The night had barely ended, and the factory stank of blood, smoke, and fear. Cracks split the walls where the unseen monster had pressed against them. Metal beams groaned as if the building itself remembered the weight that had nearly crushed it. The floor was littered with shell casings, burnt feathers, and the sickly-sweet stench of corrupted ichor.
Reid sat near the dying embers of the fire, clutching his knife like it was the only thing keeping him alive. His hands ached from the death grip he kept on the weapon. Around him, initiates whispered in hushed tones. Two were badly injured, their bandages already soaked through. Even the strongest among them avoided meeting each other's eyes.
Holt stood at the broken entrance, visor glowing faintly in the dim. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. "We got lucky. That thing could have ripped this place apart."
Lucky. Reid didn't feel lucky. He felt hollow. His chest still burned where the Bond had pulsed during the attack. The creature outside had been massive, suffocating, and it had simply… walked away. That terrified him more than if it had fought.
Mara sat beside him, close enough that her shoulder brushed his arm. She didn't tease this time. She just looked at him, eyes catching the faint glow of the embers. "You're pale," she murmured.
"Guess almost dying does that to you," he muttered.
"You keep doing it," she said softly. "Not dying."
Despite the tension, he laughed under his breath. "I'll try to keep it up."
Jorik, sitting across from the fire, snorted. "Or maybe whatever's inside you is what's keeping you alive. And maybe it's the same thing drawing these monsters to us."
Reid's jaw tightened. "You think I'm the reason that thing came here?"
"I think we don't know what the hell you are," Jorik growled. "And that's dangerous."
Holt turned, her visor reflecting the firelight. "Enough. Get your gear ready. We move at first light." Her tone was final, leaving no room for argument.
Reid glanced at the cracks in the wall, the burned debris, and the fear etched into every face around the fire. He could feel their suspicion pressing on him. Eyes on me. Always.
The Bond's laughter trickled through his mind, low and mocking. "Oh, they're watching you, little hunter. But none of them see you the way I do."
Reid shivered. Shut up.
The voice purred in amusement. "You'll beg me for more before this is over."
The first streaks of gray light crept across the horizon, bleeding through the factory's shattered roof. Outside, the fog hung low, swirling lazily as if hiding something just beyond sight.
Holt's voice broke the silence. "We move north to recon the ridge. Reports show increased corrupted activity there. If the thing from last night circles back, we won't be here to meet it." She scanned the group, her gaze lingering on Reid before pointing to him, Mara, and Jorik. "You three are scouting ahead."
Reid's stomach twisted. He hadn't recovered from the last fight, and now they were sending him deeper into the Wastes. He wanted to argue, but Holt's visor made him think twice.
Mara smirked as she adjusted her spear. "Hey," she said, brushing his arm lightly, "at least we'll die looking good together."
He stared at her, caught off guard. "Comforting."
She winked. "I try."
The Bond laughed, the sound curling in his head like smoke. "You really are pathetic with women. Adorable, though. Keep her close, little hunter. She'll make your death more fun to watch."
Reid gritted his teeth. Shut. Up.
The world distorted briefly—like ripples across water—and glowing text burned into his vision:
[Quest: Claim the Ash Beast's Fang] Objective: Hunt and kill the corrupted predator haunting the northern ridge. Time Limit: Dawn. Reward: Bond Favor – Ability Unlock (Tier I) Failure: Death.
His breath caught. He blinked hard, but the message remained until he acknowledged it mentally. The Bond's voice purred, smug. "There it is. Your first real hunt. I can smell your fear already."
You set this up, Reid thought. You made this happen.
"Of course I did. You're mine. And now you'll prove it."
The glowing quest faded, but its weight stayed heavy in his chest.
The northern ridge rose like a jagged scar across the horizon, shrouded in a low-hanging ash fog that dimmed the rising sun. As they walked, the air grew heavier, tasting of metal and burnt earth. Each breath scraped Reid's lungs.
The ground was littered with rusted machine parts, skeletal remains of drones from a war older than anyone remembered. Their eyeless heads stared skyward as if frozen in their last scream. Occasionally, something skittered inside the husks, but when Reid looked closer, nothing moved.
Jorik trudged behind, muttering curses under his breath. Mara stayed at Reid's side, humming a tune so soft it was barely audible. It was almost comforting, until she looked at him with a teasing grin.
"You look like you're about to puke again," she said.
"Do I?" he replied flatly.
"Yeah, but in a cute way," she added with a wink. "Don't worry. I'll save you again."
Heat rose to his cheeks. "Thanks, I guess."
Jorik's scoff cut through the fog. "You two done flirting, or should I leave you to it?"
Mara rolled her eyes. "Jealous much?"
Jorik grumbled something under his breath, but Reid caught the glare.
The Bond chuckled. "I like this one. The rival. Keep him around; he'll make things interesting."
Reid ignored it, focusing on the ridge ahead. The ash fog thickened, muffling sound. Even their breathing seemed swallowed. The Bond hummed in his head, like a predator sensing blood. "Closer. I can feel it. The Ash Beast is near."
They climbed a steep slope, crouched low to avoid loose rocks. The fog clung to their skin, tasting faintly of ash and decay. Reid's chest tightened as a growl rolled through the mist.
It came from the fog in a blur of black and orange. The Ash Beast towered over them, a mass of cracked bone plates glowing faintly at the seams. Smoke hissed from its joints, and when it opened its maw, a wave of burnt flesh stench hit them.
"Spread out!" Mara yelled, spear at the ready.
Jorik raised his rifle, firing into its chest. Bullets sparked off its armor, barely slowing it. The beast roared, the sound shaking loose stones from the ridge.
Reid froze. Every instinct screamed to run. The Bond's voice slammed into his mind. "Move, idiot! Left! Dodge now!"
He dropped to the side just as claws tore through where he'd stood. Pain lanced through his ribs as he rolled, scrambling to his feet. The Bond surged in his veins, burning like molten iron. His vision sharpened, every detail vivid—the glow at the beast's joints, the hitch in its movement after every step.
"See it? Strike where it limps. Bite back."
Reid charged, knife flashing, and drove it into the glowing seam of its leg. The beast screamed, thrashing. Its tail whipped around, smashing him against a rock. Pain exploded across his back.
Mara darted in, spear stabbing between plates, drawing another howl. Jorik's bullets cracked into its side, forcing it to turn.
"Again! Now! Deeper!" the Bond snarled.
Reid rolled under its swipe, knife stabbing up into the seam of its chest. Black ichor poured as the beast convulsed, shrieking. The Bond's laughter drowned out the sound. "Yes. Feed me!"
With a final cry, the beast collapsed into ash and bone shards.
Darkness swirled from the corpse, spiraling into Reid. His veins blazed, fire rushing through his body. System messages burned across his vision:
[Essence Absorbed: +4] [Core Status: Red – Surge Level Achieved] [Unlocking: Tier I Ability – Veil Step]
Reid fell to one knee, chest heaving. His veins glowed faintly red, then dimmed. The Bond purred. "Good. You're learning. You belong to me."
Mara rushed to his side. "Reid! What just happened to you?"
"I… don't know," he lied.
Jorik's glare was ice. "You're not normal. You're dangerous."
Among the ash, a fang gleamed. Reid picked it up, hand trembling. The quest flickered once more:
[Objective Complete: Ash Beast Fang Acquired] [Reward Unlocked: Veil Step (Tier I)]
The Bond's voice coiled around his thoughts. "You've taken your first step. Don't get too comfortable."
They returned as the sun rose, its light pale against the fog. Holt waited, arms crossed. Her visor tilted toward the fang in Reid's hand. "You killed it?"
Reid nodded silently.
Holt's tone was unreadable. "Impressive."
Mara smirked, patting his shoulder. "Told you we'd look good doing it."
Jorik said nothing, but his glare promised trouble.
The Bond's whisper curled around Reid's mind, smug and soft. "You've fed me well. But remember, little hunter—next time, you won't survive without me."
On the ridge, shadows moved unnaturally against the rising sun. Something larger stirred in the ash fog, unseen but watching.