Mission Time: 0725 Hours234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe2Y88dfdl
Sector 9 – Sublevel B
The air pressed in as the squad descended.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmJq2f0I2P
Metal walls streaked with pulsing black residue seemed to breathe in the stuttering light.
Kaia’s voice over comms was cut short by a shriek — followed immediately by Ishaan’s voice, loud enough to make everyone wince.
“MY GOODNESS — I SIGNED UP FOR MAFIA ACADEMY, NOT A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE — THE FU—”
The sound of boots scraping, bodies being dragged, and Ishaan yelling was deafening.
“LET ME GO! DO I LOOK LIKE FREE TAKEAWAY TO YOU—HEY, PUT ME DOWN, I’M FRAGILE—”
Then, sudden silence.
Lev’s hands curled into fists. Raiden’s eyes narrowed.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI1idL09CS
Vance… was laughing.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CaYKj1rkX
Sol shook his head, chuckling. “That guy is insane.”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pvfawOyq6
Even Erik’s lips twitched into a reluctant smirk.
Lev turned to him. “You’re laughing?”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4tf0dmWJT
Raiden gave a low chuckle too, then Lev joined in.
A moment later, Ishaan’s voice screamed again over the comms, even louder.
“HELP—ONE OF THEM JUST LICKED MY SHOULDER—THIS IS A HEALTH VIOLATION—”
Avni broke into uncontrollable laughter until Saira cuffed her on the head.
The corridor ahead split open into a massive chamber. And there — standing in the center — was Yuriko Hanabira.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOrEaCtuEH
Sayaka froze. Raiden’s jaw locked.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2FJpgs2yy
Avni’s eyes narrowed into slits.
“Release them,” Luce ordered.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BmW5jFiNH
Yuriko’s smile was razor-sharp. “Only if you give me what I want.”
Her gaze pinned Luce like a hawk. “Your blood. Every drop precious… you know why.”
Weapons shifted, safeties clicked. Luce didn’t flinch.
Ishaan’s muffled voice came from somewhere high above:234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL13eHlt7b
“SHE’S CRAZY—WHY DOES SHE WANT YOUR BLOOD—WAIT, THIS ISN’T ONE OF THOSE WEIRD VAMPIRE-COUSIN FAMILY REUNIONS, IS IT—”
Sol and Vance were holding laughter. Even Erik’s laugh escaped.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrMy0d1slK
Lev and Raiden glared at them… then started laughing too.
Another Ishaan scream echoed:234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNGdHuzAZ2
“I SWEAR IF I DIE HERE, ERASE MY INTERNET HISTORY—”
Avni lost it until Sayaka smacked her.
Yuriko produced a small glass syringe, the kind that made medics twitch.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDy7520uH1
Luce stepped forward without hesitation, rolled up his sleeve, and let her draw the blood.
“Wise choice,” she said, sealing the vial. A flick of her wrist — and restraints in the shadows snapped open.
Eight battered squad members stumbled free.
Ishaan staggered forward, hair a mess, pointing dramatically.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq46Lg9zCF
“YOU PEOPLE TOOK WAY TOO LONG—ALSO, I THINK I’M EMOTIONALLY SCARRED—”
Then Yuriko vanished like smoke.
A heavy thud shook the floor.
From the side corridors, shapes emerged — twisted, skin stretched tight over bone, eyes glassy and vacant. Failed experiments.
Yuriko’s voice floated from the darkness:234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQO2CIFlAj
“I said release them… not save you.”
The creatures lunged.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2glKtUuCl
Gunfire roared. Sol’s flame gun lit the chamber in violent gold, Sayaka’s blade tore through limbs, Lev’s bullets punched through skulls.
Ishaan was still yelling, ducking behind a crate between bursts of fire.
“I’M TOO PRETTY FOR THIS—VEER, SHOOT FASTER—OH MY GOD IT’S BREATHING ON ME—”
Veer was laughing so hard he almost missed a shot.
When the last creature fell, the smell of scorched rot hung in the air.
At the extraction point, Gianluca’s voice came crisp over comms.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg6n1r3F0w
Luce gave a short report, conveniently omitting the blood exchange.
Meanwhile, Raiden and Avni stood with Lev and Erik, turning Ishaan’s earlier panic into a full theatrical reenactment.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SwuqfBk8F
Raiden hunched over, eyes wide, waving his arms like a windmill.
“OH NOOO, I’M TOO YOUNG TO DIE—SOMEONE CALL MY LAWYER—” he shrieked, his voice cracking in perfect imitation.
Avni joined in, clutching her shoulder dramatically. “IT LICKED ME—DO I NEED A SHOT FOR THIS—IS THIS COVERED BY INSURANCE—”
Lev doubled over laughing while Erik provided background “dragging” sound effects by scraping his boots and groaning like a zombie.
Raiden then clutched his chest and wailed, “ERASE MY INTERNET HISTORY—BURN MY SOCKS—TELL MY STORY—”, collapsing in mock despair.
Even Veer cracked a smile, shaking his head.
Ishaan crossed his arms, glaring. “Laugh all you want, but I was the bait that saved you clowns.”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidZszA4Tkh
Raiden leaned over and whispered to Avni, loud enough for Ishaan to hear, “Best bait we’ve ever had.”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL3YXBJCyf
That finally broke Ishaan, who burst out laughing despite himself.
But as the dropship lifted off, the mood cooled.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03mI8Imj00
Ravenfall’s laughter faded.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweMzJq1atP
The image of Yuriko holding Luce’s blood — and the reason she wanted it — lingered in every mind.
and then Add to home screen.