The night hadn't calmed.
It had only gotten worse.
Aria stood on the rooftop, her chest rising slowly, the wind brushing past her as sirens echoed endlessly across Chicago. Fires burned in the distance, their glow painting the sky in shades of orange and red.
Beside her, VEX stood still.
Silent.
Watching.
"I won't run," Aria said again, her voice steady despite the exhaustion in her body.
"I'll save them."
For a moment, VEX didn't respond.
Then—
"You're still thinking like that," he said calmly.
Aria glanced at him.
"…And?"
"It will cost you," he replied.
Before she could respond—
An explosion ripped through the city.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The ground beneath them shook violently.
Windows shattered across nearby buildings.
A shockwave blasted through the air, sending dust and debris flying upward.
Aria's eyes widened.
"…That's not normal."
Another explosion followed.
Then another.
Then screams.
Everywhere.
VEX's aura flickered faintly.
"…This isn't a single incident."
Aria didn't wait.
She jumped.
VEX followed.
They landed almost simultaneously on the street below—
And what they saw…
Chaos.
Buildings partially collapsed.
Cars flipped.
Fire spreading rapidly.
And in the middle of it all—
Mutants.
Not one.
Not two.
Multiple.
But not together.
Each one rampaging in different directions.
Destroying everything.
"This… this is different…" Aria muttered.
"Focus," VEX said sharply. "We split."
Aria nodded instantly.
She ran.
A mutant tore through a bus, ripping metal apart like paper.
Its body was massive, its muscles bulging unnaturally, skin stretched and cracking as glowing energy pulsed beneath.
Civilians screamed, trapped inside.
Aria charged.
She leapt—
And smashed straight into it.
BOOOOM!
The impact sent both of them crashing through the side of the bus.
"GET OUT!" she shouted to the civilians.
They scrambled out as she held the mutant back.
It roared—
Swinging wildly—
Aria blocked—
But the force pushed her back.
"…You're stronger…"
She adjusted.
Lower stance.
Waited.
The mutant charged—
She sidestepped—
Grabbed—
Twisted—
And slammed it into the ground.
CRACK!
The road shattered.
But it didn't stop.
Another roar—
Another charge.
Aria punched—
Again.
Again.
Until finally—
It dropped.
Across the street—
Another mutant scaled a building, its limbs long and spider-like, crawling unnaturally fast.
Aria sprinted—
Jumped—
Grabbed it mid-climb—
And slammed it back down.
But before she could finish—
Another explosion.
Closer.
Too close.
Meanwhile—
VEX moved like a phantom.
One mutant lunged at him—
He stepped aside—
One strike—
The creature collapsed instantly.
Another attacked—
He countered—
Clean.
Efficient.
Deadly.
But even he—
Paused.
Because more were coming.
And the destruction…
Was spreading too fast.
Back with Aria—
A third mutant burst from the rubble of a collapsing building.
Its chest glowed intensely—
Unstable.
"Not good…" Aria muttered.
It slammed the ground—
BOOOOM!!
A massive explosion tore through the street.
Aria was thrown back—
Crashing through debris—
Barely landing on her feet.
"Okay… okay…" she breathed heavily.
She charged again—
Dodged—
Struck—
But this one—
Was different.
It absorbed her hits.
Then—
It grabbed her—
And threw her straight into a car.
CRASH!
Pain shot through her body.
She groaned—
But stood again.
"I'm not done…"
Across the battlefield—
VEX looked toward her.
For a brief second—
Concern.
But then—
Another mutant attacked him.
Forcing him back into combat.
And then—
From the shadows—
He arrived.
Slander.
Silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
His eyes locked onto Aria.
"…Target confirmed."
Aria finally took down the explosive mutant—
Her breathing heavy now.
Her body reaching its limit.
She wiped blood from her lip.
"…How many are there…"
Then—
A presence.
Behind her.
She turned—
Too late.
CLANG!
A blade clashed against her arm as she barely blocked.
"…You again," she muttered.
Slander didn't respond.
He attacked.
Fast.
Faster than before.
Aria struggled—
Dodging—
Blocking—
Getting hit.
This wasn't like the mutants.
This was skill.
Precision.
She tried to counter—
He avoided everything.
"You're not here to fight…" she realized.
No response.
Then—
He stepped back.
Reached into his coat.
Aria's eyes narrowed.
"…No—"
Too late.
He threw it.
Gas exploded outward.
PSHHHH—
Aria covered her face—
But her body slowed instantly.
"…No…"
Her vision blurred.
She tried to move—
But her legs gave out.
Across the battlefield—
VEX turned.
He felt it.
Something wrong.
His eyes scanned—
Then he saw it.
Aria.
Falling.
"…Tch."
He moved.
FAST.
But—
A mutant blocked his path.
Massive.
Explosive.
He struck—
But another appeared.
Then another.
The city itself seemed to collapse around him.
Buildings falling.
Explosions everywhere.
He fought—
Destroyed them—
But every second—
Was too late.
Back with Aria—
Her knees hit the ground.
"…Vex…"
Her voice weak.
Slander walked toward her.
Silent.
Unstoppable.
She tried to stand—
Failed.
Darkness closing in.
The last thing she saw—
Was him standing over her.
Then—
Nothing.
Far away—
VEX finally broke through.
He landed—
Too late.
The street was empty.
Only destruction remained.
His eyes darkened.
"…Damn it."
For the first time—
Frustration.
Elsewhere—
Cold.
Aria woke slowly.
Bound.
Weak.
"…Where…"
A voice answered.
"You're awake."
A man stepped from the shadows.
"…Who are you…"
He smiled faintly.
"You were never meant to survive."
Her heart pounded.
"…What…"
He stepped closer.
"Diana Freeborn."
Her eyes widened.
"No…"
"I am Dr. Blanc."
Silence.
And for the first time—
Aria wasn't fighting.
She was captured.
VEX… nowhere in sight.