The blast door shuddered, metal scraping against metal as ancient hydraulics came alive for the first time in years.
Dust rained from the ceiling, mixing with the cold air that poured out from the dark beyond. It wasn't just cold—it was sterile, sharp, and wrong. Like air that hadn't touched the outside world in a long, long time.
The survivors stood frozen, weapons half-raised, as the door slowly lifted into the ceiling with a heavy clang. The green light on the scanner turned white.
B3 was open.
Riku took point, flashlight raised. "Stay tight," he said, voice steady. "Eyes sharp. No sudden movements."
Suzune followed just behind, rifle braced against her shoulder. Miko, Ichika, and the two soldiers flanked them, forming a wedge. Their footsteps echoed down the metallic ramp as they stepped into the lower level.
The temperature dropped fast. Breath misted in the air.
Suzune's voice came low. "Feels like a freezer down here."
"It might be," Riku said.
