With Shi Yan Deng's detailed information, a plan solidifies. We lay out a strategy for infiltrating the hotel, focusing on reconnaissance and gathering crucial intelligence before launching a full-scale rescue.
I address my team, outlining the mission objectives. "We need to scout the hotel first," I state, my voice firm and decisive. "We need to understand the layout, the guard patterns, and the location of the hostages. I'll go first."
A murmur of protest rises from the group. "Su Yan, it's too dangerous," Han So Chul says, his brow furrowed with concern. "We should go together."
I meet his gaze, my expression unwavering. "I need to go alone," I reply, my voice leaving no room for argument.
"My… unique skill set makes me best suited for this task. I can move undetected, gather information, and return without raising suspicion."
I cannot reveal my Stealth Mode ability to them, not yet. It's a crucial advantage, and I need to keep it hidden, even from my trusted team. I am careful to conceal it, even during the battle with the Evolved.
I rely on my physical strength and combat skills, never revealing the ability to disappear into thin air.
"We'll provide support from the outside," I continue. "Drones monitor the perimeter, and we maintain communication through our comms. If anything goes wrong, you'll be ready to move in."
I need to scout alone. I need to use my Stealth Mode without anyone seeing. I need to understand the hotel's layout and the enemy's strength.
I need to find Shi Yan Deng's family and the other hostages. This is a mission I have to do by myself
Shi Yan Deng, despite his injuries, sits upright, his eyes burning with a desperate intensity. He looks at me, his gaze pleading.
"Please," he says, his voice strained but firm. "Let me come with you."
I hesitate. He's still weak, and the mission is dangerous. But I see the raw determination in his eyes. He won't be dissuaded.
"I can't just sit here," he continues, his voice trembling with emotion. "I need to do something. I need to save my family."
He clenches his fists, and a faint metallic sheen appears, coating his knuckles. Then, a flicker of flame dances across them, a small but intense blaze.
"I have… abilities," he says, his voice low and resolute. "I can turn my fists into iron, and generate flames. I can help."
He's revealing his hybrid abilities. He's desperate. And I can't deny his determination. He's right; he can't just sit here.
"Alright," I say, my voice softening slightly. "But you'll follow my lead. We'll move together, but you'll stay behind me. No reckless moves. Understood?"
He nods, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Understood," he says, his voice firm.
"We will scout together then," I say. "But if I say hide, you hide, and if I say run, you run." I need to make sure he understands my rules. I cannot let him ruin the plan.
"Stay close," I whisper to Shi Yan Deng, my hand instinctively reaching for my short sword.
We navigate the dimly lit hallway, the silence punctuated only by our soft footsteps and the distant echoes of muffled screams. The air is thick with tension, the feeling of being watched prickling my skin.
Suddenly, a figure emerges from the shadows, a woman with eyes like burning coals and a blade glinting in her hand.
She lunges at me with startling speed, her attack silent and deadly. I react instinctively, my body moving with a speed honed by countless hours of training.
I twist away from the blade, narrowly avoiding the strike.
The woman snarls, her lips curling back to reveal sharp teeth. She circles me, her movements fluid and predatory. "Viper," Shi Yan Deng whispers, his voice tense. "She's fast. Be careful."
I assess the situation, my mind racing. Viper is clearly a formidable opponent, her speed and agility a testament to her hybrid abilities.
I cannot afford to underestimate her. I draw my short sword, its meteorite blade gleaming in the dim light. "Stay behind me," I instruct Shi Yan Deng, my voice low and steady.
Viper lunges again, her blade a blur of motion. I parry the attack, the clash of metal echoing through the hallway. She's relentless, her strikes coming in a flurry of deadly intent.
I counter each attack, my movements precise and calculated. I feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, sharpening my senses, heightening my reflexes.
This is a dance of death, a battle of skill and cunning. Viper is fast, but I'm faster. I use my agility to my advantage, dodging her attacks, creating openings.
I strike back, my blade finding its mark, leaving shallow cuts on her arms and legs. She hisses in pain, her eyes blazing with fury.
The fight is intense, the air filled with the clash of blades and the sound of our ragged breathing. I feel the strain on my muscles, the burn in my lungs. But I cannot afford to falter.
I have to defeat Viper, to protect Shi Yan Deng, to continue the mission.
The fight with Viper drags on, a whirlwind of steel and fury. I manage to land several blows, my short sword slicing through her defenses, leaving visible wounds on her limbs and torso.
But as the battle continues, a chilling realization dawns on me: I'm at a distinct disadvantage.
Viper's wounds, though initially deep, begin to close, the flesh knitting itself back together with alarming speed. Her movements, initially slowed by the injuries, regain their swiftness, her attacks becoming even more relentless.
Hybrid regeneration. I should have anticipated it. It's a common trait among hybrids, a powerful ability that makes them incredibly resilient.
I recall Shi Yan Deng's rapid recovery after we rescued him. Hours after being beaten nearly to death, he was already showing signs of healing, his wounds closing, his strength returning. I had attributed it to his inherent resilience, but now I understand. It was the hybrid regeneration.
The realization is a stark reminder of the challenges we face. These hybrids are not ordinary enemies.
They possess abilities that defy conventional understanding, abilities that make them incredibly dangerous.
My own enhanced strength and reflexes, gained through the system's enhancements and rigorous training, are significant, but they pale in comparison to the natural abilities of these hybrids.
Viper's attacks grow more ferocious, her eyes burning with a renewed intensity. She knows she's healing, knows she has the upper hand.
I dodge and weave, trying to avoid her strikes, but I feel the fatigue setting in. My own wounds, though minor, are not healing at the same rate.
I need to change tactics.
I cannot win a battle of attrition. I need to find a way to exploit her weaknesses, to end this fight quickly. I need to be smarter, faster, more decisive.
We continue our deadly dance, a blur of motion and steel. Viper's attacks are relentless, a constant barrage of strikes aimed to incapacitate or kill. I parry, dodge, and counter, my short sword a flashing arc of light in the dim hallway. The air crackles with tension, the silence broken only by the clang of metal and our ragged breaths.
Suddenly, Viper shifts her stance, her movements becoming even more fluid and unpredictable.
She feints with her blade, drawing my attention to my left, then pivots, her fist a blur of motion aimed at my right side. I react instinctively, attempting to block the punch, but she's too fast.
Her fist connects with my ribs, the impact sending a jolt of pain through my body. I stagger back, my breath catching in my throat. The force of the blow is significant, even with the armor I'm wearing. I feel the bruising already forming beneath the metal.
Viper seizes the opportunity, pressing her advantage. She launches a flurry of attacks, her blade and fists a whirlwind of deadly intent.
I struggle to regain my footing, my movements hampered by the pain in my ribs. I manage to deflect some of her strikes, but others find their mark, leaving shallow cuts and bruises on my arms and legs.
The fight is turning against me. Viper's regeneration is giving her a significant advantage, and her attacks are growing more ferocious.
I need to find a way to turn the tide, to exploit her weaknesses. But with each passing moment, my options dwindle.
The fight with Viper pushes me to my limits. I am reeling from her powerful punch, struggling to maintain my footing as she presses her advantage.
Just as I think I am about to be overwhelmed, a burst of heat flares beside me.
Shi Yan Deng, who has been observing the fight, sees his opportunity. He has waited patiently, assessing Viper's movements, and now he strikes with surprising speed. His fist, now glowing with an intense heat, slams into Viper's side.
A startled cry escapes Viper's lips as the flames ignite her clothing and singe her skin. The flames, fueled by Shi Yan Deng's hybrid ability, spread rapidly, scorching her flesh and setting her clothing ablaze.
She thrashes and screams, her movements becoming erratic and uncontrolled.
The smell of burning flesh fills the hallway.
Shi Yan Deng, his face grim, steps back, his flaming fist now extinguished. He watches
as Viper writhes in agony, her screams echoing
Viper struggles against the ongoing damage. The flames have done significant damage, but not enough to consume her entirely.
The pain is immense, and her movements are hampered, but she is still alive.
She stumbles back, her eyes blazing with a mixture of pain and fury. Large sections of her clothing are burned away, revealing charred and blistered skin.
Her regeneration works overtime, trying to close the wounds, but the damage is extensive.
"She's still alive," Shi Yan Deng says, his voice tense, his eyes fixed on the wounded Viper. "But she's badly hurt."
Viper stumbles back, her eyes blazing with a mixture of pain and fury.
The flames have ravaged her clothing, leaving large sections burned away, exposing charred and blistered skin. Instinctively, she crosses her arms, attempting to cover the exposed areas of her chest.
A low growl rumbles in her throat, a mix of pain and humiliation.
"You… you'll pay for this," she hisses, her voice thick with pain and rage.
Her regeneration works overtime, trying to close the wounds, but the damage is extensive.
She is barely standing, and her movements are hampered, but she is still a threat.
The exposed skin, now a patchwork of burns and regenerating flesh, is a stark reminder of Shi Yan Deng's attack. She glares at him, her eyes burning with a venomous hatred.
Viper's attempt to shield herself, her ragged threats, are cut short.
I seize the opportunity, my movements swift and decisive. The short sword, still slick with her blood, flashes in the dim light. With a single, fluid motion, I sever her head.
The severed head hits the floor with a dull thud, her eyes still blazing with hatred, now frozen in a mask of death.
Her body crumples to the ground, the charred and regenerating flesh now still. The hallway falls silent, the only sound the faint crackling of the remaining embers.
"She's dead," I state, my voice flat, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. The fight is over.
The adrenaline recedes, leaving a hollow ache in its wake. I sink to the floor, my body protesting the sudden stillness.
My ribs throb, a constant reminder of Viper's powerful punch, and several shallow cuts sting along my arms and legs.
I access my spatial storage, retrieving a syringe filled with healing serum. It's a potent concoction, another reward from the system, capable of mending even grievous wounds in moments.
I roll up my sleeve and inject the serum into my thigh. The effect is instantaneous. The cuts close, the bruising fades, and the throbbing in my ribs subsides.
But the healing comes at a cost. A searing, burning sensation spreads through my body, as if my very cells are being rewritten. It's an intense, almost unbearable pain, a necessary trade-off for the rapid healing.
I grit my teeth, enduring the burning, knowing that the pain is temporary, a fleeting price for the restoration of my
strength.