In a dimly lit room with a surgical atmosphere, a man wearing glasses entered, exuding a palpable sense of curiosity. He approached a woman in a pristine white lab coat, deeply engrossed in examining a holographic projection of a brain, her expression reflecting a profound engagement with her subject.
"How many days has it been since we commenced the process of tearing and healing her body, forcibly infusing her with the 'darsin' and vampire essence?" the man inquired, his tone laced with a sinister edge.
"It's been two months now. Most individuals lose their sanity under these circumstances, but she seems to be coping remarkably well. Surprisingly, the vampire essence has integrated seamlessly with her physiology, rendering her mana veins a hundred times stronger than they were on day one," the woman responded, her attention fixed on the computer screen, scarcely acknowledging the man's presence.
"Sometimes these screams seem almost melodic, don't you think? It's a testament to our unwavering dedication and hard work in transforming feeble humanity into something formidable," he mused, gesturing theatrically as though conducting a symphony. The agonizing cries, serving as the disquieting soundtrack, continued to resonate from the adjacent room, visible through a glass wall that revealed the inhuman and repulsive nature of their ongoing, unethical human experimentation.
"Do you know what a rift is?" the woman fixed her gaze on the man, her voice carrying a cold, challenging undertone, testing his knowledge.
"Of course! Even an idiot would know. It's a fissure in the fabric of space-time, creating a passage to an unknown realm, like a new world within the universe. It links two points, allowing things to traverse, although strangely, we cannot traverse it. Only monsters can," the man retorted nonchalantly, dismissing the question with a flick of his hand, regarding the woman with a smug expression.
"Indeed, but it's far more complex than that," she asserted, emphasizing her superiority in the matter and her extensive knowledge. With a hint of avarice in her expression, she continued, "Rifts and dungeons represent higher-dimensional planes that have coexisted with our world, yet remained separate. However, for some unknown reason, the boundary that separates them from our reality has weakened. As a result, they have revealed themselves. A rift is essentially a significant fracture between two universes, enabling entities to traverse into our world. In some instances, I've theorized that it might also serve as a conduit to other worlds, but as of now, it remains a mere hypothesis, unsupported by any tangible evidence." She sighed, revealing her frustration at the limits of her current knowledge and research.
"Ah, now I understand. But what's the connection between this girl and the rifts?" the man queried, visibly perplexed by the sudden influx of knowledge about rifts.
"Well, the vampire essence we're infusing into her belonged to an ancient vampire, presumably from another universe where the inhabitants resemble those of our own. However, the energy emitted by its remains is distinct, significantly more potent, and contains a pure form of 'darsin,' a substance scarce in our world," she explained, her expression growing increasingly intrigued as she returned to examine the data on the computer screen.
"Wait, does that mean the rumor about the 'Zeon Marks' discovering a corpse from an S-rank rift was true? That the rift contained nothing but a corpse?" he whispered in astonishment, but the whisper seemed to agitate the woman.
"Yes, that's true. And don't whisper like that again unless you want your eyes gouged out. It's puzzling how so many children have perished, yet the essence never reacted in this manner," she remarked, a grin of fascination playing across her face as the computer displayed an unknown energy mending and fortifying the child's mind, as if striving to restore her to life.
"Well, what's even more intriguing is how they always seem to have an endless supply of children at their disposal. How many have perished, yet we still have more orphans than anyone cares to acknowledge. If we were dealing with children who had families, it would undoubtedly complicate our experiments, as inquiries would arise regarding the missing children," the man remarked, reclining in his chair, heaving a sigh, and smiling as he gazed at the ceiling.
"Well, the abundance of children is never a shortage thanks to our organization. They create rifts in cities with low manpower, ensuring a steady supply of children who have lost their families and everything else," she replied with a smile, though it bore an artificial air of sympathy for the victimized children involved in their inhumane experiments.
She continued, "Could it be that she already had 'darsin' within her body? But it's of no consequence now. The essence has been fully absorbed. The only remaining task is to analyze the data we've gathered. This wretched child will be of some use. Even if she perishes, I must extract every last piece of information I can," she declared, issuing commands to the computer. The machine responded by tearing the girl apart swiftly and in excruciating ways, the spattering of blood on the glass wall in front eliciting a sinister smile, driven by both fascination and a ravenous thirst for knowledge.
"Poor children, serving as mere stepping stones for our research. Make something of your worthless lives," the man feigned tears of sorrow, his smile belying the mock sentiment as he peered through the glass wall into the adjoining room.
"This experiment is nearing completion. This unfortunate child might serve as a subject for tests in other locations. I feel a tinge of sorrow at our impending parting," she faked tears, her grin belying the falsity of her emotions as she examined the data collected from the experiment.
The maniacal laughter of both scientists reverberated in the ears of the girl, who, still conscious, was suspended in a machine, forced to listen to their callous conversation. The machine continued its relentless task, tearing her apart and then healing her, a cycle of excruciating torment and bleak hope.
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A black-haired woman with sharp eyes was navigating through the frustrating traffic, her irritation palpable. It was supposed to be her first leisurely weekend as the guild master, free from the weight of duty, yet the relentless traffic persisted as she headed to the city mall. Her thwarted shopping plans left her seething, prompting her to vent her frustration by urging the stalled cars to move. Amidst the commotion, a foreboding sight caught her attention — people abandoning their vehicles in a frenzy, their terrified screams piercing the air.
As she gazed upon the origin of the pandemonium, she beheld a sinister rift tearing open in the sky, unleashing ravenous, drooling monsters that descended onto the street. Faced with the unfolding horror, she swiftly retrieved her phone, maneuvered through the panicked crowd, and summoned a gleaming sword of light, swiftly dispatching the nearby wolf-like creatures known as ferneer in a flash. With determination in her voice, she dialed a number, calling out, "Luna."
"ah run!!"
"RUN MONSTERS AAAAHH!!"
As people in her surroundings panicked, screaming and running, she struggled to convey her message as clearly as possible over the phone. In the chaos, a person collided with her, causing her phone to slip from her grip and crash to the ground. This incident left Aria momentarily expressionless, her frustration with the ominous turn of events etched on her face. Cursing under her breath, she grasped the man responsible by the arm and admonished him sharply, "Hey, I understand it's an emergency, but can't you watch where you're going? Now, hand over your phone." With a stern reprimand delivered, she proceeded to make another phone call, this time with a determined expression.
"Hello, Maken."
"Yes, Aria. What's up? Why did you call me? I thought we had no plans for dungeon hunting today!" Maken's voice came through the phone, laced with surprise and curiosity, trying to make sense of the situation.
"It's urgent. I need our guild to head to Vard-16. There's been a rift outbreak, and I'm in the midst of it," she replied hurriedly, her voice tense as she maneuvered through the chaotic streets, defending the vulnerable from the encroaching monsters.
"Wait! What did you say? A rift outbreak?" His voice revealed a mix of astonishment and disbelief, but he swiftly regained his composure and responded in a resolute tone, "Don't worry, we'll be there soon."
"We need at least 50 guild members right now. I've sent a text to HQ, so we'll get some help soon. But don't be late..." A sudden burst of noise interrupted her, causing the other person to fall silent. The call abruptly ended, leaving Aria with a shiver in her soul, contemplating the ominous fate that might have befallen her guildmates. Her expression turned dark and enigmatic, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
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Silhouetted in the opulent darkness, the moonlight filtering through the window cast an ethereal glow, revealing a mysterious figure standing by the ornate desk, holding a delicate glass of wine, his features obscured in the dimness. While he sipped his wine in tranquil solitude, a woman entered through the door, her steps measured and purposeful, clutching a file. Adorned in a pristine white shirt and a sleek skirt that accentuated her determined demeanor, she inclined herself in deference, acknowledging the figure's authority. With a palpable sense of unease in her voice, she addressed him, 'Sir, we have critical updates concerning our pursuit of the ancient artifact known as the "Elixir of Life," juxtaposing this urgency with a hint of trepidation evident in her voice.
"CONTINUE"
Strolling towards the chair, the man carefully placed his glass on the desk, his face still shrouded in darkness, save for the glint of moonlight illuminating his jawline. The chill in his voice sent a shiver down the woman's spine, yet she managed to speak with unwavering resolve, 'Your favorite individual is stirring up trouble on our mission.'
'Is that so? I distinctly recall advising her to steer clear of Rulxa's affairs,' he remarked with a sigh, his tone icy and detached. 'I suppose that child will have to learn the hard way. Well, what has she done this time?' Curiosity laced his voice, tinged with an underlying frostiness.
'In recent months, she's probed into every dungeon under Rulxa's control, dispatching nearly every hired thug or lackey, although none posed a significant threat,' she paused, steeling herself for the inevitable repercussions of her next words. 'However, the headquarters appears perturbed by these incidents and demands that we rectify the situation.'
'I see, so those bastards are up to something again!' A tinge of anger laced his words, though his composure remained unyielding. 'Have they dispatched anyone or provided instructions for our course of action?' With a fluid motion, the man retrieved his glass, taking a sip of the wine as he mulled over the developing situation.
"They've ordered us to eliminate every last one posing a threat to Rulxa's central ambitions, meaning we're tasked with wiping out the notorious 'Raven' dark guild," she conveyed with a hint of resignation. "They haven't provided additional support, but I suspect they'll clandestinely dispatch someone to oversee our operations, ensuring our compliance with their directives." Taking a seat opposite the man, she began detailing the contents of the file, her fingers tracing over the intricate notes with practiced precision, each page unraveling a web of cryptic information that hinted at a larger, more intricate scheme at play.
"Rulxa's grand plan - I have yet to fathom its scope. For them to prioritize the dungeons to this extent is perplexing. What could they possibly stand to gain from such focused aggression? Even as the boss of a villainous organization, I never resorted to this level of destruction myself," the man's voice carried a note of self-pity, lamenting the lack of substantial accomplishments on his part, his gaze drifting momentarily to the moonlit landscape outside, as if seeking solace in the tranquil night.
"Then what course of action should we take?" she inquired, her tone serious, although her expression hinted at her anticipation of the forthcoming response, her eyes locked onto his form, searching for any trace of direction in his enigmatic countenance.
" we will carry out their demands," he uttered in a sinister tone, the dark aura around him seeming to intensify, casting an ominous pall over the room.
"Then I'll proceed to set the bounty. Should it be a standard scale?" she inquired, rising from her seat, prepared to execute his orders while awaiting his response.
"Raise the bounty to $1 million for the capture of the 'A-rank' demon hunter Luna and her guild master Aria. If they manage to eliminate the entire guild, an additional $10 million will be awarded. I owe that girl a debt," he declared, his voice resolute and unyielding, revealing the unrelenting nature of his character, his steely resolve leaving no room for second thoughts.
"Yes, sir," she acknowledged, ready to depart, but before she could leave, the man's voice took on a hint of embarrassment, an acknowledgment of the vulnerability that came with aging. "Could you close the window as you leave? I fear I've had too much to drink to manage it myself."
"Of course, and why do you drink when you can't handle it?" Her response carried a hint of light-hearted dismissal, fulfilling the man's request before gently shutting the window behind her. As she walked back through the door, it sealed shut softly, plunging the room into total darkness, leaving nothing visible except for the fiery glow of the man's eyes and the intermittent dialing of a telephone.
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"Is Sia on another mission? It's not fair; she's always out there slaying monsters, and we're stuck here dealing with this damn paperwork," a short brown hair woman exclaimed loudly, her voice slurred with the unmistakable signs of inebriation as she continued her grumbling.
"Well, that's because she's strong, unlike you. She's currently ranked 12th among the most powerful mercenaries, and I wouldn't be surprised if she climbs to the top 2 or even the top spot during the next evaluation," the man responded, teasing the woman with a mischievous glint in his eye, placing his winning cards down on the table.
"Damn, you're pretty lucky at poker," a girl remarked to a man sitting beside her, her speech slightly slurred, with a bottle resting conspicuously on the desk.
"Yeah, she's right," another man chimed in, nodding in agreement with the woman's statement.
"Now it's my turn! Wow, four of a kind," a man with long black hair and a scar on his face exclaimed, playfully smacking the back of the friend sitting next to him in the midst of the lively and jovial atmosphere.
"Hey, that hurt!" protested a short-haired girl with brown eyes, her voice tinged with mock anger as she retaliated by pinching the man's cheek.
*Riiing, riiing!*
"Oh, shit! Guys, it's Aria's phone!" a muscular, brown-haired man blurted out in a shocked tone, swiftly concealing the cards on the desk as everyone scrambled to hide any evidence of their leisurely activity. In the midst of the bustling office, the five individuals found themselves engrossed in a game of cards, only to be interrupted by the sudden call.
"Hello, Aria," the man answered, his expression one of surprise, yet tinged with a hint of hesitation due to their earlier indulgence.
"Hello, Maken."
"Yes, Aria. What's up? Why did you call me? I thought we had no plans for dungeon hunting today!" Maken's voice carried an air of surprise and curiosity as he attempted to grasp the situation unfolding.
Engrossed in the conversation, Maken's expression grew increasingly serious, prompting him to switch the call to speaker mode to ensure the other members could follow the discussion.
"What? Seriously?" Hiron, the man with long hair, exclaimed in disbelief.
"OMG! Finally, some action!" a woman in a drunken stupor cheered, oblivious to the gravity of the situation. The room fell silent, the disapproving glances from the others emphasizing the seriousness of the matter. Realizing her misstep, she lowered her head in embarrassment, casting her gaze towards the floor in silence.
As the discussion continued, Maken gestured to a woman with short hair named Shino, prompting her to investigate the sound of someone entering through the office door. While still engaged in the phone conversation, Maken's attention remained divided.
Approaching the newcomer, Shino was taken aback as the man revealed a gun, a wicked grin adorning his face, accompanied by several others who crashed through the walls, trapping everyone inside and leaving them on high alert as they braced themselves for an imminent fight.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the room, the impact causing the floor to give way, sending everyone plummeting downward. In the aftermath, the fate of those trapped within remained shrouded in mystery. Meanwhile, at a distance from the crumbling building, the mastermind behind the scenes, adorned in a black coat and a cigar in hand, observed the chaos with a sinister smile playing across his lips.