They didn't deploy immediately.
For the first time—
They briefly stopped.
Now rooms were darker than it should've been.
Not from power failure.
From choice.
A single screen lit the center.
Numbers.
Data.
Losses.
Akane stood with the others.
Silent.
Watching.
Aira didn't speak at first.
Neither did Heavy.
Even Assault—
Quiet.
"We'll keep this simple," the commander began.
Voice steady.
But heavier than before.
The screen shifted.
"Pre-outbreak Aurellia system military personnel…"
A number appeared.
Massive.
Organized.
Strong.
Then—
It dropped.
Rapidly.
"…Current active soldiers…"
Less than a quarter.
Silence filled the room.
"Casualties?"
Akane asked.
The commander didn't hesitate.
"…Seventy percent confirmed lost."
No reaction.
Because they already knew.
"And... the rest?"
"Missing."
Which meant—
Dead.
Or worse.
The screen changed again.
Images.
Blurry.
Recovered zones.
"We stopped retrieval after year one," the commander said.
Akane's eyes didn't move.
"…Why."
"Because there were no bodies left."
Silence.
"They don't leave remains," Heavy said.
"They capture it" the commander added.
A pause.
"They make it theirs"
The screen flickered.
A soldier.
Standing.
Still.
Then moving.
Wrong.
"They come back."
No one spoke.
The map appeared.
Nexarion divided.
"…Civilian population before outbreak…"
Billions.
"…Current estimated survivors…"
The number dropped.
Far.
Too far.
"…Less than twelve percent."
Assault exhaled slowly.
"…That's not survival."
"…That's extinction waiting," Aira said.
Akane watched.
Still.
"…Entire sectors lost," the commander continued.
"…Aurius Station—partial collapse."
Akane's head shifted slightly.
"…Aurius…"
"…It was our main supply and civilian transit hub," Aira said.
"…Now it's a frontline."
"…We're sending you there."
The screen zoomed in.
A massive structure.
Connected rings.
Docking arms.
Transport lines.
Now—
Broken.
Dark in sections.
"…We lost contact with multiple sectors," the commander said.
"…We need confirmation."
"…Recon?" Heavy asked.
"…Clearance."
"…And if necessary—containment."
Silence.
"…Understood," Heavy said.
The squad was sent to nexarion.
Heavily armed.
The ship moved fast.
Too fast for comfort.
Aurius Station was far ahead.
Nexarion loomed ahead.
Still functioning—
Barely.
Lights flickered across its surface.
Some small areas alive.
Others—
Dead.
"…Feels worse than aurius," Assault muttered.
"…Because it is," Aira replied.
Docking was rough.
Unstable.
The doors opened.
Darkness.
Not total—
But enough.
Akane stepped out first.
Weapon ready.
The air felt different.
Heavier.
"…No movement," Heavy said.
"…That's worse," Assault replied.
They moved sector by sector.
Slow.
Careful.
Hallways long.
Empty.
Shops abandoned.
Supplies untouched.
"…They left fast," Aira said.
"…Or didn't leave at all," Heavy replied.
Whilst walking through.
They discovered civilian homes.
Doors broken.
Barricades inside homes.
Signs of resistance.
Marks on walls.
Scratches.
Messages.
"DON'T OPEN."
"THEY WATCH."
Assault looked away.
"…Yeah… this is bad."
Trains stopped mid-track.
Lights flickering.
Bodies—
This time—
There.
Not moving.
But wrong.
Akane paused.
"…They didn't take these."
"…Why," Aira asked.
Akane stepped closer.
Looked at them.
"…They were left."
Silence.
"…On purpose."
Something was watching.
A sound.
Above.
All of them froze.
Nothing dropped.
Nothing attacked.
Just—
Movement.
Out of sight.
"…We're not alone," Heavy said.
"…We never were," Akane replied.
As they traverse through the ruins.
A sealed door.
Half-open.
Markings.
Military.
"…This wasn't civilian," Aira said.
"…No," Heavy replied.
Akane stepped forward.
Something—
Pulled him again.
"…I've been here."
The others looked at him.
"…Then lead," Aira said.
The door opened.
Slow.
Heavy.
Darkness beyond.
Deeper than before.
And inside—
Something moved.
Not rushing.
Not attacking.
Waiting.
Akane stepped forward.
Weapon ready.
"…Stay close."
Because whatever survived here—
Wasn't hiding.
It was watching.