Infinite Evolution: Daniel Park in Marvel

The cold concrete of the facility floor felt like ice against Daniel's skin as he scrambled to his feet, the world still spinning in a haze from the flashbang. His ears were still ringing, a dull thrum drowning out everything else, but his body was on instinct. He couldn't hear Hill's commands, but he saw the way her eyes flicked to him—steady, focused, and ready.

He staggered a few steps, trying to shake off the dizziness, but his vision was still blurry. His gun felt heavier in his hands, like it wasn't his anymore. His hands were trembling, though he couldn't tell if it was from the shock of the flashbang or the weight of what he had just done.

The soldier's body was still in the hallway, lifeless, a dark stain spreading around him.

Daniel's heart pounded in his chest, but there was no time for regret. Hill's voice sliced through the ringing in his ears.

"Move!" she barked, her gaze darting over the room as she scanned for more threats.

He nodded, his lips dry, unable to form words, and followed her as she moved with lethal precision. But even as he obeyed, the image of the soldier's wide, empty eyes haunted him. He had killed him—without a second thought, without hesitation. Was that who he was now? A man who could pull a trigger just to survive?

He looked over at Hill, trying to read her. She was always so calm, so unaffected. Did she feel anything when she killed? Or was she beyond it?

"Focus," Hill said, her eyes locking onto his. It was a simple word, but it snapped him back to the present. The mission. The data. They hadn't won yet.

The upload was complete, but the room was far from safe.

As they neared the exit, Daniel's pulse was still pounding, his head still reeling from the chaos. The fight had been intense, but it was only the beginning. What was waiting for them outside? Were they truly free? Or had they just signed their own death warrant by exposing the Vanguard's secrets?

They reached the heavy steel doors at the end of the hallway. Hill signaled for Daniel to take the rear, her weapon raised as she slowly pushed the door open. The low hum of the facility was replaced by the sound of distant gunfire.

"Not over yet," she muttered.

The world outside was a blur—darkness, flashing lights, and the distant sounds of a battle. The Vanguard wasn't going to let this slip so easily.

A figure emerged from the shadows, just as Hill took aim. She fired, the shot ringing out in the night. Another soldier dropped. But there was no time to celebrate. More were coming.

"We have to go now," Hill urged, scanning the perimeter, her expression grim. "We're not out of this yet."

Daniel felt the weight of the mission bearing down on him. There was no turning back now. They had the data, but it was only a matter of time before the Vanguard caught up.

Hill motioned for him to follow as she sprinted toward a waiting transport vehicle. The sounds of gunfire grew louder, closer. Daniel's legs felt like lead, but he pushed himself forward. They couldn't afford to hesitate. Not now.

Just as they reached the vehicle, Daniel glanced over his shoulder, a flash of movement in the darkness catching his eye. A soldier—one they had missed—was running toward them, his gun raised.

"No!" Daniel shouted, his hand already reaching for his own weapon, but Hill was faster. Her rifle was already trained on the soldier.

The shot rang out. The soldier fell.

Hill turned to Daniel, her face hard, but her eyes—those eyes—seemed to soften, just a little.

"Move. Now." Her voice was calm, but there was urgency in it.

Daniel jumped into the transport vehicle as Hill took the driver's seat, her hands steady on the controls. The engine roared to life, and they sped off into the night.

The facility grew smaller in the distance, but Daniel's mind raced with questions.

What would the world do with the data they had just exposed? Would the Vanguard retaliate? And what about him? Who had he become in those moments of violence? Was he still the man he thought he was?

The hardest part was only just beginning.

In the next chapter of Infinite Evolution: Daniel Park in Marvel