Morning came early, the warm glow of dawn peeking through the hotel curtains. The muffled sounds of movement echoed faintly as the team prepared for the day. Suits were donned, ties adjusted, and weapons checked. The air was tense yet purposeful—today wasn't going to be routine.
By the time Nel and Deya descended the stairs, they found Amir and me already in action. In the open courtyard behind the hotel, Amir was firing bursts of non-lethal rounds, his movements sharp and controlled, while I weaved through the onslaught, sword in hand. With every shot, I deflected or dodged, my blade glowing faintly with the subtle hum of my domain. Zach sat nearby, cross-legged on the ground, his cufflinks shimmering as he meditated. The air around him rippled faintly, a telltale sign of his essence control at work.
Deya leaned against the doorframe, a smirk tugging at her lips. "You guys really don't stop, do you? It's barely morning, and you're already out here trying to kill each other."
Amir spun his pistol dramatically, reloading mid-motion. "Not kill, Deya. Train. There's a difference." His grin widened. "Plus, you never know what kind of day we're walking into."
Nel's sharp eyes scanned the scene, her tone cool but impressed. "Using the unstable essence in the area as a training tool. Resourceful… or insane. Maybe both."
"They're not wrong, though," Deya added, nodding toward Zach's meditating form. "That kind of commitment is borderline scary."
"Scary gets results," I said, parrying another round before flicking my blade toward Amir in a mock attack, which he narrowly dodged. "And results keep us alive."
Zach stood gracefully, brushing dust off his suit jacket as he ended his meditation. "Everyone's got their way of preparing. Let's make sure it counts."
The team regrouped and soon piled into a sleek black SUV waiting outside the hotel. The ride to the clan site started in quiet anticipation, the hum of the road filling the silence as everyone mentally prepared.
As we neared our destination, I turned in my seat to face the team, my voice steady and authoritative. "Here's the plan: We stick together—no splitting up, no solo heroics. Amir, you focus on covering our backs and finding a high vantage point if things go south. Zach, you're our front-line support. Nel, you're the heavy hitter. Deya, stay close to me; your instincts are sharp, and I'll need them. If anything feels off, we adapt quickly. No one breaks formation unless I say so."
Nel gave a nod of approval, her tone serious. "Solid plan. Keep everyone sharp and focused."
The SUV rolled to a stop in front of the clan's estate, a sprawling property with towering gates and intricate carvings faintly pulsing with essence energy. But the moment we stepped out of the car, the air shifted—thicker, heavier, wrong.
The clan members were waiting for us, lined up near the entrance as expected. At first glance, everything seemed normal, but their movements were slightly off—stiff, almost mechanical. Their expressions were void, eyes dull as if a light had been extinguished.
Nel's voice was low but urgent. "Something's wrong. These people… they're not acting normal."
Before I could respond, one of the members suddenly lunged, a knife gleaming in their hand. I reacted instinctively, drawing my sword and disarming them with a swift motion. That's when I saw it—faintly glowing eyes, corrupted with unstable essence.
"They're essence zombies!" Nel shouted, her weapon drawn. "Everyone, battle mode now!"
The courtyard erupted into chaos as the corrupted clan members attacked in waves. Their movements were erratic yet unnaturally strong, the corrupted essence fueling them like puppets on strings.
Amir found cover, taking precise shots to disable attackers from a distance. Zach's domain flared subtly, his movements deliberate but slower than usual as he maintained focus. Deya stuck close to me, her strikes sharp and precise as we moved in perfect sync, weaving through the chaos. Nel stayed on the perimeter, her blows devastating as she cut through the corrupted essence with precision.
Despite their numbers, the battle didn't last long. Our teamwork and training paid off, each of us playing our roles flawlessly. As the last corrupted figure fell, the group regrouped in the center of the courtyard, breathing heavily but unharmed.
"What the hell were those things?" Amir asked, lowering his weapon but keeping his guard up.
"Essence zombies," Deya said, her tone grim. "They feed on the essence of living beings. Unlike the zombies you see in movies, they're usually calculated, precise. Most people can't even tell them apart from normal humans."
"These were different," Zach added, his brow furrowed. "Blind, hungry, almost feral. Like they haven't fed on essence in years."
Nel's sharp eyes scanned the fallen bodies, her tone wary. "Which is strange. I can guarantee yesterday, these people were… human."
My grip on my sword tightened as I nodded. "We need to report this immediately. The Organization and Fortune Clan need to know about this corruption—whatever caused it, it's not natural."