James's heightened senses detected a subtle but critical shift in the atmosphere. The chimeras, grotesque amalgamations of humans and monsters that lay dormant in the shadows, began to stir, their movements silent but unmistakable, as beyond the pain-filled haze, their thoughts coalesced on the desire to hurt and kill.
"Move!" James shouted, his voice slicing through the scientist's egotistical monologue. The urgency in his command galvanized the team into action, breaking the spell of horrified fascination that had held them captive.
As they scrambled to reposition, the scientist's face contorted into a mask of rage and frustration. "No!" He bellowed, his voice a tempest of fury. "You're ruining everything!"
In a fit of manic desperation, he slammed his hand onto a concealed button beneath his workstation. Instantly, vents in the ceiling hissed open, releasing a thick, noxious cloud of gaseous substance that quickly began to fill the room.
The gas was caustic, its acrid smell assaulting their senses despite the masks. It spread rapidly, a creeping danger that threatened to engulf them in a toxic embrace. James could feel its corrosive touch searing the air, a potent cocktail of chemicals he believed to be designed to incapacitate the chimeras.
Daniel reacted swiftly, his barriers springing up around them, forming a protective dome that shielded the team from the immediate threat of the gas. Around it, Maria's flames blazed freely, purging the gas in their vicinity.
James's psychic senses, already attuned to the imminent danger, kicked into overdrive. As more caustic gas began to fill the room, he extended his telekinetic abilities, pushing the noxious fumes away from them. He then looked for the air vents, and when he found them, he exerted his mind to crush the steel lining, plugging them up and blocking any more gas from being introduced to the room.
That, obviously, meant that a countdown for the oxygen to be exhausted had started, but James felt like it was the preferable option.
While the team regrouped within Daniel's shimmering barrier, James kept his focus on the mad scientist, who, amidst the confusion, was making a beeline for the stirring chimeras. The scientist's movements were erratic, a desperate scuttle filled with crazed determination. His intention was clear - to unleash the full fury of his monstrous creations upon them.
Without hesitating, James extended his telekinesis, tripping the scientist. The man stumbled, his wild eyes wide with shock. His outstretched hands grasped fruitlessly at the air as he crashed to the ground.
"There is no more gas coming,” James muttered to Daniel, who nodded and cautiously lowered the barrier, trusting in their masks to deal with whatever was left from Maria’s purge. This allowed the others to take up a formation and begin advancing toward the groaning scientist, wary of any other trap.
Despite the horrors this man has committed, I think we should apprehend him rather than kill him here. It would give me immense satisfaction, to be honest, but his confession is too important. If they can make him talk, we'll have a real chance of finding whoever funded this place. He's a true demon, but why content ourselves with small fishes when we can get the big ones?
As James advanced on the scientist, intent on ending the fight before it could truly begin, one of the chimeras, having shaken off the initial slowness of its slumber, lunged towards him with surprising speed and strength. This one was different - larger, more robust, and evidently much stronger than its unfortunate counterparts, resembling one of the hominid statues James remembered seeing at the natural history museum, if only they were twice the size. Its body was a grotesque patchwork of muscle and sinew, its features a nightmarish blend of human and monkey traits.
James, undeterred, raised his fist to strike, mana augmenting his physical power. Though not fully enhanced, his punch was still formidable, and it had been enough to kill all the other monsters he encountered in the basement.
To his shock, the chimera caught his fist in mid-air. Its grip was like a vice - unyielding and powerful - halting James's attack with an ease that belied its monstrous appearance. The chimera's eyes, devoid of reason but filled with a burning hatred, locked onto James's with an intensity that would have sent a shiver down his spine had he been a lesser man.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still, the two locked in a silent battle of strength and will. James could feel the raw power coursing through the chimera's twisted form, a testament to the unholy experiments that had birthed it.
But he was not a lesser man. James met the challenge with a wild grin, for just a moment relishing in the need to reach for more power, to push his limits. Tapping into the depths of his Talent, he activated Psychic Overdrive, a surge of energy flooding his system, enhancing his abilities by an order of magnitude. His eyes glowed with a fierce light as he focused his amplified power down his limbs, a corona of crackling energy manifesting around him.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
With a light gesture, as if he were swatting a fly, James pushed against the chimera, forcing it back. The creature, taken aback by the sudden increase in power, stumbled, its footing unsteady. Seizing the opportunity, James shoved the chimera into its brethren, leaving a deep imprint in its chest.
James stalked forward without letting the monster regain its senses, intent on showing it the gap between their abilities.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team and Rei's group were engaged in their own battles. The other chimeras, though not as formidable as the one James faced, were still a significant threat, especially given their sheer numbers. However, Ezekiel had a plan.
Stepping forward with a look of intense concentration, the Abbot shouted, his voice echoing through the lab. "Only humans may walk!" The declaration, imbued with the power of his unique skill, established a law within the confines of the room.
As the chimeras attempted to move, they instantly broke Ezekiel's declared rule. The breach triggered a catastrophic reaction. Each step they took resulted in visible, grievous wounds appearing across their bodies as if reality itself turned against them. The chimeras howled in agony, their movements becoming sluggish and erratic.
Lauren and Maria capitalized on this, moving swiftly and efficiently. Lauren's shadow-empowered knives danced through the air, finding weak points in the chimeras' defenses. Maria's flames engulfed the creatures with precision, their screams barely audible as they were consumed by fire.
Daniel provided support by maintaining a protective barrier around the team. He occasionally extended his barriers to trap or impede the chimeras, allowing his teammates to strike with deadly accuracy.
James flashed across the distance to the massive ape chimera and met its bellow of rage with a devastating punch.
The energy surrounding him coalesced into a point before his fist, and when it touched flesh, it exploded. The cracked wall behind him was showered in gore as the abomination was put to rest.
Having dealt with the most dangerous enemy, James turned his attention to the remaining threats. He released Psychic Overdrive, feeling the strain the skill imposed on his body the moment the seemingly unending energy dissipated. Despite his tiredness, he refused to slow down, using his telekinesis to manipulate the battlefield. He lifted chimeras into the air, immobilizing them for his teammates to finish off, or simply crushed them against walls with overwhelming force.
The air was filled with the sounds of combat, the clash of powers, and the cries of the monstrous chimeras as the delicate instruments were destroyed beyond repair.
The first thing that alerted James that something was not right was that instead of feeling despair at the sight of his creations being overwhelmed, the madman they were there to apprehend was filled with joy.
In the midst of the chaos, the scientist began to cackle with glee. Soon after, Team 0 and Rei's group started to stumble, clearly affected by something. James felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, his vision blurring for a moment.
The scientist's gloating cut through the confusion. "Yes, yes! The gas! You thought you defeated it, but you only delayed its effects! It's a nerve agent designed to incapacitate even the strongest of monsters. Only my creations and I are immune!"
Panic set in as James struggled to maintain his focus. He could feel his limbs growing heavy, his movements sluggish. Breathing became difficult, and he had to circulate mana through his stressed system just to keep his eyes open.
Maria fought against the effects of the gas with all her might. She managed to send a burst of fire toward a chimera that had gotten too close, its slavering jaws opening to take a bite out of her, incinerating it instantly. Another chimera, taking advantage of their weakened state, lunged towards one of Rei's teammates with deadly intent.
Knowing there was no time to waste, James picked the closest thing to him with his telekinesis, straining his limits with the effort, and threw it at the chimera.
There was a great crash and the sound of liquid releasing as one of the few remaining tanks of glowing green liquid broke.
Lifting his head with effort, James saw what it was that he had thrown. The scientist's body was strewn across the floor, the sharp glass of the tank having severed it into several pieces.
Of the chimera, only the lower body was left intact, as the upper part had been crushed against the wall with great force.
A reinvigorating glow fell over him, allowing James to breathe easier. He recognized Ezekiel's magic and grunted in thanks before focusing on his task. The Team's healer would take care of the others, and Daniel would prevent any harm from coming to them, but he needed to remove the danger in the first place.
Slowly, he started clearing the room of the few remaining chimeras. Focusing his mind on specific weak points he could perceive in the abominations, James released devastating Telekinetic pushes. He crushed bones, broke heads and squashed exposed tissue, not allowing a single one the chance to do any harm to his teammates.
Finally, once he was done, the healing glow reached him again, scouring his body for the nerve agent and knitting his muscles back together. It left the many bruises alone, but James couldn't complain, considering how much mana Ezekiel had to have expended. Several notifications flashed by, but he pushed them aside for the moment.
The following ten minutes were spent gathering themselves, regrouping and exploring the room for any new surprise.
When they were sure nothing else was about to attack them, the Awakeners decided to leave the hard work of looking for proof to the experts. They needed to get out of the basement before the air was gone anyway, and spending more time in the room alongside the sad remains didn't appeal to anyone.
The walk back was done in silence, as they all tried to process the atrocities they had been witness and almost part to.
As they emerged from the basement, into the upper facility, and eventually back into the forest, the fresh air hit them like a balm to their senses. The horrors of what lay beneath the preserve weighed heavily on their minds, the images of the chimeras and the mad scientist's failed experiments etched into their memories.
Still reeling from the effects of the gas and the intensity of the battle, James sent an emergency call to the AA HQ, detailing the situation and requesting immediate assistance.
After a moment of hesitation, he also sent a message to Miss Walker, hoping for her guidance in the aftermath of such a traumatic experience.
But as he checked her profile, he noticed something unusual - Miss Walker hadn't logged in for three days. The woman was not one to disappear like that unless she had a good reason, and he could only hope she was having a better time than they were.
Sighing, James sat beside the facility’s broken door under a ray of sunlight and closed his eyes.
"That was fucking brutal," Lauren commented from next to him, lowering herself on the grass to enjoy nature's peace.
"It was," James murmured. "But we won."
"But we won." She echoed, and he didn't need his psychic senses to tell him a small smile had bloomed on her face.