The city was dead quiet.
Then Alloy's eyes narrowed.
"I hear fighting," he said. "Far side of the avenue."
Surge cracked his knuckles. "Reapers?"
"Yeah," Alloy replied. "And people. A few… but it sounds bad."
Elle nodded once. "Move."
They sprinted toward the noise—Alloy clearing wreckage in great metal strides, Surge a blur along cracked pavement, Elle's wind pushing her forward. The others followed as fast as they could.
The street opened into a half-collapsed plaza.
And the fight was already in motion.
A lone fighter—masked, armored, moving with perfect precision—faced down three Reapers at once. Everything about him was controlled: each step, each shift of weight, each strike. His shield-like gauntlet blades and baton arcs mirrored the Reapers' movements, countering as if he'd already memorized them.
But he was losing.
One Reaper's strike smashed into his ribs. Armor cracked. He staggered.
Before the killing blow could land, Alloy slammed into the metal monster, driving it back. "Go!" he shouted.
Surge dropped into the fray next—exploding off the ground, claws out, tearing into the second Reaper's joint plates. Sparks flew.
Elle raised both hands, wind slicing the third Reaper off balance. "Push them back!"
The masked fighter hesitated only half a second before joining the assault with perfect form—duck, twist, strike. Even wounded, he moved like someone who had built his entire life around combat.
But the numbers weren't in his favor.
Two more Reapers crawled out of a wrecked subway entrance.
"Of course," Surge muttered.
Then a blast of white light carved across the street.
It wasn't Elle.
Two figures stepped out of thin air—one radiating bright energy, the other a shadow that twisted around him like a living cloak.
The glowing one raised a hand; a beam of light vaporized one of the Reapers instantly.
The shadowed one extended his arm, and darkness swallowed another Reaper whole, leaving only falling dust.
The masked fighter exhaled in relief—but only for a moment.
Because one Reaper, damaged but still functional, lunged with everything it had left.
It drove a blade through the fighter's chest.
He gasped, knees dropping. Blood dripped down the metal.
Elle froze. "No—!"
The glowing newcomer caught him before he fell fully.
But the fighter pushed him away, struggling to stay upright for one last swing.
A Reaper stepped forward to finish him—
—and its head hit the ground as Alloy's claws ripped through.
The battle ended in seconds after that.
Silence dropped.
The masked fighter slumped forward, collapsing to his knees. His helmet cracked open on one side. He tried to breathe, but the wound was lethal.
Elle rushed to him. "Don't move—"
Before she could touch him, the fighter grabbed Surge's wrist instead.
Not to stop him.
To give him something.
A small, flickering device—half data, half something older—was pressed into Surge's palm as the fighter collapsed.
Surge blinked. "What—"
A system window hit him instantly.
---
[XIMERA NODE – KINETIC CORE]
Compatible DNA detected.
Source: Adaptive Combat Intelligence Signature
New Skill Tree Unlocked: Combat Mastery
Awaiting full integration…
Integration requires: Direct genetic imprint – Completed
---
Surge swallowed hard.
"Okay… that's new."
The masked fighter's hand slipped from his wrist—dead.
Elle lowered her head. "He fought to the end."
Before anyone could respond, the air behind them trembled.
A portal opened—black stone and blue fire.
And Apocalypse stepped through.
He looked down at the fallen fighter the way someone might inspect an ancient weapon rediscovered.
"This one," he said, "will still serve."
Elle moved in front of the body. "He's dead. Let him rest."
Apocalypse barely spared her a glance. "I decide when rest is earned."
Bul shifted, fists tightening. "You got something in mind for him?"
"Yes." Apocalypse lifted the corpse effortlessly with one hand. "A warrior does not end in one lifetime. He can be reforged."
Surge stepped forward. "Reforged into what?"
"War," Apocalypse said simply.
The word carried weight—an entire intention behind it.
The two light-and-shadow strangers stood aside, not protesting. They seemed to understand Apocalypse had come for exactly this.
Stryke stepped closer. "What was he to you?"
"Potential," Apocalypse answered. "And potential should never be wasted."
Alloy clenched his jaw but said nothing. Even he wasn't foolish enough to fight Apocalypse over a corpse.
"Your part is done," Apocalypse said, stepping back toward his portal. "More challenges will come. Be prepared."
He vanished with the body.
Only dust and cold drift lingered.
Elle exhaled. "Well… that happened."
The glowing stranger stepped forward. "You saved us. We owe you."
"We're not done," Elle said. "There are others, right?"
"Yes," he replied. "Children. A few adults. We hid them in the subway tunnels. But…" He looked toward the ruins. "It's getting harder."
"Let's get everyone out," Elle said. "Now."
Vex came forward, hands glowing faint pink. "I can open the way back."
"Do it," Stryke said.
The team gathered around the small group of survivors. The shadowed man wrapped darkness around them like a shield.
Vex opened a portal—purple energy spiraling outward, controlled and steady.
"Go," she said.
They stepped through.
The city vanished behind them.
Atlantis' marble chamber formed around them again—soft light, quiet air, safety.
Survivors collapsed in relief. The glowing man gave Elle a tired nod. The shadowed one said nothing but bowed his head before dissolving into black mist.
The X- Periments team—Stryke, Surge, Elle, Alloy, Bul, Shade, Vex—stood together.
Another rescue complete.
Another cost paid.
And for Surge… a new path had begun.
---
TEAM STATUS LOG — POST-EXTRACTION EVENT
TEAM LINK STABILITY: 27%
FIELD OBJECTIVE: Rescue survivors – Completed
COMBAT EFFICIENCY: Increased through coordinated team response
---
SURGE – KINETIC NODE
Status: Stable
New Unlock: Combat Mastery Skill Tree
Integration Level: 1%
Notes: Adaptive combat sequences forming. Increased instinctive reaction patterns observed.
---
STRYKE – TACTICAL NODE
Status: Balanced
Recent Unlock: Super Soldier Skill Tree (Active)
Shield Synchronization: Stable
Notes: Increased battlefield leadership potential.
---
ALLOY – MAGNETIC NODE
Status: Controlled
Notes: Feral trigger noted during combat; stability held. Metal form remained fully intact.
---
ELLE – ELEMENTAL NODE
Status: Strong
Notes: Supportive battlefield command improving team synergy.
---
BUL – TITAN NODE
Status: Stable
Notes: Defensive output high. Energy absorption functioning normally.
---
SHADE – STEALTH NODE
Status: Calibrated
Notes: Environmental read success; coordinated isolations effective.
---
VEX – HEX NODE
Status: Balanced
Notes: Teleportation accuracy improving; mana drift reduced.
---
Next Objective:
Await new directive from Resistance leadership.