Mutation Abyss-Chapter 43: Shadow Step

A few meters above a narrow walkway, hidden behind rusted fencing and shattered crates, a small group of survivors had huddled in silence. Now, they whispered urgently among themselves.

"That guy’s getting torn apart," a woman muttered, peering through the gaps. "He’s bleeding all over the place."

"But he’s still fighting," said a teenage boy, holding a pipe tightly in shaking hands. "He lit up his arms like fire. I think he’s AMS."

"Doesn’t matter," a grizzled man grunted. "That thing is going to kill him. If we show ourselves, it’ll come after us next. That’s suicide."

"So we just watch?" the boy snapped. "We do nothing while he dies?"

"He could be infected," the woman whispered. "What if he turns mid-fight? We’d be helping a threat."

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Down below, Theo staggered to his feet, shoulders heaving. The blood trail at his side grew darker. His vision blurred as the MStalker moved again, claws gleaming in the red flickers of MPyre’s fading embers.

It was preparing for the kill.

The teenager took a shaky breath. "We can’t just let him die. He’s slowing it down. If it kills him, it’ll come for us next. But if we help-"

The older man growled. "You wanna be the hero? Go ahead and die with him."

The boy clenched his jaw. "No. I want us to survive. All of us."

Without waiting, he leapt down from the catwalk, flashlight in hand. The beam cut through the gloom, landing squarely on the MStalker’s back. It hissed violently, recoiling as the light exposed its semi-invisible form.

"HEY!" the teen shouted. "Over here, you freak!"

Startled, the MStalker twisted toward the distraction, just enough time for Theo to roll toward his axe and reclaim it.

Theo didn’t waste the chance. With a roar, he surged forward, his axe blazing again with rekindled Pyreflame. The blade connected hard, slicing across the creature’s back. It howled and stumbled, its exposed meteorite core flashing red beneath its ribs.

From above, the woman and older man exchanged a glance, then both jumped down to help. The woman lit a flare from a backpack, tossing it toward the fight. The beacon burst in blinding red, casting harsh shadows and outlining the MStalker completely.

The grizzled man hurled a brick, striking it in the side. "If this gets me killed, kid, I’ll haunt you."

Theo spun his axe one last time.

"Burn-!" The strike landed true, splitting into the meteorite core. The light inside flickered, sputtered then died with a final screech from the MStalker.

Silence followed.

Theo collapsed to his knees, panting, blood dripping freely from his side.

The teen walked closer, eyes wide. "That... was insane."

Theo looked up and gave a breathless, bloodied grin. "Thanks for the light show."

[Success: Meteorborn Stalker eliminated.]

[Reward: Core Extraction Available - Physical Mutation: Stealthborn]

[+10000 EXP, +1000 Gold Coins, Meteorite Core Essence Acquired]

Theo’s vision flickered with faint blue light as his system interface popped up in his mind.

[Initiating Meteorite Core Absorption...]

[Extraction complete. New ability and power acquired.]

[You have acquired: Stealthborn Heart Meteorite Core.

Stealth efficiency greatly increased. Detection range reduced.]

[New Abilities Unlocked:

Shadow Step - Short-range teleportation through shadows with near invisibility.

Silent Strike - Enhanced agility and precision for lethal silent attacks.

Predator’s Reflex - Heightened senses and reaction speed.]

Theo took a deep breath, still clutching his bleeding side. A strange warmth coursed through his veins, not like fire but more like a shadow settling inside him.

He tried to move and everything felt sharper, lighter. He glanced around and whispered, "Shadow Step..."

Focusing, he slipped into the nearest shadow cast by a broken pillar and in a blink, he reappeared a few meters away, crouched behind a wall. His heart raced. The movement was smooth, almost effortless.

The survivors who had helped him watched with awe. The teenage boy’s eyes were wide. "Did you just... teleport?"

Theo forced a weak grin. "Something like that. But I’m still figuring it out." He glanced down at his side, the pain still nagging him. "Need to patch this up fast."

One of the survivors, an older woman with a calm voice, stepped forward holding a small first aid kit. "Here. We’re lucky to have you. Let us help."

Theo nodded. "Thanks," he said, eyes scanning the group.

"By the way, I’m Maria," the woman introduced herself. "We were hiding nearby. I think you saved more than just yourself today."

Theo smiled faintly despite the pain. "Looks like we saved each other."

"Wait... you’re healing on your own?" Maria muttered, eyes wide as she stared at the fading wounds on Theo’s side.

The gashes were closing up rapidly, the blood slowing to a stop. The system had automatically used one of the medpacks Theo received from a basic loot crate earlier.

Theo swallowed hard, then quickly changed the subject. "You should all head to the auxiliary exit now. It’s safer there. Military personnel are stationed by the gate." He gave them clear directions, and the group hurried off after thanking him, their relief evident.

Once they were gone, Theo let out a breath and stretched his arms. Energy surged through him, his wounds mostly healed and his body feeling lighter.

A smirk tugged at his lips. "At this rate, I could clear this whole zone myself."

Without wasting another second, he charged forward. His axe sliced through MB Infectees with deadly precision. He moved like a blur, taking down MDregs, MCrawlers, and even another MStalker that leapt from the shadows.

Each battle pushed him further, his abilities sharpening, his level rising. The more he fought, the more power surged through his veins and the more he felt the Mutation Abyss System evolving with him.

A few moments later...

Theo stood over the last fallen Infectee, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths.

Around him, the final group of survivors stumbled out from behind rubble and collapsed walls, their faces a mixture of relief and disbelief.

"This way," he instructed calmly, pointing them toward the auxiliary gate. "Follow the path I cleared, don’t stop until you see a yellow triangle painted on a metal panel near the wall. That’s the service hatch, look for it."

They nodded, some with tears in their eyes, whispering quiet thanks as they moved past him.

He exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. His wounds had mostly closed thanks to the system’s auto-heal, and his energy was stable. The zone was finally clear.

Just then, his earpiece crackled.

"Theo, pull out now," Calix’s voice came through, tight with urgency. "Commander Brix just confirmed. AMSO’s sweeping your area. Get out before they find you."