The sudden kzzzt of static ripped through Agent Davis's earpiece. "I have urgent news," a voice from HQ crackled, sounding hurried and panicked. "A rift has opened on the city's east side. A large baboon-like creature with horns has emerged from it. Squad 6 is currently dealing with it."
Davis, a rookie still getting used to the chaos of the SSD, felt his heart pound. He was about to respond when a colossal tree branch, ripped clean from its trunk, shot through the air. It was a spear made of wood and bark, launched by an unseen force. There was no time to react. The branch struck him with incredible force, a sickening thud echoing off the surrounding buildings. He was sent flying, his body a ragdoll in the air, before he crashed hard to the ground. His radio device clattered to the pavement, the last sound a faint, garbled voice. "Kzzzt... Hello? Agent, are you still there?"
The scene shifted to the east side of the city where Squad 6 stood frozen. Before them loomed a creature of nightmare: a massive baboon, easily three times the size of a normal one. Its fur was a matted, dark brown, and its eyes glowed with an otherworldly crimson light. A jagged scar, white against the dark fur, ran across its left eye, adding to its menacing look. Twisted, razor-sharp horns curled from its head, each one capable of tearing through steel. The creature stood still, its presence so commanding that the more than twenty agents of Squad 6, normally a disciplined unit, seemed to hold their breath.
From the front of the formation, a figure strode forward with fierce determination. It was Rose, the commander of Squad 6, her raven-black hair pulled back in a tight combat bun. She wasn't just beautiful; she was a storm of focused purpose. In her hands, she gripped a pair of short swords, their obsidian blades marked with the symbol of the SSD. Her black and white suit was sleek and functional, designed for combat, not looks.
"Okay, Squad 6!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the tension. "Are you all ready to make this Rift Walker rest in peace?"
"Yes, ma'am!" The agents, all dressed in matching suits, responded in a unified roar. The fear in their eyes was still there, but it was now overshadowed by a burning sense of duty.
"Remember the plan!" Rose commanded, her voice loud and clear. "Sergeant Reynolds, lead the flanking maneuver. Agents Chen and Miller, focus your fire on its head. It's not invincible, just ugly."
With a fierce battle cry, Squad 6 charged. Sergeant Reynolds and his team peeled off to the right, a tight-knit unit of five, aiming to draw its attention. Meanwhile, the main force, with Rose at its head, opened fire. Bullets ricocheted off the surrounding buildings as the baboon charged forward, its speed belying its massive size.
The creature moved like lightning, dodging the hail of bullets with an unnatural grace. With a sudden burst of strength, it grasped a nearby oak tree. Its massive roots snapped like pistol cracks as the baboon ripped it from the earth and hurled the entire trunk at the agents.
The tree trunk hurtled through the air, its bark shattering as it slammed into the agents. Sergeant Reynolds, trying to warn his team, was a split second too late. The trunk hit him, and the sound of his chest caving in was a sickening crunch that echoed over the gunfire. Agent Chen, narrowly dodging the trunk, was able to get a shot off, hitting the baboon in the shoulder. The baboon didn't even flinch.
Roaring with fury, the creature seized a car parked on the street and lifted it overhead. It savored the weight of its makeshift projectile for a moment before launching it at the remaining agents. The car soared through the air, its metal body glinting in the sunlight. The agents scattered, but three of them weren't fast enough. The car's front end crumpled as it slammed down, pinning them beneath a twisted mass of steel. Screams were muffled by the sound of crunching metal and snapping bones.
The baboon stood tall, its chest heaving, surveying the destruction. But the remaining agents, fueled by rage, refused to back down. They charged forward, determined to avenge their fallen comrades.
The baboon continued its relentless onslaught. An agent, trying to get a clear shot, was met with a swift backhand from the baboon's massive fist. The blow sent him flying into a wall, his body crumpling to the ground. Another agent, Agent Miller, closed in, his pistol still blazing, but the baboon simply swatted the weapon away and delivered a devastating kick, sending the agent's body crashing into a nearby storefront.
As Miller's body hit the ground, the baboon swiftly jumped and stomped down on him. The sound of snapping bones and screams filled the air as the agent desperately tried to defend himself.
One of the last agents, a young recruit named Finch, tried to run, his legs moving on their own. The baboon spotted him, a look of pure malice in its eyes, and reached down, grabbing him with both hands. With a swift motion, it twisted Finch's body, his spine contorting, until it was a grotesque, unrecognizable ball of flesh and bone. The screams were cut short as his body was compressed beyond recognition. The baboon then hurled the mangled body at another fleeing agent.
The baboon's chest heaved with exertion, its eyes scanning the area for its next victim. The few remaining agents cowered, their courage broken. It was an overwhelming defeat.
That's when Rose stepped forward, her short swords gripped tightly. The obsidian blades shimmered as she moved, positioning them to block the baboon's next attack. The creature's massive fist came crashing down, and Rose's swords met the impact, absorbing the blow. The force was immense, sending her flying backward, her body slamming into the pavement.
She struggled to her feet, her eyes locked on the baboon. The remaining agents, however, had lost their nerve. "Lady Rose, we can't fight this thing! It's too strong! We have to call for Squad 1," one of them pleaded, his voice trembling with fear.
Rose stood tall, her gaze never wavering from the baboon. "If you want to run, then run," she said, her voice firm and commanding. "But as the commander of Squad 6, I will not retreat. And I will not be defeated by a monkey."