The lull was deceptive, a tightening coil of silence before the inevitable strike. Outside the precariously barricaded control room door, the Rust Phantoms were regrouping. Kai could hear their harsh whispers, the clatter of scavenged weapons, the occasional frustrated roar. His Anima Core Stability was at 62%, the Dermal Plating manifestation during the first breach having taken its toll. The "Anima Channeling Efficiency" skill was helping, but the underlying hunger was a cold knot in his gut.
"They're massing for a rush, just as Roric predicted," Zip breathed from the window slit, his multifaceted Dragonfly eyes scanning the torch-lit chaos of the main chamber. "Looks like that big one I saw earlier, their alpha dog, is rallying them. He's got a nasty-looking piece of sharpened rebar."
"Roric, Shift, can you give us a more precise count on the assault wave?" Kai asked into the comm, his gaze fixed on the straining barricade.
"Estimating twelve to fifteen hostiles directly engaging your position, Kai," Roric's voice came back, as cool and steady as if he were discussing a theoretical exercise. "Shift confirms their comms are still down, but their alpha is using brute intimidation to organize them. They're angry and spooked. Expect a reckless, sustained assault. Your primary objective remains: hold the control room. Break their will to fight. This is where The Crimson Coil makes its stand."
Kai glanced at Breaker, who was a bulwark of stone-faced resolve before the door, his Gorgon Anima causing patches of his exposed skin to ripple with that unsettling petrified texture. Even in its D-Grade state, it lent him an air of immovable solidity.
"Breaker, that door is our only shield," Kai said. "If they get through, we're fighting in a kill box." Breaker grunted. "They won't get through easy." His knuckles were white where he gripped the metal strut reinforcing the door.
The assault came with a savage roar. The makeshift barricade shuddered violently as multiple bodies slammed against it. Sharpened pipes and rebar began to probe through the gaps, forcing Kai and Breaker back momentarily.
"They're using pry bars on the hinges!" Zip yelled, his voice tight with alarm. "Kai, Breaker, focus fire on any limbs or weapons that breach the doorway," Roric instructed calmly from his overwatch. "Don't let them gain purchase. Zip, any chance of another disorientation pulse if they create a significant opening?"
"Anima's too low, Roric!" Zip lamented. "I'm at maybe 10% reserve. One more weak pulse is all I've got." "Save it for a critical moment then, Zip," Roric commanded. "Kai, it's on you and Breaker to be the wall."
Kai felt a surge of adrenaline, mixed with a grim acceptance. Roric was right. This was their crucible. He activated his Dermal Plating again, the familiar dark scales flowing over his forearms and, this time, with more conscious effort, extending partially up his biceps and across his shoulders. The System pinged: [Dermal Plating (Enhanced Coverage – Partial Torso/Arms) Active. Anima Core Stability: 55%.] The drain was significant.
A sharpened piece of rebar, wielded by one of the Phantoms, punched through a weakened section of the door near the top. Kai's scaled fist shot out, deflecting the crude spear with a shower of sparks, then his other hand shot through the gap, grabbing the Phantom's wrist. With a surge of his Strength (18), he yanked, pulling the screaming Scavenger half-way through the opening, then slammed him headfirst into the doorframe. The Phantom went limp. [Hostile Neutralized. EXP +5.]
But more were pushing, their desperation fueled by their leader's roars from behind them. The door groaned, buckled further. "They're breaking through the bottom!" Breaker bellowed, stomping hard on a hand that tried to snake under the door. His Gorgon Anima flared, and the section of floor he stomped on seemed to momentarily shimmer with a stony resilience, crushing the offending limb with a sickening crunch. [Breaker – Gorgon Anima: Kinetic Rebound (Minor – Localized Impact) successful. Hostile limb compromised.]
"Kai, the alpha is pushing to the front of their assault," Shift's voice cut in, a new urgency in her tone. "He's a big brute, unarmored but wielding that rebar like a spear. He's their rallying point."
"If we take him down, they might break," Kai realized, the tactical implication clear. He looked at the rapidly deteriorating door. They couldn't hold out indefinitely just by plugging holes. This was the moment Roric had spoken of – breaking their will.
"Roric, I'm going to try and neutralize their alpha," Kai stated into the comm, a plan forming, a desperate gamble. "A high-risk maneuver, Kai," Roric's voice was still calm, but Kai could detect a new level of attentiveness. "If you expose yourself, and fail, they'll flood the room. What's your approach?"
"Breaker," Kai yelled over the din. "On my signal, I need you to create the biggest, most violent opening you can at the center of that door, then immediately defend that gap. Don't let anyone but their alpha through if you can help it. Zip, if their alpha gets inside, and only then, hit him with whatever you've got left in your Anima. Disorient him, even for a second."
"You got it, Leader!" Zip affirmed, his voice tight. Breaker just grunted, a savage light in his eyes.
"Roric, Shift, be ready for anything," Kai said. He took a deep breath, focusing his remaining Anima. This was it. "Signal when ready, Kai," Roric replied. "We're observing."
Kai locked eyes with Breaker. "Now, Breaker! Rip it open!" With a deafening roar, Breaker unleashed the full, albeit still D-Grade, force of his Gorgon Anima. Instead of just defending, he slammed his stone-hardened shoulders and fists outwards into the already mangled door. Metal shrieked and tore as the central section of the barricade exploded outwards into the corridor, sending several surprised Phantoms sprawling.
A wide, jagged breach was created. And framed in it, roaring in fury, was the Rust Phantom alpha, a hulking figure brandishing his rebar spear. "Through here, you slugs!" the alpha bellowed at his crew.
"Just you," Kai snarled, stepping into the breach to meet him, his scaled forearms raised, the amber light in his draconic eyes blazing. The fate of Sub-Station Epsilon, and the first true test of The Crimson Coil's resolve, hung in the balance.