"283 days, 4 days have passed since I accepted the System from Azrael, still no new quest from him."
The rain pours down in thick sheets, transforming New Dresden into a world of reflections and distorted neon lights. The urban sprawl is rotting, alive with its own kind of hunger. The city is full of shadows, each one seeming to stretch, twist, and shift as if it's hiding something. Skyscrapers loom like forgotten giants, their cracked facades soaked in the eternal downpour. The few citizens that still walk the streets are huddled, fearful, always moving quickly to avoid the deeper corners of the city.
"New Dresden. A place where shadows live longer than men, and the night is never truly dark, just… waiting. I've been gone too long." - Leon muttered in his mind.
A train horn echoes in the distance from the station where an empty platform stretches into a tunnel swallowed by shadow. It's a forgotten corner of the city where no one asks questions—where the bad things happen.
The fog rolled in thick and oppressive, snaking through the labyrinthine tunnels of the Harrison Square subway station. Once a symbol of the city's industrious spirit, the station had long fallen into disrepair, its grand architecture now cloaked in dust and neglect. The subway's echoing emptiness was punctuated only by the occasional drip of water from corroded pipes and the distant hum of unseen machinery.
Leon Graves moved silently through this forsaken world. His trench coat, weathered and worn, trailed behind him, and his wide-brimmed hat cast his face in shadow. In his gloved hands, arcane runes glowed with a faint, pulsating light, illuminating the path ahead. The subway, a symbol of the city's decline, had become his battleground—a place where the lines between the mundane and the supernatural blurred dangerously.
Tonight, the station was not merely abandoned; it was a stage for horror. Leon's senses were attuned to the oppressive aura of demonic energy that permeated the air. His investigations had led him here, to a scene of imminent violence.
As he approached the platform, muffled sounds of a struggle reached his ears. A chilling scream echoed off the walls, guiding him forward. The platform was illuminated by the eerie glow of flickering fluorescent lights, casting long, jittery shadows across the floor. There, amidst the grime and decay, a grotesque figure held a young woman captive. The figure, a hulking, disheveled man, clutched a bloodied butcher's knife. His eyes, glowing with a malevolent red light, were fixed on his victim, a terrified woman bound and unconscious on the grimy tiles.
The figure's muttering was a discordant mix of human and demonic languages, a cacophony of madness and malice. "An offering for the Conjurer," he chanted, his voice echoing with unearthly resonance. "It will awaken the darkness!"
Leon stepped into view, his presence emerging from the shadows like a specter of vengeance. The killer's head snapped up, eyes widening in terror and recognition. Leon's calm, authoritative voice cut through the chaos. "Let her go."
Azrael materialized beside Leon, the demon can't see the Angel of death but the demon was quite curious on why Leon was talking to himself.
Quest: Use Entity Extraction to neutralize the Demon.
Reward: 1 Hour
Skill Unlock: Level up Entity Extraction to Level 01
Azrael announced to Leon.
But Leon didn't accept the quest.
"I want to kill this Demon, slowly" Leon said with anger on his voice.
The killer snarled, his demonic form twisting in anger. "You have no idea what you're dealing with! The Conjurer's plans will unfold, and the city will drown in its own blood!"
Leon's eyes were cold and focused. He conjured a barrier of shimmering energy as the killer lunged with the butcher's knife. The knife clanged harmlessly against the barrier, a burst of arcane light casting eerie patterns on the platform's walls. The killer's ferocity was matched only by the dark energy emanating from him.
Leon countered with practiced skill. He summoned a whip of crackling ethereal flames, He casted Hellblazer and unleashed a torrent of infernal flames that sear and incinerate everything in their path. Its heat and light cutting through the air. The flames wrapped around the killer's arm, forcing him to drop the knife with a howl of pain. The platform shook with the force of Leon's magic, tiles rattling and echoes amplifying through the tunnels.
Azrael, standing on a distance as he watches Leon and the Killer exchange blows.
"Leon, New Objective"
Quest: Kill the Demon now
Skill Unlock: Level up Hellblazer to Level 5
Skill Description: Hellblazer (Level 5): Ignites a cataclysmic inferno that engulfs a vast area in apocalyptic flames, turning foes to ash and reshaping the battlefield with fiery devastation.
Leon revoked his Hellblazer spell, and opted for a more offensive approach. Leon casted Light Shards it Unleashed a barrage of dazzling, high-speed light fragments that cut through the killer's body with searing precision, blinding and piercing him on impact.
With the killer temporarily subdued, Leon advanced, his magic binding the demonic presence and restraining the possessed man against the wall. The air was thick with sulfur and the stench of dark magic, a grim reminder of the battle's intensity.
As the killer's body is pinned on the wall, Leon asks the demon what he knows about The Conjurer. The killer only laughs at Leon, taunting him and starts to speak.
"The Conjurer will Perfect the rituals, he will summon them, the Gods who were once before…" As the Demons speak, Leon uses his Entity Extraction skill to fully neutralize the Demon, with the killer's body still pinned on the wall, but unconscious.
Hellblazer Skill Level up!
Azrael announced.
Leon approached the young woman, quickly assessing her condition. Her bindings were tight, and her pale face was streaked with bruises. Using his magic, he carefully freed her from the ropes and checked her pulse. Though she was alive, her condition was critical. The approaching sirens, a sound of impending help, were a faint but welcome promise.
Azrael materialized again, "The authorities are coming Leon, you should get out of here"
"No, I know someone from the precinct, she's coming here. I tipped her off, this is something big, Azrael. Do you know anything about this"
Azrael simply just said "No" and faded into the Darkness.
As Leon awaited the arrival of emergency responders, his mind raced. The Conjurer was no mere myth; he was a tangible threat whose plans were unfolding in the shadows. The killer's final words were a chilling confirmation that a darker force was at play, one that threatened to engulf the city in chaos.
Leon's thoughts turned to the city around him. Harrison Square, once a bustling hub, had become a symbol of urban decay—a stark backdrop to the supernatural conflict unfolding within its confines. The subway station had become a focal point of darkness.
As Detective Sara Blake and her partner, Detective Mike Harris, arrived at the scene, the atmosphere in Harrison Square's dilapidated subway station was thick with tension. The blaring sirens and flashing lights from the squad cars outside added a harsh contrast to the dim, oppressive gloom inside the station.
Sara and Mike stepped through the fog and rain, their shoes splashing in the puddles that had gathered on the cracked pavement. Sara's expression was a mix of concern and determination, while Mike's face betrayed his skepticism and frustration.
"Alright, let's get this under control," Sara said, her voice firm as they entered the station. She surveyed the scene: the emergency responders were attending to the unconscious young woman, who was being carefully lifted onto a stretcher, and officers were beginning to cordon off the area.
Mike's gaze immediately zeroed in on Leon, who was still standing nearby, a grim look on his face. The restrained killer lay in a crumpled heap, his body twitching occasionally. The sight seemed to fuel Mike's irritation.
"What the hell is this?" Mike muttered, his eyes widening at the surreal scene before him. "This looks like something out of a horror movie."
Sara sighed, already anticipating the friction. "Mike, let's focus on the situation. We need to secure the area and get as much information as we can."
Mike nodded curtly but continued to eye Leon with suspicion. "Fine, but I'm not happy about this. If there's any sign of misconduct or if Leon's got any involvement in this mess, we'll need to address it."
Azrael's voice echoed into Leon's ear "Kill this detective Mike Harris and I'll give you a time Reward of 1 month. Accept?"
"Shut the fuck up Azrael, this is a good guy, he's just irritating." Leon muttered
"That's the point Leon, he is irritating" Azrael Went silent.
Sara shot Leon an apologetic glance before turning her attention to the scene. "Who are you talking to?"
"No one" Leon said
"Leon, we need to know what happened here. Give us a rundown." Sara said with a voice of authority.
Leon took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the restrained killer. "This man was involved in an attempted ritual sacrifice. He was trying to summon or appease something called the Conjurer. The supernatural elements here are real and dangerous. Word on the streets that there is a Conjurer looming in New Dresden."
Mike snorted, clearly unconvinced. "Supernatural elements? This sounds like an elaborate excuse for a violent crime. I need evidence, not fairy tales."
Sara stepped in, her voice calm but insistent. "Mike, I understand your doubts, but for now, we need to gather evidence and ensure the safety of everyone involved. Let's not jump to conclusions until we have all the facts."
Leon nodded in agreement. "Exactly. There are some clues that might help clarify the situation. The dark energy you're seeing is a result of the ritual—this isn't something you see every day."
While Mike continued to look unconvinced, Sara directed her attention to the emergency responders, checking on the young woman's condition. Her face was pale, and her bruises were extensive, but she was breathing, and that was a small relief.
Leon's eyes followed Sara, noting her concern for the victim. "We need to get her medical attention and interview her as soon as possible. She might have crucial information about what was happening here."
As the paramedics prepared to transport the young woman to the hospital, the other officers began their investigation. They took photographs of the scene, gathered statements from witnesses, and started processing the area for evidence. Leon watched them work, his mind already piecing together the fragments of the larger puzzle.
Sara approached Leon, her voice low but urgent. "We'll need to cooperate with the investigation. Mike's going to be difficult, but if you can provide any more concrete evidence, it'll help us all."
Leon nodded. "I understand. I'll do my best to work by the books, but we need to be proactive. The Conjurer's influence is spreading, and if we don't act quickly, we might be too late."
Mike, still skeptical, was talking with a few officers about securing the scene. He caught a glimpse of the dark energy lingering around the restrained killer and shook his head. "I still don't buy the supernatural angle, but I'll follow the evidence. For now, let's focus on the facts we can prove."
Sara shot Leon one last look before turning to help coordinate the scene. "We'll get through this, Leon. Just stay on top of the investigation and keep me informed."
"Meet me tomorrow night at the Midnight Haven Bar, let's discuss more of it." Leon told Sara, and Sara nodded silently.
Leon watched as the officers and emergency responders worked, the dim light of the subway station casting long shadows across their faces. The night had exposed just a fraction of the darkness threatening New Dresden, and Leon knew that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges.
As the first light of dawn began to pierce through the rain-soaked clouds, the station slowly came to life with the activity of the police and paramedics. The scene, once a battleground of supernatural conflict, was now a place of intense scrutiny and investigation.
Leon stood resolute, the weight of the city's impending crisis heavy on his shoulders. He knew that uncovering the truth about the Conjurer would require more than just conventional methods. With Sara's support and the ongoing investigation, he was determined to confront the darkness threatening New Dresden and unravel the sinister plans that lurked in the shadows.