Snow battered the armored transport as it sliced through the frozen winds of northern Venosa. Inside, silence reigned—only the hum of the engine and the occasional spark from the damaged systems filled the air. The squad sat in tense quiet, nursing wounds and watching the cube Franko held like it was the heart of the world.
Roko (trying to lighten the mood):
"If anyone's wondering—I still can't feel my left butt cheek. Pretty sure it stayed behind in Vault Zero."
Lucchini (without looking up):
"I'd consider that an upgrade."
Savio (tapping rapidly on his tablet):
"Guys, focus. According to the data, there's a Zacrota facility hidden under the ruins of Sector R-9. It's not just a base… it's a lab."
Franko:
"A lab?"
Savio:
"Yeah. A research station for… something called Project Abyss."
Marco (leaning forward):
"I've heard of that name once… years ago. Rumors only. Something even Zacrota didn't want people inside their own ranks to know."
Colombo (checking his rifle):
"Then I say we break in and knock on the devil's front door."
Franko looked out the window. The icy mountains gave way to a deep, gray crater. At its center: the ruins of Sector R-9. Twisted metal. Collapsed towers. No life. Just echoes.
As they approached the site, their vehicle halted.
Caros (quietly):
"This place is wrong. I've tracked death before… but this… this feels like it breathes."
The group disembarked and began descending into the crater. Amid the wreckage, they found a hatch—hexagonal, buried under steel and ash. The cube lit up in Franko's hand and scanned the area.
Vault Cube:
"Access Granted. Welcome, Protocol Zero."
With a loud hiss, the hatch slid open.
Inside, the air was warmer. The hallway was sleek, black metal with faint red lights pulsing through the walls. They walked carefully, weapons drawn.
Suddenly, a robotic voice echoed:
AI Voice:
"Intruders detected. Project Abyss is not ready for visitors."
Turrets unfolded from the walls. A high-pitched alarm rang out.
Marco (yelling):
"Cover! Move!"
Blaster bolts rained down. Lucchini rolled under one turret and overloaded it with an electric spike. Savio used his drone to jam the others. Within seconds, the hallway fell silent again.
As they moved deeper, they passed tanks—dozens of failed cybernetic experiments. Twisted humans fused with machines, some still twitching behind cracked glass.
Roko (gulping):
"This is nightmare fuel. Literal nightmare fuel."
Caros:
"Zacrota was trying to build something… not soldiers. Gods."
They finally reached the heart of the lab: a chamber with a massive pod suspended in the air. Inside it, a humanoid machine, larger than anything they'd seen. Its design was terrifying—horns, a smooth obsidian body, and a glowing red core.
Franko:
"What is that…?"
AI Voice:
"Designation: Abyss. Purpose: Unknown. Status: Dormant."
Suddenly, a hidden door opened.
A figure walked in—dressed in dark robes, face hidden behind a red steel mask.
Masked Figure:
"You shouldn't be here, children of dust."
The team aimed their weapons.
Marco:
"Who the hell are you?"
Masked Figure:
"I am Nocturon. Guardian of the Abyss. And you're too late… it's already waking up."
The chamber shook violently. The pod cracked.
Abyss opened its eyes.
Red. Burning. Ancient.
Franko (backing up):
"Run. RUN!"
They dashed out of the chamber as alarms screamed. Behind them, Nocturon smiled.
Nocturon:
"Let the world burn… the gods are coming home."