Night fell with a silence different from usual. Not because of exhaustion, nor from the biting cold against their skin—but from the fear that blanketed every corner of the abandoned building they were holed up in. The dim light of portable lamps did little to dispel the weight pressing down on them all.
Sofia sat cross-legged near a foldable tent in one of the rooms. Altair leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on the surveillance monitor in his hands. From the upper floor, several team members stood guard, while most of the military personnel sat silently on the opposite side of the room, restless.
Whispers began to rise. Some of the soldiers—those from the central military—no longer hid their frustration and fear.
"I'm telling you, we should just head back! We're not going to survive here if we stay!"
"He's right! The reinforcements got annihilated! They've abandoned us! Why should we hold out?!"
"Their leaders are insane! That guy and the holy girl care more about resistance than survival!"
Altair let out a low growl of annoyance. He glanced at Sofia, who had her eyes closed, trying to stay calm. But his voice was sharp as he stepped toward the group of increasingly agitated soldiers.
"You think you can just run from Tyrant?" Altair said flatly, his voice cutting through the air. "That creature isn't some coward like you. He hunts, stalks, and waits. You think you'll get out of his reach without losing your head?"
"And staying here will save us?" one of them stood up, pointing accusingly. "You saw it! Even the reinforcements couldn't reach us! We've been left to die! I'm not dying because of your obsession!"
Sofia slowly stood. Her face was pale but resolute. "It's not an obsession. It's a decision—one to deny the enemy what it wants: fear."
"Fear?" the soldier laughed bitterly. "You're still talking about bravery and hope? We're just humans, not heroes!"
Altair looked ready to fire back, but Sofia raised her hand.
"Then go," she said calmly. "Tomorrow morning. We won't stop you."
Her words silenced the room. The soldiers exchanged uncertain looks, stunned that Sofia would surrender so easily.
But Sofia wasn't surrendering. She simply… wouldn't waste her strength saving those who didn't want to be saved.
Morning came too quickly. The mist still hung low, making the air more humid than usual. In front of the building, twelve soldiers stood in a makeshift formation. Their bags were packed with emergency supplies, weapons at the ready—though their hands trembled.
Sofia and Altair stood at the main entrance, along with of their teammates who chose to stay. There were no goodbyes. Only a silence so heavy it hurt, as if everyone already knew… this would be their last parting.
"If you make it to the central outpost, deliver our report," Altair said flatly.
No one replied. Just a few solemn nods.
The soldiers began descending the hill, passing through ruins and dead trees. The fog gradually swallowed them.
Ten minutes passed.
Ten long, silent minutes.
Sofia closed her eyes, whispering a prayer even though she knew—Tyrant would not stay quiet.
Then… the ground trembled.
Suddenly.
Violently.
The sound of bone slamming into the earth echoed, followed by a scream—short and harrowing.
Everyone in the building rushed out, looking out the window.
What they saw… froze them in place.
Tyrant stood in the middle of the road, his massive body drenched in blood. Several corpses lay mangled—unrecognizable. One soldier fired a rifle, but his arm was torn off like paper.
Tyrant wasn't angry.
He didn't roar.
He simply… destroyed.
Like a god of death emerging from the fog, Tyrant decimated the soldiers without a shred of mercy. There was no chance to flee. No time to form ranks. It was over in seconds.
One tried to run back to the building, his body already covered in wounds. But before he got halfway, Tyrant drove his long arm through the man's chest and hurled him into a tree—his body crumpled like a rag doll.
Then… Tyrant stopped.
He turned to look up the hill—where Sofia, Altair, and their team stood. His glowing red eyes… mocked them.
Then he turned… and disappeared into the mist.
No one chased him. No one spoke.
Silence.
They stood frozen, breath caught in their throats. Rina covered her mouth to hold back sobs. Vivi clutched her weapon tighter. Viktor turned away, unable to look.
Sofia closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart.
"He… waited for them to leave," Altair muttered finally. "He knew… they'd go. And he knew… we'd watch."
"As if he's saying: 'This is what happens when you defy human survival instinct'," Sofia added quietly.
There was no more doubt.
Tyrant wasn't just some mindless mutant.
He was a predator… who enjoyed the game.
And they had just witnessed the clearest proof that their enemy was far smarter than they had ever imagined.