Ayna had no idea if it was an illusion or not, yet the streamlined and grey corridors of the facility seemed far more ominous than before.

  Stormflash led the way, a shining light amid the eerie, cold, sleek facility, as he continuously battered endless waves of Automatrons with bolts of lightning.

  Ayna underestimated just how many of the machines were packed into the research facility, and knew that without Stormflash, her escape attempt would have a minimal chance of success.

  “Stay close. Guards are ahead.” Stormflash said with warning.

  Ayna nodded. She was unsure what she had done to earn his support; she knew from her memories that she had been relatively idle in the facility due to Dr Xavier's machinations.

  Apart from training, she had little interaction with Stormflash, yet now, instead of escaping himself, he brought a clear burden with him.

  Despite her recent gains, an F grade was weak in the grand scheme of things, even if she could defeat a low E grade; each of the machines attacking them was at that calibre or beyond, leaving her helpless.

  Ayna, following Stormflash, reached a secure, barricaded area.

  It was clearly a checkpoint of some sort in the facility, with more robust security measures.

  Numerous mounted turrets similar to the one she had seen at the entrance of the Enclave directed themselves at them.

  Portable solid-metal barricades lined every part of the sizable rectangular room, and energy shields were also present, as a mix of Automatrons and guards in gleaming silver armour stood in front of them, weapons fixed on them.

  Behind them was a thick steel door, in front of which stood a prominent figure dressed in heavy plated armour, the familiar Helixas Corporation symbol was in the centre of their chest as they said, “Stormflash! To defy Dr Xavier like this, do you have some death wish? You may still be redeemable if you surrender here and now, but I can't make any further promises if you resist.”

  Despite the presence of such resistance, a ruthless smile appeared on Stormflash's face as he said, “And you think you can stop me? Additionally, we both know there is no coming back from this, your promise is as empty as…”

  The turrets already began firing; heavy, high-calibre bullets came at them in deadly force, and the Automatron and Silver Armoured Guards also began firing condensed-energy projectiles and legions of bullets. Yet, despite the heavy fire, with a wave of his hand, Stormflash generated an electric field that absorbed the onslaught and fired back, sending waves of damage to the enemy.

  Stormflash caused explosions of machine parts and bursts of light as he launched violent streaks of electricity, leading to the collapse of energy shields as the force sent to stop them took heavy damage.

  It forced the prominent guard to act.

  The prominent guard in heavy armour wore an advanced exoskeleton that enhanced their strength and mobility. In one swift motion, they drew a large energy blade and charged towards them in a blur.

  Ayna already recognised the figure as a Helixas Corporation Elite Guardsman, an experienced D-grade combatant who may prove challenging even for Stormflash if they can get close.

  Despite the speed and dangerous movement of the Elite Guardsman, Stormflash was absurdly relaxed.

  “You knew this was a doomed endeavour, though I can't blame you; he has a way to make you run to your death…” Stormflash said with a flash of regret in his eyes.

  Ayna then saw it. She knew the difference between a C and a D grade was significant. Yet, the Elite Guardsman was a challenging D-grade enemy that Ayna knew most C-grade players would be unable to obliterate with the ease Stormflash managed, as in a flash, he sent a concentrated blast of lightning that created a hole right in the centre of their chest, killing them in an instant.

  A one-hit kill? Even with the grade advantage, Elite D-grade enemies in those armours are absolute tanks that your typical C-grade can't one-hit kill like that. Stormflash is seriously strong.

  Ayna couldn't help but eye Stormflash in sheer admiration. She had no idea how such a capable C-grade super ended up here. She knew his background couldn't be normal.

  She could only watch in awe as, despite the seemingly momentous resistance prepared, Stormflash slaughtered them one-sidedly.

  Ayna found that the original, pristine grey metal room was blackened by battle, with the turrets torn from the walls, and the original imposing Automatrons and the Silver-armoured Guards lay still on the floor haphazardly.

  Scatter pieces of broken armour and Automatron parts, pools of crimson blood made the original spotless, sterile room horrifying, it was carnage.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Despite the apparent ease with which Stormflash managed this, a hint of fatigue appeared on his face as he said, “We need to continue before they prepare more ample resistance. Please don't get too comfortable, they want to whittle me down, for the Viper hiding in the shadows, these were never meant to stop us, but are mere sacrifices.”

  “I understand,” Ayna replied. She realised she had become too caught up in Stormflash's display of might, that she got complacent, not realising there were two other Supers under Dr Xavier on the apparent level of Stormflash who had yet to appear.

  Viper in the shadows? Is he hinting?

  The image of the slimy, slick, green-haired young man entered her mind. He was sickly beautiful, yet she always felt uncomfortable in his presence as those inhuman, serpentine eyes gave her the creeps as he eyed her like a predator in their few interactions.

  It was then she realised that, despite the apparent ease Stormflash dealt with the opposition, it was taking a toll on him to deal with them this quickly, and she knew the Metahuman Viper was a very dangerous C-grade to fight in any state, never mind after this.

  She was interrupted in her thoughts as Stormflash said, “I will open these doors. We are close; we will cut through the facility and go to the nearest escape pods. We won't be able to make it to the hangar filled with shuttles, as it is far too fortified and is where they would expect us to go.”

  The blaring alarm in the facility continued as red luminescent lighting was displayed, signifying a lockdown and indicating the door was shut tight. Yet Stormflash was able to gradually tear his way through thick steel and get them through.

  Following him further, Ayna found themselves going through two other checkpoints of a similar fortification until Stormflash waved his hand as he said, “Stop. We are near; these are emergency escape pods, well hidden. During the chaos, we should be able to slip out…”

  It was then that Ayna felt her head go slightly fuzzy as an urgent alert sounded from the interface.

  You have been affected by the effects of Poisonous Mist, and your body begins to build a tolerance to gain the general skill [Poison Resistance].

  Progress rate: 11%

  The progress rate was climbing rapidly, and Ayna knew right away what it signified.

  “Poiso…” Ayna whimpered weakly as she felt herself slacken, yet before she could lose consciousness, she felt a firm, strong hand grasp her shoulder as a warm, powerful current of energy filled her body, seeming to clear the effects of the poison instantly.

  Stormflash's eyes hardened as he said, “Come on out, Viper! Or can you only hide? This is an opportunity to prove your boasts of being the strongest; you prove nothing by picking on someone far weaker than you.”

  Ayna felt her eyes water as she came back from the effects of the unseen poison; her eyes searched around warily, finding nothing but the various advanced panels and lights on the walls.

  They passed through a few portions of the facility, reaching areas she had not explored.

  Ayna thought Stormflash would appear paranoid if she were not clearly affected by poison, as she could not detect Viper at all until a mad cackle was heard as a green mist appeared, forming the outline of a young man with an arrogant smile.

  “I waited a long time for this! I didn't even need a reason to come to kill you.” Viper said with a look of sheer bloodlust.

  “Don’t involve the girl then. Why not let us fight it out once and for all? Let her leave, she is too weak for this.” Stormflash replied.

  Viper seemed to consider it until his eyes turned black, an eerie imitation of Dr Xavier occurred, as they heard his voice through Viper's mouth, “You think you can demand terms, traitor? Steal my property and run away with it? I didn't draw out that fiery harlot death long enough!”

  At that point, Ayna suddenly felt another notification from the system.

  Your body has slightly adapted to the effects of Poisonous Mist; you have become somewhat resistant to it, and you have gained the general skill [Poison Resistance]

  She instantly felt her head lighten and felt a bit better. Stormflash seemed to remove the fog on her mind again as he eyed Viper, “She is not property, you egomaniac! You slaughtered her entire family and replicated her genes for what? To repeat some failed experiment that led to calamity after calamity! I jumped at the first opportunity the Federation gave me to ruin you!”

  Slaughtered her family? Replicated her genes? Stormflash clearly knew something about the origins of this body.

  Viper laughed like a hyena as his eyes remained black as he said, “You think that tool they gave you can resist me? I can…”

  At that time, Viper seemed to shudder as his eyes abruptly shifted back.

  Stormflash instantly seemed to catch on as he said, “Looks like he is occupied. Ayna, I want you to run that way and don't look back, listen, the Escape Pods are not far down there, I will hold Viper back, but you need to leave now, this place won't last now that monster is here.”

  Ayna nodded, yet Viper seemed not satisfied with that arrangement.

  “I would love to battle it out with you, but I'm afraid the boss gave me orders! You think I will let you…” Viper was interrupted by a blast of lightning that struck him square in the face; shockingly, his face turned into a mist-like gas that swiftly reformed, taking on an expression of anger.

  Ayna already readied herself to flee as she felt lifted in the air by a wave of Stormflash hand as she zoomed to the corridor across that Stormflash intended her to go through.

  She began to run down it, as the last sight she had was Stormflash protectively blocking the way, as rampant bursts of lightning were deflecting and repelling the constant emergence of a thick green mist that the shapes of myriads of things were corrosively battering at him endlessly.

  Come on, you can make it.

  They had discussed beforehand that he would meet her afterwards; he could not protect her and go all out against someone like Viper, so she had to get out of the crossfire.

  She could only hope he could beat him, as she turned around the corner and headed to where she was instructed.

  Soon, she will find the escape pods, and they can get out of this horrid place.

  So close, yet before she could make it, she heard the heavy thudding steps of something big coming towards her.

  As she turned around, she swiftly found herself hoisted in the air by an impossibly large hand like she was a child, as the beautiful Amazonian face of Earthbreaker regarded her, “Now, where do you think you are going?”

  Ayna could only think, seriously? How am I going to get out of this?