The green cracks in the sky pulsed like a heartbeat. Strange creatures slithered out—giant insect-like monsters with static-covered wings and glowing, red eyes. They screeched and dove toward the helicopter.
Captain Rook slammed her metal fist against the control panel. "Gunners, open fire!"
Black Signal soldiers shot missiles from the sides of the helicopter. BOOM! The monster exploded into green slime.
"Get us to the North Pole!" Rook yelled at the pilots. "We need to shut that door!"
Lena pressed her hands against the window. "The crack's getting bigger!"
Jack grabbed a headset. "What's on the other side?!"
Rook's face hardened. "The Revenant's world. And it's hungry."
Monster Attack
A winged creature latched onto the helicopter and tore a hole in the roof. Cold wind and snow blasted inside the house.
"Hold on!" Vega hooked her legs around a seat and fired her pistol. BANG! The monster screeched, falling into the storm.
Jax tosses Finch an electric grenade. "Aim for the eyes!"
Finch hesitated. "What if we hit the engine?!"
"JUST THROW IT!"
The grenade exploded mid-air, killing three monsters. They dropped like stones.
Lena's hands glowed green. "I'll help!"
"No!" Jack pulled her back. "You'll blow us up!"
The helicopter shook. A warning light flashed: ENGINE FAILURE.
"We're going down!" the pilot yelled.
Crash Landing
The helicopter spun and crashed into a snowy field. The team tumbled out, coughing from the smoke.
Captain Rook kicked the door open. "Move! They're coming!"
The monsters circled, screeching. One landed and snapped its razor-sharp teeth.
Vega charged, her scarred arm buzzing. She punches the monster's head. CRACK! It collapsed and twitched.
"Nice upgrade," Jax said, reloading her weapon.
Finch pointed north. "The tower's close! I see lights!"
A massive black tower pierced the sky, surrounded by swirling, green storms.
"Eli's there," Lena whispered as she "He's… laughing."
The Black Tower
They sneaked through the icy ruins, avoiding patrols of the Forged guards. The tower loomed ahead, covered with spinning gears and wires.
Captain Rook hands Jack a bomb. "Plant this at the base of the tree. It'll blow the tower sky-high."
"What about Eli?" Vega asked.
"Leave him to me." Rook cocked her rifle.
Suddenly, static buzzed through their headsets. Eli's voice hissed:
"Welcome to the end, heroes. Lena, come to the top. Let's finish this."
Lena's eyes glowed. "He is controlling the tower. I have to stop him!"
"No way!" Jack said. "It's a trap!"
"He is right," Rook said. "But we are out of time. Distract the guards. I'll take Lena up."
Vega grabbed Rook's arm. "Why should we trust you?"
Rook sighed. "My team died closing the first crack. I won't let that happen again."
The monster's roar shook the ground.
"Go!" Jack yelled.
The Climb
Rook and Lena rode a rickety elevator to the top of the tower. Green lightning flashed in the distance.
"You remind me of my daughter," Rook said suddenly. "She… didn't survive the Revenant."
Lena blinked. "I'm sorry."
The elevator stopped. The doors opened to an icy room. Eli stood at the control panel, his back to them.
"Took you long enough," Eli said, turning. His eyes were purely static.
"Lena… join me. We'll rule both worlds!" The Revenant's voice boomed through him.
Lena's hands glowed. "Never!"
Rook aimed her rifle. "Game over, Eli."
Eli laughed. "You're too late. The door's already—"
BANG! Rook shot him. Eli collapsed, and the control panel sparked. The green crack in the sky widened further.
"FOOLS…" the Revenant growled. "NOW I COME THROUGH!"
A giant shadow moved in the crack—something larger than a skyscraper.
The Bomb
Jack planted the bomb at the tower's base. "Done! Let's go!"
Forged guards surrounded the area. Jax and Finch fired wildly. "We're trapped!"
Vega's scars lit up. "Get back!" She slammed her fists on the ground. A static wave blew the guards apart.
The team ran as the bomb's timer beeped: 10… 9… 8…
The elevator door opened. Rook and Lena jumped out of the car. "GO!"
They sprinted across the icy terrain. 3… 2… 1…
KABOOOOOM!
The tower exploded, flames melting the sky's cracks. The roar of the Revenant shook the earth.
"THIS ISN'T OVER!"
The crack was sealed, leaving silence.
The Aftermath
The team lay exhausted in the snow. Lena's glow faded.
Captain Rook stood. "We did it."
Jack looked at the ashes of the tower. "Did we?"
A familiar static laugh crackled through Rook's robotic arm. Her metal hand twitched and glowed green.
"THANK YOU FOR THE NEW BODY…"
The Rook's eyes became static. She aimed her rifle at the team members.