Shadows Beneath the Light

🌆 Aethernova – Two Weeks Later The skies over Aethernova shimmered like liquid gold. From above, the city was a masterpiece — a labyrinth of elemental conduits, crystal towers, and radiant skybridges. But beneath that beauty, whispers stirred. Disappearing recruits. Silent missions. And monsters that bore human emblems. Jade Valor had spent his nights training — and his days listening. The more he learned, the more uneasy he became. 🕯️ Squad Zero Briefing Room Lira slammed her tablet onto the table. “That’s the third recruit missing this month — all from the lower divisions.” Rian leaned back in his chair. “Probably deserters. The League’s training breaks people.” Jade stayed quiet, staring at the faint metallic emblem he had taken from the creature two weeks ago. It pulsed with traces of energy — faint, distorted, but familiar. He clenched it in his hand. “They didn’t desert,” he said softly. “They were taken.” Both Lira and Rian turned. “Taken?” Lira asked. “By who?” “I don’t know yet,” Jade replied, eyes narrowing. “But I saw this mark once before — years ago, in the Orbit.” Rian frowned. “You mean… that place the monsters come from?” “Yeah,” Jade said. “Which means someone inside the ADL might be connected to them.” Silence. Then the door slid open, and Commander Reizan stepped in. “Talking about classified matters, are we?” Everyone straightened immediately. Reizan’s gaze fell on Jade. “Valor. You’re coming with me.” ⚙️ The Core Facility They descended deep beneath the citadel — far below the training halls and living quarters, into a part of the base most recruits didn’t even know existed. Dim blue lights flickered along the corridor. The air was cold and sterile. Jade could sense faint fluctuations of elemental energy — restrained, unstable, painful. “Where are we?” he asked. “The Core Facility,” Reizan replied. “The heart of the League’s research division.” As they walked, glass chambers lined the hallway — and inside them floated humanoid figures. Some were human. Others were not. Their bodies glowed faintly, infused with distorted elemental energy. “What… are they?” Jade whispered. “Subjects,” Reizan said simply. “Failures. The ADL’s attempt to merge human essence with elemental cores. To create soldiers capable of endless regeneration.” Jade’s stomach twisted. “That’s impossible. No one can contain pure elemental cores.” “True,” Reizan said. “No one… yet.” He stopped in front of a sealed chamber. Inside floated a massive figure — a humanoid creature with crystal veins and a hollow chest. It looked eerily like the monster Jade had fought. And on its wrist — the same Organization insignia. “You’ve seen that symbol before,” Reizan said. “Haven’t you?” Jade hesitated. “…Yes.” “Then remember it. Those who wear it call themselves The Null Order — exiles, scientists, and elemental outcasts who once served the League. They believe that humanity must merge with pure elemental force to evolve.” Jade’s hands tightened into fists. “And you’re experimenting with their research?” Reizan’s gaze hardened. “We’re improving it.” The answer hit Jade like a blade. The monsters weren’t all from the Orbit. Some were made here, in Aethernova’s depths. 🩸 The Unseen Truth That night, Jade sat alone in his quarters. Rain drummed softly against the windows. His reflection stared back at him — weary, uncertain, burning with quiet rage. He replayed Reizan’s words over and over. Was the ADL truly protecting humanity… or preparing to become something else entirely? He pulled out the Aether Morph, the blade humming faintly in response to his emotions. Its form shifted uncontrollably, like it shared his unease. A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. “Still awake, Valor?” Lira stood by the doorway, her eyes shadowed. “I know you saw something down there,” she said quietly. “And I think I did too.” She tossed him a small data crystal. “Intercepted communication from the research division. Mentions Project Nullborn. They’re doing something at the outskirts near the Rift sector.” Jade activated it — the hologram flickered, revealing blurry footage of chained elemental creatures… and human silhouettes standing beside them. “They’re not studying the monsters,” Lira whispered. “They’re creating them.” Jade looked at her, his eyes cold and focused. “Then we’re going to find out who’s behind it.” ⚔️ Prelude to Betrayal Days later, Squad Zero received an assignment: “Escort a research convoy to the Rift sector.” Rian was thrilled. “Finally, something big!” But Jade and Lira exchanged a silent glance — they both knew this wasn’t coincidence. As they boarded the transport, Jade touched the hidden fragment of the insignia in his pocket. Something about this mission felt wrong — too quiet, too deliberate, too familiar. And as the ship soared toward the glowing Rift on the horizon, far below in the Core Facility, Reizan stood before a council of shadows. “The Nullborn experiments are nearing success,” one figure said. “And the boy?” Reizan’s eyes gleamed. “He’s the key. His elemental balance is perfect. When the time comes… Jade Valor will unlock what even the Orbit could not.” The chamber darkened. Somewhere deep in the facility, one of the failed experiments stirred — its hollow voice echoing softly: “The seal… sleeps… but not forever…” End of Chapter 3 – Shadows Beneath the Light