Caution! 6174

The roaring engines of the back-to-back APCs(Armoured Personnel Carriers) didn't hinder the screams and chaos of the outside from haunting the ones inside. Much to their dismay.

Seff, with his hands folded over his bullet-proof vested chest, looked at his newbie squad with strict eyes, his thoughts expressing regret, 'I shouldn't have brought them over. What was I thinking?'

The instant the Second Lieutenant spoke of the catastrophe. All the Lieutenants, First-Lieutenants, and Second-Lieutenants had been mobilized by the Major to handle the issue.

Currently, rows of APCs carrying squads consisting of 5 men under the leadership of a First Lieutenant were marching atop the wide road connected straight with the Martial Gate- The only gate of the border separating the humans from the freaks- from the Hybrids!

All of the Lieutenants were to heed the assigned Captain's orders. And Seff was doing just that from his earpiece. Though his attention had been stolen by the worry for these kids that he had piggybacked along.

On his departure, he had an inkling to test them. Asking them who would follow him to the battle, but much to his surprise, shattering his expectations, one of them raised his hand. His eyes drifted toward Rua, heavy creases formed on his face.

The car suddenly jolted, hurling the newbies around.

Rua got shoved to the seat in front, his face squeezed against the bullet-proof window. Blood trickled down from his nose, leaving a trail on the thick glass.

But he had more to engage him in the outside than fear of a broken nose. He had always heard from books how terrible the hybrids were, but in his young life, he knew the hybrids caused major damages but he never felt them to be... evil. He thought that the treatment incurred upon them for no reason had led to this.

But today, his beliefs had shaken, he had finally learnt what truly was... Evil!

Hybrids, unlike the Supernaturals, these beings had tremendous physical prowess. Majorly, around the type of beasts they had mutated into. And aside from physiques, their true terror laid in the control of a particular element.

Their manipulation extended to creating thorns, breathing underwater, developing wings, thermal vision, sonic booms and more according to the natural traits of the beast they had hybridized.

And he got to admire this firsthand. Balls of fire, bullets of water, and levitating rocks all blasted about at the innocent pedestrians and the shops and buildings.

The terrifying blasts of rocks destroyed the newly-constructed structures. Their chunks and debris fell atop the hybrids and humans alike, massacring the weak humans... whilst the hybrids dodged.

The major target of the collapsing buildings, the cars, instantly exploded into flames, exuding smoke that hindered vision and hung in the sky, screening the sun.

In front of Rua's eyes, a Hybrid plunged his sharp claws into the skull of a woman. The blood gushed out like a fountain, dripping down on the bloodied street, rippling the already splashing blood under the rampant feet of the killers.

His eyes drifted to another direction, just in time to glimpse a giant hand surrounding a young girl's head, whom Rua took to be seven, 'No, no!!" and without mercy, crushed it.

His futile screams couldn't even escape his tight lips. What could they do to divert a calamity?

The innocent blood of the girl casually mingled with the dirt, as if unrolling a bright red carpet in welcoming of the freaks trampling over.

His hands propelling him up slipped, smacking his head on the cold, hard iron floor. Bells chimed in his head, plastering a deep crevice atop his forehead.

'No! No!! The hell is this? Mom... Dad! What will become of them? What's going to happen to them?' His parental residence was right in between this area termed dead-zone and the bustling hub of the city - the next part of the city, connecting with the dead zone.

Seff's eyes flickered, his ears reverting their capabilities to the earpiece.

Heeding the command from the Captain, he glanced at the shaken-up five and ordered, "The upperwing— Tch! The cars are to be aligned horizontally to block the street. The personnel in the front are going to push those freaks behind. While we, the ones at the end are to eliminate any which makes it past or are already past the car's barricade."

The five newbies trembled in their boots. The girl's palms sweated under the unrelenting grip of her automatic pistol, her gaze lowered, 'Why are we even involved in this?' Her eyes shifted to Rua, her teeth bit into her lips in indignation, 'It's because of him, all because of him. You scumbag, if you wanted to die, why involve us?'

The other three had similar thoughts, each cursing and berating him in their style.

"PICK YOURSELVES TOGETHER! WE ARE ABOUT TO DISEMBARK!" Seff roared at the five. His eyes were eerily chilled.

Just as he spoke, the car drifted sharply. Aligning perfectly with the barricade and sealing the area shut.

The gates jutted out, nearly giving the five newbies a heart attack.

'Shit! Why do we have to do this?' The girl grimaced bitterly.

Seff looked at them all for a second before sighing and issuing his next orders, "Move through the alleys and make your way to the Lab. Once you reach inside, you would be safe from hybrids, they don't discard the Lab's policy. Not easily."

The group of five glanced at him in surprise. They knew the Lab and its rules. They knew what he said was the truth. But... why would he do that?

"Don't get me wrong. You are to guard the lab's gate. That, if some Hybrid, in its stupidity, dares breaks through its gate, you are to exterminate it at the cost of your life. Understood!?" Seff's gaze turned icy.

The five gulped and nodded. "Understood!"

Nodding, Seff jumped outside, leaving the five his parting words, "You are an exception here. Get a taste of blood, get a taste of screams, get a taste of victory, and get a taste of death! Because... That's the kind of world you have made your home!"

His eyes flickered, a pattern appeared in them, his whole body oozed off a powerful blue aura and in the next second, he suddenly vanished.

Rua, glancing at where he vanished, suddenly saw the alley he had been blocking from sight.

"T-The... The Lab's located near the Martial Gate. It's probably past these vehicles' barricades. More in the center of the chaos. Can we even reach it alive?" The girl frowned.

"That's why... he said we should proceed through the alleys. There must be a connected path from behind the buildings." The middle-aged man responded.

"But we don't know... do we? The path from behind?" The shy-looking dude finally spoke up, his fingers fidgeting nervously.

"Umm... I know!" The teen raised his hand, albeit nervously. "I live around here. I know the path behind the buildings well." He scratched his head awkwardly.

"Then... it seems we should proceed. Staying here is only going to draw death." Rua exasperated. He was concerned for his parents. But if the Hybrids could be stopped and dealt with here. The danger wouldn't even reach them.

"H-Hey! We should at least know each other's names. No?" The girl stepped up and took the lead, "I'm Mika. Pleasure to meet you."

"I guess I will be the part-time leader, no? Since I will be leading the way I mean. I am Cikus." The teen ruffled his hair cheekily.

"Rua!" Rua glanced into the alley.

"I-I am Duth." The shy guy looked away hesitantly.

The middle-aged man folded his arms, "Srid."

"Let us get going. Cikus, lead the way."

The five stepped outside all at once and instantly dashed into the alley. None had the guts to glance around. All of them just focused on the path forward, the thick scent of animal poop and trash felt like paradise compared to the odor of blood.

Their steps echoed in the tight alley walls. One turn after the other. They scaled a few walls with ease and more with difficulty until finally, Cikus's pace slowed down and so did that of the ones behind him.

"What's up?" Mika questioned.

"We... are close." He gulped and pointed forward, he could already hear terrifying and unrecognizable sounds of battle coming from ahead.

"Do you know exactly how far and on which side the Lab is at?" Srid inquired.

Cikus nodded, "It's not that far... but on the other side."

The group's faces darkened. Just crossing to the other side was a large distance to cover.

Mika's face squeezed up, "That's not pleasant to hear."

"Ahaha!" Cikus laughed dryly, "I think so too."

"I don't believe a strategy would work... Not gainst their powers." Duth voiced out his opinions hesitantly. "All we can do is bet that no stray hybrid comes here... and we live. Or we make a run for the Lab and strive for a surefire chance of survival."

Rua grinned, not from excitement, but from despair, 'Death here or death there. Choose one.' He kinda found it familiar to when he had to choose between whether to Proceed or Retreat situation.

Now it was Proceed... or Stay.

"Let's make a run for the Lab." Rua gazed firmly into Duth's eyes, "I at least want to die doing something... then wait here and just pray for my survival. Whose chance I know well is meager."

Cikus chuckled, "I have the same opinion."

Duth flashed a timid smile, "I also believe that to be better."

The trio gazed at the other two, receiving a carefree shrug from Srid and a helpless nod from Mika.

"Let's go!" Cikus gently closed in on the light peeking at them from the other side.

***

Seff, currently engaged with a Hybrid, suddenly received a strange update from his earpiece.

"This message is from Headquarters! Pay attention! Pay attention!! A Hybrid's awakening has been detected in the Lab. Be on the lookout. Be on the lookout."

Seff's face distorted, 'The heck?!'

The signal instantly changed, and the Captain's panicked voice transmitted through, '6174! It's 6174! Caution! 6174 has awakened!!'

Seff's face fell, his thoughts jolted, 'That- That one... has awakened? Now of all times? Why!?' His expression turned even grave, 'Shit! Those newbies are heading over to the Lab as well!' His teeth gritted together.

Seeing the Hybrid fighting him, his fists tightened, 'I have to head over!'