A ripple in blood, a boy in a puddle of it. The dim glow of flickering red emergency lights cast eerie shadows. The air hung heavy with the acrid, unpleasant scent of burnt circuits and blood. Distant echoes of alarms and shots sang throughout the underground compound, nestled beneath the rust-colored surface.
Amidst the chaos, A boy, with his unnaturally pale skin, rose from the ground his lab oversized lab coat stained. Hot blood, both his own and someone else's, dripped from his head to his chin meeting the cold dark blue veins that rose to his jaw from his from his neck.
His gaze was cold, analyzing the chaos around him. His pitch-black eyes reflected only the eerie glow of the emergency lights, almost like dark mirrors of the disturbances. Despite the carnage splattered around the hallway, he remained eerily calm yet vigilant. His black hair hung over his pale face prompting him to move it out of the way.
The boy clung to the dark surfaces around him, navigating past the gore and office doors of researchers unfazed until he reached the head researcher's office. Thanks to the base's containment breach emergency protocol, designed for easier navigation during such crises, he easily opened the door. Inside, he hurriedly rummaged through drawers and cabinets, his fingers finally closing around a transparent rectangle, the tablet of the base's head researcher.
Waving his hand over it, the tablet flickered to life, displaying words he struggled to decipher till the tablet spoke
"Identification required."
Reaching into his pocket, he took out a keycard and a severed human thumb. Placing the tablet on the office desk, he placed the keycard flat on top of the tablet and then pressed the severed thumb next to it.
"Access granted, welcome Liam Pura."
The boy typed in "EC-43."
"EC-43 status: secure, location: level 135"
He studied a mapped visualization that was presented pinpointing the exact location on the level. Stuffing the finger and keycard back into his pocket, he hurried out of the office and into the hallway. There, he encountered the bodies of site guards and researchers, interspersed with the remains of anomalies, creatures, and rift monsters. The entire site rumbled with the discharges of coil guns and explosions, unsettling him as he headed straight into the heart of this levels conflict.
Almost slipping on a patch of blood, he slowed his pace and pressed against the hallway wall. Ahead, the hallway split, marked with directional signs. Straining to read them, he aimed for the nearest elevator.
'kafi- tier- ia'
Remembering that one of the dual elevators was in the cafeteria section, he cautiously peeked around the corner. His brows frowning at the sight of corpses littering the floor, and four guards were desperately firing at a rift creature. The beast, appearing severely injured and weakened, was a dormant rank and beast type on all fours. It stood at the height of a normal human, its greyish-red skin pierced by Endurim steel spears that protruded from its body.
Scanning the ground for anything useful, the boy only found the fallen guards and coil guns. These men hadn't had any serious firepower to defend themselves against a threat like this. Frustrated, he was about to search for another elevator when something caught his eye, a Sink gun lying just a few feet away loaded.
Before he could move towards it, the creature let out a throaty growl lunging at the guards, pinning one to the ground. It bared its teeth, ready to bite down on the man's throat. Just then, two other guards in exo suits tackled the creature, pushing it to the ground. They quickly grabbed their fallen comrade and made a hasty retreat, putting distance between themselves and the vicious beast.
"Focus fire on the underbelly."
The three fired on the underbelly, making the creature yelp and squirm, eventually going limp but even after, they didn't stop until they had emptied their magazine.
"Good job boys, we may just survive today, Kim pass me that sink gun let's get ready to move top side."
After checking if the area is truly all clear, the pale boy decided to step out of hiding, but before he could even take a second step, the wall of the cafeteria ruptured pushing 2 guards down and forcing the boy to go back to hiding.
From the breached wall came another rift creature, this one bigger than a human and stood up with animal hind-like legs and 2 arm tendrils that swung around like razor-sharp whips.
"Shit, another one"
"Damn it cover fire, back on your feet boys, Kim fire the spear if you can."
Nothing, absolutely no damage occurred as they fired their coil guns at the rift creature, the projectiles bounced off or just barely bit into the skin before falling out. To make matters worse the beast was fast, faster than the previous dormant beast. It lunged and pierced one of the guards with one of it whip-like arms ending them.
"Shit, it's an awakened."
"Firing spear!"
At those words, the guards cleared a path from the beast to the guard named Kim. As soon as he saw his fellow guards clear away, Kim fired, the recoil throwing his aim up and pushing him back slightly. The spear flew, and the creature moved to dodge, but it wasn't fast enough. Though the spear missed its intended target, it lodged into the creature's shoulder, restricting the movement of its left arm whips.
'jumping in now is useless' the boy thought, he knew that though weakened it would be a death sentence for him to jump in not only that but the mission was still on the line.
"Damn! I need ammo." Kim shouted dread in his voice
"Search the body we'll try distracting it."
Seeing that the Awakened Beast didn't go down and barely got knocked back, the guards kept up their attack. They started to move in different directions around the creature, trying to confuse it while giving Kim time to find another spear.
Realizing their struggle was a lost cause, the hiding boy decided to search for another elevator. Yet before he could leave, the compound rumbled and the other hallways collapsed, sealing off all other options but one. The cafeteria was still accessible, so he waited for an opportunity. Spotting a spear near the corner he was peeking from, he silently and slowly rolled it toward the guards direction in tandem with the rumbling.
"Nothing nothing nothing nothing, damn it! Come on give me something."
Kim frantically searched the bodies, and as if his prayers were answered, an Endurim steel spear rolled to his feet. Confused, Kim spared a glance towards the corridor but saw nothing. Deciding not to waste any more time, he started reloading.
"Firing!"
The guards moved again, except for one who was caught by the neck. The beast used the captured guard as a shield, much to the horror of the others. Before it could take further action, the held guard shouted.
"FIRE IT! DO IT!"
Kim hesitated before firing at the beast's leg, forcing it to release its grip. The guard dashed away, but it was all for naught as he was whipped in the back, face planting into the floor. Though the strike was weaker, it still broke the spine of his exo-suit as well as the man's spine, killing him instantly. Fear enveloped Kim. With no more spears left, he threw the Sink gun away, letting it slide to the corridor entrance. Frantically, he picked up the coil gun off a fallen guard and started firing rapidly.
"Watch your aim damn it!"
Nearly hitting his remaining teammate, Kim steadied himself and controlled his aim, continuing their assault from a distance. They maneuvered around the creature towards the elevator, thinking they were safe due to the beast's wounded leg and arm. Seizing the opportunity, they attempted to escape.
"Kim, use your card and get that elevator open."
A glimmer of hope? No, just delusion. As Kim turned around, the beast lunged forward, its maw open, and bit into his remaining teammate's arm. The crushing force bent the arm piece of her exo-suit inward, the metal adding to the excruciating pain of the bite wound.
"AHHHHH, you fucking NOUT!"
She screamed as she unloaded on the beast's head to no effect, her weapon clicking empty. With a crunch and a cruel yank, the beast tore her arm from its socket, taking a piece of the exo-suit with it.
"AHHHHHH!"
"It's open! It's open!"
Kim pulled his last squad member inside as the elevator door opened, but the beast stopped it from closing. Frantically, Kim glanced around and noticed a body. It wasn't the corpse he focused on but the sword it held. He quickly grabbed it, pressed the button, and swung down on the beast's head. The blade vibrated and glowed a fiery red, partially severing the beast's head. With a pained yelp, the beast was forced to retreat, allowing the elevator doors to close.
The elevator doors closed, and the beast roared, smacking the door in frustration. As it turned around, it was met with a spear to the head. The shooter, a pale boy, the recoil had forced him to the ground as he watched the beast fall with a hard thump. The boy whined, pain coursing through this hands, arms, and chest from the recoil, he dropped the Sink gun. Stepping over the fallen beast, he made his way towards the second elevator, looking back he saw beyond and to the first dominant beast that died a gaping hole where he yanked a spear from.
He pressed in the number 135
"Apologies but due to emergency protocol all personal is t- protocol overwritten moving to level 135… and have nice day Liam Pura."
Taking the severed thumb and card off the scanner, he thought back to how he got into this mess. It was supposed to be a retrieval assignment, his third official mission for the organization an assignment that quickly went to shit. Multiple rifts had opened within the base, all second-stage backup generators had failed, and the third stage had barely come online. The main armories were inaccessible, the compound's emergency evacuation protocol had been activated, and one of the council members was dead. He started to worry.
'Did I waste too much time? I was informed via message recording that this retrieval job was classified as SAVIOR, the highest priority. Why aren't their more retrievers here? Did I just get here first? Or I have just not come across any yet.'
The boy hadn't been given much information and could only make assumptions about the mission. He had only been in the organization for about half a year, and even less time as a retriever and delivery boy. Though he had passed the organization's requirements, only one person seemed to back him in that respect.
A sharp pain along his neck jolted him from his thoughts. Clasping it, he gently ran his finger over the scar on the side of his neck.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing a nightmare. The hallway stretched ahead, covered in a grotesque mixture of meat and blood that pulsated occasionally. Swallowing hard, he pushed forward, each step making a distinct squishing noise. The putrid stench assaulted his abnormally sensitive senses.
Enduring the onslaught, he reached a split in the corridor. The lights on the left path flickered red, signaling the impending failure of the third-stage generator. On the right, the lights remained operational, aligning with the path indicated on his tablet. Despite the gruesome surroundings, he sprinted in that direction. The fleshy walls seemed to pulsate and throb as if alive. He ran and ran until he found the upper half of a researcher he seemed barley alive still struggling to get up as if trying to deny the fact his lower half was merged to the floor he struggled and struggled till he spotted the boy.
"H-help me please" his voice was like a dead whisper dry and nearly unhearable yet could still see his mouth make the words.
The boy paid the man no mind and a ran past him only to be grabbed by the leg.
"kill me ple-"
The boy didn't care, he had no time for this obstacle with a kick to the hand the mans grip freed his leg and continued his sprint. Eventually, he located the door marked EC-43.
Placing the card on the scanner, the door opened to reveal a black ball bigger then his fist in the center of the room. The lights dimmed momentarily, indicating the failure of the third-stage generators and the impending restoration of the fourth-stage on this floor. Without wasting another moment, he stashed the ball in his lab coat and sprinted back the way he came.
Halfway there, he froze, every hair on his body wanting to stand on end. Overcome by fear like never before, he felt something had him in its grip, accompanied by a deep humming sound.
Mustering his strength, he turned to face the source looking over his shoulder. He saw a figure, not humanoid but like a ball or a star seen in light, not the origin of it like the darkness that comes every time the emergency lights flickered off.
The star began to hum again. Then, all at once, his body convulsed in violent pain. His mind went blank, his vision blurry, every nerve in his body on fire as if each inch of his flesh was being sliced by a thousand razors. A blinding light followed, as if seeking to burn his eyes away like the sun. Before losing his sight completely, he caught a final glimpse of the figure. This time, it was clearer, as if the light unveiled it a monstrous figure clashing with another figure radiating pure light and fire, like the sun itself.
But that was it. His vision, his feeling, his hearing all taken from him. The agony simmered away nearly as quickly as it came, it was as if he was floating in a void and all the boy could think was.
'Is this what being dead feels like? No sight? no smell? no touch? no pain. just emptiness.'
A joyless chuckle echoed from somewhere deep within, uncertain if it was his own. Then, he sensed something, not a feeling, but more like a cold breeze brushing against the remnants of his soul.
'It almost gives me comfort, almost brings me relief, if it weren't for the fact I still have a mission. The mission isn't complete, and so I must not die until I am sure the mission will be done.'
"System obtained! Congratulations! you've been blessed by ^(*^ ^%$)(%^&$#$%. Warning you've been cursed by ^(*^ ^%$)(%^&$#$%. TITLE GIVEN!!! Corrupted $#*()_)(#$$% Jester"
'What this? A voice? I could hear it yet my sense of sound had already fled me, it's in my head like a boy, giving a news report enthusiastically or like one of those sports announcers that enjoyed talking loudly and eccentrically.'
"System given. Congratulations, you've been blessed by POWER. Warning you've been cursed by POWER. Title given, Umbra's Unseen Actor"
'Another voice? This one sounded more like a girl. Contrary to the first voice, it was calmer and more professional, like a secretary informing their boss of something. What is this feeling? Everything feels so warm, like being wrapped in a blanket and carried. I could feel the pain returning and disappearing just as quickly. Little by little, my senses returned to me. The warm feeling left as I was placed on a surface. I don't know how much time had passed, but it felt like an eternity. I could hear again, and I heard the clattering of many footsteps. I felt a pair of gloves touching me and then a voice.'
"This one's alive! possible severe head injury, applying first aid"
The boy tried to force his eyes open only half succeeding. What he saw was the members of one of the most well-known task forces within the organization that he knew of their task force name engraved on their helmets, "P.H.A.N.T.O.M.". Collecting his senses he tried recalling, Paranormal Hazard Assessment and Neutralization Tactical Operator Meta's. The Boy didn't understand those words at all but he knew they were the main scouting force as well as the first one's to go in whenever the organization had trouble within their own territory or they discovered another incalculable variable.
"damn, for a scrawny looking kid he's got one hell of a death grip on this thing" another voice this one distorted but also sounded distinctly feminine
He felt a cold slime like substance spreading across his head and moving through his hair he looked at the visor of the one who was treating him and the helmeted person looked back at him, the blackened visor of helmet seemed to recede and become clearer, one of the feature of the helmet undoubtedly.
Her features were stranger then his own but that was because she was only part of a human, her height made he put to be a giant compared to him from his perspective, she had amber eyes that shined with a sort of kindness, but strangest of all was that she had fur, brown fur instead of skin. She spoke softly to him.
"Hey there little guy, you mind releasing your grip on that thing?"
The words brought him confusion, then he tried looking at his hands at his chest and realized it, he had been holding on tightly to the black orb with both hands before passing it on to one of the task force members. Then another member came with a briefcase in hand this one from a different unit as per the different equipment and engraved name on the side of their helmet. Putting it in, the briefcase shut closed, and the member ran off with four others.
"ya did good kid" the furred one said
"PIKE TWO lets get going" a distorted voice becomes
Another member from P.H.A.N.T.O.M came, and the visor of the women darkened again, and they took off going further into the compound. He felt his vision flickering, blurring and clearing again, something materializing no sliding beneath him and then he was lifted up by a what he recognized as a stretcher one person pushing it as if he was hovering off the ground.
"Alright kid, this will help with the injury, try staying awake, what's your name?"
A hand held stick like object was pressed against his neck and he could feel a small almost unnoticeable sting. His vision was flickering again he say glimpses of hallways, broken doors, broken walls, open sky, the elevator, the decimated garrison, rising and a crater he saw the moon.
"Clip…my names Clip"