The concrete dust hung thick and heavy in the air, shifting in dark patterns under the rhythmic red flashes of the emergency lights rotating overhead. Along the reinforced evacuation corridor adjacent to the underground platform, the oppressive silence after the slaughter was suddenly broken by the heavy clanking of tactical gear. V stood perfectly still over the bodies of the fallen vanguard commandos, his unblinking eyes locked onto Elsa's trembling frame. The silver edge of his high-frequency vibration blade hummed with a low hiss, dripping dark fluid onto the grit-covered floorbar. Elsa squeezed her handguard, her knuckles turning white as she prepared to release her primary plasma burst against the encroaching monster.
Before her index finger could complete the traction on the trig
