BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Vania crushed the worm-like creature's head beneath her foot; the head burst after a sickening squelch.

Blood sprayed onto the white floor, adding to the mess of fighting that filled the command center.

She raised one hand. Mana flowed through her hand as she focused on her power.

The pools of blood on the floor trembled, then lifted into the air. The liquid shaped itself into dozens of sharp spears.

The blood hardened, gaining strength and form. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the spears forward.

They pierced the first line of monsters. The humanoid creatures screamed as the blood spears impaled them.

Their bodies fell to the ground. More creatures pushed forward from behind. She formed more spears from the fresh blood.

The facility halls filled with the sounds of combat as she continued her attack. The monsters kept coming, but her blood weapons found their marks.

"Hold the eastern entrance."

Although the battle had begun just twenty minutes ago, every second felt like hours to Vania, who felt drained.

Her forces had gained and lost ground multiple times, and the enemy pushed them back just as they seemed close to securing their position.

The blackguards had almost secured the command center three times, but every time they got close to taking control of the room, it got snatched away as new waves of creatures came from vents or doors they just secured.

It was endless.

Keeping control of this place was important—it housed the facility's central communications, security protocols, and, most importantly, the ability to start some emergency containment procedures. Though, it was also necessary to take some of the data stored in this building.

With each failed attempt to secure this place, more blackguards and monsters fell, their blood joining the growing pools that Vania would later turn into weapons.

The last major push had come just minutes ago, when her forces had sealed all but one entrance. They'd almost established a proper defensive formation, but then the creatures burst in again.

Her elite guards, her Vindicators, were the most effective of her troops in this giant mess.

They were the ones who made most of the defensive perimeters during the fight and were at the forefront around the last remaining access point to the command center.

Bodies littered the floor—blackguards who had given their lives defending the facility, scientists caught in the crossfire, and the strange worm-like beings that had infiltrated their home.

Vania focused. The blood of fallen soldiers lifted from the ground and formed a blade.

It cut through the invaders, their bodies dropping to the floor.

More creatures rushed toward her. She used the blood from her soldiers as weapons, refusing to let their deaths mean nothing.

Each drop became another tool in her arsenal. The enemy's own blood joined her collection as she killed more of them.

She turned their strength against them, using the crimson liquid to slice, pierce, and destroy all who threatened her position.

"Commander, Section C has fallen," an Enforcerer said through her communications device. "The creatures breached the secondary barricades."

Vania didn't change her expression. "What about the research wing?"

"Compromised. They're targeting the laboratories. It seems they know what they're looking for."

The situation was worsening with every moment passing. That wasn't all, though. While having soldiers was certainly important, killing their scientists and destroying their research meant the blackguards would have no way to recuperate if this attack was not repelled.

Of course, they did. Erik Romano was many things, but was never unprepared.

"Any word from Dr. Mercer?" Vania asked, deflecting a spike thrown by one of the creatures before responding with a whip of hardened blood that decapitated it.

Dr. Mercer had left the facility earlier and maintained contact throughout the crisis.

However, a few minutes ago, they lost contact with the woman.

"Last report placed her in Sublevel 2, moving toward the evacuation point with an escort of six Sentinels."

Vania nodded. She hoped Lena would make it out. The doctor's research was crucial—more important than the facility itself—and she was even more important than her own research. If Romano captured her, years of work would fall into his hands.

At that point, Vania wondered if Erik would use the technology at all. He had the biological supercomputer, after all; there was nothing that their research could do that the infernal thing they tried to recuperate and to emulate couldn't.

However, while he himself didn't need it, it was clear that Becker did, and given how close their relationship was, if Erik didn't get his hands on this, he would give it to Becker.

<Mother fuckers…>

Centuries of research, groundbreaking discoveries, and technological advances—all at risk because of a kid who didn't understand the weight of what he was destroying.

Vania's jaw clenched as she thought about it.

The irony was that Erik was doing all of this by using one of their own technologies, but the only one they hadn't been able to recreate.

"Hundred years of sacrifices, breakthroughs, and careful advancement—and this child thinks he can tear it down?" The surrounding blood rippled in response to her emotions.

Then a massive explosion shook the building, causing ceiling panels to crash down around them. Dust filled the air as support beams groaned under stress.

"What was that?" Vania asked, steadying herself against a console.

One of her soldiers was receiving updates. "The Western wing is gone," he said.

Tactical. Methodical. The creatures might be the weapons, but Erik Romano was the hand that wielded them. The problem was that the hand belonged to a monster, at least from their point of view. Not only because he was monstrously powerful, but even because his actions weren't actually better than theirs.

She reached into her pocket and touched the small vial Dr. Mercer gave her earlier.

After working with many test medicines before, Vania knew this one was special—much stronger than the usual serums she gave to the rest of the blackguards, but an untested one.

Until now, she hadn't wanted to think about using it. But as things got worse, the thought of using the vial weighed more heavily on her mind.