The footsteps grew louder as they moved upward through the damaged stairwell.
They were not rushing. Whoever was coming knew how to move in unstable terrain. That alone made Kael uneasy.
He pressed his back lightly against the cracked wall and signaled for the others to stay behind him. The injured officer with the fire bloodline lowered his breathing, copying Kael's calm posture despite the tension etched across his face.
Voices drifted upward.
Check the left corridor.
There was a kill here. Energy residue is still warm.
Move carefully. Don't let it ambush us.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
They were not scavengers, they were organized.
Three figures emerged into view, stepping cautiously over broken concrete and twisted railing. All of them carried melee weapons rather than firearms. That detail stood out immediately. Guns were loud, unreliable against armored creatures, and inefficient when bloodline cores were involved.
The man in front wore reinforced tactical gear and held a heavy machete with dried blood along the edge. Faint orange patterns pulsed beneath his skin, visible even through the grime on his arms.
The Codex reacted.
Human Bloodline User DetectedType: Enhanced Strength VariantThreat Assessment: Moderate
The group froze when they spotted Kael.
For a moment, both sides studied each other in silence.
Then the leader's gaze dropped to the bloodstains on the floor and the scattered remains of shadow residue drifting faintly in the air.
His eyes lit up.
You killed something rare, he said slowly. Shadow-type, judging by the residue.
Kael said nothing.
The man smiled, though there was no warmth behind it.
That's impressive. Most people panic. You fought.
He took a step forward.
You don't look like a professional soldier. Which means you're probably alone. That makes things simple.
Kael felt the tension rise behind him as the officers shifted uneasily.
What do you want? Kael asked.
The man tilted his head slightly. The core or whatever you absorbed. Doesn't matter how you hand it over.
Kael almost laughed.
You think it works like a backpack?
The smile faded.
The man's expression hardened. Doesn't matter. We can carve it out if we need to.
The Codex pulsed softly.
Hostile Intent ConfirmedNegotiation Probability: Low
Kael exhaled slowly.
So this was the next stage of the apocalypse, Predators wearing human faces.
He stepped forward, positioning himself fully between the hunters and the group behind him.
You don't want this fight, Kael said. Walk away.
One of the hunters scoffed. You think you're special because you got lucky once?
Another one cracked his knuckles, faint sparks flickering across his fingertips.
We've killed dozens already, he said. You won't be different.
Kael adjusted his grip on the axe.
Then you've already forgotten what humans used to be, he replied quietly.
The leader raised his machete.
Take him ,They rushed forward.
Kael moved first.
He did not charge straight ahead. Instead, he stepped sideways into the broken stairwell shadow, letting the dim light obscure his outline. The Shadow Step trait activated instinctively, softening the sound of his movement.
The first attacker swung wide, aiming for Kael's shoulder.
Kael ducked under the blade and drove the axe handle into the man's ribs. The impact forced the air from his lungs. Before he could recover, Kael followed with a short, precise strike to the knee.
Bone cracked, the man collapsed with a scream.
The second attacker lunged from the side. Electricity surged across his arm as he tried to grab Kael's weapon.
Kael released the axe deliberately.
The sudden lack of resistance threw the attacker off balance. Kael stepped inside his guard and slammed his elbow into the man's throat. The electrical charge discharged harmlessly into the air as the attacker collapsed choking.
The leader hesitated.
That hesitation lasted less than a second.
It was enough.
Kael retrieved the axe from the floor and advanced steadily.
You're not hunting monsters, Kael said. You're hunting people who are still learning how to survive.
The leader backed up instinctively.
You think that makes you better? he snapped. Power belongs to those who take it.
Kael stopped three steps away.
No, he said calmly. Power belongs to those who can control it.
He struck, the fight ended quickly.
When it was over, the stairwell was silent except for ragged breathing and distant explosions outside.
Kael stood still, blood dripping from the blade.
The Codex activated one last time.
Multiple Hostile Targets NeutralizedCombat Efficiency IncreasedAuthority Growth: Minor Progress Recorded
Behind him, the officers stared at the fallen hunters.
The man with the fire bloodline finally spoke. If this is what people are becoming, Kael turned toward the stairwell exit.
This is what happens when the world stops having rules, he replied.
He looked out through the shattered window at the burning skyline.
And we're only at the beginning.