Immune to the parasite that destroyed the world

The facility loomed like a monstrous shadow, its broken windows and crumbling walls a testament to the chaos that had consumed it. What was once a place of sterile precision now lay in ruin, a decaying corpse of concrete and steel, the stench of death clinging to every corridor. Inside, Mikasa and Hondo moved through the dimly lit hallways, their weapons at the ready.

"This place gives me the creeps," Hondo muttered, adjusting the straps of his explosive vest. His eyes scanned every darkened corner, every flickering light. "Too many places for those things to hide."

Mikasa spun her staff, the weapon humming with energy as she pressed forward. Her eyes were sharp, calculating, always prepared for the next threat. "Stay focused. We clear this floor, then move to the next."

A distant growl rippled through the air, low and guttural, sending a shiver down Hondo's spine. Then came the sound of scraping claws against metal. A single infected stumbled into view, its purple veins pulsating, its head twitching unnaturally.

Then, as if responding to an unspoken call, a swarm of purple-infected emerged from the shadows, their glowing eyes locked onto the duo. Their mouths twisted into grotesque grins, dripping with thick saliva, their bodies convulsing with anticipation.

"Showtime," Hondo said with a grin, pulling a small device from his belt. He flicked a switch, then tossed it into the crowd.

BOOM.

The explosion lit up the corridor, the force sending chunks of concrete and charred flesh flying in every direction. The infected shrieked, some blown apart instantly, others writhing as their bodies burned.

Mikasa didn't hesitate. She launched forward, her staff a blur of motion. With each strike, the weapon sent out concussive blasts that shattered bones and sent infected reeling. She moved like a phantom, every step precise, every movement deadly.

Hondo reloaded his explosives, his fingers working quickly. "Try to keep up," Mikasa said, sparing him a glance as she twisted mid-air, bringing her staff down onto an infected's skull, splitting it open like a cracked melon.

"Oh, I'm keeping up," Hondo shot back. He pulled the pin on another explosive and lobbed it ahead. "But I've got a better idea."

Mikasa and Hondo burst onto the rooftop, the wind whipping around them. Below, the facility stretched out like a maze, its buildings cracked and decayed, the streets swarming with parasites. The sky overhead was thick with smoke, a crimson hue staining the clouds.

"Mikasa, jump," Hondo said suddenly, his tone serious.

She narrowed her eyes. "What?"

Hondo pointed to the long pipe running along the building, pumping gas into the lower levels. "I've rigged this place to blow. Trust me, you don't want to be here when it does."

Mikasa hesitated. She knew Hondo was reckless, but he wasn't stupid. If he said this place was about to go up, then it was about to go up.

The sound of approaching parasites made the decision for her. Without another word, she sprinted forward and leaped off the building. Her suit activated midair, a levitation device slowing her descent.

Hondo smirked as he watched her go. "Guess it's my turn."

He tossed his lighter over his shoulder.

The moment it hit the gas, the facility erupted in flames, the explosion roaring like an angry beast. Hondo jumped just in time, his own levitation device activating as the fireball consumed the rooftop behind him. The shockwave sent debris flying in all directions, the night sky illuminated by the fiery destruction.

In another part of the facility, Haruto and Namra moved cautiously through the ruins. The air was thick with smoke, the distant wails of the infected creating an unsettling backdrop to their mission. Namra's laser sword hummed in her grip, its vibrant glow slicing through the darkness. With each swing, she cut down another parasite, her movements precise, almost effortless.

Haruto, on the other hand, struggled to keep up. His shots went wide, his hands unsteady. He stumbled over debris, nearly losing his footing more than once.

Namra shot him a glare. "Why did they pair me with you?" she snapped, severing the head of an approaching infected. "You're more of a liability than a help."

Haruto winced but said nothing. He knew she was right.

As they neared a large building, swarming with parasites, Namra turned to him. "Cover me. And try not to screw it up."

She vanished inside. Haruto took a deep breath, steadying himself. But before he could react, the infected rushed the entrance, overwhelming him. His shots went wide again, and the parasites flooded the building.

Namra was trapped.

Sakura moved through the lower levels of the facility, her pistol gripped tightly in her hands. This was the place she had been dreading, the lab where she had been held, tortured, experimented on as a child.

The fluorescent lights above flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air was heavy with the scent of chemicals and decay. She pushed forward, every step bringing her closer to the memories she had tried so hard to bury.

She reached the lab's entrance, her heart pounding. Then a low growl froze her in place.

Slowly, she turned.

A monstrous figure emerged from the darkness. It was a grotesque fusion of a bear and human bodies, its skin slick with green slime that oozed from every joint. Its muscles bulged unnaturally, and its eyes burned with a malevolent light. The creature's breathing was ragged, heavy, filled with something almost like hatred.

Sakura raised her pistol, her fingers tightening around the trigger.

"This… this isn't possible," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The creature let out a guttural roar that shook the walls