Kai had delayed Nyx's schedule. Had things gone smoothly, he would have easily captured the Phaser and left the facility along with Kai's corpse. But rather than frustration, he found himself... entertained.
Variables.
They disrupted his carefully laid plans. But Nyx always remained multiple steps ahead with contingencies in place. So what was the harm in a few unpredictable elements? If anything, it only made the game more fun.
That being said, nothing could stop or delay the explosives he rigged throughout the facility.
He pressed two fingers against his earpiece. "Head to the evacuation point now."
Elsewhere, Irina and her mutant guard squad heard his order in their earpieces. They were among the few subordinates Nyx truly valued.
Her ear twitched at the command. "But sir, we still haven't subdued the-"
"Immediately, Irina."
Ironically, the coldness in his voice made her freeze.
"Don't make me have to..."
He didn't even have to finish. The message was clear.
She clicked her tongue, glaring at Nadya with undisguised frustration.
"Tch."
With no time to waste, she made her decision.
"We're done here."
A wave of ice erupted from her palms as she sprung back, ready to withdraw. Nadya was caught off guard and blasted off her feet by the sudden impact.
"Hey! This isn't over!" Nadya's voice rang out, hoarse yet defiant.
"Yes, it is." With a flick of her wrist, Irina created a thick wall of ice between them.
Nadya sprung up and gritted her teeth, summoning her energy to conjure explosive orbs.
But only fumes came from her palms.
Her vision blurred. Her muscles ached. The battle had drained her more than she realised.
The weak orbs fizzled out, exploding in her own hands and sending her staggering backwards.
She wasn't in the shape to keep going. Not anymore.
Had they continued... she knew it was only a matter of time before Irina took her down.
Meanwhile, across the battlefield, Takeshi observed the situation in silence. His katana gleamed in the dim light as he slowly sheathed it.
They were retreating.
Fighting an opponent who no longer wanted to fight was pointless, and he had no desire to slaughter them needlessly.
The mutants he was facing hesitated before finally turning their backs and sprinting after Irina. They were both amazed and confused by their opponent, who they were unable to land a single successful attack on, but they focused on keeping up with their leader.
She moved swiftly, but even as she ran, emotions flickered across her face. Frustration. Relief. Confliction.
'Until next time Nadya...'
-
Back at the ruined lab, Nyx prepared to leave.
His movements were calm, unhurried - as if the entire facility wasn't moments away from turning into a smouldering crater.
He cast a glance at his 'wife' - the twisted abomination sculpted in her semblance - then at the mangled bodies of his so-called children.
His lips curled downward in disappointment.
His twin monstrosities had shown fear and hesitation when facing Kai.
It was unacceptable.
They were supposed to be hollow. Obedient. Perfect.
Nyx exhaled through his nose.
'It's a minor setback,' he thought to himself before instructing the monster beside him to salvage the butchered remains of the twin monstrosities.
Kai had ripped them apart - limbs severed, torsos shredded, skulls cracked open like fragile eggshells.
And yet, somehow, they clung to life.
If they could even be called alive.
Nyx smirked, seeing their shattered remains twitching.
"Don't worry, my lovelies. I'll put you back together... and make you even stronger."
His voice was smooth, almost gentle.
But there was no tenderness in it.
Only a twisted, unnatural glee.
"Next time you meet that Bloodweaver..." His chuckle was low, dark. "I'll make sure you can capture him with ease."
The monster beside him began stuffing their broken bodies into a sack that she slung over her shoulder, silently awaiting further orders.
Meanwhile, Nyx was also scavenging in the lab. Earlier, it had been stripped of everything useful, but now it held something more valuable than he could have imagined.
Collecting as much of it as he could, his eyes flickered to the glowing screen on his left arm.
The countdown was ticking away.
Almost out of time.
He pointed ahead. "Make a path for me, darling."
The monster responded immediately, without hesitation.
Crash!
She punched through the nearest wall, tearing through steel and concrete like wet paper.
Then another.
And another.
Nyx followed casually, hands clasped behind his back, already adjusting his plans with an ominous smile.
His mind wasn't on the collapsing facility.
Or the bodies.
Or the destruction.
It was on Subject 357 - the Bloodweaver.
Nyx's grin deepened.
'I can't wait...'