The sound of tiny bullets of water hitting metal is what a soldier woke up to inside an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC). Fellow soldiers in black armor were checking gear, bullet count, and laughing about something the soldier didn't catch onto. He looked about slowly, still groggy from not getting any sleep at their base. For the soldier had been having restless sleep for the last few nights.
The man next to him shook him, "Hey rookie you alive?" the man began to laugh, "Hey Captain, I think the new recruit was sleeping during the briefing." The rookie looked up and got to attention after being called out.
"Well he better listen closely then," the captain spoke, his name was Jack Graves. A man with enough experience in the military and mercenary work that would put most to shame. His greying hair betrayed his age, scars on his face made him look like some kind of warrior, and his voice could send chills down one's spine. "We have been tasked with taking out a Chaos Rift, thanks to the association for hiring us to take it on. We are to investigate and take out the creatures inside. We will be rewarded for completing the job and closing the rift." He looked at the Rookie, then continuing.
"A Chaos Rift as you know is a tear in reality that we encounter here on Earth. Creatures from your basic beasts, to ones that you would only imagine in your nightmares come from these rifts." He tapped his wrist communicator and a holographic display of the site came up. "The rift has appeared in the subway system and we have only one way in. The rift is currently stable and the barrier is only open on the surface, thankfully. Now, I want everyone to be on the lookout for anything strange or different in this location." The hologram fizzled out, then Captain Graves stood tall.
One of the soldiers looked up, "What are we to look for sir?" The man held a standard M4, however it was upgraded to use CB Rounds. CB Rounds are known as Chaos Beast Rounds for they are made from parts of the creatures to give them the power to kill the creatures. The rookie also noted the patch on his shoulder as a Summoner.
Summoners, people who have gained powers from defeating their first Chaos Beast. Which unlocked a power to summon the beast they first killed. Not everyone became a summoner though, some became Evokers, Healers, Assassins, Warriors, Tanks, or Standards. There were even people with powers outside these categories. But they were usually kept secret from the public or newly awakened people.
Evokers used a form of magic that summoned the elements to their beck and call. However only one element was ever unlocked for them. Unique powers also were part of this category, but again he didn't see what they were.
Healers were what their name implied. People gained healing properties either for themselves or to heal others. They became the backbone of every job to close Chaos Rifts. Their strengths varied in how potent the healing could be. Some could only heal surface wounds, while some could allow others to regrow lost limbs. Rarely were people able to restore an entire body, but only a few existed. They lead the Red Cross, the greatest organization of healers.
Assassins were nimble, fast, and deadly, however they were weak in their constitution compared to most. They had fast attacks, quick reflexes, but terrible stamina. Unless they trained their bodies to increase their stamina, they would have to rely on quick and decisive kills. Capable Assassins were able to hide their presence, turn invisible, or move so fast the human eye couldn't track them. Their speed was unparalleled.
Warriors are the main force of every group and organization. They were plenty and their skill sets varied in close to long range capabilities. Some had abilities that helped with their strength, some with accuracy for long range weapons, or their durability and stamina. Some even had skills and powers that seemed to blend into a sub-evoker category. Able to infuse a weapon with an elemental type, or cause attacks with elements.
Tanks are also that niche group that had the most durability and stamina that could resist most attacks. They were the bulkhead of the front line, able to cause Chaos Beasts to attack them to allow their team to take them out. Some even had incredible strength to go with their defensive powers. Turning to metal, stone, or even creating a barrier of energy around themselves. Pretty simple but effective power sets.
Then there were the Standards. This is the lowest group of the bunch were they were the fodder of the group. They had yet to kill their first beast or had killed one and didn't unlock their true potential. These people had the ability to increase their bodies to a level that doubled every attribute of their natural bodies. A person that could lift 100 pounds with ease, could lift 200 pounds with ease with their increase in strength. They could double their speed of that of a Olympic sprinter, survive a few blows without a scratch from a low caliber bullet or knife with ease. But usually only a few times before they grew tired. Their stamina also was doubled naturally from the basic human being.
But they had no other powers. They could unlock their potential with defeating a beast, but it was difficult to judge when that would be. Sometimes it required a very difficult Chaos Beast which was beyond their league. But it was possible... Which is what the Rookie had hoped for.
Captain Graves looked at his fellow soldier, "We are told that a Chaos Den could be located at the bottom. Meaning the rift had a monster that could prove very difficult and could summon an Aberrant." Everyone in the APC looked down, no one in their right minds would want to fight an Aberrant. They were the worst creatures to ever come across for little is known about them. A very few amount of people had managed to kill them, but they were also super rare.
"Looks like the Rookie is going in with us this time, so hope the Standard can handle himself." Everyone nodded, not needing someone slowing them down. Which the Captain looked at the rookie. "Cyrus Reinhard," Cyrus looked up, his helmet on not showing his facial expression.
"Sir!" He saluted, a short blade on his lower back and a sidearm was all he had. Basic gear and standard equipment was all he had received. It was all that he could afford and he was okay with his selections. He had a customized Berretta 9mm Pistol with a duel light/laser sight, extended mag, four spare clips, and one mag of explosive rounds. With a compacted short blade that rested on his lower back just above his waist. It had a function to electrify a beast and fry it from the inside. A gift from his friend when he made it into this organization.
"I hope your ability unlocks when we go down their, for now, do a good job and come back alive." As Captain Graves said those words, the APC slowed down to a stop.
"Captain, we have arrived!" The back door opened and Cyrus was the first one to deploy and get into ready position. Soldiers filed out and people from around the area had been reporting the event on the news and bystanders recording for their blogs and the Chaos Chat. A place people went to report on Chaos Rifts and the groups who were tasked to close them. Captain Graves was the last to step out and hefted his rifle. Which most everyone used was a custom M4.
He began to lead the soldiers down into the tunnels, while Cyrus was last to follow. This allowed him to hear a man close by reporting on the event of their arrival.
"As you see it now, the Fenrir Soldiers have finally made it to the station just in time. Yes, they have just pulled up and are heading down as we speak. Lets us just hope that these 'Dogs of War' are able to close the rift." Then as he went down the stairs he couldn't hear anything else but the sound of the rain behind him.
*****
Down below, deep in the twisted station, the sound of something eating the corpses of its prey. A creature could feel intruders enter its domain. With a shake of its body, it prepared to meet them, wondering if there was something worth while. It had the desire to devour all in its path. Its eyes shined brightly with a purple hew, as it returned to its meal of another Chaos Beast.
*****
A chill ran down Cyrus' back as he could feel like someone had just touched him. The Fenrir Soldiers had continued down into the first level station. Having now entered the Chaos Rift, the area became distorted and twisted. The sounds of dripping water and rats running about were the only things that had greeted them so far. The captain had led the group through the first level. Nothing seemed to be on this level except corpses of people who couldn't escape the rift from opening. Cause when a Chaos Rift began to appear, odd things would begin to happen before the actual rift had opened. The feeling of an earthquake, things floating in the air, or even when everyone's hair would stand up. Usually the most common was that static would become visible in the air.
Captain Graves had halted the group for he had spotted the first creature. A Gamma grade Chaos Beast. They were the most common in the rifts. Usually, meant that it was easy for the first few moments of the rift. However with the section of the underground station, it could be three levels that they had to go through. The beast was comparatively that of a super rat, one that would scout about and squeak to alert its hoard. Lucky for the soldiers, it hadn't spotted them yet.
Commanding a soldier with a suppressed rifle take aim and fire at the CB Rat, the man knelt down on the tiled floor and took aim. The creature was picking apart a piece of clothing from a torn off leg. With an exhale of breath, the soldier squeezed the trigger. A quiet bang caused the creature to flinch, but was then quickly taken out as the bullet passed right through its head. They all froze for a moment, waiting to hear if anything came rushing them. But luckily, nothing seemed to have moved except for the dripping of water and the emptiness of sound.
"Lets move out," the Captain issued the order as their group moved forward. The two summoners of the group summoned spectral wolves to assist in tracking and offense. A single evoker was in the middle with a healer, who were surrounded by the group of fighters and Cyrus, the one standard. Cyrus couldn't help feel uneasy, it wasn't that the atmosphere in the station was different from a normal rift. It was more that he could help shake he has seen this all before...