The Null Protocol

Introduction

As the stars aligned in a rare celestial event, the skies above the earth lit up with a blazing streak. The meteorite, Khton X, hurtled through the atmosphere, its surface crackling with energy as it plummeted toward the planet. The skies lit up with a fiery glow, and the ground trembled with anticipation as Khton X slammed into the earth with a deafening impact, sending shockwaves rippling outward from the crater.

The earth shuddered, and the fabric of reality seemed to tear apart as the meteorite buried itself deep within the planet's core. As the dust settled, strange energy readings began to emanate from the crater, and the air was filled with an otherworldly hum. The impact had released a massive amount of debris, and the world trembled as the very fabric of reality seemed to warp and bend.

Rumors spread like wildfire: the meteorite was no ordinary space rock. Some said it held ancient secrets, while others whispered of an otherworldly power that could reshape the planet. As the world teetered on the brink of chaos, one thing was certain: nothing would ever be the same again.

As the meteorite started to crack open creatures as tiny as bugs, humans had never seen before called "Xenophages" emerged from the crater, they didn't attack humans directly. Instead, they seemed to be drawn to the local wildlife, infecting animals with their dark, pulsing tendrils. The creatures, from deer to birds to household pets, began to change, their bodies contorting into grotesque, twisted forms. They became the "Carnifex", mindless beasts driven solely by a hunger for flesh.

The xenophages gave the Carnifex new appearances, as they attack the cells of the animals first. Changing their DNA, turning into fearsome creatures. Some had scales, larger claws able to slice through titanium and so even gained elemental powers.

But the Xenophages didn't stop there. They began to infect humans, too, turning them into Carnifex. The infected humans lost all semblance of their former selves, their minds consumed by the Xenophage's primal urges. They became brutal, efficient killers, driven solely by their insatiable hunger for human flesh.

However, a small percentage of humans proved to be immune to the Xenophage's influence. These individuals, dubbed "Nulls," found themselves imbued with strange and varied abilities. Some developed superhuman strength, agility, or endurance, while others gained the power to manipulate the environment or project energy blasts from their hands.

The Nulls were a mystery, even to themselves. They didn't understand why they were immune to the Xenophages or how they had gained their powers. But they knew they had a role to play in the survival of humanity.

The Nulls' existence was a precarious one. Hunted by both the Carnifex and human survivors who saw them as abominations, they were forced to live in the shadows, always staying one step ahead of their pursuers. The humans, desperate to understand the source of the Nulls' powers, subjected any they captured to brutal experiments, seeking to unlock the secrets of their immunity.

The Nulls, led by a young woman named Aria, had managed to evade capture so far, but they knew it was only a matter of time before they were discovered. Aria, with her ability to manipulate shadows, had become a skilled scout and strategist, helping the Nulls stay hidden and gather intelligence on their enemies.

One night, as they were hiding in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of a ravaged city, the Nulls received a cryptic message from an unknown ally. The message spoke of a hidden underground bunker, where scientists had been working on a cure for the Xenophage infection. The Nulls were skeptical, but desperate for any hope, they decided to investigate.

As they made their way through the treacherous landscape, avoiding Carnifex and human patrols, they couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. They were ambushed eventually.