The doors of a room swung open, as a lone figure stepped through. The room was a symphony of dread, its very air thick with the weight of chaos. Along towering walls, rows of blood-red marbles gleamed, cold and pale, each one etched with ancient, symbols that glowed with a faint light of flickering existence. These symbols, carved in some archaic tongue, bound the souls of the cult, their lives immortalized in each lifeless orb. The walls, suffocating in their density, whispered of countless lives claimed by the leader. At the room's heart, a simple office desk was stationed, it was here, the cult leader sat in brooding silence.
"So much to do and so little time." He vented in frustration.
"Because of Diablo's damn invasion, I now have to rush all my plans."
It was then that something caught his eye, as tens of orbs suddenly dulled to a grey color at once.
"They were all members of the Mason City branch." He thought aloud.
Deciding to pay attention to the scene on ground.
Beneath a mountain of rubble, Angelo lay, barely clinging to the threads of consciousness. His face, bloodied and his flesh seared, bore the marks of his downfall. In one cruel instant, all he had built, all he had schemed for; his men, his empire, his power, had been obliterated. The gifts bestowed upon him by the Cult's leader, now reduced to ash.
"Keeping her alive was a mistake," he rasped, his voice ragged.
The world around him felt distant, a haze of smoke and chaos. His mind, shattered by the blast, struggled to make sense of the carnage. Part of this disorientation came from the toll exacted by his cursed skill, *External Perception*, another twisted skill from the Cult head's arsenal. The ability to warp time itself, slowing it to a crawl within a two hundred meter radius, had been his greatest weapon. Although, the price was great as each use gnawed away a decade of his lifespan.
He used it as his lifeline, a way to seize victory in any battle. But now, due to its toll, he was left hollow, dazed, and scarcely aware of the passing moments.
"I'll let those two deal with her." He murmured, the words barely audible. "While I... recover."
And so, Angelo lay beneath the ruins of his empire.
Somewhere within the shattered landscape, Zeke and Raymond lay amidst the wreckage, their bodies bruised by the inferno that had engulfed them. But they were not ordinary men. Cultivators of their caliber could endure much worse.. Rising to his feet first, Zeke helped his subordinate to his feet. But as they got a look at the new state if things, the carnage that stretched before them was unimaginable; a hellscape of destruction.
"How… is this possible?" Raymond muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief.
"It was her. That damned cripple."
Zeke's words were laced with venom as his fists tightened. Rage and fury coursed through him like wildfire, consuming every fibre of his being.
"Raymond." He growled, eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
"I'm gonna find her, and then I'm gonna grind her bones to dust."A shadow fell over Zeke's face, his expression dark and unforgiving.
"How do you know she's alive boss?" Raymond asked, uncertainty in his voice.
Zeke's glare hardened, his entire presence brimming with violent energy.
"If she isn't." He hissed.
"I'll drag her back from hell so I can kill her again!" He exclaimed bloodlusted.
His energy exploded in a tangible wave, blasting away all the rubble into the air. The ground beneath them quaked as his fiery red energy swirled around him like a tempest. With a single motion, he raised his left hand, and his energy condensed into a scarlet Qi blade.
Following this, Raymond unsheathed a pair of sleek hand guns. Their metallic surface glowing with a golden outline.
"Chaos Vision."
His eyes, now engulfed in a crimson red, as his energy linked itself to his weapons.
"Don't worry boss, I'll find here." He assured.
"Make it quick." Zeke snapped.
"We have to leave before the cops arrive."
"Right."
Raymond loaded his pistols, infusing them with his own Qi, and using it to build ammunition.
BANG
The shots rang out, but the bullets however had no set path. Instead they were being completely controlled via Raymond's skill, weaving through the wreckage, while also serving as unseen eyes for the mercenary.
Sasha on the other hand lay at the epicenter, her body still weak, and her mind clouded by despair.
{You can't remain here forever}
"I know that, but…" She faltered.
"What's the point of all this fighting?" She cried out, voicing her frustration.
"If the heavens are at war, why must we bear the consequences here on Earth?"
She raised her hands to the sky, seeking an answer from the realm above.
{Because, this realm is under the domain of the Celestials and a neutral ground for the denizens of Chaos}
She couldn't believe her ears, as her heart sank. Ever hope, every dream, every fragile life in the universe-nothing more than a pawn in the hands of others. Their very existence, is a playing field for the gods above and the devils below. It was unfair, cruel beyond comprehension.
"Is that so?" She whispered, her voice barely audible.
Clenching her fists, Sasha pushed herself up from the ground.
"And what do you make of all this death and destruction?" She asked calmly.
{Inconsequential in the grand scheme of fate}
"I see." She muttered, releasing a heavy sigh.
It was in that moment that something within her shifted. For the first time since the end of the world she had a purpose.
Her eyes began to glow with a brilliant golden light, as she was determined to make a change. While the heavens looked down upon their suffering, and hell delights in their torment; neither side thinking for the benefit of mortal kind. She would no longer accept it, as the heavens and hell waged war at the expense of humanity.
She had vowed to empty the bowels of hell, and tear down the oppressive grasp of heaven's throne.
"I...will free the world."
Sixteen years of torment and anguish, brought by the very conflict between these forces, had built her fury. And now, that fury has become her will.
{Very well then, if this conviction allows you to complete the task given then do so as you please}
"Let's distribute those stat points."
{Opening Character Profile}
{Name: Sasha Myers
Age: 35
Level: 6
Exp: 671.875/1139.062
Rank: D-class
Speed Tier- Hypersonic
Stats:
Speed-8
Health-5
Dexterity-5
Intelligence-2
SP: 60
QI: 250
HP: 30%
Skills: Nova Implosion
Inventory/Items: None
Mission: Eliminate the Mayson City crime syndicate
Rewards: 500exp
Penalty: Death
Time Limit: 18hrs}
Suddenly, a deafening crack rang through the air. A massive shockwave tore through the atmosphere, accompanied by a pair of bullets screaming toward her.
"Shit!" She spat out.
Barely managing to react before the rounds pierced her back. Agonizing pain shot through her, bringing her to her knees as blood pooled beneath her.
{You're under attack}
"Yeah, thanks, I couldn't tell." She scoffed, as her vision swirled from the pain.
Struggling to get back to her feet, an intense pressure suddenly blanketed the battlefield.
"THERE YOU ARE!!!" Zeke's roar echoed like thunder across the landscape.
Swinging his blade with all his might, he unleashed a wave of Qi blasting through the rubble. Sasha staggered back, her body trembling from the injuries.
"System, could you do me a favour?"
{I already know what's on your mind, but it will take time}
"Alright then." Sasha replied calmly.
As the slash neared her her, a wall of rubble suddenly emerged. The impact resulting in a shockwave that spread across the blast zone, but the barrier held.
Following that a series of walls rose up, surrounding Sasha on all sides, leaving no gaps through which she could be attacked.
Zeke lunged forward, his blade performing a series of strikes aimed at breaking through her defense.
"Don't think you can hide after what you've done!" He yelled.
Within the fortress however, Sasha however was struggling to maintain her strength.
'I can't keep this up for long'
Her body was still in shambles, even with her incredible rate of healing. It was nothing compared to actual regeneration. So as she drew nearer and nearer to exhaustion, so did her defensive wall falter.
Zeke realized soon enough that she had more energy than he did, but was much more inefficient at using it.
"She'll drop her defenses all on her own." He smirked.
"But just in case… I'll let you have a little fun Raymond."
"Right." He responded.
Although he didn't show it as much, Raymond was pissed beyond a reasonable doubt. These people were ready to accept him with open arms, to make him one of their own. But it was all ripped away; and worst of all, she got in the way of Zeke's plans, something which infuriated him more than anything else.
"Don't worry sir."
"I'll keep her alive." He reassured.
Moving with precision he wasted no time at all, reloading his weapons with Qi, unloading shot after shot. Ensuring each and every one to inflict as much damage as possible.
Sasha realized what was happening, bolstering the walls defenses with more energy, stopping them from even scratching the surface.
"Stop being such a nuisance."
Following that, Raymond's technique burst to life. The crimson flames engulfed his eyes, as his control surpassed previous limits.
"I can feel him loosing control over his energy." Zeke commented.
Suddenly the bullets were no longer forcing their way into the walls. Instead they were vibrating with an unnatural frequency, while approaching the barrier, before passing right through it.
"Fxck!"
Sasha's eyes widened in horror as the bullets tore into her body, ripping through her arms and legs.
"U-Ug-h!" She cried out.
Collapsing in agony as blood flowed from fresh wounds. Her walls crumbled, leaving her defenseless.
"Good job kid, now let me handle things."
Zeke approached, his Qi blade gleaming as he down on her, ready to end things. With the tip of his blade pointed right at her skull, he could finish her anytime he wants to.
Sasha looked up, and what she saw wasn't human. The thing that looked back at her was pure hatred, contained in a human vessel.
"I want to see you beg for your life." He snarled. Raising his blade to deal the final blow.
*HAHAHAHAHA*
Sasha's laugh echoed, cutting through the intense scenario.
"Sorry." She chuckled, the very sound of her voice mocking him.
"It's just hilarious that you think that's going to work."
"I'm going to enjoy killing you."
Zeke's blade hovered mere inches from her forehead, ready for the kill, but something stopped it, before it could rip through her skull.
"In your dreams." She uttered defiantly.
Her hand shot up, seizing the blade in an iron grip. She rose to her feet, pushing him back with building shattering force.
"How the hell did-"
Zeke's words were cut short as Sasha's fist connected with his chest, hurling him backwards like a ragdoll. He carved a trench into the earth, disappearing into a cloud of dust.
"BOSS!" Raymond yelled desperately.
Loading his weapon, he decided she was too dangerous to keep alive.
"Don't even think of getting back up."
The shots rang, and the bullets propelled towards her, cutting through the smoky air.
"Huh."
But somehow she could finally perceive the threats around her, and effortlessly sidestepped each round, with an eerie grace.
"What the hell is going on?" Raymond muttered.
"She could barely keep up with us before. Where is all this power coming from?"
Sasha's retaliation was swift. While evading each shot, Sasha projectiles of her own creation, were rocketing through the air to counter Raymond.
"Fxcking hell." Raymond cursed, gritting his teeth.
In mere moments the tide of the battle turned against them, and before he could process their failure agony seized them.
*AAAAAAAAARGH*
A guttural scream resounded across the field, his body buckling under the weight of some torment. He fell to one knee, clutching his chest as if trying to keep his heart from exploding.
"Uh… are you alright?" Sasha asked, genuinely concerned.
"Damn it, this is all your fault."
Raymond howled in a blind rage, his eyes bloodshot, his muscles twisting into grotesque shapes.
*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH*
He shrieked relentlessly, blood spilling from his lips as his body rebelled against the power he used.
'I used Chaos Vision for too long'
And then amidst the repercussions his body faced, his eyes, once filled with cold precision bulged unnaturally. And in an instant both burst in a gruesome torrent of blood.
"RAYMOND!!!" Zeke shouted frantically as he dashed to the boys side.
Grabbing hold of the boy and pulling him from the battlefield, placing him somewhere he can rest. His gaze locked onto Sasha, burning with unholy rage.
"You." He snarled, his body trembling with barely contained wrath.
"Your battle is with me."
"I respect your conviction, but it's clear you two didn't gain this power by your own means." She stated.
"None of that matters!" Zeke spat out.
Without a moments notice he rushed at her, as the Qi blade splintered into multiple streams of energy, cackling in the air like a wild beast.
"Just know, that I'm going to kill you!"
He lunged, his energy slicing through the air with lethal intent. It seemed that Sasha was cornered, about to become another casualty in the game between the gods.
{I have auto-assigned all your stat points, although it was a gradual process, as manipulated user input}
Sasha spoke out in a serene whisper.
"I hope you reflect on your choices later on."
In a flash she vanished from sight, reappearing before Zeke with her fist in his gut, knocking him out cold before he realized what had happened.
Sigh
Sasha finally relaxed her muscles, giving out a deep sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness." She murmured to herself.
"It all worked out."
{I wouldn't relax just yet Sasha}
The rubble shifted beneath the weight of approaching footsteps. Sasha picked up the noise as something drew nearer. At that same time, sirens rang out as fleets of law enforcement surrounded the vicinity.
A voice, cold as ice, echoed from the shadows.
"What a bothersome situation you've put me in."
Sasha turned her gaze towards the speaker.
"So you're still alive?"
"Yes, now if you don't mind, please just die."
Abruptly, a deep, blue light encapsulated him, before spreading outwards in every direction in a wave of energy. In a mere moment, time itself bent to his will, as everything came to an unnatural stillness.
The outside of the barrier was unbreakable, nothing could breach it, unless one could surmount time entirely. While on the inside, all motion slowed, nearing zero.
"No matter how fast you are, I will triumph." He spoke out, calm and confident.
It seemed as though even Sasha was caught in the webs of this technique. Frozen in place, like a statue, completely defenseless. Wasting no time, Angelo gathered up energy in his palm, a blast poised right for her heart.
Right at that moment a sharp pain erupted within him, spreading like wildfire. His organs failed him instantly, ceasing function. His cells rapidly died out, while purple veins marred his flesh as blood vessels burst. He fell to one knee, vomiting pools of blood in violent bursts.
"What… how is this happening?" He gasped, utterly in shock.
"You were going to die within the next decade regardless." Sasha vividly proclaimed.
"Huh?"
The single word was all he could manage, his thoughts unraveling like loose threads.
The blue light of his ultimate technique, began to falter, shattering like fragile glass under pressure. Piece by piece, the world returned to motion as time returned.
"How did you know about my technique?" Angelo croaked, his voice laced with desperation.
"Well, since you're going to die anyway. It's one of the system's abilities."
"S-System?"
His mind was so disheveled that complex thoughts were near impossible. His strength ebbed away, leaving a hollow, broken man. Tears streamed down his face as he wept, the end of his life closing in inevitably.
"The cult leader… he will avenge us." Angelo muttered weakly.
"He won't take this sitting down."
Those were his last words before his body gave out, collapsing lifeless on the ground. Following that time was restored to its natural state, and the outside world rushed in. Law enforcement agencies swarmed the scene, cameras flashing as reporters flocked like vultures to the chaos.
{The has has slain Angelo Richards}
But Sasha? She was gone, like a shadow in the wind, leaving nothing behind but the remnants of battle in her wake.
Quite a distance away from the entire scene, Victor leaned against the crumbling wall of an alley. He had managed to escape the blast radius of Sasha's attack, heading over to a nearby city. However, he was still visibly injured, catching his breath in exhaustion.
"I-I can't believe she was that powerful." He muttered in dismay.
The silence in his mind was unnerving, his other personas, usually vocal in times of stress, were too shaken to respond.
"I need to tell him about this."
Fumbling for his phone, he quickly dialed a number. It was picked up after a single ring.
"Victor, I see you're still alive." The man said, as cold as ever.
"There's no time for small talk!" Victor yelled with urgency.
"Do you know what just happened?" Victor asked.
The man on the other end paused before speaking.
"I have an idea. But, I didn't answer your call to talk about that."
Victor's heart sank, a deep discomfort crawled within him.
"W-What?"
"You've served me well for the past two centuries now." He began.
"Aiding my endeavors, and ensuring to pass on all your knowledge to the thirteen elders of each branch for generations."
Victors hands began to trembled violently, sweat trickling down his face.
"What are you saying Chun?" He asked with anticipation.
"I'm saying that I no longer need you, all your knowledge and skills have been reproduced by countless others below me, and quite frankly, you're an unnecessary expense."
The phone slipped from Victor's grasp as his knees hit the ground. Rage, boiling and uncontrollable, surged through him, splintering his psyche. His voice, raw with fury, burst out loud.
"I've had enough of this shit! FXCK YOU!!!"
Chun's laugh was dark, filled with a mocking tone
"How amusing. You've let him slip from your control once again."
"Don't take it personally, but the world's gonna end soon, and I need to tie up as many loose ends as possible." He revealed.
Victor's breathing grew shallow as the reality of his situation settled in.
"No, I get it, anything that would ruin the story you're trying to tell needs to be weeded out right?" Victor acknowledged.
"Exactly, and by the way, I'm also gonna wipe out the Mason district.Can't have anyone discovering our little secrets, can we?" Chun's voice dripped with satisfaction.
""Of course, can't have anyone discover connections between DIALOB Industries and all your cover-up societies." Victor solemnly spoke.
"Wow, you catch on fast for a dead man." Chun sneered, laughter bubbling through the phone line.
Victor lowered his head, his voice softening with grim acceptance.
Sigh
"Your decision is absolute, I thank you for the opportunity to serve." Victor spoke out, his words laced with pure admiration.
"Farewell, I'd say "see you in hell" but there won't be anything left of you after I'm done."
The phone went dead, leaving Victor in the stillness of his own despair.
Meanwhile, back at the scene of the battle, Zeke and Raymond were both detained, while investigations were ongoing into the scene.
"Raymond." Zeke softly spoke.
"Yes."
"I can feel the end coming." Zeke revealed with a hearty look.
"What are you talking about?" Raymond, confused, stared at him.
Zeke's eyes were distant.
"The gaze of the cult leader… I can feel it on my soul."
Hearing this Raymond panicked, trying to wrap his mind around what Zeke is saying.
"Goodbye, Mason City." Chun spoke aloud.
Far away, in a dimly lit room, Chun smiled wickedly. Holding a small, polished marble in his hand, he crushed it with a flick of his fingers.
"Here it comes, do me a favor and be good will ya?" The man said with a sense of finality.
And immediately, before any response, a bubble of Qi encased Raymond and blasted him out of the vicinity of the city. Using up the last bit of energy Zeke had.
Zeke's body began to glow, as cracks spread all across his skin, with streaks of light emitting from them. In the next instant, a searing light filled the sky for miles, followed by a massive wave of pure energy that consumed the entire city in seconds, in a cataclysmic flash. Moments later, a fireball surged across the skies in a nightmarish burst of power, obliterating everything, leaving nothing behind but behind charred earth.
"And goodbye, Victor."
Following that, the entire hellish scene repeated it a second time in the city right next to it. Leaving both landmasses as nothing but barren wastelands.
"Wh-What… is this?"
Over a thousand kilometers away, Sasha watched the destruction unfold as though it were happening right in front of her. She got a first hand showing of the terror that befell humanity.
{I believe I know who is responsible for this}
"There's only one pers- no, devil who would do such a thing." She hissed through gritted teeth.
The skies glowed red with the firestorm, her heart pounding in her chest. Her fists clenched tight, trembling with barely contained fury, as her head hung low.
"The one man I want dead." She stopped.
She lifted her face to the sky, eyes burning with rage.
"THAT DAMNED CULT LEADER!!!" She screamed to the heavens.
"I'll kill you with my own hands."
Her scream echoed into the heavens, as vow of retribution was made that day.
{The host has been given a mission}
{Active skill External Perception has been added to the records}
{Active skill External Perception has been unlocked}
{Description: The skill grants the user the ability to stop time within a 200m radius in all direction. In exchange 10yrs of the user's lifespan is taken}
{Opening Character Profile}
{Name: Sasha Myers
Age: 35
Level: 7
Exp: 32.813/1708.593
Rank: C/B-class
Speed Tier- Hypersonic
Stats:
Speed-23
Health-15
Dexterity-20
Intelligence-22
SP: 10
QI: 2500
HP: 65%
Skills: Nova Implosion, External Perception
Inventory/Items: None
Mission: Eliminate the Cult of Diablo
Rewards: 500,000exp
Penalty: None
Time Limit: None}
"Consider it done."