INVASION: Wildest Game

Ch, 5: Invasion

3rd Person's POV

"Professor De Vera?!" Alexa gasped, stunned to see her professor here of all places after three years. At first, she barely recognized him as his newly grown mustache and the deeper, more mature tone of his voice made him seem almost like a stranger.

Arnold De Vera nodded, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes, the sorrow in them impossible to hide.

"It's really you! Can you tell me what's happening?" Alexa asked, confusion knitting her brows. But before the professor could respond, a loud clanking noise shattered the tense silence. She whipped her head around just in time to see a row of droids marching toward the cell doors.

Their eyes glowed red which is unusual because it's always blue. Red lights indicates that the droids were under some kind of control or mandatory command from the manufacturer.

Then the droids suddenly came to an abrupt halt.

Curious, everyone in their cells peered outside to see what was happening. To their surprise, every cell had a droid standing ominously in front of it.

The droids passed a flat, round device through the barred opening of the detention door and stated, "Those are nano-tech fiber suits. To activate them, you must first remove all clothing; otherwise, they won't function. Simply press the device against your chest, and the metallic fibers will instantly spread, covering your entire body. This will serve as your training uniform. You'll find boots under your bed—wear them."

After that, the droids turned and exited the area. A moment later when the droids are no longer on sight, the cell doors unlocked in perfect synchronization.

Alexa felt bewildered, but she knew the situation was serious. She began to take off her clothes and press the spherical device on her chest.

The device released soft metal fibers that wrapped around her body. It was like an organism crawling to her body.

The nano-tech fiber suit clung to her form, accentuating her curves, slender arms, and long legs, leaving only her face and head exposed. The way it fit, combined with her loose hair, gave her an undeniable allure—both fierce and elegant.

Suddenly, a woman's voice echoed from an unseen source. "Proceed to the nearest exit in the hall and enter through the door. It will lead you to a room that is only large enough for two people at a time. The transportation ring wouldn't activate if more than two were present in the room. The transportation ring would only reset and function once the first pair had been successfully transported. Step onto the transportation ring, and it will transport you to the training field."

The cell doors slid open, and one by one, the detainees stepped out. The hallway quickly filled with people, all clad in the same sleek uniform. For many, especially the women, the suit felt surprisingly comfortable despite its form-fitting nature.

Alexa and Arnold moved closer together, speaking in hushed tones to avoid being overheard.

"We're here to train for a cosmic war," Arnold De Vera said, his voice disturbingly casual.

Alexa turned to him, eyes widening in disbelief.

"The others don't know yet," he continued. "I didn't want to scare them. That's why I'm only telling you."

Her confusion deepened.

"Let me tell you what I found out before they took us here," Arnold added grimly.

**Arnold De Vera's Flashback**

As Arnold confirmed that his students were fully immersed in exploring the Virtual Reality booth, he decided to step outside for a breath of fresh air.

The moment he exited to the parking area, he shut his eyes, letting the sun's warmth seep through his eyeglasses. He stood there, savoring the peace for a few quiet minutes.

Then, suddenly, a deafening explosion tore through the air. The sheer force of the blast sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, rattling everything in its path.

When he opened his eyes, a grim scene loomed before him. The fiery glow of raging orange flames and thick black smoke reflected in his glasses before the shockwave hits.

The impact was overwhelming, too much for his aging body to withstand. His legs buckled, and he collapsed onto the pavement.

Dazed, his mind struggled to process the chaos unfolding before him. Thick black smoke curled into the sky, flames devoured the earth, and what was once a thriving community lay in ruins.

Before he could fully comprehend it, another explosion, weaker than the first, ripped through the air, sending debris flying as nearby buildings erupted from within.

Through the swirling haze of fire and dust, Arnold turned toward the source of the blast. But, in just a short distance away, it was Alexa he saw, frozen in place. In front of her, a woman impaled by a jagged shard, her lifeblood spilling onto the ground.

Even from a distance, Arnold could clearly see the terror and trauma etched across Alexa's face. His stomach twisted at the sight.

Then, for a reason he can't understand, another student he recognized as Ivy Mendez, suddenly kicked Alexa to the ground. There was no hesitation, no remorse. The malice in Ivy's actions was undeniable. She snatched up a rusty pipe from the debris, raising it high, poised to strike Alexa.

Panic surged through Arnold. In desperation to stop Ivy, is body moved on instinct, legs pumping as he sprinted toward Alexa. But deep down, he's aware he wouldn't reach her in time as there's quite a distance.

Just as dread threatened to consume him, another figure appeared. Arnold hadn't noticed him in his tunnel vision, but at the last possible moment, someone stepped in, grabbing Ivy's hands before the blow could land.

Arnold skidded to a halt, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He bent forward, hands bracing against his knees, his heart hammering in his chest. A shaky sigh of relief escaped him with sweat of worriedness trickling down his forehead.

However, his relief was short-lived when a shadow crept over him, dimming the destruction around, as the shadow was slowly descending to the ground.

Slowly, he turned his gaze upward and saw something parachuting down from the sky with an unsteady, injured descent.

Arnold barely had time to process it before the figure crashed into the ground, landing just a short distance away.

At first, it wasn't moving, believing it was just another piece of debris amidst the destruction. He almost dismissed it as an inanimate object, not until it moved.

His pulse quickened. Something about it felt... off. Instinct pushed him forward. Trusting Davi to look after the Alexa and Ivy, he ran toward this thing that just landed. But with every step closer, doubt crept in. Something about its form... wasn't quite human.

And then, as he finally reached it, he froze.

A small body lay sprawled on the ground, trembling with shallow, labored breaths. Its deep green skin glistened under the light, its large, green and glassy eyes flickered weakly, pointed ears twitched slightly, as if trying to process the chaos around them. A being unlike anything Arnold had ever seen. A small, compact frame, almost dwarf-like in stature.

It is unmistakable that this creature is certainly not from this planet.

A chill ran down his spine, but his scientific mind overpowered his fear. Fascination took hold.

Carefully, he stepped closer, kneeling beside it. He cradled the alien's head in his arms, helping him to breathe comfortably

The alien was weak, struggling for breath, its frail body racked with violent coughs. Thick, crimson droplets spilled from its mouth, staining its chin.

Without thinking, Arnold reached out, his fingers brushing against the warm, sticky blood.

"The consistency... the color... the properties are the same as human blood yet its skin pigmentation is green," he murmured, staring at the contrast between the red liquid and the creature's green skin.

The creature's weak, flickering gaze met his. And in that moment, it wasn't just some unknown being from another world.

It was scared.

Hurting.

As the explosions began to settle down, the stunned survivors slowly regained their bearings. People staggered to their feet, their faces still etched with confusion and fear. Some turned their attention to the destruction around them. Collapsed buildings, overturned cars, and raging fires. The city is in utter chaos.

Yet, amidst the devastation, most eyes were drawn to the being that had just crash-landed. The passenger of the ship that had caused it all.

Curiosity flickered in their eyes, but unlike Arnold, they kept their distance, unease evident in their wary expressions.

Arnold started to converse, his voice calm but urgent. "I don't know if you understand me, but your DNA is almost similar to ours. Perhaps, your physiology might be different. Even if I know basic medical treatment, I can't properly treat you here." He exhaled, glancing at the blood pooling beneath the creature. "You've lost too much blood already. Upon getting to the facility you'll probably run through a series of clinical tests, and it won't be easy, but for now, I can stop the bleeding until help arrives."

The creature weakly shook its head, eyes filled with something deeper than pain, something resembling sorrow. "I... I'm not here for salvation," it rasped.

Arnold stiffened. The voice was rough but unmistakably male.

"You speak our language," Arnold said, his brows knitting in confusion.

The creature let out a strained breath. "W-we've studied your kind... for a long time. With your appearance, I can estimate your age—you probably weren't even born when we started." He coughed, his voice growing weaker. "I-I'm here... to warn you."

Arnold's breath hitched. His mind raced with questions, but the only thing that escaped his lips was a single, bewildered, "Warn us?"

"Talking will only make your condition worse. Let's talk about that later—" the alien cut him off.

"Y-you don't understand," the alien stammered. "Look around you."

Arnold, still puzzled can't help but followed the creature's gaze. As he took in his surroundings, he's surprise to see the once murmuring people got frozen mid-motion.

They are all motionless, suspended in time, and probably unaware of what's happening too.

Arnold asked, "What's happening to them?" He's baffled by the scene.

The creature responded, "They've taken control of their minds to prevent them from learning the truth. And soon, the Federation will hunt down those who remain free, like you, and force you into their army for the cosmic war.

"I-I came from a distant planet, thousands of light-years away, where a bloodthirsty war is raging. I was one of their representative... but I escaped to warn you. My ship was the one that exploded. It was capable of light-speed travel, but it malfunctioned upon arrival. I had no choice but to trigger the emergency eject system—" and then he broke into a violent cough.

Arnold felt a pang of pity. He wanted the creature to rest, to stop talking, but he knew the alien understood its fate better than he did. Time was running out, and it had to reveal the truth before it was too late, but it seems like way too late now.

"My kind were the last surviving representatives of the Federation, fighting in their name. But we were wiped out, swiftly and unexpectedly. That's when I learned the truth that humans are their next target. I rushed here to warn you, but... I think I was too late. They're already here. So, you need to prepare. They won't give you time, they won't guide you. They ensure victory by any means necessary. They did the same to my home. Implanted mind-chips in all of us. Tested us. Selected us for their war. Only those who resisted the manipulation were chosen." The alien's voice wavered, but its gaze burned with urgency.

Arnold replied, "I'm confused but I believe this is something important. If you really want to share something, then let others treat you. And you should also take responsibility for the mess you made here."

"I told you, it's too late now! I can sense them. They are coming. They'll kill me right away. I'm just here to warn humans that the Galactic Federation is scheming to use some of you as their representatives. But I arrived late. They'll explain everything soon enough, but at that time, it'll be the start of your tribulations. I'm sorry, I failed," the alien uttered and its condition became more serious.

Arnold had no idea how to process what he had just heard, or what to do about the creature before him. The information was overwhelming, almost impossible to verify, yet there was no time for doubt. And deep down, he realized that this creature wouldn't risk its life for a lie.

Then, another worry struck him, his former students. Davi, Ivy, and Alexa. His eyes darted to them, relief and dread clashing inside him. Davi and Ivy were still conscious, their faces marked with confusion, but Alexa lay unconscious on the pavement. These kids, unaware of the full danger, were fixated on the strange behavior of the frozen people around them.

Before Arnold could act, the sunlight above shifted. It grew unnaturally bright, forcing him to squint and when he looked up, his saw patches of light had begun appearing across the sky, each one materializing at vast distances from the next.

And then, suddenly, beams of light struck the ground.

From within those radiant columns, ethereal beings emerged. Pleiadians. Syrians. The so-called enlightened ones, the revered emissaries of the cosmos.

The Galactic Federation has arrived.

Terror surged through Arnold as the truth crashed over him. This isn't just an invasion, but their supreme rulers had come to claim them.

A sudden commotion pulled his attention back to the ground. Davi and Ivy were struggling, resisting, fighting back. But they didn't stand a chance. Arnold's heart pounded as he saw them being subdued, their bodies going limp as they were forced into unconsciousness. Their captors, clad in protective gas suits, moved with precision, ignoring the hypnotized masses and targeting only those still awake.

Earlier, Arnold had sought proof as he wanted a fact-check, but now, with the truth unfolding before his eyes, there is no room for doubt.

Arnold then asked the creature hurriedly, "You said this is a war, but why do they need us as representatives in this way?" but before the creature could answer him, it groaned out of pain. Arnold can see the creature's face contorted as if its heart was being crushed by an invisible force.

Arnold's face was frozen in shock and fear as he watched the creature struggle, its body wracked with pain—until, at last, it went still.

He already pitied the creature many times than he could count. But this... this was different. This was unbearable. A deep, burning rage boiled inside him, so intense he could barely contain it.

His fists clenched as he turned to face the Pleiadians. For the first time, they had revealed themselves in their physical form. As Arnold only ever seen them through holographic projections.

But the moment his eyes met theirs, he flinched.

Their presence alone was overwhelming. It was silent threat, a suffocating force. They stood tall, noble, and eerily calm, yet terror gripped him. His breath hitched, his throat tightened, and his mind refused to accept what he was seeing.

He had feared this day might come.

The day humanity's greatest allies became their worst enemies. But never, never had he imagined it would feel like this.

The last thing he saw was Davi and Ivy collapsing as the Galactic Federation took them.

A wave of exhaustion crashed over him, his limbs growing heavy. His vision blurred, and before he could fight it, he fell to the pavement, consciousness slipping away.

**End of Flashback**

Arnold concluded his story with these words, "We've been here for 6 hours now, restrained from doing anything."

Arnold had been so caught up in his story, so lost in the weight of his own thoughts, that he forgot Alexa is still just a child, who can get frightened with this kind of information.

It wasn't until he turned to her that the realization hit him.

Alexa's face was pale, her eyes wide with fear. Beads of sweat had formed on her forehead, and her small hands trembled at her sides.

Guilt crashed over Arnold like a wave. His voice softened. "Alexa... I'm sorry. I just— I needed to tell someone. I needed to get it out of me. And right now, you're the only person I can trust."

But Alexa said nothing. She just kept walking, silent and shaking.

Arnold swallowed hard. He wished he could tell her everything would be okay. He wished he could reassure her, take away her fear, shield her from the horrors to come. But that would be a lie. And right now, lies wouldn't help her survive.

"I want to comfort you, but I won't sugarcoat the truth," he admitted. "Everything I've told you... it's leading to something violent, something bloody. That creature wasn't lying. And with what's happening right now, we both know it." He hesitated, his voice heavy with an honesty he hated. "Maybe it's better that you feel this fear now, so when things get worse, you won't freeze. You'll be ready. Because as much as I want to tell you we're going to be okay... but I'm not even sure."

They walked in silence.

Arnold never took his eyes off Alexa, watching the way her hands shook, the way her breathing stuttered. If she lost control of herself now, she wouldn't last when the real horror came.

So, he didn't say another word. He also didn't reach out to comfort her.

He let Alexa fight through it on her own.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, her hands stopped shaking. She let out a deep, shuddering breath.

Arnold felt something in his chest loosen. Relief.

With that, Arnold thinks that maybe she would survive after all.

"So... that means we're in grave danger." Alexa's voice was barely above a whisper, her words shaky yet determined. It was the first thing she said since Arnold told her everything he witnessed. She swallowed hard before asking, "What's going to happen to the people under their control? And... what's going to happen to us?"

Arnold exhaled, "Like I said, we'll be trained—probably in ways we can't even imagine."

Alexa's breath hitched, "What about my family? Our families? My friends?" Her voice was rising now, thick with panic.

"I don't know," Arnold admitted. "They're either controlled or somewhere in this crowd. But if they've already fallen under the Federation's influence, they'll be freed once we reach the training field."

Alexa's stomach churned. "All of them?"

"Yes."

"Where is the training field?" she asked, her voice desperate.

Arnold shook his head. "No one knows—"

Before he could finish, the crowd surged forward, swallowing them both. The pressure was suffocating. People pushed and shoved, bodies pressing together as the space grew tighter. Arnold stumbled, struggling to keep up.

"Alexa!" he called, but his voice was lost in the chaos.

Alexa twisted around, trying to find him, but the crowd had already forced them apart. "Let's meet later!" she shouted, hoping he could hear her.

No reply came.

But she wondered if they would ever see each other again.

'I wish Davi and Cassandra are here with me,' she thought, dread creeping into her bones. 'But I don't even know if they're controlled or not. And honestly... I don't know which would be worse—being here or being gone.'

What she didn't realize was that Ivy was right next to her.

Neither of them could see the other as the crowd was too dense, the space too tight. The closer they got to the exit, the more suffocating it became. Their shoulders brushed, their bodies pressed together in the crush of people, yet they remained unaware.

But while Alexa was lost in fear and uncertainty, Ivy was drowning in something else entirely.

Hatred.

And it hadn't faded.