The aftershocks of the node’s disruption lingered as Evan and the group exited the sub-levels of the Delta-7 industrial complex. The once-threatening hum of viral energy had vanished, replaced by a strange quietness that felt almost suffocating. “Keep moving,” Claire urged, her crossbow slung over one shoulder as she helped Jake limp toward the exit. The others followed close behind, weapons at the ready, scanning the dim corridors for any lingering threats.
Evan’s mind buzzed with system notifications, but he tuned most of them out. Genesis Database Update Pending. Host Recalibration Initiated. He’d deal with that later. For now, the priority was getting out alive. Kara, walking ahead of the group, glanced back at Evan. “You did something big in there, didn’t you?” she asked, her voice carrying a mix of awe and suspicion.
“Something like that,” Evan replied curtly, his gaze fixed on the hallway ahead. He wasn’t ready to explain everything—not yet.
“You don’t need to keep us in the dark, you know,” Kara added.
“He’ll tell us when it matters,” Claire interjected, shooting Kara a sharp look.
“Let’s focus on surviving first,” Evan said, ending the discussion. The team emerged from the sub-levels into the cold night air. The industrial complex loomed behind them, its once-intimidating presence diminished now that the node had been disabled. But the eerie quietness persisted, gnawing at their nerves.
“Where are the infected?” Jake asked, breaking the silence.
“Gone,” Lila replied, her tone uncertain. “At least for now. The disruption must’ve done something to them.”
“Or it called something worse,” Kara muttered.
As the group moved through the debris-laden streets, Evan felt a sharp pang in his head—a signal from the Genesis Database. The world around him flickered briefly, and an interface flashed before his eyes.
“Alert: Residual Energy Surge Detected. Warning: High-Priority Anomaly Approaching.”
Evan halted, his hand instinctively gripping his weapon.
“What is it?” Claire asked, noticing his change in demeanor.
“Something’s coming,” Evan said, his voice low.
The words had barely left his mouth when a distant rumble reached their ears. The ground vibrated beneath their feet, and a faint orange glow appeared on the horizon, growing brighter with each passing second. “Please tell me that’s not what I think it is,” Jake groaned.
“It’s not reinforcements,” Lila said grimly.
From the glow emerged a massive figure—a grotesque amalgamation of machinery and flesh. Its towering form, easily three stories high, was covered in pulsating viral growths, and its limbs ended in jagged, metallic appendages. Its roar echoed across the landscape, sending a chill down their spines.
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“Designation: Aberrant Colossus. Threat Level: Catastrophic.”
“Run,” Evan said, his voice barely audible over the creature’s roar. The group broke into a sprint, weaving through the ruined streets as the Colossus gave chase. Its massive steps shook the ground, toppling weakened buildings and scattering debris.
“Lila, do you have anything left?” Claire shouted, glancing back at the monstrosity.
“Nothing that’ll slow that thing down!” Lila replied, her voice strained as she ran. Evan’s mind raced. The system’s interface was alive with potential strategies and options, but most of them required resources he didn’t have.
“Host Ability Upgrade Available. Do you wish to proceed?”
“Yes!” Evan thought desperately.
A surge of energy coursed through his body as the system activated. His vision sharpened, and the world seemed to slow around him. The Colossus’s movements became more predictable, its weak points glowing faintly in his enhanced perception.
“Split up!” Evan shouted. “It’s too big to follow all of us!”
Claire hesitated but nodded, leading Jake and Lila down an alleyway while Kara followed Evan toward a collapsed overpass.
“What’s the plan?” Kara asked, her tone breathless but steady. Evan didn’t answer immediately, focusing on the system’s guidance. “We’ll lead it to the overpass. If we can collapse it, we might be able to trap it.”
The Colossus followed, its thunderous steps growing louder as it closed the distance. Kara fired several shots at its legs, but the bullets barely penetrated its armor-like skin.
“This isn’t working!” she yelled. “It’s not supposed to,” Evan replied. “Just keep it distracted!”
Reaching the base of the overpass, Evan activated Catalyst Burst, scaling the crumbling structure with speed that surprised even him. Kara stayed on the ground, taking cover behind rubble and firing sporadically to keep the Colossus’s attention.
As Evan reached the top, he spotted a large section of the overpass that was already weakened. He scanned the area for anything he could use and found a rusted support beam dangling precariously above. “Hold on just a little longer!” Evan shouted down to Kara.
“No promises!” she called back, narrowly dodging a swipe from the Colossus’s massive arm.
Using his enhanced strength, Evan pried the beam loose. The structure groaned under the strain, cracks spreading rapidly across its surface.
“Get clear!” Evan yelled. Kara sprinted away as the overpass gave way, collapsing onto the Colossus in a deafening crash. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the creature from view. The group regrouped a few blocks away, their breaths heavy and their bodies battered. “Is it dead?” Jake asked, wincing as he leaned against a wall.
“No,” Evan said, his tone grim. “Something that big doesn’t die that easily. But it’s trapped—for now.”
“So what do we do?” Lila asked. “We can’t keep running forever.”
“We won’t,” Evan replied. “The system’s showing me a way to fight back, but we’ll need time to prepare—and resources we don’t have yet.”
Kara crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. “And how do we know this ‘system’ of yours won’t lead us straight into another death trap?”
“You don’t,” Evan admitted. “But what other choice do we have?”
Silence fell over the group as they considered his words. The fight at Delta-7 had been a victory, but it had come at a cost. And the Colossus was a stark reminder that the virus was far from defeated. Evan looked at each of them, his gaze steady despite the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. “We’ve taken the first step, but this isn’t over. If we’re going to survive—if we’re going to win—we need to trust each other. And we need to trust that we’re capable of more than just surviving.”
Claire nodded, her expression resolute. “Then let’s get to work.”