The facility loomed ahead of them, an imposing fortress nestled within the jagged mountains. Its steel walls reflected the dim light of the setting sun, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch out like a warning. The Genesis facility, once a place of hope and innovation, was now a dark monument to the twisted ambitions of those who sought to control humanity’s destiny.

Evan’s heart pounded in his chest as they approached, his thoughts consumed by the enormity of the task ahead. This wasn’t just a mission—it was the culmination of everything they had fought for. If they failed here, the Genesis System would spread like wildfire, reshaping the world into something unrecognizable. The Evolved would take control, and the remnants of humanity would be reduced to nothing more than survivors in a world governed by fear and power.

"Stay sharp," Kara whispered, her voice low but commanding. "We don’t know what’s waiting for us inside. This place is crawling with Evolved soldiers, and they won’t hesitate to tear us apart if they spot us."

Alex gave a quick nod, his hand resting on the hilt of a high-tech blade that hummed with energy. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The perimeter of the facility was heavily guarded, with watchtowers and searchlights illuminating the darkened landscape. It was clear that whoever was in charge of this place wasn’t taking any chances.

“We’ll have to go in through the south entrance,” Alex said, pointing to a small maintenance hatch hidden beneath the shadows of the mountainside. “It’s less guarded, and I’ve already mapped the security system. We can get inside without being detected.”

Evan nodded, his jaw clenched in determination. They had no time to waste. Every second spent outside the walls of the facility was another second the Genesis System could spread further, another moment for the Evolved to grow in power.

Without another word, they moved swiftly, staying low to the ground as they approached the maintenance hatch. The cold mountain air bit at their skin, but the urgency of the mission drowned out any discomfort. They reached the hatch without incident, and Kara quickly set to work on the security panel.

“You know, I always thought I’d end up doing something less risky than this in my lifetime,” Kara muttered as she worked, her fingers dancing over the panel’s interface. “But hey, at least we’re not fighting zombies right now.”

Evan smirked, despite the heaviness in his chest. “There’s always a silver lining.”

With a soft click, the hatch opened, revealing a narrow, dimly lit tunnel. They slipped inside, the door closing silently behind them. For a moment, there was only the sound of their breathing, steady and controlled, as they moved deeper into the facility.

“We need to find the main control room,” Evan said, his voice sharp. “That’s where we can shut down the Genesis System. If we destroy the central core, everything will fall apart.”

“Got it,” Alex replied, pulling up a map on his wrist-mounted device. “The control room is three levels down. We’ll need to take the elevator shaft. The whole place is wired with high-level security, but we can make it. Just follow my lead.”

The tunnel twisted and turned, and they soon found themselves descending deeper into the heart of the facility. The air grew colder with each step, the metallic scent of the lab’s inner workings growing stronger. Evan couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. The Genesis Protocol was more than just a system—it was a presence, a looming force that seemed to permeate the very walls of the facility.

After what felt like hours, they reached a steel door marked with a red warning label: AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. Kara approached it cautiously, pulling out a small device from her pack.

“I’ll handle this,” she said, a determined look in her eyes.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Evan stepped back, his fingers still gripping the hilt of his sword. He knew this was it—the moment when everything could go horribly wrong. They had come too far to turn back now, but the fear of failure lingered in the back of his mind. Kara worked quickly, her hands moving with practiced precision.

“Almost there,” she muttered, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the device.

A soft beep sounded, followed by the hiss of hydraulics as the door slid open. Kara stood back, her eyes scanning the room beyond. It was silent—eerily silent.

Evan motioned for them to move. They slipped through the door, entering a massive control room filled with rows of servers and humming machines. In the center of the room stood a large, cylindrical structure—glowing with an unnatural blue light. It was the heart of the Genesis System, the core that powered the Evolved transformations. Evan could feel its energy pulsing in the air, heavy and oppressive.

“This is it,” Evan whispered, his voice reverberating off the cold, metallic walls. “We destroy that, and the system collapses.”

But as they moved forward, the door behind them slammed shut with a deafening crash. The lights flickered once, then died, plunging the room into darkness.

A low growl filled the air, and Evan’s senses went on high alert. He could hear the sound of heavy footsteps approaching—slow, deliberate, like the predator was stalking its prey.

“Evan…” Kara said, her voice tense. “We’ve got company.”

The darkness was thick, but Evan’s instincts kicked in. He could hear the soft scrape of boots against the metal floor, the rustling of fabric, and the unmistakable hiss of something... inhuman. His eyes adjusted quickly to the low light, and he could just make out the silhouette of a figure moving toward them.

“Get ready,” Evan whispered, his hand on the hilt of his sword. “We’re not leaving here without a fight.”

Out of the shadows, a figure emerged—tall, almost grotesque, its body bulked with muscle and covered in veins that seemed to pulse with an unnatural energy. Its skin was a pale, sickly gray, and its eyes gleamed with an eerie, golden light.

One of the Evolved.

Without a word, the creature lunged. Its speed was terrifying, far faster than any normal human, but Evan was ready. He sidestepped the attack, his sword flashing through the air in a blur. The Evolved staggered back, but its reflexes were quick, and it recovered almost instantly. The golden glow in its eyes intensified, and it bared its teeth in a grotesque snarl.

“It’s not going down easy,” Kara muttered, leveling her rifle at the creature’s head. She pulled the trigger, sending a barrage of bullets toward it. But the Evolved just grinned, raising its arm to deflect the shots with inhuman strength.

“Focus on the core!” Evan shouted, ducking as the creature swiped at him with claws like daggers. He swung his sword in a wide arc, striking the Evolved across the chest. The creature howled in pain but didn’t falter. Its regenerative abilities were incredible.

But Evan knew this battle wasn’t about brute strength—it was about speed and precision. The Evolved was fast, but so was he. They needed to buy enough time to disable the Genesis core before more Evolved reinforcements arrived.

Kara fired again, this time aiming for the creature’s legs. The bullets found their mark, and the Evolved stumbled, its legs giving out for a moment. Evan didn’t waste any time. He lunged, his sword flashing as it pierced the creature’s side.

The Evolved screamed, thrashing wildly, but it was already weakening. The combination of Kara’s shots and Evan’s strike had given them the opening they needed. With a final, decisive blow, Evan drove the sword deep into the creature’s heart.

The Evolved’s body went limp, crumpling to the ground in a heap of twisted flesh. Evan stood over it, panting, his eyes scanning the room for any more threats.

“Is it over?” Kara asked, her voice tight.

“For now,” Evan replied. “But we need to move. More will be on the way.”

Evan approached the Genesis core, his heart pounding. This was it—the heart of the enemy’s power. He could feel the system thrumming beneath his feet, like a living thing. He had to act quickly.

He reached out, placing his hand on the cold, smooth surface of the core. His fingers tingled as if the system itself were pushing back, resisting his touch. But he didn’t hesitate. With a deep breath, Evan focused, channeling every ounce of his power into the system.

The core flickered, its lights dimming as if struggling to maintain its hold. Evan gritted his teeth, pushing harder. The Genesis System was alive, but so was he. The power that had been infused into him, the very essence of the Genesis Protocol, flowed through him in a torrent of energy.

With a final surge, the core exploded in a shower of sparks, its hum dying away.

It was over. For now.

The world would never be the same again.