[Ravenfall: Hydra(luce), Leviathan(lev), Phoenix(ishaan), Griffin(veer), Valkyrie(avni), Cerberus(sayaka), Kraken(erik), Wyvern(raiden), Nymph(saira), Sphinx (dev). Others: Amber(isolde), Azure(damien), Chimera(elior), Basilisk(Vance), Pegasus(Sol)]183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5tmZNqA1l
Hydra’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Valkyrie opened the case — inside were photos, medical scans, combat data… and hand-written annotations in a language only partially translated. Words like regeneration thresholds, apex neural aggression, S-01 parentage confirmed: Natalia Draganov + Dietriech Falk.
Chimera muttered, “This thing looks… human. Or it was human.”
Basilisk’s eyes narrowed. “Hydra… why do these scans look like you?”
The question hung in the stale air. Hydra didn’t answer.
Amber’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “It’s not relevant to this mission. We take the file. All of it. We’ll sort truth from paranoia later.”
Still, she didn’t miss the way the rest of the team glanced at Hydra when they thought he wasn’t looking.
Burn It Down
They rigged charges along the walls, feeding accelerants into the ventilation ducts. Cerberus set a timed virus into the mainframe, corrupting decades of research into meaningless strings of static.
Amber’s voice carried over the detonator click.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgU9VCS6Yk
“Once we leave, nothing stays. Not the data, not the chemicals, not the ghosts.”
Hydra shouldered the Silent Eagle crate. “Then let’s move.”
The Last Push
Group B met them at the outer junction, smoke clinging to their gear. Phoenix tossed a flash drive to Chimera.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MVrOKgw8a
“Pulled what I could from the power grid systems. Might be useless, might not.”
Griffin grinned, “And I only set off three alarms.”
Leviathan growled, “That you admit to.”
Azure stepped forward, his gaze landing on the massive crate. “That’s our bird?”
Hydra nodded once. “Still caged.”
“Good.” Azure scanned the group, then the approaching heat ripples from deeper in the jungle. “We’ve got company. Move.”
Evacuation
The extraction route was a jagged cliff trail lit only by the moon and the faint, ominous glow of magma cracks far below. The team’s boots pounded against the stone as tracer fire followed from the lab’s remnants.
Wyvern covered them from above, his sniper rounds snapping in precise rhythm. Sphinx kept their rear shielded with suppressive bursts.
Amber shouted over the roar of distant detonations, “Sixty seconds to clear the blast radius!”
Hydra pushed forward, the Silent Eagle secure against his back. Basilisk stumbled on loose gravel, but Valkyrie yanked him upright without breaking stride.
Fire in the Sky
The charges went off in a chain reaction — a rolling bloom of flame and smoke that shot into the night sky, carrying with it the Abyss Lab, its secrets, and most of its sins.
The ground shook so hard they nearly lost their footing.
Phoenix laughed breathlessly, “Now that’s fireworks.”
Griffin added, “We should come back here every year.”
Cerberus didn’t even look back. “No. We shouldn’t.”
On the Sub
By the time the stealth sub’s hatch sealed behind them, the volcano was a fading shadow on the horizon. The Silent Eagle sat locked in triple containment. The SFD file rested on Amber’s desk, sealed but heavy with implication.
Amber looked across the cabin at Hydra.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLe1y9f2n3l
“You commanded your people well today.”
Hydra met her gaze evenly. “They knew what had to be done.”
Amber’s nod was almost imperceptible. “Still. You kept them alive. That matters.”
Basilisk glanced at the file. “So… SFD. You gonna tell us what that is?”
Hydra’s voice was calm, but his eyes were unreadable.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xdhfgpHlB
“No.”
Basilisk leaned forward, curiosity sharp. “Why not?”
Hydra looked away.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aIUUMyHFf
“Because some things… you don’t want to know.”
Ravenfall utterly silent.
The hum of the sub’s engines filled the silence. Outside, the ocean swallowed the last traces of fire.
The mission was complete — but the questions had only just begun.
ns216.73.216.33da2
and then Add to home screen.