Sprinting down the collapsed street, Reia, Akira and Lou entered the nest going straight for the core. As expected no mutants had appeared and so far it was rather quiet.
As they got closer to the middle, they started to hear signs of mutants. Coming out of the ceiling and ground mutants were reaching out while also growling.
"They seem to be more aware of what we are after." Lou pointed out they had come out a lot quicker suggesting that the mutants knew what their goal was.
"I should be able to get the core out without any issues, so let's hope there aren't too many." Reia, getting a better look at how the core was suspended in the air, saw a bunch of tendrils attached to it.
Now only a few metres away from the core, Akira and Lou started firing at the emerging mutants. Akira used his corruption since he noticed that it would also consume the slime on the ground and ceiling, so he let out a barrage of bullets trying to cover more area.
Lou had used her most flammable bullets to make sure everything was burning and creating a wall of fire to prevent more mutants from approaching. She had also used her heel pistols to get rid of the slime on the ground, setting it on fire to create a clear path for them.
Now being right next to the core, Reia pulled out her sword and infused it with her essence. Making sure her lighting completely covered her blade, she then slashed at the slime holding the core. In two quick slashes, she had successfully detached the core from the slime and was able to pick it up.
"Let's get out of here." Reia picked up the core and instantly felt a rather soothing feeling and her essence wanted to absorb what was inside the core.
'Damn Lou wasn't wrong, it's so tempting to just do it.' Shaking her head Reia needed to focus on leaving and so they all began to run out.
"ROARRR!!!!" A deafening roar echoed in the nest and everyone's hearts sank as they guessed it was the giant mutants. Chills ran through their body as they continued to run, not wanting to turn around.
"We may have to drop the core." Akira did not want them to lose their life over something trivial.
"We are so close." Reia didn't want to give up as they were so close to the exit and thanks to Akira and Lou's constant fire, they were able to keep the path clear.
Kim who had been charging up a rather powerful shot finally fired into the back of the nest. This caused the entire underground to shake and had also caused some of the branching caves to collapse. She then prepared for another charged-up shot to either destroy more caves or hit one of the essence giants.
Reia, Akira and Lou were on the verge of exiting the nest, but then suddenly a bunch of slime-like hands had come out from the depths of the nest, grabbing Reia by the ankles. Reia's eyes widened as she saw herself fall and turned to see a bunch of mutants that had extended their limbs.
'Shit another variant.' Reia assumed it was a variant that could extend its body.
Akira freaked out seeing Reia suddenly get grabbed, so he turned around pulling out his swords. Dashing to Reia he slid across the ground while slashing at the arms that were pulling Reia away.
"Just drop the core!" Akira did not like where this was going and just wanted them to leave as soon as possible. Ignoring Akira's words, she stood up and continued to run. Akira shook his head and followed behind her. Lou had stopped just outside the entrance laying fire on the mutants that were now dashing at them.
However, just before Akira or Reia could exit the nest, a wall of slime suddenly rose at the entrance, trapping them inside.
"AKIRA! RE-." Lou's voice was cut off as they were completely sealed in.
"Shit!" Akira was now in full panic mode as they were now stuck with the mutants. He tried quickly pulling out his swords and using his corruption, slashing at them, but it was useless as the wall constantly regenerated.
"We can't get out." Akira turned to Reia while switching weapons and turned to see the slowly approaching mutants.
"Tch." Reia did not like to think it was her fault for not listening to Akira earlier, but it seemed likely that it trapped them in since the core was about to exit the nest.
Akira had started firing, making sure he applied corruption to every mutant, giving them a bit more time.
"You need to throw the core away." Akira saw no other way and was beginning to get frustrated with Reia.
Reia stood in silence trying to think of a way to get out with the core, but she had kept running into walls and the only way was to abandon it.
Akira trying to cover fire was beginning to feel the drain on his essence and it won't be long until he will be unable to hold the mutants off.
"Fuck it!" Reia raised the core into the sky and slammed it into the ground. However, It did not break, but what she intended to do was something she was explicitly warned not to do.
"Reia what the fuck are you doing, don't you dare try to absorb it." Akira had a feeling and seeing what Reia was doing, he didn't like where this was going.
"I'm sorry Akira, but I don't think there is any way of getting out even if I throw the core away." Reia started to tear up as she was unable to see any other way and there would be no reason for the mutants to let them go since they are now trapped.
Akira bit his lips as Reia was most likely right, their only choice was to use the core and see what happens.
"One more thing…." Reia got Akira's attention and as he looked over she mouthed a few words. Widening his eyes as he realised what she said, he quickly tried to stop Reia. However, he was too late since Reia started to absorb the core.
A bright green light blinded Akira and the mutants causing them to all recoil from the light. As the light shone brightly, the caved-in entrances suddenly burst open and giant mutants of varying colours appeared.
"Reia NO!" Akira covered his eyes while getting closer to try to see what was happening to her. The light had dimmed slightly and Akira was able to see what was happening.
Reia's arms had been covered in the mutant slime, but they had a purple circuit pattern along where the slime was. Her eyes had also turned black only showing her purple irises. Akira noticed that a second tail was created out of the same slime sharing the same purple circuit pattern.
Akira assumed Reia was turning into a mutant and he couldn't help but begin to cry.
"Damn it!" Still wanting to get close he continued slowly walking up to the glowing core and Reia. When he got close, the core light had now changed into purple and suddenly exploded. Pushing Akira back, he landed into the wall that trapped them inside and suddenly went through it with no trouble.
"Akira!" Lou had been constantly bashing at the wall and even firing her most powerful bullets, but they had not even put a dent in it. Going to his side Lou quickly sat him up and wanted to know what was happening.
"I-it's Reia, she absorbed the core and f-from what I saw, she t-turn into a m-mutant." Akira felt utterly useless and seeing Reia sacrifice herself was a big hit to his mind.
"Tch that dumb bitch." Lou looked at the wall and had no way to tell what was going on, making It hard to say what Akira said was true.
Covering his face with his arm, he did not want to look at the wall as that would cause him to break.
'Why was I able to get out?' Akira was confused, having a million thoughts run through his mind, making it hard to think straight.
Kim, seeing that Akira was out, had felt a little relieved, but was still waiting for Reia which was the main concern.
'Don't tell me, she did the exact opposite of what we said.' Kim had teared up a little as the panic started to well up in her, as there was no way Reia would be able to survive alone.
All of them were waiting to see what will happen, hoping that Reia will come out of the nest, but the crushing reality she had turned into the mutant was becoming more real as each second passed.
'I'll make sure I kill her if she dies.' Lou clenched her fist as looking at Akira's condition it did not look like anything good was happening.
***
Pacing around in the bunker she had felt a constant uneasy feeling as time went on and although it had only been an hour it felt like an eternity.
'They will be back, just believe.' Kadi wanted to trust Lou and Kim, but the fear of losing someone had plagued her, making it hard to stay calm.
'I should do some essence training while I wait.' Wanting to distract herself she sat down in the middle of the room, trying to take her mind off the whole situation.
'Please be okay.'