Mark crouched low behind a dense cluster of bushes, his sharp eyes scanning the facility ahead. The faint hum of electricity filled the air, blending with the distant rustling of leaves. The facility was hidden in the thick of the forest, but its presence was anything but subtle.

Maya crouched beside him and adjusted the high-tech glasses perched on her nose. Tiny cameras attached to the frames transmitted live video feeds to Ezra and Yamal, who were stationed remotely, monitoring the situation.

“Not exactly a fortress,” Maya muttered, her tone skeptical. “Guards with basic weapons, no heavy artillery. If they’re hiding some grand secret here, they’re not doing a great job of keeping it secure.”

Yamal’s voice crackled through the comms. “Or maybe their security isn’t what we’re used to. What if it’s something… unconventional?”

Mark didn’t look away from the facility, but his nod showed he agreed. “Yamal’s got a point. The air here feels… wrong. Like something’s pulsing from inside.”

Maya stiffened slightly, the gravity in Mark’s tone wiping away her earlier levity. “Guess I’ll save the jokes for later. Let’s focus.”

Ezra’s steady voice broke in. “I’ve hijacked the external cameras. You’re good to move but stick to the shadows. Guards are overlapping in some spots, so timing is key.”

Mark tapped his wrist device, syncing his interface with Maya’s. Their glasses highlighted the guards’ movements in real-time, overlaying their patrol patterns onto the feed.

Mark glanced at Maya. “Ready?”

She smirked faintly, her fingers tightening on the knife at her side. “Always.”

They activated the stealth modules in their suits. The advanced tech absorbed the surrounding light and distorted their outlines, rendering them nearly invisible. Combined with their Ascendant-level stealth skills, they moved like shadows.

Mark gestured forward, and they slipped through the gaps in the guards’ patrols. Their movements were soundless, their breathing controlled, every step calculated. The guards didn’t notice a thing as Mark and Maya slipped closer to the main gate.

Mark stopped a few meters from the gate and raised his hand. Maya crouched next to him, watching the retinal scanner in the wall. The blue light of the scanner pulsed softly, showing that they needed to get past this high-tech barrier.

“Yamal, we’re at the gate. Retinal scanner. High-end,” Maya whispered into the comms.

“Copy that,” Yamal replied, his tone confident. “Send me a close-up feed of the scanner. I’ll generate a bypass.”

Mark adjusted his glasses, zoomed in on the scanner, and transmitted the data back to Yamal. As they waited, their suits’ enhanced sensors picked up a faint shift in the air. One of the guards paused mid-patrol, his head tilting as if sensing something was off.

Mark’s hand moved swiftly, pulling out his dart launcher. In two fluid motions, he fired. The darts hit both guards in the neck, their bodies freezing upright as the tranquilizer took effect.

“Ten seconds,” Mark muttered, gesturing to Maya.

Yamal’s voice came through just in time. “Got it. Your suits’ emitters will project the retinal pattern. Maya, align it with the scanner.”

Maya activated her suit’s biometric emitter, positioning herself carefully. The scanner aligned with the projection. After a brief pause, the device beeped. Then, the gate opened with a hiss, showing a dimly lit corridor ahead.

The pair slipped inside just as the gate closed behind them. The guards outside collapsed to the ground as the tranquilizer wore off, but Mark and Maya were already out of sight.

The interior of the facility was vast and cold. Rows of industrial pipelines lined the walls, and crates stacked with biohazard symbols loomed in every direction. Massive machines hummed with mechanical precision, their purpose unclear but ominous.

Mark and Maya crouched behind a row of crates, scanning their surroundings. Ezra’s voice came through the comms. “I’ve got the internal cameras on a loop. Thirty seconds of past footage, seamless replay. You’re good to move, but don’t linger in one spot for too long.”

“Understood,” Mark said. He pressed a button on his wrist device, releasing a wave that synchronized with Ezra’s feed. The cameras now projected the looped footage flawlessly.

“Cameras are neutralized,” Mark whispered. “We move.”

They advanced deeper into the facility, sticking to the shadows.

Researchers in white lab coats moved briskly through the halls, their faces focused and their movements purposeful. The pair stayed silent, their focus unbroken. The faint sound of hurried footsteps and the hum of machinery filled the air.

“Follow the group on your left,” Ezra directed. “They’re heading toward something we need to see.”

Mark and Maya nodded, trailing the researchers at a safe distance. They arrived at a large, brightly lit room enclosed by thick glass walls.

Inside were rows of crates marked with biochemical hazard symbols, robotic arms assembling what looked like weapons, and shelves lined with vials containing a shimmering silver liquid.

Maya scanned the scene through the glass, her expression grim. “Neurotoxins. Mutagens. Bio-weapons engineered to target specific systems. This isn’t just your average lab.”

Mark placed a small tracker on the glass wall, his eyes narrowing. “It’s a production facility. And they’re gearing up for something big.”

Just then, the glass door slid open as the group of researchers entered the room. Mark didn’t miss a beat. Activating a compartment on his suit, he released a swarm of tiny robotic beetles. The devices darted through the open door, scattering across the room.

Ezra’s voice carried a hint of approval. “Quick thinking, Mark. I’ve got control of the bugs. They’ll attach trackers to key crates.”

Mark smirked faintly. “Make sure they stay unnoticed.”

The door closed behind the researchers, leaving Mark and Maya to regroup. Maya glanced toward Mark. “We’ve got what we need here. What’s next?”

Mark’s gaze turned toward the far right of the facility. “The energy I felt earlier—it’s coming from deeper inside. We need to see it.”

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Maya nodded, her tone serious. “Lead the way.”

As they moved deeper into the facility, the atmosphere grew heavier. The hum of energy was more pronounced now, almost like a faint vibration in the air. The sterile, industrial design of the corridors began to shift, replaced by a more clinical and ominous setting.

“There’s no sign of guards inside,” Maya noted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mark’s tone was grim. “They don’t need them. Whatever’s here… it’s meant to stay hidden.”

Ezra’s voice cut through the tension. “You’re heading toward a high-energy zone. Be careful.”

Following Ezra’s directions, they arrived at a large chamber. The sight before them made both Mark and Maya freeze.

The room was lined with rows of cylindrical chambers, each filled with some kind of glowing viscous liquid. Within the chambers were human figures, suspended and twitching grotesquely. The energy coming from them was overpowering, distorting the air they stood in.

Maya’s eyes went wide, her voice dropping to a whisper. “What on fucking earth are we looking at?”

Mark’s jaw clenched, but he did not look away. “This is what the cloaked figure warned me about. Artificial Ascendants.”

Maya stepped closer, her glasses scanning the chambers. The data streamed in rapidly. “These aren’t natural cores. Their energy signatures are unstable. It’s like their bodies are rejecting whatever they’ve been infused with.”

Mark placed a tracker on the main console, his voice calm but cold. “They’re forcing Ascension. And it’s failing.”

Ezra’s voice came through, tense. “Mark, you need to get out of there. The energy levels in that room are off the charts. If one of those chambers fails—”

“I know,” Mark interrupted. “This isn’t just a lab—it’s a factory.”

Maya recorded the readings with her glasses, her expression grim. “They’ve crossed every line imaginable. This isn’t just unethical—it’s catastrophic.”

Mark glanced at her. “We’ve seen enough. Let’s move.”

As they turned to leave, a faint sound echoed through the chamber—the soft hiss of a chamber door beginning to open.

Mark and Maya froze in place as a slow, deliberate clap echoed through the chamber. From the shadows, a tall man emerged, his footsteps resonating against the cold, sterile floor.

His impeccably tailored dark suit contrasted starkly with the unsettling glow of the chambers behind him.

Alexander LaRue.

“Well, well,” Alexander drawled, his tone calm and laced with amusement. “Look who decided to join the party.”

Behind him, several cloaked figures emerged, their movements eerily synchronized. Their faces were obscured, but their presence radiated an unnatural energy—unstable, distorted, but undeniably strong.

Maya clenched her fists, her sharp eyes darting between the figures. “How did he—?”

Ezra’s voice cut through the comms, filled with disbelief. “How does he know you’re there? The cameras were on a loop, and you guys were on stealth!”

Alexander’s lips curved into a faint smile as if he could hear Ezra’s frustration. “Oh, you must be wondering how we knew,” he said, his gaze fixed on Mark and Maya. “It’s simple. We let you in, and we have all the great technologies that you have, too.”

Maya tensed. “Let us in?”

Alexander nodded, his expression calm and almost mocking. “You’re not the first pests to poke around here, but you’re certainly the most interesting. We needed someone… worthy. A true Ascendant.” His eyes gleamed with cruel intent. “To donate their blood essence for the final stage of our project.”

Mark’s expression darkened, his stance firm as his fingers flexed slightly. “You mean you’re stealing life from Ascendants to power this abomination.”

Alexander’s smile widened. “Stealing? Such a crude way to put it. We’re perfecting the process, evolving humanity. Ascendants are the key, but taking too much from someone like me or another LaRue would… diminish our strength. You, on the other hand,” he gestured lazily toward Mark, “are expendable.”

Mark’s voice was cold as steel. “You think we’ll just hand over our lives?”

Alexander’s expression didn’t waver. “No. But I think I’ll enjoy taking it from you.”

Before Mark could respond, Alexander’s hand ignited with crimson flames, the glow illuminating his sharp features. “But first, let’s see what you’re capable of.”

With a flick of his wrist, Alexander hurled a blazing arc of fire toward them. Mark moved instinctively, summoning his own flames to counter the attack. The collision sent a wave of heat rippling through the chamber, forcing Maya to shield her face.

“Go!” Mark barked at Maya, his voice carrying a rare urgency. “Get out of here. Now!”

Maya hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding, her face grim. “Ezra, Yamal, guide me.”

“Already on it,” Ezra replied, his tone steady but tense. “We’ve got your route mapped. Move!”

As Maya turned to leave, one of the cloaked figures lunged toward her. Without breaking stride, she summoned a sharp gust of wind, sending the figure crashing into a nearby wall. The figure staggered but didn’t fall, its movements jerky and unnatural.

“These things aren’t human,” Maya muttered, her disgust evident.

“They’re the 75%,” Yamal said grimly. “Strong but unstable. They’re not your main problem—Alexander is. Keep moving!”

Mark took a step forward, placing himself between Maya and Alexander. His flames roared to life, forming a protective barrier that forced the cloaked figures to keep their distance.

Alexander chuckled, unfazed. “How noble. But you can’t protect her forever.”

Mark didn’t reply. Instead, he launched forward, his fists wreathed in fire. Alexander met him head-on, their flames colliding in a burst of crimson and orange that lit up the chamber. The sheer force of the clash sent sparks flying, scorching the walls and floor.

Their battle was more than physical. Both men wielded their Ascendant abilities with precision, summoning firestorms and barriers that clashed violently. Mark’s attacks were calculated; each strike aimed to push Alexander back while giving Maya more time to escape.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Alexander taunted, his flames growing hotter and wilder. “I expected more from the great Mark.”

Mark’s gaze remained cold as he sidestepped a fiery blast and countered with a wave of fire that forced Alexander to retreat. “You talk too much.”

Meanwhile, Maya darted through the facility, her movements swift and silent. Ezra and Yamal guided her every step, their voices steady in her ear.

“Left at the next junction,” Ezra instructed. “The exit’s two halls down.”

“I’m not leaving until Mark follows me,” Maya replied, her tone resolute.

“You’ll get yourself killed!” Yamal snapped. “Focus on getting out first. Mark knows how to handle this.”

Maya gritted her teeth but didn’t argue. As she approached the next corridor, two cloaked figures blocked her path. Their movements were faster now, more aggressive as if driven by some primal instinct.

Summoning her wind abilities, Maya unleashed a powerful gust that sent one figure crashing into a wall. The second figure lunged at her, its movements erratic but forceful.

Maya dodged its attack with ease, her blade slicing through its torso in a clean motion. It staggered but didn’t fall, its glowing eyes glaring at her.

“Unstable but persistent,” Maya muttered, launching another gust that knocked the figure to the ground. She didn’t wait to see if it would get back up.

Back in the chamber, Mark and Alexander’s battle raged on. The heat was suffocating, the air thick with the smell of scorched metal and ash.

Alexander’s flames took on a darker hue, almost black at the edges. “You’re strong, I’ll give you that,” he said, his voice carrying over the roar of their attacks. “But strength alone won’t save you.”

Mark didn’t respond. Instead, he surged forward, his flames forming a concentrated spear that he hurled at Alexander. The attack forced Alexander to summon a massive wall of fire to block it, the resulting explosion shaking the entire chamber.

The cloaked figures were caught in the shockwave, their unstable forms disintegrating under the intense heat. Alexander didn’t seem to care, his focus entirely on Mark.

“You’re delaying the inevitable,” Alexander said, his voice low and dangerous. “Once I’m done with you, your little friend won’t get far.”

Mark smirked, his tone calm and unshaken. “You’re assuming you’ll win.”

Their clash reached a fever pitch as they exchanged blows, their elemental attacks illuminating the chamber in bursts of light and heat.

Mark’s movements were precise and relentless, and his experience was evident in every strike. Alexander, while powerful, fought with a wild unpredictability that left openings Mark exploited with ease.

“Ezra,” Mark muttered into his comms between strikes, “status on Maya?”

“She’s almost out,” Ezra replied. “You just need to hold him a minute more.”

Mark’s flames flared brighter, his resolve unwavering. “Consider it done.”

Alexander lunged at him, his flames swirling into a massive inferno aimed directly at Mark. But Mark stood his ground, his own fire coiling around him like a shield. The two forces collided in a blinding flash, the resulting shockwave sending both men skidding backward.

“You’ll regret this,” Alexander snarled, his calm demeanor finally cracking.

Mark smirked, his voice calm and steady. “The only thing I regret is not ending this sooner.”

As the dust settled, Mark prepared for the next round, his focus razor-sharp. He had bought enough time for Maya to escape, but the fight was far from over. This wasn’t about survival anymore—it was about sending a message.

And Mark intended to make it loud and clear.