The sky darkened as Kadmon, the SCD, Gerald, and Abigail closed in on the ruins. The air was thick with anticipation, a suffocating weight pressing down on the operatives as they prepared for battle. Inside the sleek, camouflaged ships, the atmosphere was electric. Jacob, Tessa, and Lynn sat quietly, their faces pale but determined. They were ready to fight to the death, their minds focused on two things: avenging the gruesome deaths of Alphonse and Kira, and rescuing the children that had been stolen from them.

Clara was at the helm, giving Kadmon's forces their final orders with sharp, precise commands. Her voice cut through the tense silence like a blade. Ariane, leading the SCD operatives, followed suit, her soldiers responding in disciplined unison. But the eyes of the group remained on Gerald and Abigail, the two moving like a force of nature. No one dared to question their autonomy, not when their every action seemed to ripple with authority and danger.

Ahead of the group, Stray had already gone to scout the ruins, providing Gerald with the first glimpse of what awaited them. The ruins lay hidden beneath layers of darkness and secrecy, but Stray's reconnaissance had revealed a layout riddled with danger. The Kadmon and SCD operatives moved in sleek ships designed for stealth, cutting through the atmosphere like knives, their camouflage rendering them invisible to prying eyes.

Aboard the lead ship, Celine sat rigid. Despite the emotional devastation of Luther's betrayal—the man she had once loved and trusted—she had insisted on coming. The guilt weighed on her; she felt responsible for the children being taken. She had vouched for Luther, after all, had believed in him long after his descent into madness.

Kira was tasked with leading Jacob, Tessa, and Lynn. She had vowed that this time, she wouldn't fail in her mission. The deaths of Alphonse and Kira would be avenged, no matter the cost.

As the ships neared their destination, Stray's voice came through the comms, low and grave. "There's an open door on the third floor, leading to a subterranean city."

Gerald listened, brow furrowed. A subterranean city? He doubted that was what it appeared to be. The door was more likely a portal, a doorway to another realm, a place beyond their understanding. And yet, the danger didn't stop there. "Dozens of pods outside the temple," Stray continued. "Looks like they're from Sigdra. Could be holding hybrids."

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"Of course they are," Gerald muttered under his breath. The hybrids—twisted creations of science were their constant tormentors. The Kadmon and SCD operatives braced themselves as the ruins loomed in the distance, anticipation tightening like a noose around their throats.

The journey felt endless, despite the ships' speed. Hours passed before the ruins finally came into view. The ancient stone structures were ominous, their dark surfaces crumbling yet powerful. But it wasn't the sight of the ruins that chilled the team—it was the figures standing there, waiting for them.

Three figures. Stray had reported their presence. Two of them were gaunt, their bodies marked with sickening tattoos that seemed to writhe as though alive, giving off a palpable aura of dark energy. Their eyes gleamed with madness, their thin frames barely concealing the twisted power they commanded. But it was the third figure that sent a shiver through the group. Luther. His wild, deranged eyes locked on the arriving forces, a grotesque smile spreading across his face. He was no longer the man Celine had loved. He was something else entirely now—a man possessed by his beliefs, ready to die for them, ready to kill for them.

Behind Luther, a final pod emerged from the shadows. Unlike the others, this one was transparent, allowing them to see the figure encased inside. A young girl.

Gerald's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward. "Who is she?"

Luther's smile twisted into something even more horrific as he spoke. "Octavia—Octavia Hek. The pinnacle of our creation. Our most ambitious experiment."

The air around the ruins seemed to freeze as Luther's voice reverberated through the space. "She is the perfect hybrid. An Organoid Intelligence within the most flawless body we've ever created. For years, I collected samples—Celine's blood, skin, brain cells. And now, I have merged them with the latest technology to create her. Our daughter."

The words hit Celine like a physical blow. Her body trembled as she listened, each sentence feeling like another knife driven into her heart. Luther had been stealing pieces of her for years—without her knowledge, without her consent. And now, he had created this… this thing. This twisted mockery of life.

Luther continued, oblivious to the devastation he was causing. "Octavia will be the high priestess of the true gods. She is the future. She is the culmination of everything we have worked for, everything we have sacrificed."

Inside the pod, the girl—Octavia—looked innocent, unaware of the horror surrounding her creation. Her skin was dark, like Luther's, but her hair was white, like Celine's. Her face was hauntingly familiar, a younger reflection of Celine herself.

Gerald's gaze shifted from the girl to Celine. His voice softened, cutting through the thick tension. "What do you want to do?" he asked. "Do you want her destroyed… or saved?"

Tears welled in Celine's eyes. Her voice shook, barely above a whisper. "Save her," she breathed. "Please… save her."

Gerald's lips curved into a faint smile, but it was laced with grim determination. "As you wish."