Chapter Song Suggestion "Diode by WinstonW"
*note : all dialogues like so {example} are spoken from the predator's perspective
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THE PAST | Regis
"Why must I take your blood? Will I die if I don't?" he asked innocently, watching as Father injected the red liquid into his veins. "I don't like how it makes me feel. I always end up sick for days."
Father smiled, never lacking patience for his candid questions. "No, you won't die, and it'll get better one day, I promise. The pain will subside over time. And this blood isn't just mine. It's my life's work to make you grow into a strong and invincible man." Father set the needle aside. "Do you remember telling me that you never want to feel helpless again?"
He nodded briskly. "Yes, I did."
"Well, I promise to take care of you like my own son and you will never want for anything. This blood will erase any weakness that the human body has — no illness, no diseases and it will help your injuries to regenerate quickly. You are the future of mankind, Regis. If this succeeds, you will be one of a kind."
His young mind failed to comprehend the importance of Father's words but, if it made Father happy, he was willing to do anything. "Does that make me special?"
"Certainly." Father fondled his hair. "You will always be my special boy."
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PRESENT DAY
The parachute scattered the team across the flaming forest. Koga and Anaelle found themselves landing on the central tree where the rampant Araneidas terrorized the Sciurusians.
"Damn it!" Anaelle swore aloud when her parachute was trapped in the intricate silk webbings of the Araneida's lair. The vibrations of her movements travelled along the white fibres and warned the web spinner that a prey was caught.
Landing on both feet, Koga detached from his parachute and ran towards her with his arms outstretched. "Disengage your parachute! I'll catch you!"
She didn't have much of a choice. Taking a deep breath, she punched the eject button and released a short yelp as she plunged to her possible death. Her fall was broken by a pair of strong arms.
"I've got you, Anaelle," Koga's soft words tickled her hair. His fresh, minty scent and the feel of his sinewy back where she clung onto him for dear life sent a tingle of awareness down her spine. Heat fluttered in her womb. This foreign sensation was enough to jar her limbs awake. "Let me go!"
"Ouch!" Koga jerked when her fist connected with his cheek. He released her immediately. "What the hell is wrong with you!"
Ears burning with embarrassment, she put a fair amount of distance between them. "Thank you, for helping me."
"Is this how you thank someone?" he groused, rubbing his sore cheek.
"You startled me!" she defended hotly.
Koga stopped and stared, realizing the Ice Princess was unsettled by him. A knowing, masculine smile stretched his lips. "I know what this is…,"
"Why are you smiling like that?" Anaelle demanded irritably, avoiding his fathomless gaze. Koga stopped wearing his ridiculous dark glasses months ago and now she could easily see hazel brown eyes. "Stop it."
"It's good to know you're capable of melting, princess."
Red-faced, she spun around, ready to give him a piece of her mind when Koga's expression morphed into a thunderous black cloud. "Get down!" he roared.
Her body reacted to the instinctive fear in his voice, and she bend with her arms shielding her head. She heard a wet, tearing sound, thick and obscene, ending with an inhumane pitch.
"Disgusting bastards!" Koga flicked the greenish blood off his katana.
A blood curling scream rented the air, wresting Anaelle's attention to the higher levels. She withdrew her reaper. "There's someone up there! We need to help her!"
They rushed up an in-built stairway on the giant tree trunk, stumbling upon a nest of wriggling human cocoons. The cries of help from within proved they were still alive. Two eight-legged freaks manned the area, their large fangs snapping in warning.
"I'll save the Sciurusians while you cover me." Anaelle unfurled her laser whip. "After we kill these bastards, we need to locate the queen."
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Eira soared the skies, catching sight of Captain Hakon and Kostra landing on the other end of the swampland, while Kaiser's lonely parachute drifted to the opposite side.
Sciurus boasted the world's largest trees, growing up to eight hundred metres tall, creating a natural cradle of branches that allowed the townsfolk to build their homes above ground and protect them from wild predators.
Eira supposed they were the present-day version of the treefolks village.
It was a meticulously structured nation due to its natural terrain of trees, bogs, and swamps. The lowest structure was called the swamp floor – the darkest region where sunlight was scarce and the perfect habitat for scavengers. Some people called it the death swamp because of the horrid stench of decay and fungi it emitted – strong enough to suffocate a child.
The middle structure known as the canopy was where the townsfolk built their homes, protected from the elements and with enough sunlight for all living things to thrive.
Suddenly, a white, shimmering form ensnared her attention. What on earth was that? It appeared to be humanoid in shape, with specks of brown decorating its wings. Was it a predator? She had never seen anything like it.
"Head over there, Xue Long. Follow that creature."
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"Captain, I see Kaiser up ahead. You can drop me off where he is." Florian swung his leg over the saddle in preparation to jump. The moment he did, no one expected a vampire fly to snatch him up in mid-air.
"Oof! What the—!" Florian felt a vicious pinch on his neck followed by intense pressure. He couldn't speak. Instead, he felt as if his entire being was being swallowed whole.
Bang! Bang!
The pressure released and Florian fell with a hard thud on the soft, marsh ground.
"Vice-Captain!" Kaiser appeared in his peripheral vision. "Are you alright?"
Florian clutched at the blood spilling from his throat. A wet, gurgling sound emerged when he attempted to speak.
"Hold still." Kaiser retrieved a small cannister from his pack and sprayed a hot film of liquid on Florian's wound. "This will temporarily stop the bleeding and seal your injury."
Florian winced at the stinging pain, letting out a ragged breath when it subsided.
"Try talking now," Kaiser urged.
"That was a case of serious bad luck," Florian complained angrily, surging to his feet.
"Thankfully the Captain reacted quickly, or you would be dead in seconds."
"Florian, are you alive?" Lars called from above.
"I'm fine!" Florian shouted.
"Try not to get yourself killed!" Lars responded before taking off.
Kaiser activated his shield around them. "We're literally surrounded. I can hold out for an hour in this form. This molecular shield will keep us safe as long as we stay within the dome." He pointed to a flat rock surface. "You can set up your reaper over there and take out the predators."
"It's going to take forever just to kill them with a bullet each," Florian remarked undecidedly. "I have a better idea." He rummaged his pack for a bunch of grenades. "Can your reaper trap things?"
"Yes. What are you planning to do?"
"If we lure the pesky flies together and trap them inside your reaper, I can use these to blow them up. It'll save us time and effort."
Kaiser had never tried using his weapon in that manner, although it was an interesting experiment. "Let's do it. My reaper extends to a limit of a fifteen-kilometre radius. I'm confident that it'll work."
"Good." Florian was beginning to see why Lars had scouted Kaiser. The man was definitely open to ideas, even the crazy ones. "I'll act as the bait. All you have to do is trap them."
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Lars landed near the swamp floor where Hakon and Kostra efficiently exterminated the hardback pinchers. A massacre of scattered body parts added to the gruesome stench in the air, making it painful to breathe. No matter how many times Lars saw these flesh-coloured predators, he couldn't get over how hideous they were.
Sightless and headless, except for a mouth attached to its torso…he couldn't understand how this 'thing' existed. It barely resembled an animal or insect, except for its thin feelers and hard exoskeleton and eight pair of legs. The most repulsive aspect of it was its pencil sharpener mouth, rimmed with thousands of tiny sharp teeth, ready to grind flesh and bones — like a walking butchery.
"No survivors down here," Hakon declared with a straight face. "Whoever was unlucky enough to have fallen down here would have been turned into minced meat in seconds."
"It would be a miracle," Lars agreed.
"There's something strange on this hardback pincher's exoskeleton, Captain," Kostra uttered distractedly, a laser cutter in his hand working to remove the piece.
The fine hairs on Lars's nape stood on end when he saw it. "Let me see that."
Kostra handed him the shell and Lars peered at it in the lightless void. His eyes widened in recognition — the same cross and semicircle symbol. Hakon was right. This attack was a set-up.
"I assume you know what it is?" Hakon watched him intently.
"I've encountered this same symbol months ago, and it's tied to the recent massacres of small villages across the nations."
"Who is the culprit?" Unforgivable anger vibrated in Hakon's voice.
"We don't know for sure." Lars shook his head. "But whoever is responsible for this is connected to the Lieutenant General. I'm sure of it."
"You're still going on about that?" Hakon frowned.
"You know as well as I do that he's the reason why we are here." Lars marched right up to Hakon, his lips stretched thin. "We were both unwilling victims. I was abducted, and you were betrayed."
The bleak reminder of his past made Hakon scowl fiercely. "Even if Levente is responsible, you need absolute proof to implicate him. He's not someone you can easily contend with."
"Not alone, I can't," Lars conceded with the confidence of one who had read the future. "I can't wait any longer. Time is running out."
Hakon's face tautened. "What do you mean?"
"This has been going on for too many years," he insisted with an edge of frustration. "It needs to end, or we'll never be free."
"Are you still planning to leave Ataxia?"
They spoke of this once when they were boys — their dreams, and what they would do once they regained their freedom. Hakon had listened and understood his pain but, unlike him, Hakon was content to remain where he was. Being sold by his father to repay his gambling debts, Lars understood why Hakon didn't have anything waiting for him back home. But Lars wanted to build a home – with Eira, and any children that they might have. His mind was set on the future, not the present and definitely not on the past. Ironically, he needed to end his past in order to look forward.
Levente was that past – a bleeding wound he needed to cauterize.
Click-click-click-click!
The three of them became wisely alert. Lars reached for his reaper when Aeolus released a high-pitched squawk. It happened so abruptly, they couldn't see what had attacked the Gryphon, except for the two punctures in Aeolus's back wing armour.
"Aeolus! Take to the sky!" he ordered the predator.
The stubborn Gryphon refused to budge. When had it became so difficult?
"Now, Aeolus!" he roared.
Click-click-click-click!
"I know that sound," Kostra said, moving cautiously with his scythe reaper. "It belongs to a mantis snatcher. Snatchers dwell in dark, damp places and this is a perfect habitat. Beware of its spiked forelegs. Once it hooks into your flesh, it doesn't let go until it bites off your head."
Click-click-click-click!
Hakon grunted when two sharp limbs bounced off his curved, wing-shaped blades. Determined not to let it escape, he hurled one of his twin weapons and heard the satisfying slice of a clean decapitation. His reaper never failed to disappoint him.
Click-click-click-click!
"It seems there's more than one —" Kostra was knocked off his feet before he could finish his sentence. Reacting instinctively, he raised his reaper over his body, successfully blocking the snatcher's piercing foreleg.
Lars fired at the dark mass of flattened, segmented body and glowing red eyes hovering over Kostra. Its mangled torso fell lifelessly with a thud. He approached the younger man and extended a helping hand.
"Thank you, Captain Verhelst," Kostra grunted, allowing Lars to pull him up.
Slash! Slash! They heard Hakon dispatching another snatcher in the background.
Observing the dead predator, Lars noticed it bore the same strange symbol. A foreboding feeling ran down his spine. It was too much of a coincidence for all these predators to be gathered here, and by the same mastermind. What exactly was Falconer's motive?
Then, it hit him.
It couldn't be. He hoped to God he was wrong. "Hakon, I'm leaving these snatchers to you. There's something I need to check on."
"Go, we'll be fine without you."
With a sharp whistle, Lars summoned his Gryphon. "Aeolus, track Eira down. Now!"
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It was mysterious how the white creature just vanished into thin air. Eira couldn't quite put a finger on it but, somehow it felt like the predator knew exactly what it was doing. Was she reading too much into its calculated moves?
"Help! Help me!"
Her head snapped in the direction of a boy's voice from below.
"Let's go, Xue Long."
The dragon lowered them to the canopy trees and Eira listened again for the voice. "Where are you?"
"Over here! Please, help me!"
It was coming from one of the wooden huts hidden under the shade. Her heart began to beat a wild staccato. Every part of her screamed that it was a trap, yet she couldn't ignore how a little boy's life was in danger.
"I don't see you," she called out tentatively.
Something moved in the shade, and she stared hard at it. "Step out where I can see you."
Xue Long growled and shielded Eira's body with her own, forcing her several steps back.
{Master, stay back. Dangerous.}
"What's wrong, Xue Long? What do you see?"
The dragon didn't need to answer her because a young man and not a boy appeared from the shadows. His exotic features and brown skin gave away his Ustranaean ancestry, proclaiming he wasn't a native.
"Who are you?" she demanded slowly.
"I-I'm sorry," he stuttered, looking close to tears.
She frowned, lowering her weapon. "Why are you sorry?"
Xue Long growled even harder, wings flaring out in a threatening gesture.
{Bad man is here.}
"It seems your predator has a better sense of awareness than you do, Eira."
It was then she realized someone else was with the boy – someone she already knew. "Regis. What are you doing here?" she asked warily, his presence like a bad omen.
"Come Eira." He stretched out a hand. "It's time to get the answers you seek."
"Where will you take me?"
"Home."
Her frown deepened. "And where is home?"
"Father is eager to meet you. And if you don't come with me, then I'll just have to kill this innocent man. Apparently, he belongs to your government." Regis eyed the Ustranaean with aloof interest. They were of similar age yet; they were as different as day and night.
"Let him go, and I'll come with you," she calmly negotiated.
Regis shook his head, opening a portal. "No, Eira Ulva." He stepped through. "If you wish to save him, and the girl, then you will come — on your own free will."
Her gaze sharpened. "Is Jade alright?"
Regis merely smiled, though it bore not a trace of humour. "You'll find out soon enough."
Eira hesitated. If she went with him, there was a chance she wouldn't be coming back. And if she didn't, two lives were at stake. Her mind made up, she unclasped her twinkling bracelet and discreetly tossed it. "Alright, I'll come with you. But I want your word that you won't harm a single soul."
"You have my word."