Mission Log "Zero Dark Twenty"
Code Name: "Operation Zero Dark Twenty"
Abstract: Infiltrate the fallen city of Styga and eliminate Undead #1027, "the Ape"
Field Units:
-2 heavy-duty transport helicopters
-2 military squadrons
-2 rookies of the Special Operations Unit "Frogmen": Victor "Snake Eater" Kayne, Niki "Spade" Briggs
Date: October 2nd, 19989
Status: Ongoing
Undead #1027, The Ape
Designation: "The Ape"
Race: Undead
Class Tree: Unknown
Current Class: Unknown
Description: Undead #1027 is a bipedal humanoid creature measuring approximately 4 meters in height, covered entirely in jet-black fur. Facial features are indiscernible, except its perfectly round, pupilless eyes. The codename "The Ape" was given to the Undead due to its similarity to a primate.
Despite extensive reconnaissance operations aimed at uncovering the behavior and abilities of Undead #1027, very little is known about the creature due to its extremely hostile nature and aversion to all sources of light. The creature has never attempted to attack in illuminated conditions. However, in the absence of light, it has never left any survivors or their bodies since its discovery. There have been no instances of the Undead ever attempting to leave the premises of the fallen city of Styga. This can mainly be attributed to the eternal storm clouds that loom over the city, erasing all traces of sunlight.
History: The Ape is a remnant of the Great War, no different from the rest of the Undead. The then-prosperous city of Styga walled itself off from the battle, following a strict isolationist regime until the end of the Great War. Any attempts to establish communication have failed. No survivors have been found so far, except for the Ape. What happened inside its walls remains unknown.
The Operation was obviously a suicide mission. But that was the nature of the tradition - the rite of passage towards becoming a legendary Frogman. To join one of the most notorious spec ops units in existence, one had to prove they transcended humanity, possessing intelligence and physical capabilities not befitting their respective class. Manon and Niki were exceptional enough to be noticed, they had been a cut above the rest, but this was simply madness. The Ape was famously lethal - no one had ever survived for even a second after the batteries of their flashlights died out. And the only way Snake Eater and Spade could prove they were worthy of becoming a Frogman was to kill it by any means necessary.
***
One day into the mission, Private VIctor "Snake Eater" Kayne was the only survivor.
A lone speck of light slowly floated on top of a sea of darkness. A figure of small stature was dragging a much bigger body along a dark path, a single torch held high in its spare hand, illuminating its immediate surroundings. The figure was that of a young boy - his hair brown and tidy, brown eyes of the same shade eternally frozen in a half-open position, with tanned skin and draped in a long rag, hiding the standard army combat gear he was wearing underneath.
Victor had no idea where he was going, or where he even was, but his determination never waivered - he was going to kill the Ape one way or another.
The transport helicopters had been attacked the moment they had entered the territory of the Ape, the fallen city, seemingly due to a malfunction with the lights, causing them to crash into the depths of darkness. The 2 army squadrons and the helicopter pilots had already been dead at the moment of impact, leaving only the Frogmen recruits to fend for their lives against the sinister abomination. However, Spade was cowardly - he strained for ambition, for glory - his life meant much more in the end, resulting in him trying to run away and being picked off by the Ape like a rat. He had been careless in preserving his entire vicinity illuminated. But Victor - he was different. What fueled him was a quest for revenge - his life meant nothing to her. If he was so weak and stupid as to die without completing his purpose, so be it. He was very careful - the type of person to use everything available to his advantage, the type of person who could adapt to any situation. His code name - Snake Eater - was earned during his training - back when he was tasked with surviving with nothing but a knife for 7 days in the mountains, resulting in her being found at the end of the 7 days stuffing her face with dead snakes.
The reason Victor was currently dragging along the corpse of his former comrade Spade through the terrifying city of Styga was simple - something in the creature's log seemed suspicious to him. No bodies had ever been found in the city, not even a stray rib. Where had all of them disappeared to? The detail was a little too strange to overlook for the ever-careful mind of the boy. Something in the back of his head told him that this small detail hid a horrifying secret behind it - one that could possibly reveal a way to defeat the Ape.
As of now, the lone soldier was wandering around, searching for wood appropriate to make fire with. The light was his lifeline - the moment it went out, he would be killed instantly. The young man was constantly reminded of this fact by the 2 white orbs eternally present in the corner of his vision - the Undead was close, stalking him like a wolf stalks its prey, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
His surroundings presented a grim picture: the remnants of an ancient metropolis, once so bustling with life, now as dead as anything could be. Tall and gaunt structures riddled with sharp edges and pointed arches, their black stone walls unfailingly presenting exquisite stained glass windows depicting unrecognizable scenes of ancient legends and religions, filled the lonely streets of the dead city of Styga. Ancient metal lampposts seemed to serve as checkpoints for the lone soldier, acting as his sole companions in her harrowing journey. After all, they contained flammable liquids inside. Whatever it was, it smelled fishy, and Victor had to climb to the top to reach it, but it was an invaluable resource still. Now, he just needed to find a stick to carry the liquid with, since the one he was currently holding was burning out at an alarming pace, disturbing the boy to no end.
On his path sat abandoned carriages with intricate designs, old-fashioned cars and public transport vehicles seemingly made of fine steel. Before it all turned into a desolate abyss, Styga seemed to have enjoyed a great deal of wealth.
Soon, he encountered dead trees resembling the hands of an elderly woman overgrown on the outskirts of a large circular clearing, seemingly a square dedicated to some kind of female figure, evident by the large statue right at its center. Finally, the private had found the perfect material - wood! After procuring a second torch, curiosity took hold of Victor as he closed in on the statue and observed it intently. The large stone thing presented a picture not befitting its surroundings - a curvy woman was kneeling on the ground, presenting a naked baby in its arms - it seemed to be depicting a mother figure. Perhaps, their religion constituted a belief in a matriarchal deity. The thing was, the head of the large female figure was cleanly cut off, sending shivers down the boy's spine. Victor continued forward.
Still dragging a cadaver of a man with its head completely completely caved in, Snake Eater soon came face to face with a large tower. His sole mission right now was to search for anything that seemed suspicious or important, so he hung the corpse off his back and started ascending the spiral staircase he found within. Carrying a corpse or two was not a big deal to him, as he was a human who had already started ascending the Class Tree, acquiring superhuman Skills in the process. Finally reaching the top after a long walk up, Victor was pleasantly surprised as he encountered a giant lamp - this was a lighthouse. After further observation, it was revealed that the lighthouse worked on the same principle as his torch - the same fishy liquid needed to be lit up in order for it to turn on. Soon, his entire vicinity was illuminated by a bright yellow beam, ridding his heart of the dread he had been fighting off. It also dimly lit up most of the city, allowing the private to observe it in its entirety: among a mass of spiky structures, one stood tall and proud - a sinister cathedral was looming over the city, the edges of its many roofs seemingly impaling the eternal storm clouds, striving for freedom and sunlight. Victor made up his mind then and there - his destination was clear now. Whatever had happened to this once glorious metropolis, the girl was sure she would figure it out in that ominous tower. Preferably, along with it, answers for his predicament - an instruction on how to slay the Ape would be very much appreciated.
Finally allowing himself to relax, Victor sat down cross-legged in the light, a little further away from the corpse he was still stubbornly bringing along.
"Status"
A bright blue panel appeared out of thin air in her vision.
Victor Kayne
Designation: "Snake Eater"
Race: Human
Class Tree: [Hound]
Class: [Hound]
Skills: [On Your Tail]
Kill count: 5
Checking his Status window reminded Victor of his progress. Not everyone was capable of embarking on their first Class Tree. Even though the Hound Tree was the most common one found among humans, only Victor could boast of achieving their first Class at the young age of 18. It was all the result of countless hours of research and training.
The Status window is the manifestation of the Evolution System - a gift to all humans with the purpose of jumpstarting evolution granted by their ancestors, the original humans, who had sent their offspring to this planet to colonize it by means of restarting civilization. It had become a fundamental part of life.
[Hound] Class Tree Description
The beast within
Evolution options:
1. Wolf (tier 2) [Conditions not met]
2. Vulture (tier 2) [Conditions not met]
[Hound] Class Description
Run and don't look back. It's comin' for ye
Skills:
[Increased physical capabilities; enhanced smell, vision and hearing; enhanced reflexes and fast reaction time.]
Every Class Tree starts with a single Class, which they are named after. To achieve it, one had to train the traits corresponding to the Class to the extreme, pushing their body and mind to their limits and further still. For example, to become a Hound, Victor bared through intense physical exercises, used up most of his waking hours trying to smell what the neighbors were preparing, spot birds flying over distant mountains and overhear conversations of strangers passing by. To speed up his reflexes, the boy would willfully get chased by stray dogs and would try to dodge their lunges and bites without looking. Of course, these were only introductions to the Hound Class. The real training started later...
Past the first Class, further evolution would be presented to the subject as a choice between several potential higher-tiered Classes. However, one would be unable to backtrack and have more than one Class of the same tier past tier 2. In other words, Victor could become both the Wolf and the Vulture, but any further than that, upon entering the realm of tier 3 Classes, he had to choose which branch of the Hound Tree he would focus on - there were no takebacks. The maximum tier was always 5 regardless of the Class Tree.
[On Your Tail] Skill Description
Hiding is fruitless
[Speed and vision further enhanced while in pursuit.]
As Snake Eater was joyfully going through the evidence of his personal growth, the swirling storm clouds in the sky suddenly parted, revealing 2 giant pale orbs gracefully floating up in the sky.