— CAPTAIN ANTHONY WELKERS

  One of ours had already fallen — Antony Vinci — his head devoured by the monster.The defense system was already at its limit; we no longer had assistance from lasers or drones. Only four of us remained, and we were badly injured.

  And all we had managed to do was destroy its wings, one of its eyes, and cause a few wounds across the creature’s body — but nothing I believed would be enough to kill it. The creature seemed tireless, while our bodies could endure no more.

  Charging at it again, we gave everything we had, with axes, weapons, and blades in hand, striking blows in every direction. But none of it seemed sufficient.

  The Power Armour truly managed to resist the corruption of the miasma; without it, we would have fallen long ago. The defense system was absurdly effective, but our bodies and minds had a limit that no armor could compensate for.

  At least, that’s what I thought…

  I heard a sound through the transmitter.

  — Dr. Helena?

  All I could hear was a muffled voice:

  — I’m sorry… activating Forlorn Hope protocol.

  Then I felt a sharp stab at the back of my neck, the liquid now flowing through my veins.

  My entire body burned.

  My vision blurred, and an intense fury surged inside me.

  A blazing, uncontrollable madness.

  I attacked.I no longer thought like a human. All I wanted was to destroy that thing.

  I could only see flashes: my companions and I leaping onto the creature, brutal attacks echoing from both sides.

  Men versus creature…Creature versus beasts…And we were the beasts…

  ---

  — Dr. Helena

  As Mr. Edmond and I watched the battle through the monitors, I realized I would have to do something. Something I didn’t want to do. Something that would curse me forever.

  It was a necessary evil — at least that’s what I told myself.

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  I took the special transmitter, with the exclusive frequency for the Power Armours, which I myself had developed to activate the emergency protocol. When I created it, I prayed I would never need to use it.

  But nothing ever went the way we wanted… and the time had come.

  I activated the transmitter and spoke those cursed words.

  When Mr. Edmond saw what I had done, he was terrified.

  — Y-You… what the hell did you do? What is happening to them?!

  — LUNA HELEN

  Mr. Júlios was still in the room. I went back to check if everything was alright.

  Mr. Júlios was sitting down, with a thoughtful expression.

  I asked him what all of that was.

  He simply looked at his own hands, watching the golden liquid circulating within the armor, and said he didn’t know.

  The only thing he knew was that this liquid was called the aureate compound and that it served to resist the crimson mist, but he had no other information — and that perhaps his captain knew more.

  I didn’t want to ask any more questions; I didn’t want to pressure him.

  I walked around the room, taking one last look at the being inside…

  He was truly beautiful…

  I looked for something to cover the tank.

  I didn’t want to risk Erick coming into contact with him again; I didn’t know what might happen and I didn’t want to take that risk.

  After covering it, I went back to speak with Mr. Júlios, asking what we were going to do now.

  The elevator was broken and we didn’t know any other exit.

  — I don’t know… while the power doesn’t return and we can’t establish contact with Sector 2, I don’t see any apparent solution. I hope the others are alright, and that they managed to kill that thing…

  ---

  — JúLIOS SILVA

  While I was talking with the girl, I heard a voice on my communicator.

  Dr. Helena?She spoke only a few words — an apology and something I didn’t understand.

  Forlorn Hope protocol?

  After she spoke those words, I felt a sharp pain at the back of my neck.

  I dropped to my knees.

  My body burned.

  The aureate compound was running through my veins, my heart rate increased, I felt stronger…

  But it wasn’t exactly me.

  Something was taking over my mind. A bestial, primitive fury.

  A hatred and madness born from eras written in blood and corruption.

  That being… his blood carried all of that.

  — Mr. Júlios, are you alright? What’s happening?

  I tried to respond, but when I looked at the girl, I saw corruption spreading across her body.

  RUN.

  That was all I managed to say through a bestial roar.

  Something was taking control of me, something that wanted to destroy any sign of corruption.

  — LUNA HELEN

  I didn’t know what was happening to him, but it wasn’t good.

  When I tried to run, I heard the sound of the door opening — Erick.

  The noise had alerted him.

  I tried to scream for him to run, but it was already too late.

  — JúLIOS SILVA

  I tried to control myself as much as I could, but when I heard the door opening and saw the boy, the corruption inside him was much greater and more intense.

  My body reacted on its own, lunging toward him.