Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

With both hands gripping the hilt, Roxy brought the weapon down with a powerful, decisive strike. The blade sliced cleanly into the ant mutant's skull, sinking deep and emitting a sickening crunch as it met bone. The creature let out a final, agonized shriek, its mandibles clicking frantically before its body convulsed and collapsed into a heap of shattered limbs.

Roxy wrenched her sword free from the creature's head, flicking its blood from the blade with a practiced, fluid motion. Her gaze swept over the cave, taking in the scattered remains of defeated mutants with a cold, unbothered expression.

Finally, her gaze shifted to Isaac, who stood in stunned silence, his face glistening with sweat and his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps—a mix of fear and amazement written plainly on his face.

"Who...who are you? What are you?" Isaac stammered, his voice quivering as he struggled to comprehend the deadly force before him.

Roxy moved toward him with a calm, measured stride, her blood-soaked blade gripped firmly in her right hand. Stopping just inches from him, she sheathed her weapon in one smooth motion, her eyes locking onto his with an unsettling intensity.

"There are dozens more of those ants deep in the cave," she said, her tone chillingly calm. "They'll be coming here soon, drawn by the scent of their fallen comrades." Her words sent an involuntary shiver down Isaac's spine, and he felt a cold sweat trickling down his face, betraying his fear.

"I can leave you here to face them and meet the same fate as your friends," Roxy continued, her voice unyielding. "Or... you can accept my help, under the condition that you assist me in return."

"What are you talking about?" Isaac blurted, confusion and suspicion etched across his features.

"You see, I have a mission—to find someone on Earth," Roxy explained, her tone steady and resolute. "At present, I lack a way to open a portal to your world. But you… you can make a few calls, and your friends could open one for us. All I need from you is passage back to Earth."

"How can I trust you?" Isaac retorted, eyes narrowing. "You look human, but I know you're not. You're a mutant, and humans have learned the hard way never to trust your kind! For all I know, you'd turn on us the moment we get to Earth, opening portals to bring in more of your kind and launch another war. I'd rather die here than risk endangering everyone back home."

Roxy arched an eyebrow, a slight smirk pulling at the corners of her lips. "You really think I'm powerful enough to conquer humanity single-handedly?"

Isaac rolled his eyes, the fear giving way momentarily to irritation. "From what I just saw, yeah, you're strong enough," he muttered, then clicked his tongue in exasperation. "And who's to say you wouldn't bring backup? Once you're on Earth, what's to stop you from opening more portals and unleashing your comrades?"

"My mission has nothing to do with destruction," Roxy replied, her voice dropping to a softer, almost pleading tone. "I'm here for one purpose—to locate the host of the Apex Mutant and bring him to my father. That's it. I don't want a war. Once my task is complete, I'll vanish without a trace, leaving no evidence of my presence."

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Isaac fell silent, the internal conflict evident in his clenched fists and downcast eyes. He weighed her words carefully. The last thing he wanted was another war that would leave his daughter vulnerable, the same way he had lost his wife and siblings. But if he stayed here, he'd surely die, and no one would be there to protect his daughter from whatever fate awaited her.

Sensing his hesitation, Roxy spoke again, her voice laced with an unsettling certainty.

"I know more about you than you realize, Isaac Anderson. You have a young daughter back on Earth, and she's all alone now. Your wife—she died of a disease spread by a Vroomtant, didn't she?" Her eyes softened, a hint of empathy flashing across her features.

"If you die here, the Higher-ups will take her, use her, shape her into a weapon. Is that the future you want for her?"

Roxy's words pierced him, and he sat there, his fists clenched, his body taut with tension. She leaned in, her voice a near-whisper. "Let me help you, Isaac. In return, help me. I promise I have no intention of harming you or anyone else. I just want to complete my mission before it's too late."

After a tense silence, Isaac finally let out a shaky breath, the weight of his decision pressing down on him.

"Fine… I'll help you," he muttered, his gaze fixed firmly on the floor, unable to meet her penetrating stare.

"There's one more thing I need from you," Roxy added, her tone unwavering. "When we arrive on Earth, I need you to tell everyone that I was the lone survivor of the Fiery Flames Guild. That guild was the last group to come to this planet. They were all killed by mutants, but I scavenged this armor and skill slot from one of their fallen members. It'll make my story more believable."

Isaac's head snapped up, his face twisted in shock. "You want me to lie to my superiors?"

"It won't cost you anything," Roxy responded smoothly. "No one will question it—every single member, even the Guild Master, was slaughtered. No one will know I'm an imposter."

With that, she turned and walked toward one of the slain ant mutants, unsheathing her blade again. In a single, swift motion, she severed two of its forelegs, hoisting them up with a smirk before returning to Isaac's side.

"These are what you came here for, aren't they? You've got what you need, along with a story that'll secure your promotion. All I ask is for your help reaching Earth and backing up my story."

Isaac looked at her, the doubt evident in his eyes, but the promise of survival and his daughter's safety won out over his lingering suspicion.

---

Inside the portal room of the Aqua Blazing Guild's headquarters, the Guild Master and several members waited with tense anticipation, their eyes fixed on the glowing portal. After what felt like an eternity, Isaac finally emerged, weary but alive, and beside him was a striking young woman with long, fiery ginger hair and a massive blade strapped to her waist.

The Guild Master's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the unfamiliar figure.

"Who the hell is this?" he demanded, his tone a mixture of shock and suspicion as he glared at Roxy. She stood close to Isaac, one hand gripping his arm to steady him, her expression unreadable but her posture commanding respect.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Roxy merely inclined her head, her eyes flicking to Isaac as she awaited his response.