If there's one thing I've learned from this whole mess, it's that walking into your own origin story is a lot less cool than it sounds.
We stood at the edge of the quarantine zone, the air thick with tension and the scent of ozone.
Adrian adjusted his gear, his eyes scanning the perimeter. "You sure about this, Elias?"
I nodded, though my stomach was doing somersaults. "As sure as I am that this place holds the answers we need."
Lex chimed in, her fingers dancing over her tablet. "Security systems are on high alert. We'll need to move fast and stay under the radar."
"Great," I muttered. "Just another day in paradise."
We approached the facility, using the cover of the storm to mask our movements.
I took a deep breath, feeling the beast stir within me. "Time to put my new skills to the test."
With a burst of speed, I darted forward, my enhanced reflexes allowing me to dodge the bots' detection fields.
Inside, the air was sterile and cold, the walls lined with screens displaying data streams and surveillance footage.
As we navigated the labyrinthine halls, memories began to surface—flashes of pain, fear, and transformation.
We reached the central lab, a vast chamber filled with equipment and containment units.
Lex approached the control panel, her eyes widening as she read the data. "This… this is the source of the virus. The original strain."
Adrian looked at me, concern etched on his face. "What do we do now?"
I stepped forward, placing my hand on the tank.
"We destroy it," I said. "End this once and for all."
Suddenly, alarms blared, and red lights flashed throughout the facility.
"Elias Mercer. We've been expecting you."
I turned to see Sloane entering the chamber, flanked by armed guards.
"You've come a long way," he said. "But you're still just a pawn in a much larger game."
I clenched my fists, the beast's power surging through me. "I'm no one's pawn."
Sloane smirked. "We'll see about that."
The guards raised their weapons, and chaos erupted.
We clashed, fists and claws meeting in a flurry of blows.
But I had something he didn't—a purpose.
With a final roar, I unleashed the full force of the beast, sending Sloane crashing into the tank.
Alarms blared louder, signaling a containment breach.
"Go!" I shouted to Adrian and Lex. "I'll hold them off."
They hesitated, but I gave them a nod.
I turned back to Sloane, who was struggling to rise, the virus consuming him.
"This ends now," I said, and with a final blow, I ended his reign.
As the facility began to collapse, I made my way to the exit, the beast's power fading as I emerged into the stormy night.
We had won, but the war was far from over.