The squad quickly moved into position, their rifles aimed at the darkened corridor ahead. Fingers rested on triggers, eyes scanning for movement. The tension in the air was thick, every second stretching longer as they awaited the unseen threat.


    Zayn, still struggling to keep himself upright, felt his vision flicker. His body was heavy, his mind fogged from the explosion’s aftereffects. He could barely make sense of what was happening.


    Then—


    A sharp screech tore through the silence.


    One of the squad members fired first, their gunshot echoing through the building. The door at the end of the hallway burst open, and something lunged forward.


    A grotesque creature stepped into the flickering light—a towering, twisted being with three insect-like legs and a body that pulsed with an unnatural glow. Its elongated head snapped toward them, rows of jagged teeth visible beneath shifting tendrils.


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    “All units, fire!” someone shouted.


    A hail of bullets erupted, lighting up the dim space with rapid muzzle flashes. The creature shrieked, but instead of falling, it charged forward undeterred.


    “Our weapons aren’t even scratching it!” one of the squad members yelled over the gunfire.


    Another soldier reached for something at her belt. “I have a grenade!”


    The man beside her shot a glance. “Why are you still holding it?!”


    “I’m timing it,” she replied calmly, watching the monster close in.


    The man’s voice rose. “It’s almost been seven seconds!”


    “Oh… I didn’t know that,” she admitted. “Okay, here I go.”


    With a casual flick, she hurled the grenade forward. It detonated mid-air, right in front of the creature, engulfing it in fire and smoke.


    Zayn barely managed to stay conscious as the shockwave rattled the entire floor.


    As the dust settled, a deep, guttural growl rumbled from within the smoke.


    The monster struggled to get up, its limbs twitching, but it couldn’t move properly. It let out a weak, distorted screech.


    The squad leader stepped forward, equipping a special glove that hummed with energy. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and delivered a powerful slap across the monster’s face.


    The impact sent a shockwave through its body, causing deep cracks to form along its glowing exoskeleton. The creature convulsed before collapsing.


    The squad stood in silence for a moment.


    “Well,” the leader hand is shaking. “That worked.”


    The girl turn to check on Zayn but he is unconscious.