security.

Leon stood guard, scanning the dark hall behind them. The flickering lights played tricks on the mind, turning shadows into moving figures. His grip on his dagger tightened.

Something was there. Watching. Waiting.

"Got it!" Dr. Carter whispered triumphantly as the door unlocked with a hiss.

Leon pushed it open, ushering the team inside before sealing the door behind them.

The room was lined with old monitors, most of them shattered or covered in static. A large central terminal flickered to life as Dr. Carter worked her magic. Lines of corrupted data scrolled across the screen before stabilizing into a directory.

"There," she pointed. "Project Revenant. That’s the research division responsible for the virus."

Leon leaned over, scanning the files. There were records, classified memos, and security footage logs. He clicked on a final entry dated exactly seven days before the outbreak.

A grainy security feed popped onto the screen. A group of scientists in hazmat suits scrambled around a containment chamber. Inside the chamber stood a humanoid figure, strapped down by thick restraints.

At first glance, it looked human. But its veins pulsed with an unnatural black fluid. Its eyes glowed a dull amber. The footage had no sound, but the scientists were clearly panicked.

Then, the figure snapped its restraints.

The screen flickered as alarms blared in the footage. The creature moved unnaturally fast, tearing through the scientists like paper. One moment it was across the room, the next, it had ripped out a man’s throat.

Leon clenched his jaw. "They created it. They played god and paid the price."

Dr. Carter’s voice was barely above a whisper. "This isn’t just a virus. It’s... evolution. They weren’t just researching a cure, they were trying to control it. To weaponize it."

Eric muttered a curse. "And they lost control."

The footage cut out, leaving only a corrupted file warning.

Leon straightened, his eyes cold. "Then we’re standing in the birthplace of the apocalypse."

Before anyone could respond, the emergency lights cut out completely.

The room was plunged into darkness.

Then...

A low, guttural growl reverberated through the walls.

Leon froze. That wasn’t a normal zombie.

Eric raised his rifle, scanning the shadows. "Something’s here."

A sudden crash echoed from the far side of the room. Metal scraping against metal. Heavy breathing. Claws dragging across the floor.

Leon’s instincts screamed at him.

Move. Now.

He dove aside as a shadowy mass lunged at him from the darkness. A set of razor-sharp claws sliced through the air where he had been standing just moments before. The impact shattered a terminal, sending sparks flying.

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Eric opened fire, the muzzle flash illuminating their attacker, a twisted humanoid figure with elongated limbs, exposed muscle tissue, and a grotesquely large mouth filled with jagged teeth.

A Stalker.

Leon didn’t hesitate. He surged forward, dagger crackling with electricity as he slashed at the creature’s side. The blade cut deep, but the Hunter barely flinched.

It turned on him with unnatural speed, lunging again.

Leon barely had time to brace.

Leon’s breath came in steady, controlled bursts as he surveyed the battlefield. The air was thick with the scent of blood and decay, the distant echoes of the undead groaning through the facility’s corridors. His fingers tightened around his modified combat knife, the faint hum of electricity crackling along its edge, a recent upgrade from the last core he absorbed.

Across the room, the Alpha Stalker loomed, its grotesque form shifting in the dim light. Unlike the mindless hordes, this one was different, smarter, faster. Its glowing crimson eyes locked onto Leon with an unsettling intelligence. Then, it moved.

In an instant, the Stalker blurred forward, its elongated claws tearing through the air. Leon barely had time to react, twisting his body to evade, feeling the wind whip past his face as the creature’s strike narrowly missed. Sparks flew as its claws raked against the steel walls, leaving deep gashes in the reinforced metal.

Leon didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, his knife slicing through the air in a precise arc. The blade found flesh, sinking into the Stalker’s arm. A jolt of electricity surged through the creature, causing it to shriek and recoil, its muscles spasming violently. But it wasn’t enough.

The Stalker retaliated with a brutal backhand, slamming into Leon’s torso and sending him crashing into a supply crate. Pain lanced through his ribs, but he rolled with the impact, using the momentum to spring back onto his feet.

Eric and Dr. Carter watched from the secured hallway, their expressions tense. “Leon!” Eric called out, gripping his rifle. “We need to help...”

“Stay back!” Leon barked. He wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, his eyes gleaming with determination. “This thing is mine.”

The Stalker’s body twitched as it recovered, its wounds already beginning to close. Leon knew he couldn’t let this drag out. His grip tightened on the knife, and he focused, calling upon the raw energy coursing through his veins. The electricity flared brighter, arcing between his fingers and the blade.

The creature snarled and lunged again. This time, Leon met it head-on. He ducked beneath its swipe, plunging the knife into its abdomen and releasing a concentrated burst of energy. A blinding flash erupted as the Stalker convulsed, its screams mixing with the crackling surge of power.

Leon twisted the blade and ripped it free, stepping back as the creature staggered. Then, with a final, desperate lunge, he drove his fist, now crackling with electricity, straight into the Stalker’s skull. The force of the blow sent the monster crashing against the wall, its body convulsing before slumping lifelessly to the floor.

Silence fell over the room. Then, a faint glow pulsed from the Stalker’s remains, a core. Leon exhaled, stepping forward to claim his prize. The moment his fingers wrapped around it, a surge of energy pulsed through him, stronger than before.

He clenched his fist. His strength was growing.

And this was just the beginning.

Leon stood over the lifeless body of the Alpha Stalker, his breathing ragged as he examined the core in his hand. A faint electrical hum pulsed through him, the power from the absorbed energy settling into his body. The fight had been brutal, but he had won.

He turned, catching sight of Eric and Dr. Carter emerging from their cover. Eric had his rifle raised, scanning the area for any other threats, while Dr. Carter’s eyes were locked onto the still-glowing core in Leon’s palm.

“You okay?” Eric asked, lowering his weapon.

Leon exhaled sharply. “Yeah. But we’re running out of time. This facility’s already too dangerous. We need to get stronger, all of us.”

Dr. Carter furrowed his brow. “You mean… we should absorb cores too?”

Leon tossed a small, blood-red core toward him. “This one came from a mutated runner I killed earlier. It’s not as strong as what I just took, but it’ll still give you a boost.”

Carter caught the core, hesitation flickering across his face. “This… this is the same thing that powers those monsters, isn’t it?”

Leon nodded. “Yeah. But it’s also the key to survival. Without power, you’re just prey. We can’t afford to be weak.”

Eric glanced at the cores in Leon’s hand, then at Carter. His grip on his rifle tightened. “What kind of ‘boost’ are we talking about?”

Leon smirked. “Depends on the core. Some enhance physical abilities, speed, strength, reflexes. Others awaken unique talents. The stronger the core, the better the ability.” He eyed Eric. “You’re a fighter. You should take one.”

Eric hesitated but ultimately grabbed another core from the bag Leon had scavenged earlier. It was a dark-blue crystalline core, smaller than the one Leon had absorbed, but still brimming with potential.

Dr. Carter swallowed hard. “And what happens if this goes wrong?”

Leon shrugged. “Worst case? Your body rejects it, and you get really sick. But the odds of that are low. Besides, you’re a scientist, right? If anyone should be testing this, it’s you.”

Dr. Carter let out a nervous chuckle. “That’s not how science works, but… I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Eric was the first to take the plunge. He crushed the core in his hands, and almost instantly, a wave of energy coursed through his body. His muscles tensed, his breathing hitched, and then, his vision sharpened. The dimly lit corridor became as clear as daylight.

Eric gasped. “I can… I can see everything. It’s like my eyes are adjusting instantly, no matter the light.” He turned to Leon. “What the hell did I just get?”

Leon smirked. “Night vision, maybe enhanced perception. That’ll be useful.”

Dr. Carter, still reluctant, looked at the core in his hand. He took a deep breath and mimicked Eric, shattering the core between his fingers. A rush of warmth spread through his body, but instead of physical enhancement, his mind buzzed. He blinked, his thoughts moving faster than ever.

“I… I can remember everything. Instantly.” His eyes widened. “It’s like my brain is running at ten times its normal speed.”

Leon’s expression darkened. “That’s a powerful ability. If you can process information faster, we might have just gained an edge.”

Eric flexed his fingers, still adjusting to his new perception. “So… what now?”

Leon looked at them both, determination in his eyes. “Now, we prepare. The outbreak is only going to get worse, and we need every advantage we can get.”

The first real step toward survival had just been taken.

And this was only the beginning.