The dust had barely settled when the orders came.
Nam sat inside the mobile command center, the glow of monitors casting sharp shadows across his face. Squad Alpha was assembled around him, tension thick in the air. Above them, the Shard floated silently inside its containment field, emitting a soft, almost reassuring pulse.
Commander Hart's voice crackled over the secured comms.
"Nam, Squad Alpha—you're being reassigned immediately. New mission. New priority."
Lan raised an eyebrow. "Reassigned? We just got out of hell. What's so urgent?"
Commander Hart didn't waste time. A new screen flashed to life, showing a distant installation buried deep within a mountain range—Site Epsilon.
"Two hours ago, Site Epsilon went dark. It's a classified research facility where we were studying other recovered artifacts... similar to your Shard."
Nam leaned forward. "You think the Voidborn found it?"
Hart's expression was grim.
"We don't think. We know."
Images flooded the screens: security feeds showing flickers of movement—shadows without form—creeping through the corridors of Site Epsilon. Staff members screaming before the feeds went black.
"If they capture the artifacts there," Hart said, "they could awaken something even worse than what you faced. Nam, you're not just Alpha Squad's field leader anymore. You're humanity's first Beacon. You and your team are the only chance we've got."
The weight of the title pressed down on Nam once more. He exchanged a glance with Lan, who gave a nod as if saying, We're with you.
He stood up.
"I'll do it," Nam said firmly. "We'll do it."
Commander Hart's voice softened slightly.
"Good. Your transport leaves in fifteen minutes. Gear up. Move fast."
The line went dead.
Inside the armory, Squad Alpha prepared.
Lan adjusted the settings on her plasma rifle, checking and rechecking. Minh, their tech specialist, packed extra energy cells and hacking tools. Bao, their heavy gunner, loaded experimental rounds designed to disrupt void energy.
Nam approached the weapon racks and paused. Something pulled at him—not physically, but through the Shard's connection. His gaze fell on a sleek, silver gauntlet sealed inside a containment box.
Minh noticed. "That's new. Straight from Research Division. They said it's designed to amplify Shard resonance."
Nam reached out.
As soon as he touched the gauntlet, the Shard pulsed brighter. The gauntlet's surface shifted, wrapping around his forearm, merging with his armor like it was always meant to be there.
Information flooded his mind—how to activate it, how to channel the Shard's energy through it, how to wield light as a weapon.
Lan whistled. "Guess it likes you."
Nam smirked. "Let's hope that's mutual."
Fifteen minutes later, their dropship roared into the stormy skies, cutting through lightning and turbulence toward Site Epsilon.
As they approached the mountainous region, the Shard pulsed urgently.
Lan tightened her harness. "That doesn't sound good."
Nam closed his eyes, letting the Shard's instinct guide him.
"They're waiting for us," he said grimly. "And they're not alone."
Through the clouds, Site Epsilon came into view—its once-hidden entrances blown wide open, black tendrils of void energy oozing out like living shadows.
Bao cocked his rifle. "Guess we're kicking the hornet's nest."
Nam stood up, energy crackling faintly around his gauntlet.
His voice was steady as steel.
"Then let's make sure we burn it to the ground."
The dropship banked hard, descending into the heart of darkness.
The war for humanity's survival had truly begun.