G.O.D Complex// Earth Prime

After moving through the underground maze-like tunnels, Linus and the others finally emerged through an open iron door into a large facility. It appeared to be responsible for waste disposal from the colony—yet it was entirely deserted.

A creepy, eerie cold surrounded the facility, and a transparent fog-like substance lingered in the air.

"Don't remove your helmets," Linus instructed. "We're still within a restricted area, and this white gas isn't breathable. Let's go deeper and find the main door leading out."

No one objected. They followed him deeper into the eerie chamber.

Soon, they arrived at a massive iron door. Red characters in a foreign script were etched across it.

"What language is this?" Sebastian asked.

"Is this Japanese?" Benjamin wondered aloud.

"No, it's Chinese," Linus corrected.

"What does it say?" Sebastian asked again.

"Human waste disposal," Levi answered grimly. A studious boy with a knack for languages, including Chinese, he felt a chill crawl down his spine as he translated.

"What?" Sebastian looked around, unnerved. "This place is a human disposal facility? How?"

"How do you expect us to answer that? Stop talking," Benjamin snapped. His patience for Sebastian was wearing thin.

"The only explanation I can come up with is human experimentation," Linus said. "And something clearly went wrong. We need to stay alert. Things could get dangerous from here."

Thanks to his authority access, Linus managed to unlock the exit. He stepped through and froze.

"What the hell?" Sebastian whispered.

There was no proper way to describe what they were seeing. In front of them stood a vast, high-tech city. Train platforms connected buildings, and futuristic skyscrapers loomed above them. It looked like something pulled straight out of a space-age utopia.

But it was dark.

Silent.

Eerie.

A transparent fog hovered over everything like a ghostly veil. The air felt heavy, stagnant—like the entire place had died a long time ago.

"Is this some kind of futuristic nightmare?" Benjamin asked, scanning the ominous skyline.

Linus deactivated his helmet light. Despite the darkness, the dome's structure allowed sunlight to filter in faintly, illuminating the city in dim gray light.

Abandoned vehicles, collapsed buildings, and eerie silence painted a picture of catastrophe. It was impossible to tell what had happened—but clear that no one had survived.

"Hey, guys... come look at this," Sebastian called.

Linus turned. Sebastian stood frozen in place, staring ahead with wide, terrified eyes. Linus approached, followed by Benjamin and Levi.

"What is it?" Linus asked.

Sebastian didn't speak. He just pointed.

Linus turned—and froze. Benjamin and Levi went silent.

"Is that... a statue?" Benjamin asked.

*

"Sir, no vital signs detected from these dark stone statues," Paul reported.

Commander Cross nodded. He and his heavily armed team had entered from the main platform. His armor, like everyone else's, was sleek, dark, and militarized—an obvious contrast to the less-equipped Red Flag civilians.

Around them stood countless stone statues—some perfectly human, others grotesquely twisted. They looked frozen in agony.

"What do you think?" Cross asked Beatrice.

Beatrice stepped forward and placed a hand on one of the stone figures. She closed her eyes.

Her body twitched slightly, her pupils flickering beneath closed lids, as though she were watching something at high speed.

Then she stumbled back, sweating.

"This person was a Red Flag citizen," she said. "His crimes were minor—murder, assault. His final memory was of a bright purple blast before death."

"Source of the blast?" Cross asked.

Beatrice pointed to the massive tower at the dome's center. It loomed above all others—the origin of the catastrophe.

"The Core Zone," Cross muttered.

He turned to the rest of his squad.

"We split into two teams. Team One secures the NC unit and nutrient compressors. Nassan, you're in charge. I'll take Team Two to the Core and gather intel."

Beatrice looked anxiously at the departing team. Charlotte placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry. Nassan will find food. Focus on the mission."

Beatrice nodded and followed.

Their suits lit up as they leapt high into the air, landing atop distant buildings. With their exosuits and enhanced gravity boots, they moved like shadows across the skyline.

"What's the status of the four signals that entered earlier?" Cross asked mid-jump.

Charlotte brought up a holographic screen. White dots moved slowly on the map.

"They're heading toward the Core. The fifth signal—unknown lifeform—is trailing them. They seem unaware."

"So the four and the fifth aren't allied," Beatrice said. "Two unknowns. Both a problem."

"Ignore them for now. Keep monitoring. If they fight, all the better. We retrieve the data and leave."

Cross leapt again, the Core looming ever closer.

*

Linus clicked the communicator repeatedly. No signal.

He looked at Levi, who shook his head. Same result.

"We've lost contact with the others," Linus said quietly.

"What if they left us?" Sebastian asked nervously.

"That's a possibility," Linus said. "But Nathalie isn't that dumb."

"Can't say the same for the other guy," Levi muttered.

Benjamin frowned. If he touches my prey, I'll kill him, he thought.

"Let's not dwell on it," Linus said. He looked at the Core building in the distance. "There has to be a communication terminal inside. That's our best chance."

They started walking.

*

Meanwhile…

"You bastard!" Nathalie cursed, struggling to stand. Blood streamed down her forehead. Her helmet was cracked. Vertigo and pain clouded her vision.

"Ha... ha... you bitch," Jonas hissed, throwing aside the bloodied iron rod. Petty stumbled back, pale, pressing against the wall in horror.

Minutes ago, Nathalie had been trying to move the cargo ship closer to the tunnel to boost transmission. Jonas told her not to go. She ignored him.

Driven by rage and twisted lust, Jonas struck her from behind.

Now he loomed over her.

"At least don't be selfish," he sneered. "Before you die out there... let this humble man have a taste."

He started to remove his suit, beginning with his pants.