Ch 10 Chapter 10: The Flood Mutation
The air on the Halo ring felt heavy, almost charged, as Elyndra's interface hummed with alerts. Flood biomass detected. Rapid mutation occurring.
I tightened my gauntlet, visor scanning every inch of the horizon. The battlefield was littered with remnants of previous engagements—shattered Covenant armor, smoking craters, and the occasional dead Flood husk. But now, the air pulsed with something new, something faster, stronger, more intelligent.
"They're changing," I said to the squad. The Sergeant's eyes widened in recognition. "Adaptive forms. We've never seen anything like this."
Elyndra's calm voice answered. "Correct. Mutation rate accelerated by environmental energy. Probability of standard combat tactics succeeding: 29%. Recommend immediate adaptation of strategies."
I activated my adaptive combat protocol, syncing fully with Elyndra. HUD overlays illuminated every weak point, every predicted movement, every likely strike. Reflexes surged, shields pulsed, and my enhanced senses tracked multiple threats simultaneously.
The first wave hit—a grotesque Flood form, limbs elongated, claws tipped with energy-absorbing plating. It lunged at me, faster than anything I'd ever faced. I rolled, fired precise bursts, and slashed with my combat knife enhanced by Forerunner energy. Sparks flew, but the creature adapted instantly.
"System," I muttered mid-combat, "how do we counter this evolution?"
"Suggestion: Combine environmental hazards with predictive energy strikes. Utilize coordinated squad maneuvers. Deploy adaptive explosives calibrated to mutagenic frequency."
I nodded, issuing commands through the HUD. The squad moved flawlessly, setting traps and drawing the mutants into kill zones. I leaped, dodged, and struck with the precision of a machine guided by Elyndra's ancient intelligence.
One massive Flood abomination emerged from the shadows—a towering creature, its form pulsating with energy and intelligence. It scanned us, as if calculating our weaknesses.
"This one's different," the Sergeant said, backing away. "It's… thinking."
I didn't flinch. The system highlighted the creature's bio-energetic patterns. My Forerunner energy manipulation interface flared to life. Projecting shields and energy strikes, I closed the distance. Each movement was guided by predictive calculations, combining raw Spartan reflexes with Elyndra's processing.
The creature struck first, massive limbs crashing down. I rolled aside, the shield absorbing part of the impact, and countered with a precision energy strike to its neural cluster. It howled, adapting instantly. But I anticipated its movements, guiding the squad to strike weak points simultaneously.
The battle raged, a blur of plasma, blades, and energy surges. Slowly, the creature weakened, finally collapsing under the coordinated assault. Elyndra's interface pulsed: Skill points gained: 18. Adaptive combat protocols enhanced. New ability unlocked: Mutagen Analysis and Countermeasure Deployment.
The squad cheered, exhausted but alive. I exhaled, visor fogging slightly from adrenaline. "They'll keep coming," I said quietly, "but we've adapted faster."
Elyndra hummed, almost approvingly. "Your integration with my processing has accelerated human evolution. Threats will escalate, but your capabilities now exceed standard Spartan parameters. Prepare for further engagements—both Covenant and Flood."
Outside, the Halo ring stretched endlessly, ancient and silent, yet alive with danger and secrets. I flexed my gauntlet, feeling the full potential of the Spartan-Elyndra synergy. Every upgrade, every skill point, every enhancement had prepared me for this—and for what was coming next.
The Flood had evolved. So had I.
And the war for the Halo ring had only just begun.