The Command Center buzzed with a palpable energy as Jin walked in, his new quantum katana vibrating at his side as if it were a tuning fork resonating with the very fabric of reality. The mixed scents of ozone and recycled air mingled with a sharper note—the metallic taste of adrenaline surging through fourteen anxious individuals at once.

**[Tsurugi Bloodline Awakening: 22% → 25%]**

**[Eye Manifestation: 40% Crimson]**

Sera's amber gaze locked onto him as soon as he entered, the tactical display casting shifting blue patterns over her determined expression. "Fifteen Crawlers confirmed, coming from the northeast access tunnel. They're moving in a coordinated formation—not just random scavengers."

A holographic battlefield appeared above the central table, each red dot pulsing rhythmically. Jin's heightened awareness kicked in, analyzing the movement patterns while the knowledge of his bloodline whispered tactical insights through his veins.

*Show them what you've learned,* the entity encouraged.

'And here we go again,' Asha's dry commentary chimed in through his neural link. 'Another day, another chance for that thing in your head to grow stronger.'

"Looks like they're working with Alpha coordination it's similar to last time," Scarlett noted, her ginger hair glowing in the display's light as she leaned over the tactical readouts. Her sharp emerald eyes tracked every movement.

Clara's fingers fluttered over her interface, her Mk-VIS-RG glasses reflecting streams of data. "I'm picking up odd bio-signatures. These aren't your typical Crawlers—their neural activity is far more... organized."

Elena approached the weapons rack, she chose an advanced pulse rifle. "If they're evolved versions, regular ammunition might not cut it." Her steel-gray eyes met Jin's increasingly crimson gaze. "Your new blade should be able to handle the enhanced chitin armor."

Shūmei appeared next to Jin almost silently, offering him his combat gear with an air of reverence. Her own crimson eyes sparkled with admiration for his transformation. "Jin-sama's power awakens at just the right moment," she said, her voice soft like silk against the edge of a blade.

'That girl's got some serious stealth skills,' Asha observed. 'And the way she looks at you hints at more than just admiration.'

"Battle formations," Sera commanded, her tactical mind already setting up their defense. "Clara, keep an eye on sensor coverage and monitor systems."

Maya Reeves moved as her blonde braids swaying as she activated defensive protocols at the engineering station. "Vault security systems are up. Auto-turrets have clear firing lanes, but we're running low on ammunition."

Lin Xu stepped out of the hydroponics bay, dirt still clinging to her fingertips, bringing with her the earthy aroma of thriving plants. "The agricultural areas are secure. If we need to retreat, our food production will remain safe."

"The medical bay is ready for any injuries," Shin Liora added, her soft Korean accent reflecting a strong professionalism. "I've assembled trauma kits for on-site treatment."

Jin felt the familiar surge of protective resolve coursing through him, now mixed with new intensity—sharper and more defined, a fierce energy building behind his eyes.

**[COMBAT MODE: ACTIVATED]**

**[TSURUGI BLOODLINE: BATTLE INSTINCTS ONLINE]**

**[QUANTUM KATANA: RESONANCE SYNCHRONIZATION 23%]**

"I'll take the lead," Jin announced, his voice carrying a resonance that made several team members look up in surprise. "Elena, Rosa—come with me up front. Sera, manage support from back here."

Rosa bounced on her feet, her purple hair glimmering as excitement intertwined with readiness for battle. "Finally! Time to show off my new moves!"

"Jin," Sera's amber eyes focused with concern. "Your strategy is more aggressive than usual. Are you sure—"

"I got this," he cut in, though an edge to his tone hinted otherwise. The crimson in his eyes flared more intensely as quantum energy flickered along the edge of his blade. "I can sense their movements and predict their tactics."

Shūmei's lips curled into a satisfied smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "HiHiHi, at last his awakening " she murmured, but her inner thoughts darkened. *Soon he will understand. Only I can match his burgeoning power.*

The first Crawler slithered out from the access tunnel, resembling a nightmare made flesh, its pale skin glowing with bio-luminescent patterns that pulsed in unison with its companions. The air is filled with the scent of decay and alien pheromones, triggering instinctive defensive reactions in every human present.

**[ENEMY DETECTED: EVOLVED CRAWLER VARIANT]**

**[THREAT LEVEL: ENHANCED]**

**[COORDINATION FACTOR: HIGH]**

The creature's long limbs culminated in sharp claws that scraped across the metal floor, carving deep grooves. Its pale white eyes gazed with a predatory intelligence illuminated by the emergency lights, while rows of needle-like teeth dripped with a corrosive saliva.

Jin moved with a smoothness that amazed even himself, his lineage's wisdom flowing through his muscles as the teachings of twenty-seven generations of sword masters shaped his actions. The quantum katana hummed as it sliced through the air, its blade bending reality as it met the enhanced armor of the creature.

**[TSURUGI TECHNIQUE ACTIVATED: FLOWING WATER STRIKE]**

**[DAMAGE: CRITICAL]**

**[BLOODLINE MASTERY: +3%]**

The blade cleanly severed the Crawler's neck with astonishing accuracy. For a brief moment, nothing occurred—then the creature's head fell to the floor with a dull thud. Black ichor erupted from its severed arteries, spraying grotesquely across the walls and floor. The headless body writhed uncontrollably, its claws scraping against the ground before finally collapsing into a pool of its own dark blood.

The death cry reverberated through the tunnel system, a sound reminiscent of tearing metal fused with raw agony. Its companions reacted with heightened aggression, adjusting their coordination to make up for their fallen ally.

"They're adapting to our strategies on the fly," Scarlett noted, her instincts as a top predator allowing her to track multiple threats at once. "They're networking on a neural level."

Elena took careful aim with her pulse rifle, each shot precisely planned to maximize impact while ensuring ammunition conservation. "Confirmed—they're sharing tactical data instantly."

The next Crawler charged forward with alarming speed, its claws aimed at Jin's throat. He sidestepped with remarkable ease, his katana tracing a silver arc that disemboweled the creature with a single swift motion. Intestines spilled across the floor in a chaotic tangle of dark tissue. Its final gasp was silenced by Jin's concluding strike that shattered its skull, gray brain matter oozing onto the metallic surface.