Arden moved like a shadow, his blade slicing through the dim red glow of the laboratory. The air was thick with the metallic scent of scorched circuits and the lingering sting of ozone from the experiment’s unstable energy.

  The experiment froze mid-strike, its glowing red eyes flickering in confusion as something sharp and deadly pressed against its throat.

  “You’re not dying here,” Arden said coldly. His grip on the sword was steady, effortless—as if he'd done this a thousand times before. But his eyes held something else—a sharp intensity, a calculation beneath the cool exterior.

  Greg coughed, wincing as he tried to push himself up. “Oh great, a mysterious swordsman. That’s new.”

  Tempo groaned, rubbing his head. “Did anyone catch the part where we got completely wrecked?”

  Cora’s breath caught in her throat as she stared at Arden. He had appeared out of nowhere, his presence commanding yet unreadable. The experiment that had just overpowered all of them… had stopped.

  Greg’s eyes sharpened, scanning the newcomer. He moves like a pro… but there's something off. “Who the hell are you?”

  Arden didn’t look at him. His attention remained locked on the experiment, watching for even the slightest twitch. “Later. Right now, focus on breathing.”

  Greg scoffed, forcing a weak smirk. “Breathing’s not the problem. Standing, on the other hand—” He winced as pain shot through his ribs. Definitely cracked.

  Tempo managed to get to his feet, albeit unsteadily. “Dude, I don’t know who you are, but if you’re here to help, I love you.”

  The experiment let out a distorted growl, its cybernetic joints grinding as unstable energy surged through its body. The scent of burnt metal filled the air.

  Then, it moved again.

  Fast.

  Arden anticipated it instantly. He shifted his stance, twisting his blade with surgical precision. In a blur of motion, his sword sliced through the experiment’s arm, severing a cybernetic joint.

  The experiment reeled back, the damaged limb sparking violently.

  Arden didn’t hesitate. He pressed forward, his next strike aiming directly for its core—but his jaw clenched slightly, a flicker of exertion barely visible.

  Inside the control room, Sylvia’s expression remained unreadable as she watched the new development unfold. The hum of the monitors was the only sound, yet inside her mind, calculations ran at breakneck speed.

  Arden’s arrival was unexpected.

  She had planned for Greg and the others. She had calculated their every movement, predicted their likely responses. But this…

  Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the terminal. Who was this swordsman?

  The way he fought—precise, efficient, deadly.

  Not just skilled. Trained. Conditioned. Purposeful.

  Her gaze flickered toward one of the classified Syndicate files displayed on the monitor. A file she had skimmed over earlier but never fully processed.

  This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

  An ex-detective… turned rogue.

  Her lips curled slightly. Interesting.

  Arden dodged a counterattack, weaving around the experiment’s wild swings with a calm efficiency that felt almost unnatural—but not effortless. A subtle shift in his breathing betrayed the energy he was expending.

  Greg, still recovering, watched in disbelief. He’s fast. Too fast. But that movement—there was a sharpness, yes, but also a weariness underneath.

  Tempo staggered up beside him. “Dude… this guy’s actually winning.”

  Cora, typing rapidly on her tablet, barely managed to respond. “It’s not just skill. His sword—” She zoomed in on a scan of Arden’s weapon. “—he’s manipulating it at will.”

  Greg blinked. “Wait, he’s summoning his weapons mid-fight?”

  Before Cora could answer, Arden switched weapons in an instant. His sword dissolved into light, replaced by a battle axe that materialized mid-swing.

  The experiment tried to dodge—but it wasn’t fast enough.

  Arden’s axe cleaved straight into its side, sending it crashing into the steel wall. The impact left a massive dent, the sound reverberating through the lab.

  Greg let out a low whistle. “Well damn. That’s one way to handle it.”

  Tempo was still staring in awe. “That. Was. SICK.”

  But Arden wasn’t celebrating. His focus remained locked onto the experiment, which was still twitching.

  It wasn’t down yet.

  The creature let out a glitched snarl, its body shifting violently as the unstable energy inside it surged out of control. The air crackled with raw power.

  Cora’s eyes widened. “Wait, it’s—”

  She barely had time to shout a warning before the experiment’s body erupted in a massive energy pulse, sending out a shockwave that ripped through the lab.

  The team was flung backward, metal and debris clattering around them.

  Tempo groaned, pulling himself from the wreckage of a destroyed console. “Okay, nope. Not fun. Not fun at all.”

  Greg, still on the ground, looked at Arden. “You got a plan, or are we winging it?”

  Arden’s voice was calm. Too calm. But beneath it—control, not indifference.

  “It’s unstable,” he said. “One last strike, and it’s done.”

  Greg raised an eyebrow. “You say that like it’s easy.”

  Arden’s gaze didn’t waver.

  Then, he moved.

  Faster than before.

  His axe vanished mid-motion, replaced by a lance glowing with an ethereal energy.

  In a single, fluid movement, he closed the distance between himself and the experiment—

  —and drove the lance straight through its core.

  The experiment let out a choked screech. Its body spasmed violently.

  Then—silence.

  It collapsed, the energy in its body fizzling out into nothingness.

  The lab went still.

  From the control room, Sylvia watched the screen go dark.

  The experiment had failed. But the data had been collected.

  More importantly…

  Cora had survived.

  Sylvia leaned back in her chair, fingers interlocked as she processed the results. They were stronger than expected.

  And now, there was a new player in the mix.

  Arden.

  Her smirk returned.

  “This just got a lot more interesting,” she murmured.

  Then, she reached for the next phase of the experiment.

  A sealed file.

  One marked Project Revenant.

  She tapped the screen.

  And deep within the facility, something else stirred.

  felt strong without overshadowing the team—he’s skilled, but he’s not untouchable. His ability to summon and master weapons makes him a unique addition to the dynamic, and I’m excited to explore his backstory soon!

  really got pushed to their limits here, and this marks a major turning point for them. They’re realizing that just raw power isn’t enough—they need strategy, teamwork, and a plan moving forward. That’ll be a key theme in the coming chapters!

  Sylvia was watching the whole time. She’s playing the long game, and the introduction of Project Revenant means we’re only scratching the surface of what the Syndicate is truly up to. ??

  Project Revenant is really about? ??

  Next Chapter: The fallout, the next move, and the beginning of something even bigger.