The morning light filtered weakly through the canvas of the tent, casting a muted glow over the interior.
The camp was waking up, but the atmosphere remained heavy with the tragedy of the day before.
Adrien stirred from sleep, the remnants of the restless night haunting his sleepy self.
He blinked against the light, his heart still quickening when he felt the slight tremors still echoing, even though they were growing more quiet each time, and he remembered what had happened the night before the chaos that ensued.
"I guess it all wasn't a dream." He thought, sighing out loudly.
Mel, Sarah, and Alex were still asleep, their faces etched with exhaustion. Adrien quietly unzipped his sleeping bag and slipped out, mindful not to disturb them.
Stepping outside, the chill of the morning air wrapped around him, a stark contrast to the subtle warmth inside the tent.
The camp was still bustling with activity, soldiers moved with purpose, setting up more tents and organizing supplies, along with a few people who were willing to assist.
The smell of fresh coffee and something cooking wafted through the air, but Adrien's stomach twisted at the thought of food.
Instead, he walked toward a cluster of soldiers gathered near a temporary command post.
He looked back behind the camp, wondering how it was the military base was still standing when the city had been shredded to rubble.
Then he recalled how their own house withstood the chaos before being brought down by Daniel. "These must be reinforced with military grade materials".
He looked away from the base.
His gaze swept over the scene, noting the weary faces of the military personnel, the underlying exhaustion palpable in the air.
"They must have had a busy night, I can imagine they even slept."
He overheard snippets of conversation, discussions about the previous night's chaos and the search for survivors. A tall soldier with a buzz cut addressed a group, his voice firm and commanding.
It sounded like they had stumbled across another group of survivors after them.
"Listen up! We're heading back out today to search for survivors and assess the situation in the areas we've secured. It's dangerous, but we need as many eyes and hands as we can get. We'll be heading into parts of the forest where certain creatures have been reported."
Adrien's heart rate quickened, a mix of excitement and curiosity bubbling up inside him.
He felt like he had to do something, sitting idle in the camp felt dull.
It was subtle, but he felt as if something calling out to him. He stepped forward, raising his hand.
Baddum!
"I'll come along," he called out, his voice steady despite his thundering heart. Walking forward, he got closer to the group of armed soldiers.
The soldier turned to him, eyes narrowing as he assessed the newcomer. The soldier frowned when he saw how young Adrien was.
"You sure about that? It's not a safe job, kid. The last thing we need is a teenager to babysit. I' m willing to bet last night was just a taste of what's really out there."
Adrien stood calm, eyeing the man without a change in his expression, suppressing the doubts clawing at him.
"I know. But I can't just sit here. You need to help find other survivors, and I'm sure I'll be a useful asset."
"Wait, wait, wait..! another soldier suddenly shouted, "I know you! Aren't you that famous genius kid?" He said looking around the people on the camp to see if they recognised him as well.
"You know, Adrien, the owner of Quantum labs, I couldn't see your face well last night in the dark, I had my suspicions, but I'm very sure about it now."
"..." A pin drop silence took hold of the exterior camp, eyes widened, and murmurs began to spread as people realised the soldier was right.
Anyone in the world could recognize that handsome face and head of glistening black hair. if they wanted to.
"He's right..." They al thought.
"Wow, seeing a big shot like him walking among us is evidence of the reality of the situation." another person spoke out loud.
There was a moment of silence before the soldier nodded apprehension evident in his gaze. He would much rather have Adrien walking into the fort, where the other big shots were.
After all, he would be a much bigger asset in admin, maybe with his brilliant mind, they could claw their way out of this situation much easily.
But instead, he chose to go with the more irrational choice, the reason for that, only he knew.
"Alright, but if you're joining us, you need to stick close and follow orders. You'll be paired with one of our scouts. Honestly after knowing your identity, I'm more inclined to have you help things get up and running, everything suddenly stopped working at some point yesterday."
"About that, I think that we have the foreign energy wisping about in the air to thank. I'm sure most of you feel it, even if it's only subtle, apart from the gaping spaces in land that appeared out of nowhere, It's the only visible change I have noted. And I believe the earth was expanding in size which caused all those tremors. That's the only reasonable explanation why the electronics and machines stopped working."
"I see, yes I feel like something about the air has changed, but I can't wrap my head around what it is. And this is all the more reason to have you in administration but if you insist you can come along Mr. Cortez."
"And we will have your companions moved to inside the base if you wish for it."
Adrien nodded curtly. "I understand. That would be great"
The soldier gestured for him to follow. "Get your gear together, if you have any, if you don't you can get some of our spares. We'll be ready to move in thirty minutes."
Adrien turned to head back toward the tent, he saw Mel stepping outside, her eyes squinting against the light. "Adrien? What's going on?"
"I'm going with the soldiers to help search for survivors," he explained.
Her face paled, and she shook her head. "No, please... it's too dangerous."
"I know," he replied gently, stepping closer. "But I can't just wait here. We need to do something. If there's a chance we can find more people, we should take it. And I would feel much better with some information on the state of things. I could quite see clearly last night, but it's daytime now."
A flicker of fear crossed her features, but she quickly masked it with determination. "Then I'm coming with you. I can't just sit here either."
Before Adrien could protest, Alex and Sarah emerged from the tent. "What's happening?" Sarah asked, concern etching her features.
"Adrien's going with the soldiers to search for survivors," Mel replied, her voice firm.
"Great, count me in too," Alex said, crossing her arms resolutely.
Adrien felt a swell of gratitude for their support but also a tinge of worry. "You guys don't have to do this. It could get really dangerous. And you guys should rest. you look tired."
They looked weary, probably from not sleeping well and brooding over Daniel's death. Though they were trying really hard to hide it, their eyes said plenty.
Alex's eyes were still puffy.
"You are one to talk, we're in this together" Sarah stated, her voice unwavering.
She looked him squarely in this face, but seeing him make one of those no compromise faces, she decided to give in. "Fine, but come back safe."
Alex and Mel looked back at Sarah in protest, but she only shook her head. She knew they needed something to distract them.
Daniel's death still weighed heavily on their minds, but rushing to follow him was not the solution. It was just a quicker way to follow in Daniel's footsteps.
The duo decided to give in and rest for the day while helping out in the camp.
...
The forest loomed thick and ominous around Adrien and his thirty-something companions.
The crunch of leaves underfoot mingled with the distant, anxious calls of soldiers.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting shifting shadows that danced unsettlingly across the ground.
Suddenly, a guttural growl shattered the uneasy silence. The group halted, instincts on high alert, eyes scanning the underbrush.
From the shadows emerged grotesque humanoid beasts, muscles rippling beneath matted fur, skin stretched taut over distorted frames, eyes gleaming with predatory hunger.
Towering figures bore jagged scars, hunched forms skittered unnaturally, each exuding palpable menace.
"Get ready! We have company!" Sergeant Miller's voice rang out. Before further commands could be issued, the beasts charged.
Gunfire erupted, a cacophony of bullets tearing through the air. But horror gripped the soldiers as rounds barely penetrated the creatures' hides.
The beasts roared in defiance, their unnatural strength shrugging off the damage.
Adrien watched in dismay as a soldier was slammed into a tree, the impact knocking the wind out of him. Panic threatened to rise, but Adrien forced it down, his face a mask of calm.
"Fall back!" someone shouted. But the beasts were relentless, their snarls echoing through the forest as they overwhelmed the soldiers.
In that desperate moment, something surged within Adrien, a current of energy coursing through his veins.
A light flickered in his consciousness, igniting a fire he couldn't comprehend.
As a beast lunged, he sidestepped with inhuman speed, counterattacking and striking the creature with unexpected force.
The beast crashed to the ground with a yelp. The sound drew everyone's attention, it was like a flicker of hope in a life-or-death situation.
"Adrien!" Miller's voice cut through the chaos, astonished. "What was that, how did you do it?"
"I… I don't know! Just stay close!" Adrien called back. Another beast barrelled toward him, he thrust out his hand, focus sharpening like a blade.
To his astonishment, the creature halted mid-lunge, as if repelled by an unseen force.
His abilities surged in waves. He began to realize he was not alone. Around him, soldiers began to move with newfound agility, they were getting faster and stronger.
And they didn't even seem to realise it.
A young female soldier dodged a claw, retaliating with a powerful kick that surprised even her. Though not lethal, it was more effective than their firearms.
The air crackled with strange energy. Each gunshot carried an electric pulse, hinting at a force boosting the bullets' power.
They were tapping into this energy, aether, liberating them from human limitations.
"Use it! Focus on it!" Adrien shouted, both to his group and himself. More soldiers began harnessing this power, manifesting in various forms.
Enhanced resilience, speed, seamless communication. But not all were so fortunate, some were still overwhelmed, unable to comprehend the source of this power.
Miller was among the struggling. Yet, the soldiers adapted quickly, regrouping for support.
With newfound strength, they engaged the beasts.
Adrien used telekinetic bursts to scatter enemies, while soldiers unleashed concentrated firepower.
Teamwork flowed effortlessly, taking down creature after creature.
A sharp cry pierced the air as a soldier fell, but the group pressed on, rallying around him.
Despite accumulating injuries, a deep gash here, a bruised limb there, their collective resolve overshadowed the pain.
The light of the aether fuelled their hope, a beacon against the encroaching darkness.
Finally, after an arduous struggle, the last beast fell, collapsing on the forest floor.
Breathing heavily, Adrien surveyed the ragtag group, wounded but alive, empowered yet shaken. The forest stood silent, charged with the vibrant energy that had become their lifeline.
As they regrouped, assessing injuries, the reality settled in.
They bore the scars of battle, knowing they'd merely scratched the surface of the chaos ahead.
The world had changed irrevocably; they would navigate this new reality together.
Just as they caught their breath, a deep growl reverberated through the forest, drawing their attention.
From the shadows emerged a figure larger and more terrifying than any before, eight feet tall, muscles like boulders beneath skin oozing dark mist.
Its eyes glowed with feral light, claws glinting menacingly.
The creature exuded raw power, and the group's confidence faltered.
Adrien felt a knot of dread as he recognized the beast's facial features though only subtle, there was no way he would forget that face, Daniel.
But as it advanced, something within him snapped. His eyes gained a cold, calculative glint. He felt a part of his humanity slipping away, replaced by something surreal.