It started three years ago, the first time Viktor saw his wife, Aurora.
During the height of the war between the Five Criminal Paths and the government, the higher rank officials from the governments—and their ranks were in chaos. More people were pulled to the other side at the realization of the government's corruption.
About thirty years ago, a blue star appeared near the moon—which worried the entire world.
Some thought that it was the end of the world and some thought that it was nothing.
Governments around the world knew that they needed to give an answer.
Public unrest is not something the economy likes.
Because of that, the Blue Sky Origin organization was established and launched.
It was a consortium of researchers hailing from every corner of the globe, their singular focus aimed at scrutinizing the blue star—and assessing whether it was a threat to humanity or not—and one day, a professor by the name of Rebecca Morgan fired an infrared wave at it.
She was trying to study its reaction.
However, that decision shattered the star and caused mana to descend into the entire world.
Before the world could react, a disastrous phenomenon happened.
Under the nurture of mana, animals around the world began to mutate into creatures beyond recognition that were soon labeled, as Mana Fiends. Due to the sudden transformation, none of the countries were able to properly react to their feral attacks.
People were dying left and right, and the piles of corpses only grew and grew over time.
International alerts were rang, and the whole world was in chaos.
Eventually, the Blue Sky Origin deduced that the only safe route for them was underground.
Just like that, countries—what's left of them anyway, ran to the Asia continent which was the first place to be able to create a large continent-size underground world. For the longest time—the common people believed the land above ground was inhabitable.
Mana Fiends were everywhere, attacking anything that surfaced to the ground.
But it was not the full truth.
People in power, the ruling elites—all propagated the belief among the common folk that the land above is Hell while they, themselves cultivated—making themselves, and their offspring who had formed a Nexus stronger with the newfound minerals from the surface.
By becoming powerful Sorcerers and Metahumans, they would be untouchable.
Despite the state of the world—their bottomless greed focused on securing their positions.
Once their corruption was exposed by the Five Criminal Paths, revolution began.
At such time, Viktor had a mission to kill an important figure.
He was the governor of Section D, his death would be the end of Section D for good.
It would mark their fall and the rise for the Path of Lunacy.
...
Coming out of a reinforced military vehicle was a group of people.
Amongst them was the governor and the head of defense walking side by side.
Both of them were sweating and greatly troubled.
Upon arriving at the secondary office—after the main office was attacked, by the resistance army led by the Criminal Path of Lunacy—the governor rushed inside with his Sorcerer—and also Metahuman agents securing the surroundings.
Explosions could be seen in the far distance, displaying the chaos drowning Section D.
"We're losing ground, our forces are decimated, what should we do, governor?"
"I don't know, I had to make calls to the other sections"
Ascending the stairs, the two entered the building quickly and headed over to the oval room.
"Sir, the Criminal Path of Lunacy has overwhelmed us—their Sorcerers and Metahumans tore through our defenses, like paper. We're outmatched. I think it's time for us to think of another decision,"
"Damn it, general! We can't let Section D fall after Section A fall!" the governor shouted.
He was stressed, the situation was not going well for them.
Upon entering the oval room, the governor went to his desk and opened communication.
But as a holographic panel was opened in front of him—he saw that all the lines were dead.
Brak!
"Bastards!!" the governor slammed his hands on the desk in anger.
None of the communication lines was open, he had no reinforcements—he was left all alone.
"Our forces wouldn't last a week, we need a miracle. It's best for us to escape,"
"Fine... Call the others, we'll escape"
Upon hearing this, the head of defense smiled excitedly and looked to the door.
However—he was soon surprised when he found that their Sorcerers, and Metahumans were not following them closely behind. A frown creased his brow as he headed to the door to find where they were.
Just like the head of defense, the governor also did the same thing.
But before both of them could reach the door and check the corridor, they suddenly halted.
Both of them stopped dead in their tracks.
It was a sound that halted their steps, an eerie scrape of unseen steely weights.
Whatever it was, it slithered across the cold marble, slicing through the silence, like whispers of malevolence. Each drag etched a chilling echo, a sound woven from the fabric of shadows—a harbinger of impending darkness, hinting at doom with every haunting resonance.
A sound that they were extremely familiar with, a sound that strikes fear in everyone.
"No... It can't be. How did he know about this place?" the governor mused in terror.
He and the head of defense backed away slowly from the door—and they both were startled when their backs hit against the edge of the desk—leaving no room for them, to step back. It was then their eyes locked onto the door.
Snapping out of their dazes, the governor quickly shouted, "Close the door!!"
Responding quickly, the head of defense dashed at the door.
A small explosion blasted him forward, a spell of his, and he quickly closed the door shut.
Automatically, the door was locked and nobody could get inside.
Backing away from the door in utter fear, the two kept silent and listened attentively.
Knowing the person they were dealing with right now, the likelihood loomed large that every Sorcerer, and Metahuman they had brought was dead. Faced with this reality—the governor was in need of a savior right now, 'I need to get out of here right now, or I'm dead!'
There was still hope, he still had the elite forces to rescue him and escape Section D.
Below the edifice, an array of combat androids, were stationed ready—poised to spring into action at the governor's behest. All he needed to do was to press the alert button below his desk, and the androids would come and rescue him.
Just then, however, he heard repeated clicking sounds coming from behind him.
Click!
Click!
Click!
"Don't worry, I'll press the button for you, governor!"
Upon hearing this, the governor and the head of defense felt their bodies stiffened.
Looking over their shoulders slowly, the two gasped at the sight of a figure.
It was a young man holding two daggers in both hands with chains attached to their ends.
Blood coats the young man from head to toe—particularly his daggers, which still drip heavy crimson liquid with the metallic tang of fresh gore. He was sitting on the main chair, pressing the alert button below the desk repeatedly.
For a brief second that felt like an eternity—the figure locked eyes with the terrified two.
As the eye contact continued, the young man kept clicking on the alert battle.
Both corners of his mouth then curled—exposing rows of bloodied teeth at the spark of fear.
"Hmm... where are they? Why aren't they coming?" He mused mockingly.
At the sight of this, the governor shuddered, "C- Child of Anarchy..."
Just this display alone tells that Viktor didn't only kill the Sorcerers and Metahumans outside, but he also incapacitated the defensive mechanism of the building. He did all of that with the sole purpose of seeing the governor's terrified face.
It was a delight and hobby he picked up when he took out a high-ranking target.
Unlike the others, high-ranking targets broke down badly, and he liked it.
Gripping with desperation, the head of defense, pointed at Viktor—chanting a powerful spell of fire to explode Viktor to oblivion. An arrow of fire, manifested quickly—pumped with more power that came from his combat suit, and poised to shoot Viktor.
However, before he could release it, Viktor already appeared right before him like a ghost.
The shadows were moving alongside him.
Smiling at the head of defense, he grabbed the fire arrow and vanquished it instantly.
Overwhelmingly, his shadow devoured the fire instantly.
Following that, Viktor bites the head of defense's neck, tearing a huge chunk of flesh off.
Continuing his onslaught, his shadows crept through the gash he'd inflicted on the neck and began devouring the head of defense's life essence visibly, draining him of vitality. As he did that, he made sure to keep eye contact with the governor.
A twisted grin spread across his face as more blood splattered onto him.
Despite the struggle, the head of defense was powerless against Viktor's lethal shadows.
Upon seeing this, the governor pleaded for mercy, "Please, I'll give anything you want!"
"Just don't kill me..." He added, whisperingly.
Viktor's devilish smirk widened even further at the sight—his voice low and dripping with the essence of malevolence, "I doubt you can offer anything more enticing, than that expression of yours, governor," he retorted, inching closer.
Out of extreme fear, the governor melted to the ground, his legs unable to hold his weights.
Eventually, Viktor stood before him, posing a dagger right in front of his face.
Splash!
With a swift motion, Viktor stabbed his dagger toward the governor's chest.
He deliberately avoids a lethal blow—stopping his dagger an inch away from the governor's heart, "Now, choose," He intoned. His voice was laced with menace. "Either push the dagger yourself or let me do the pushing for you. One shows a man of honor—and dedication. While the other is a man who looks out only for himself,"
The governor gulped harshly at this, the stinging pain blurred his mind.
But knowing that death was imminent, he decided to die with a little shred of his pride intact.
As he was about to push the dagger himself, Viktor stopped him.
"Good choice, but unfortunately, I'm not that kind to give you an honorable death..."
Splash!
A moment later, Viktor walked out of the building and saw corpses lying everywhere.
All were the crafts of his deadly daggers.
Just then, his eyes darted to the side when he heard a commotion.
Heading to where the commotion was coming from, there he was, for the first time to see the woman who changed his entire life, Aurora. Like an untainted angel, she was there for his eyes to feast, oblivious to the gore that happened mere meters away from her position.