Thomas and Sophie arrive at the outskirts of New Eden, choosing to continue on foot since it wasn't far. As they crossed the broken border, Thomas said, "We should get to high ground."Sophie nodded, bow and sword ready. Thomas carried his blade and the backpack with their supplies. Sophie pressed her earpiece.
"I and Thomas have reached New Eden. We'll keep you posted. Sophie out."Thomas exhaled. "I hope everyone else is doing okay on their missions."Sophie nodded. "Let's start searching."They moved from rooftop to rooftop, scanning the ruined city below. Goblins‑like demons scavenged through trash, and smaller creatures skittered between shadows.Thomas thought, No time to waste on rodents.They glided across another rooftop when Sophie suddenly pointed east.
"Fire. Over there."They moved quickly, reaching the edge of the flames. Below them, several bonfires burned bright.Thomas squinted. "Survivors."Sophie shook her head. "No… not survivors." Thomas looked closer. They all had all white mask on with black eye holes and a straight mouth that did not move masks, others had burned skin, radiation scars. Weapons were everywhere."This isn't a village," Thomas whispered. "It's a compound." Sophie pointed west. "Look." Thomas followed her gaze dozens of people tied up, hog‑tied, beaten. "Hostages," Thomas said. Sophie counted. "Around twenty." Thomas asked, "How many hostiles?""A lot more." Sophie responded Thomas tightened his grip on his sword. "Okay. I'll go in. You cover me." Sophie grabbed his arm. "Stop. You don't need to play hero." Thomas smiled softly. "I know." And before she could say anything else, he jumped. Sophie sighed. "Boys will be boys."
She drew her bow and took aim. Thomas Enters the Compound Thomas landed silently, sword in hand. No one noticed him yet. He closed his eyes."Let's make this quick." His aura flared — bright, powerful, unmistakable. Every hostile turned toward him. Too late.Thomas moved. In seconds he was inside the compound, slicing through anyone who raised a weapon. Guns lifted in slow motion compared to his speed. He dodged, weaved, and cut through the chaos like a storm. One man raised an AK‑47 Thomas appeared in front of him and drove his blade through the man's face. He ripped it free and smashed another attacker in the forehead with the butt of the sword. Bones cracked. Kneecaps shattered. Arms snapped.Thomas was unstoppable.Until—WHAM! A massive blow struck his back. Blood sprayed.Thomas stumbled forward and turned. A huge mutant human stood behind him 6'9, pale, bald, muscles stacked like armor. A cracked white mask covered half his face. In his hands a bat wrapped in barbed wire with fresh blood on it.The mutant swung again fast, skilled, precise.Thomas dodged, but the force was strong enough to push him back.Sophie fired an arrow from above it hit the mutant's chest. He didn't flinch. He snapped the arrow off like a toothpick.Then he roared a deep, barbaric yell and his muscles swelled, veins bulging, body growing more vicious.Thomas stepped back, eyes narrowing. He powered up… what the hell is going on?
The mutant grew larger with every breath, muscles swelling, mask cracking at the edges. Then he charged fast, heavy, unstoppable.Thomas rolled aside. The mutant plowed through several of his own men before skidding to a halt. An arrow struck the mutant's mask, dead‑center. Sophie.The giant turned toward her rooftop and pointed.
Gunfire erupted as smaller mutants opened fire on her position."SOPHIE!" Thomas shouted.He tried to run to her but the giant slammed into him, driving him into the dirt. The ground shook with every blow as Thomas blocked and rolled, barely keeping ahead of the monster's strength. Then a volley of arrows struck the giant's back.The samurai's voice echoed in Thomas's mind "Thomas get up." Thomas's aura ignited. Brighter. Hotter. Higher. He rose from the ground, levitating, eyes glowing white.The mutant stepped back, stunned.Thomas's voice came out layered human and something ancient beneath it"Your time of havoc is over." The mutant roared, a sound like an alarm shaking the compound. He charged again, but Thomas was already moving faster than before, slipping past every strike, countering with precision. A rising uppercut sent the giant stumbling back. Thomas leapt, bringing down a powerful kick — the mutant dodged, landing heavily."You're human," the mutant growled, "but something else. You're the one who defeated the Lord of Violence."Thomas steadied his stance.
"His time was up. Yours is coming." Thomas responded Before he could finish, more mutants swarmed him from behind. Their movements were sharper now, veins glowing an unnatural green. Thomas glanced up and Sophie was still fighting, surrounded, more mutants climbing toward her. Almighty… watch over her. He fought through the swarm, but they kept coming. Stronger. Wilder. Endless.The samurai's voice cut through the chaos"Thomas — go Eternal!" Thomas blocked a strike.
"I'll pass out. I can't fall here.""These creatures are gone. Their humanity is lost. If you die, everything ends."Thomas hesitated then drove his blade into the nearest attacker. "Fine," he whispered. "I'll do it." His aura surged.White turned to orange. Orange to red.
Heat rippled across the compound. "SOPHIE — HIDE!" Thomas shouted.She looked up, eyes widening. "Oh no…" Thomas released everything. A wave of hot energy exploded outward — bright, roaring, unstoppable. Mutants scattered, diving for cover. Sophie threw herself behind a concrete barrier, covering her head as the blast tore through the compound. Heat. Light.
Silence. When Sophie finally lifted her head, the world was dust. The rooftop she'd been on — gone. Cars melted shapes.
Mutants frozen where they stood, turned to ash.The giant mutant remained upright, burned but unmoving. And Thomas lay in the center of it all unconscious, parts of his body scorched, but alive. Sophie ran to him, tears in her eyes."You idiot," she whispered, smacking his chest lightly.
He didn't wake. She hugged him, shaking, then forced herself to look around. That's when she saw them. Dozens of shapes in the distance twisted, frozen, unmoving the giant mutant was still standing firm burnt to a crisp but remained in his posture. The hostages suffered the same fate as the mutants. Sophie's breath caught."Oh… Thomas…"