*Thunderous thunder*
*Lightening lightening.*
Away from the safety of the tunnels, just a few feet about ground, the dust storm was ravaging the city as it passed by. If someone was to be in the city at the moment, they'd be carried up by the winds, blown around like a polythene bag and torn to pieces by the debris flying around. Even though the storm was raging out in the wee hours of the night, the bright commotion from the lightning made it look like it was somewhere between afternoon hours in the middle of a thick hurricane.
To make this even more frightening, the sounds of the winds sounded like millions of wailing souls crying out in deep, depressed voices echoing through the mass of the raging storm, all tipped with the powerful booms and crackles of lightning.
The dust carried by the winds made it hard for one to see, and even if they tried, their eyes would bleed in an instant thanks to the dust. Even though these conditions were too rough for any die hard to be stupid enough to move in, two entities made their way through the desert, under this storm, and were now taking refuge inside a skyscraper.
Former military General Jack and his new master Jim were inside and abandoned sky scrapper that luckily still had its windows intact. The building was currently dimly lit with cold wind blowing through the cracks of the windows, doors, and holes in the wall. At the moment, Jim was in his golden-red blood mutant form and held two thick sand worms in his claws. The creatures were currently bleeding out and all their blood was being dissolved by his skin.
"Must you kill these innocent creatures for such a horrible act?" Jack asked while leaning against a wall with his hands over his head. Being used as a puppet drained him of all his energy and since he was forcefully injected with multiple serums, his body was still processing each one of them, meaning he didn't know his own strength or weaknesses yet.
"I take you're a vegetarian." Jim replied while consuming the last drop and leaving the bodies on the ground to rot. "This curse of what I've become forces me to consume blood if I want to live."
"How often must you do that?" Jack, clearly disgusted at this, questioned since it was an unknown phenomenon to him. "Is it a daily thing and are there certain types of blood you can't consume?"
"It's simple," Jim spoke while reverting to his human form. "I don't exactly know what this thing is called but I must consume blood whenever I get extremely hungry. This also allows me to do the things you've seen me do and more. It may sound cool, but the very thought of having to consume another creature's blood disgusts me. That's why I want to get my revenge on the person who turned me into this freak."
"Or," Jack spoke. "We could turn ourselves in to the aliens and have them extract whatever this is. It seems the boy got it from them. Maybe they can take it out of you."
Jim sighed angrily while making sure not to burst out in anger. He instead slid a body over to Jack and said, "You need to mind your business and eat something. You'll start digesting yourself if you don't eat something."
"Come on, Jim." Jack tried to sympathize but Jim transformed into his blood mutant form and jumped through the ceiling, rather choosing to avoid pushing this conversation any further.
---------------
[5:00 AM]
[350KM away]
Nexille city, a pillar to human civilization and in its area, was currently having a slight challenge once rumors of war started spreading all over. The citizens, most men and women with crystal weapons, started pushing themselves to extreme measures. Children as young as twelve were given village destroying weapons and taught how to skillfully use them.
The adults were currently training with D, C, and rarely B tiered beasts and learning how to use them and their powers effectively. While all of this was happening, Nexille's Regular Military, and Gifted Military for minors and adults were prepping to meet ArkVilles' Military at the city Ace was.
While the Gifted Military depended on the unpredictable and irrational impulses of teenagers and college kids, the regular military depended completely on traditional skills, team effort, heavy but highly technologically advanced machinery and a whole lot of crystal and beast power.
For one to even be accepted in the regular military in this day and age, the needed to have an athlete's physique, quick wits, a clear understanding of war, thick skin, and the ability to kill in many creative ways as possible.
Even though both military groups worked differently, they were both led by the same leader, Major General Duke Brickman. Known for his ruthless methods and great spirit and sense of leadership made him more than fit for this role. He was a six-foot seven giant with The Rock's body, a flat buzz cut, and an X scar on his right side of his face, making him partially blind.
Duke was the kind of man you'd want to follow in an apocalypse, the kind of man you'd want to be your military leader, and the kind of man you'd want to beat up your high school bully.
At the moment, Duke and the regular and Gifted Military forces were gathered together for a briefing before they headed out. Together, there were about sixteen thousand forces gathered and there were more gathering from other cities across the Northern Hemisphere and beyond.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Boys and girls," He spoke with his gruff, guttural, and commanding voice. "The day we've all been training tirelessly is knocking at the door ladies and gentlemen. We've been working tirelessly, learning, adapting, practicing, drilling, and doing all sorts of things to drive and push us to this point—and now is the time to see results."
"Our brothers and sisters from ArkVille are already on their way to the battle field. We'll meet them in a few hours and hopefully, the war will have not started by then. Once we get there, we are working as two separate units. The Gifted above twenty will be at the front while the regulars will keep position in the middle. The Gifted below twenty will be at the back and will provide backup and support in case of our defenses are broken."
"Remember, not all of us will come back from this alive. If you're lucky, you'll become a scarred being like me. Only way to ensure that is if we work together and ensure the survival of our species. As always, it's my pleasure to lead you. Let's take the calvary to them."