The dropship’s thrusters groaned, fighting against the storm's fury as it fought to breach the atmosphere. With a final, spine-rattling screech, the ship slammed onto the treacherous terrain below. Steam erupted into the air, merging with the acrid scent of scorched metal and the raw, damp scent of earth. The ground beneath them quivered under the ship’s weight, as if the very land sought to swallow them whole. The loading ramp screeched open, releasing an icy gust that sliced through their gear like a thousand blades.
Elijah gripped his bowstaff tightly, the cold steel pressing into his gloved palms. The mud clung to his boots, sucking at them with every step—an invisible hand trying to pull him down. He grimaced, resisting the ground’s oppressive pull, forcing his body to move forward despite the dread clawing at him. His gaze swept over the battlefield: crushed metal, shattered walls, skeletal remains of buildings—nature’s creeping vengeance over a once-thriving city. Vines snaked through the ruin, reclaiming the place with relentless determination. Above them, lightning crackled through dark, swirling clouds, momentarily revealing the cursed landscape.
“Watch your footing,” Elijah’s voice cut through the storm, rough but focused. His eyes flicked over the wreckage, scanning for any sign of danger. “Stay sharp.”
Stacy slipped on the slick mud, her feet skidding. A grunt escaped her as she flared her arms for balance, water flicking from her hood. Her hair stuck to her rain-slick visor as she muttered, “Always the optimist.” The storm swallowed her words, but the smirk tugging at her lips remained.
Lysander’s footfalls were sure, each one sinking lightly into the trembling earth. Without missing a beat, he slapped Elijah on the shoulder, his grin wide and carefree. “Don’t let the weather fool you, Eli. Team One’s built for this.” He tugged his scarf higher, casting his features into shadow, masking his casual confidence.
The dropship’s engines roared one final time before disappearing into the storm’s depths, leaving the squad in a tense, aching silence.
Luna’s voice crackled to life in their comms. “Teams, sound off.”
“Team One, ready.” Elijah’s response was immediate, his focus never leaving the distant wreckage. The blinking red target on his holo-display pulsed ominously, its rhythm syncing with his heartbeat.
“Team Two, clear,” Iris’s voice sliced through the static, her neon-blue goggles flickering as she adjusted them against the onslaught of rain.
“The rift zone’s distorting everything,” Luna’s voice echoed in their earpieces. “You’ll be isolated until you reach the objective.”
“Copy.” Elijah’s voice was steady, laser-focused as he surveyed the city. He exhaled slowly, his mind working through their next move. “Stick to the plan. We deal with the pyroclast first. Team Two takes care of the Mauler and Brachalisk. No exceptions. Stay low, stay fast.”
Static hummed briefly before Iris’s response snapped through: “Understood.”
Elijah motioned toward his team with a quick, sharp signal. “Move out. In formation.”
They advanced, the wind’s deafening roar closing in as the storm seemed to turn against them. Each step left them ankle-deep in thick mud; the rain pounded their armor like tiny hammers, trying to wear them down. The air, heavy and saturated, soaked into their gear, gnawing at their resolve. In the distance, a low growl vibrated through the air—a bone-chilling reminder that they were never truly alone.
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Meanwhile, farther along the crumbling streets, Caleb’s team navigated the ruins with wariness etched into every motion. The remnants of the once-thriving city sprawled before them—overturned vehicles, shattered windows, remnants of lives long forgotten. Fading neon lights flickered sporadically from derelict storefronts, casting long, twitching shadows. The place had been erased by time, but its haunting presence remained, hanging like a thick fog.
Caleb paused beneath the broken shell of a building’s overhang, eyes scanning the ruined street. Thunder rumbled overhead, a deep growl that set a rhythmic tension in the air. He tilted his head toward Iris, crouched beside him, the storm’s fury reflected in her adjusting goggles.
“Anything on thermals?” Caleb asked, his voice low but commanding, eyes never leaving the shadowed horizon.
Iris adjusted the settings with swift hands, her eyes narrowing as she concentrated. “Nothing yet. But... it’s too quiet,” she murmured, gripping her weapon tighter. The cold metal was a steady anchor against the storm’s chaos. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
“I’ll take quiet over surprises any day,” Carter muttered from behind them. His body tensed, eyes flicking to the dark edges of the ruins.
“Don’t jinx us,” Jian interjected, voice low and deliberate. “Quiet just means we haven’t been found yet.”
Caleb considered their words for a moment, then nodded, lips pressed into a thin line of focus. "Iris,” he commanded softly, authority laced in his tone, “Take a sniper position.” He pointed to the distant outline of a crumbling structure silhouetted against the storm’s fury.
Iris gave a subtle nod, locking eyes with Caleb. The unspoken agreement was clear between them, an understanding forged through years of teamwork. Without a word, Carter stepped forward, his hand grazing Iris’s arm as he opened a shimmering portal of blue light between them. With practiced ease, Iris stepped into the portal, vanishing from view.
Carter remained, his breath slow and measured, eyes focused on the charged air as the portal snapped shut, leaving an eerie silence behind. Tension clung to the broken city as they waited for the inevitable.
Just as Caleb was about to give his next order, the ground beneath them quivered. A low rumble became a bone-rattling roar, resonating from deep within the cracked foundation of the city.
From the shadows, it came.
The Mauler.
Its massive, hulking form emerged from the storm’s rage, yellow eyes glowing like burning orbs in the murk. With a primal snarl, it surged forward, its great arms swinging through the air with terrifying strength. The storm battered its form, but it advanced undeterred, rage fueling its every step.
Behind it, a pack of twisted creatures followed—screeching horrors, claws scraping across debris as they joined the onslaught. Their howls merged with the Mauler’s guttural growls, creating a symphony of terror that tore through the tempest.
“Brace!” Caleb commanded, his shield raised high to deflect the incoming onslaught. As the Mauler’s colossal claw swung down, the impact shook the ground beneath Caleb’s boots. The strike rang out with a deafening crack, the force of it reverberating through the streets. Caleb gritted his teeth, muscles straining as he held the shield steady, barely resisting the sheer power of the blow.
“Fall back!” Caleb shouted, spinning the shield and slamming it into the Mauler’s sweeping claw. The creature staggered back, momentarily off balance.
Jian moved like a shadow, darting beneath the Mauler’s follow-up swipe with fluid precision. He struck, his kick sending shockwaves into the Mauler’s knee, and with a swift follow-up, landed a blow to its side. The beast reeled, losing its footing for just an instant.
Carter opened another portal beneath the Mauler, trapping its feet in a glowing vortex. As the beast flailed, desperate to regain control, Carter closed the portal with a decisive snap, leaving it off balance.
Above them, Iris steadied her sniper rifle, the scope aligning with her target—the Mauler’s exposed shoulder. She exhaled, steadying her breath. A soft squeeze of the trigger. The shot rang out, a sharp crack slicing through the storm’s growl. The bullet tore into the creature’s flesh, and the Mauler staggered, howling in pain as it tried to rally.
“Keep it distracted!” Iris’s calm voice echoed in their comms, sharp even amidst the fury of the storm.
“On it!” Caleb bellowed, positioning himself as the Mauler’s furious gaze fixed on him once more. The creature’s growl was low, filled with venom.
With one last, rage-filled bellow, the Mauler summoned its pack, and the air trembled under the weight of its fury. The first of the other Maulers emerged from the shadows, their predatory eyes glowing as they joined the fray, eager to destroy.
[Ends of Chapter]