It was early morning and the sun had barely risen, causing a dull gray sky. That day, at the Freslin Mercenaries woods, when the workers were about to start work, they came across three gruesome bodies.
In fact, it was hard for them to call them bodies. Each one appeared to have been mauled beyond recognition. Each had large pieces of flesh torn off and huge scratches across their faces and bodies and one of the body had his ripped head lying in a corner.
The first thing they did was call the police, who had promptly closed off the site as a crime scene.
"What do you think, boss?" a young policemen asked his superior, whose most prominent features were his brown overcoat and his scruffy brown beard. Mayton Stones was this slough chief of police.
They were used to little cuffs happening here or there, but nothing on this sort of scale.
Kneeling down he started to look at the blood.
"Did you take a DNA sample of all the blood you could find?" Mayton questioned.
"Yup, they're already testing it and should come up with a few things soon. Hopefully we already have them on file."
"If my guess is right, it looks like these mercenaries saw something they weren't meant to see considering their line of work and a hit man probably did the killing with his beast. In that case, chances are good we already have their prints in the system." And yet there was one thing Mayton had no answer for yet. Where is the mercenary leader Jacob Smith?... Is he the Killer?.
"You mean, these three corpses were killed by some beast boss?"
"Still, this makes it even more bizarre that a beast could kill three armed mercenaries."
"Unless of course, the one they met was something they didn't expect. Gifted..... Or Something Otherworldly " a female voice concluded.
Turning around, the two of them saw a middle-aged woman and man walk underneath the yellow tape. Neither one was dressed like police. They were in uniform, although it looked a little bit fancy for one to be wearing it out in the open.
The uniforms were blood red in colour, with black around the edges where the trim would be. It was tight fitting while still allowing for free movement, expandable and most importantly breathable. What stood out most though, was the crest on their left chests.
A thousand deathly hands rose with a silver sword going down the middle, clearly showing who they were and where they had come from.
Damn it, who invited this people? It's too early to say for sure that this is your case!" Mayton stood up to complain.
" I'm sorry sir, the department reached out to G.I.D cause most calculated feats were deemed impossible for a mere beast but they referred the case to S. I. S. "
"Why did they refer the case to those Secretive punks?.
The handsome middle-aged man with the strange uniform, whose name tag read Night Hue, had short black hair, pale skin and a serious look to him. When Mayton looked at him, he felt a slight shiver go down his spine because he felt nothing. There were no emotions emanating from this man. Despite the gruesome state of the victims he didn't even blink an eye.
At least with his female partner, Milena Nimper, she displayed an arrogant air of importance. Unfortunately, she seemed to not be shy about it either.
"Look, Mr. Stones, even a toddler could tell you at first glance that this crime scene could only have been accomplished by an Otherworldly creature," she berated the local chief of police. "The two of us will take over this investigation from now on. I expect you to support us, as is your duty."
Without waiting for a reply, Milena was off to talk to the others about the evidence that had been found so far.
"Sir, are they really members of that S. I. S?" The young policeman whispered to not attract the attention of the Alluring female.
"Yes and unfortunately that means they're in charge," Mayton replied, clenching his fist and walking away. He had never liked their attitude and how they behaved as if they were above the police force even though the public had no idea about their Organization or the meaning of S. I. S.
Mayton wasn't upset because they outranked him. No, it was because they genuinely behaved as if they were superior beings and only appear to claim an Otherworldly creature this... and that. "Heed my advice boy, never fight with them. I'm sure you know this already, but both of them are not Gifted but Otherworldly."
**********
With the introduction of Gifted, it was unfortunately a sad reality that certain people would try to use these special abilities and powers for no good. As the police's simple guns wouldn't do much when faced with Gifted, the government decided to combat fire with fire.
The Gifted Investigation Department was established, more commonly known as 'G. I. D ' but even members of G. I. D started dying on duty when faced against strange creatures only a Secretive organization could subdue_ S. I. S.
*******************
The next day, the sound of the alarm woke Emily up. Instinctively She hit the big snooze button above it, to turn it off. She felt horrible, and her head was pounding with a strange pain.
'What's all the notification' Emily thought.
[Consumed kill + 30 Exp]
[Consumed kill + 30 Exp]
[Consumed kill + 30 Exp]
[ New skill: blood vision]
[ Skill description: Skill allows you to see movement pattern and the world in shade of red.
Skill can be turned on and off and cost no energy ]
[Name›› Emily Harrington]
[Race›› Elda Ghoul]
[Category: Supernatural]
[Class›› Undead]
[Grade›› Elda]
[Affinity rank››Shadow Necromancer]
[Level 2]
[Exp 115/250]
[Health››100/100]
[Energy››100/100]
[Malestorm Quotient 33 MQ]
[State›› Normal]
[Daily tasks (Tuesday)]
[Lift›› Lift 800kg ]
[Diet›› Eat 2 kilograms of meat per day, and drink 1liter of blood]
[Quest reward›› Exp ]
She had hardly gotten a wink of sleep. Less because of all that had happened to her ever since yesterday's cursed stomach ache and she felt guilty for doing that to Willy.
'I have to make sure, they never find out about Willy' Emily reminded herself, when her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a strange scent entering her nose.
Like a dog, she started to unconsciously sniff about in the air and followed the origin of the scent.
Eventually she arrived in front of the fridge. Opening it, she found a fresh uncooked steak sitting in a small pile of blood.
Before she knew it, her hand had already reached out and grabbed the piece of meat. She lifted the whole thing up, about to place it in her mouth.
"Ewww!" Salle shouted. "What are you doing? That's still raw!"
Hearing the voice of her younger sister, Emily snapped out of it, realising she had been about to eat a raw piece of uncooked meat. Caught in the act, she quickly placed it back in the fridge.
"Now we'll have to eat steak tonight with all your germs over it! Did you even wash our hands before? Look, they're covered in blood," Salle continued to complain. "Mom was saving that to treat us tonight! You should know how rare it is that we get to eat something so nice!"
To make matters worse, her mother entered the room, drawn in by the commotion.
"What are you two arguing about so early in the morning?" she asked with bags under her eyes.
"This doofus just tried to eat raw steak!" Salle shouted pointing at her.
Emily's hands were shaking. Everything was kind of getting to her and now she couldn't even control her body…
"I'm sorry," Emily apologised as she ran past the two of them and headed to the bathroom. "I'll buy a new one, I promise."
When she entered the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror, half expecting to see someone else, but from the looks of it, she was still the same.
Then she noticed something else, her bloody hands that had touched the steak were in her mouth. She pulled them out quickly, but it was already too late. She had licked them clean, and she could still taste it. Even worse, she enjoyed this aftertaste.
After spending some time inside to regain her composure, Emily finally left the bathroom and went to join the others for breakfast. The TV was on while they ate. Salle refused to talk to her and was just giving her the cold shoulder.
Similarly, her mother had also stayed quiet. Emily was unsure whether it was because she was mad at her or just too sleepy.
In front of her was a sliced ham sandwich. It didn't take long for her to finish it, and afterward she decided to check the status of one of her quests.
[28/2,000g of meat consumed]
In other Altered-related news, three mutilated corpses have been found at the Freslin mercenaries wood site in the small town of Slough. The extent of their wounds suggests that a Classified creature or Gifted had been involved, in what the police currently assumes to be a hit target"
"According to the found evidence, all three deceased have successfully been identified as members of a Freslin mercenaries. Although the blood of a fourth person has been found at the crime scene, the police have been unable to find the corresponding person, currently believed to be the killer."
"The police have offered a reward for any hints leading to…"
Emily had stopped listening to all the words after the news.
'Great, now the police are after me...…'.
****************
Asl timidly entered her sister's room, its sleek design showcasing a perfect blend of elegance suitable for an artist. The walls were adorned with a thousand digital paintings, each brushstroke intricately crafted by her using digital brushes. The vibrant colors and exquisite details of the paintings seamlessly brought them to life creating an atmosphere of artistic wonder.
In the center of the room stood a beautiful female teenager, Gold and brown hair which should be an anomaly, blue eyes and her ethereal features resembling that of a goddess. She possessed an air of grace and confidence as she effortlessly swept her digital brush across the canvas, breathing life into her creation. Her name was Amy Stalford a talented artist preparing for the Aurora Junior Artist Championship.
As Asl approached, her navy blue student uniform and black skirt causing her legs to tremble, Amy sensed her presence and whispered, "Enter." The softness of her voice reassured Asl, urging her forward despite her anxiousness.
"Sister," Asl managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper, as she nervously stepped closer to the artist. She couldn't help but be in awe of the surreal scene around her and the talent that unfolded right before her eyes.
Amy paused her painting, turning to face Asl with a warm smile that instantly put her at ease. "Ah, Asl, you've come," she said, her voice filled with encouragement and kindness. "Please, have a seat." She gestured towards a plush chair nearby, inviting Asl to join her and observe the artistic process in action.
As Asl settled into the comfortable chair, the room seemed to fade away, leaving only Amy and her creation as the focus of her attention. The teenager resumed her painting, her digital brush gliding effortlessly and elegantly across the canvas. With each stroke, an explosion of colors and emotions emanated from her artwork, capturing the essence of life in a way that astounded Asl.
Enthralled by the mesmerizing beauty before her, Asl couldn't help but feel a surge of inspiration and admiration for Amy. The artist seemed to possess an otherworldly connection to her creations, effortlessly bringing them to life with every stroke.
For hours, Asl remained transfixed, silently observing and absorbing the artistic magic unfolding in the room. She marveled at how Amy seamlessly merged traditional techniques with state-of-the-art digital tools, breathing new life into the world of art.
Amy gently put down her brush and turned to Asl, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Thank you for joining me, Asl," she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "You have witnessed the power of art, the ability to express our deepest emotions and create something truly magical. Never forget the impact it can have on the world.
Amy looked up from her easel, her paintbrush in hand.
"What is it?" she asked curiously, setting her tools aside momentarily.
The lady smiled and handed her sister her comm, showing her the trending topic. "It's your artwork! People are going crazy over your latest piece. It's receiving so much praise and attention online."
Amy"s eyes widened with a mixture of surprise and excitement as she scrolled through the comments, her heart filling with joy. "Wow, I had no idea! This is incredible news! Thank you for letting me know," she exclaimed, grateful for the support.
" I didn't mean to distract you from your competition, but I thought this might inspire and motivate you even more," Asl explained, understanding her sister's commitment to the Aurora Junior Artist Championship.
Her sister smiled warmly and hugged her tightly. "Thank you, it means so much to me. With this newfound encouragement, I'll work even harder to win the championship!"
Asl watched her sister return to her passion, she couldn't help but feel proud. She had always believed in her sister's talent, and now witnessing her success, it was a validation of their unwavering support for each other.
" I have to tell her.... If I keep it from her.. I don't know what she will do to me. Asl thought.
"Amy you need to see what's trending in Elysium Nexus Academy."
As the footage began to play, a figure dressed in a sleek black unity suit with a striking white emblem caught everyone's attention. It was none other than Daniel, the well-known Elysium star player. In the video, Daniel swooped down from a towering height of 45 feet like a majestic hawk. He effortlessly caught a falling golden suit emblazoned with a vibrant red emblem, just like a prince saving a maiden in distress.
As the video continued, the onlookers noticed something peculiar happening to Daniel's suit. The black fabric on his legs began to transition to white, leaving everyone in awe of this mysterious transformation. With grace and strength, Daniel landed gracefully, gently carrying the golden-suited damsel, as if she were a princess, in a classic princess carry.
The comments pouring in beneath the video showcased the admiration and curiosity of the viewers.
" I'm I dreaming Daniel transitioned into Skirmisher" "Daniel saves a maiden," read one comment, while others speculated on the nature of their relationship, suggesting that Daniel must be dating the fortunate lady he had just rescued.
However, Amy's reaction was worse than Asl had imagined. A mischievous smile crossed her face, and she suddenly snatched Asl's comm from her hands as Amy's hand glowed white she crunched the advanced metal like scrap, causing Asl to jump in fright.
" Who is this girl?" she questioned, eager to uncover the truth.
Asl's voice quivered slightly as she replied, "Emily, her name is Emily - just like yours."