The air was thick with humidity, and the scent of earth clung to every breath as X-Virus and Ticci Toby stood behind the Creepypasta Mansion. The remnants of their training session told the story of relentless sparring. X -Virus rolled his shoulder, adjusting his jacket as he exhaled. “You’re getting faster,” he muttered. “Still predictable, though.” Toby scoffed, spinning his hatchet absentmindedly. “Predictable? Says the guy who stands still half the time, waiting for me to ‘fall into his trap.’” He mimicked X-Virus’s voice with exaggerated precision. X-Virus smirked. “And yet, you keep falling for it.” Their banter was cut short as the ground rumbled—a deep, unnatural tremor that made the trees sway. Both killers fell silent, instincts kicking in. A low, distant roar followed, its vibration reverberating through the air. Then came the light. A blinding flash ignited the horizon, turning the cloudy sky into hell for a mere few seconds. It was as if the sun got too close, swallowing the world in an eerie glow before vanishing into a column of fire. The afterimage seared into their vision, even as the light faded. Then, the shockwave. A wall of scorching air rushed toward them, carrying with it the acrid stench of chemicals, burning metal, and death. X-Virus instinctively covered his mask with his sleeve, narrowing his eyes as the wind whipped through the trees. Toby flinched but held his ground, hatchet clenched tight. “The hell was that?” Toby rasped, voice distorted by the pressure in his ears. X-Virus didn't answer. His mind raced, piecing together details—the intensity, the chemical-laced heat, the unmistakable glow of radiation. “The town,” he finally said. “That was the power plant.” Another tremor rumbled, distant but undeniable. The realization settled in—this wasn’t just an explosion. Toby let out a breathless sound. “Well that’s new.” X-Virus didn’t smile. He watched the distant inferno, something dark in his eyes. “This is more than an accident,” he murmured, stepping forward. “This is a new plague.”