“Nothing. My hearing should pick up some movement, some sign of life, but everything is silent. As if there were... a barrier around this place.” Aline murmured, frowning.

The purple-skinned woman kept her posture tense, her sharp eyes analyzing every detail of the vegetation ahead. The landscape was a twisted shadow of what it should have been: deformed leaves, with jagged edges and a strange glow under the light of the night vision goggles; gnarled trunks looked wounded, as if something was corroding them from the inside out.

Behind them, another voice rose, full of concern.

“The level of mutagenic agents is far above what is allowed for normal operations. My skin is itching just being here... Will SHH's supplies of Effilium be enough to keep us stable in these conditions? I don't want to run out of Neutritus in the middle of this strange zone, much less degenerate from too much Estronitus.”

The owner of the doubt was Zara, a short Felinus, but with a striking presence. Her body was a perfect fusion between human and feline: a long, fluffy tail moving restlessly, sharp claws instinctively brushing against her reinforced gloves, and triangular ears that involuntarily trembled with every sound around.

Her hair, a vibrant orange, reflected the tone of the fur on her tail and ears. The reinforced military uniform she wore was identical to the others, except for one distinctive detail: the gloves had Anilite jewels embedded in them, pulsating slightly with energy with each movement.

Beside her, an imposing presence: a Taurinus with a robust structure and massive physique. Horns slightly inclined forward, bovine ears and tail moving calmly, and a stoic expression that exuded firmness and protection.

Her military attire was even more reinforced than the others, with extra plates strategically distributed. On her back, a huge Titanite shield rested, secured by thick safety straps, almost as big as she was. Without saying a word, she crossed her arms, but her gaze carefully assessed the terrain. The fine line between caution and distrust was etched in her eyes.

“That won’t be a problem, Zara...”

The answer came from a man who, unlike most, seemed unaffected by the oppressive atmosphere of the place. Natan was slightly taller than Zara, an Asian man with a compact build and alert eyes. Adjusting the strap of his backpack, he checked the data on a high-tech GPS, much more sophisticated than the standard model. Several electronic devices hung from his belt, emitting luminous symbols while constantly transmitting information.

“SHH and the Effilium Operations Center have assured us that our companion at Ground Zero, Midshipman Gregory Gunn, has sufficient capacity to maintain stability for everyone. The supplies were calculated to last six days, of course, as long as none of you reach critical levels of Estronitus or suffer serious injuries that require emergency treatment.” He replied without taking his eyes off the GPS display.

“Humph, in theory every plan is perfect, Natan, but everyone here knows that rarely does everything go as planned.” A voice rose next to him, full of restrained sarcasm.

Louise, a woman dressed in full military gear, had the lower part of her face covered by a tactical mask, hiding any emotion. A long sword rested at her waist, an unusual weapon for missions of this type, but clearly not merely decorative.

Their contrast was striking: coal-black skin, snow-white hair and elongated ears, betraying their ancestry.

“Any unforeseen event that threatens the plan will be evaluated by the person in charge within the zone: Aspirant Gunn. If the plan works, great. If not, he will make the necessary decisions.” Natan replied, unfazed by Louise’s disdainful tone.

“He’s a rookie, barely two years of field missions under his belt. How can we trust him?” Louise countered, echoing everyone’s latent doubt.

“We came here looking for rewards, Louise, not more responsibilities. We did the job, got our pay, and went home, nothing more. Questioning the decisions of the Control Center or SHH is not part of the contract.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

For the first time, Natan raised his head, giving Louise a tense, serious look. His voice remained calm, but there was a weight in the way he said each word.

Louise, however, did not give up. “What about our safety, Natan? It’s a basic rule to entrust leadership to someone qualified. A bad choice can put the entire group at risk.” Her voice, although firm, carried a hint of hesitation.

Natan sighed, but did not lose his composure. “If Aspirant Gunn is not capable of leading, he will be removed and replaced. In that case, Hunter Barnes would not object if I took command, am I correct?” He turned to Drake, waiting for his answer.

The robust dark-haired man smiled at the corner of his mouth, showing no concern. “Make yourself at home. Leading is not my thing.”

“Great.” Natan nodded. “I appreciate your confidence.”

“Now, we have discussed enough. Have you managed to collect the necessary data?” Drake changed the focus of the conversation, showing some urgency.

“The signal from our objective remains active and without direct interference, but other points are suffering some kind of distortion. We have not been able to contact Aspirant Gunn inside the Zone, and he cannot reach us while we are outside. However, so far, there is no evidence of lethal radiation or mutagenic agents beyond those expected. We will have more information as soon as we enter.”

“Then there’s nothing left to wait for.” Drake concluded.

“I agree. The physical Hounds will lead the way, Zara will follow right behind, and Louise will bring up the rear. Is that okay?”

Drake just shrugged. “As long as we get there quickly and can set up camp before moving forward, that’s fine by me.”

“Perfect. Ladies, shall we go?” Natan glanced at the others, waiting for any objections.

No one objected. In silence, the group continued through the forest, cutting their way toward the sign. Each step inside that distorted environment was accompanied by an uncomfortable chill—the kind of sensation that alerted any survival instinct.

____________________________________

Meanwhile, at ground zero, Gregory, Vivian, and Daira were hiding in their makeshift camp, waiting for the situation to unfold.

About fifty meters from the observation point, they had set up a tent sturdy enough to withstand the hostile climate of the forest. Made of a synthetic material for thermal and acoustic insulation, it prevented any light from escaping and reduced sound transmission to a minimum, ensuring that they remained undetected.

The interior was simple but functional. There were three folding mattresses arranged in a semicircle around a small portable battery-powered lamp, whose flickering light cast soft shadows on the walls of the tent. There was no fire—the heat came only from the thermal blankets and the proximity of the bodies.

The night outside was silent and cold, a deceptive calm. Fortunately, the Aligodons also seemed to be resting, with no signs of aggressive movement. The only sign that anything was out of the ordinary was the glow that filtered through the small window of the tent: a bluish, pulsating light, intense enough to penetrate the fabric and cast a faint reflection inside, as if trying to claim the darkness of the forest.

In the heart of the lake, submerged almost 15 meters deep, a second aligodon rested in absolute stillness. However, unlike its companion on the lakeshore, this one was an even larger monstrosity, more ferocious in appearance, like an underwater shadow about to awaken.

Its bright blue skin emitted a light so intense that it seemed like a submerged lighthouse, illuminating the waters of the lake and breaking through the darkness of the lake for hundreds of meters around with a hypnotic and frightening radiance. Bubbles erupted from its nostrils with a muffled sound, slowly rising to the surface.

But, upon reaching the surface of the lake, these bubbles released a dense and heavy vapor, which slowly spread, creating a thick fog over the calm waters. The fog seemed alive, as if the very essence of the creature was spreading throughout the surroundings, impregnating the air with a sense of oppression and imminent danger.

Despite its apparent immobility, the water around the aligodon's body pulsed in unnatural movements, as if invisible waves were emanating from its massive body, sending vibrations that seemed to reverberate to the depths. This is a very rare phenomenon, a harbinger of something much more fearsome.

This process, known to many but witnessed by very few, was a sign that the beast was in a state of metamorphosis, in fact, an evolution. Even the surrounding environment seemed to understand this phenomenon, as there was a kind of silence, almost as if an anticipation of a destructive force about to be released.

An unmistakable sign of extreme danger, as if the lake itself was warning of the approaching terror.

“Deep sigh” Vivian bit into a cereal bar with an irritated expression…

“Do you want anything?” Gregory, sitting with his back supported by his backpack, scribbled information on his electronic device, reanalyzing the collected data.

“Every hour I spend in this place, I think that this mission is coming out too cheap, no matter how much you pay us…” Vivian complained between chewing, her voice laden with sarcasm.