The rain poured down heavily, drumming against the roof of a heavily armored vehicle parked in a narrow alley. Inside, students geared up in combat armor sat tensely, weapons resting at their sides. William and Harmony were among them. William dressed more simply in red robes, contrasted with Harmony, who wore the white and gold-lined garments of a priest.
They waited patiently, their mission clear: apprehend the boy—Malphas—who had been spotted nearby. So far, though, nothing. Silence filled the vehicle, broken only by the rhythmic sound of rain against the metal exterior. Any conversations felt awkward, so most of them sat quietly, lost in their thoughts.
---
Far away, in an abandoned building, Malphas sat alone, staring out at the vibrant city. Half his face was buried in his knees, and the only sound around him was the soft splashing of raindrops in the puddles that gathered at his feet. His stomach growled, the unfamiliar sensation unsettling him. In the world he came from, hunger and thirst were sustained by ambition, not physical need. The concept of eating or drinking was foreign to him.
Looking around, confused, Malphas tried to figure out how to address this growing discomfort. He watched the raindrops fall, each one moving at a painfully slow pace—five times slower to his perception. He could see his reflection in every droplet. His lips were dry, on the verge of cracking, and his cheeks had started to hollow out.
He touched his cheekbone, feeling how much weaker he had become. The urge to sleep was overwhelming, but something inside him wouldn't let him close his eyes. The emptiness in his stomach gnawed at him, but he remained alert, unable to relax.
A droplet of water fell on his parched lips, startling him. He blinked in surprise, feeling how it briefly softened the cracks in his skin. Instinctively, he licked the droplet from his lips, savoring the fleeting relief. The sensation was unfamiliar but comforting. He wanted more.
He stood and approached the edge of the building, holding his hands out to cup the falling water. His hands were too thin, though, and much of it leaked out before he could drink. Still, he managed to bring some of the water to his mouth. His dry throat welcomed the liquid, and for the first time in this world, he felt slightly rejuvenated. His tired eyes welled with emotion, grateful for this small comfort.
'This world is strange and terrifying, but… it feels oddly comforting,' he thought. His gaze fell on the pendant around his neck. 'Is this what it feels like… to exist?'
Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the distance. The soft squeak of rubber shoes on wet concrete snapped Malphas out of his thoughts. He scanned his surroundings, spotting a figure dressed in jet-black tactical gear whispering into an earpiece.
A sense of unease surged within him. Without hesitation, he hurled a pebble toward the figure. There was no response. His instincts screamed that something was wrong, so he carefully moved toward the direction of the footsteps. He checked every corner but found no one—as if the person had vanished into thin air.
---
Back in the vehicle, the students were drifting off, the steady rain acting like a lullaby. Suddenly, the engine roared to life, jolting everyone awake. A radio crackled to life in the corner of the vehicle.
"Alright, we've got his location. Get ready, we're heading out now!"
A chorus of relieved sighs filled the air.
"Finally," one student muttered.
"About time," another grumbled. "My back's killing me."
The vehicle lurched forward, speeding through the streets, weaving around cars and tight corners. Another armored vehicle followed close behind, filled with the rest of the students. Inside the first vehicle, the students clung to the walls as the sharp turns tossed them around. Harmony nearly fell off her seat, but William caught her just in time.
"Thanks," she said softly.
"Yeah," William replied, equally tense.
After a few minutes of winding through the city, the vehicles screeched to a halt next to the sidewalk, directly in front of a dark, abandoned building. The driver jumped out and opened the back hatch, and the students climbed out, stretching and groaning from the rough ride.
As Harmony was about to step out, William stopped her. "Harmony, you're our healer, so stay here and tend to anyone we send back."
"But—!" Harmony started, only to be cut off by her brother.
"No buts," William said firmly. "If you get hurt, we're done for. Stay here."
Harmony looked down, disappointment clear on her face. Reluctantly, she nodded and stayed behind as William gave her a reassuring wave and led the rest of the team inside.
The sound of wet concrete crunching under their boots mixed with the continuous patter of rain. They ascended a staircase, their footsteps echoing through the empty building. At the top, they found Malphas sitting in a corner, bathed in the faint light of the city beyond. His eyes shifted toward the students as they entered.
Tension gripped the room. Malphas rose slowly, his gaze never leaving them.
One of the students, a tall, handsome boy with black hair and eyes, stepped forward. He unsheathed a blade from his side, preparing for a fight. Malphas didn't move but readied himself, his senses heightened, waiting for their first move.
The black-haired boy took a step, but William grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"What's wrong with you?" the boy hissed.
William's eyes were sharp as he whispered back, "Can't you see it? If you had taken one more step, you'd be dead."
The boy froze, confused. He turned his gaze back to Malphas and, with a jolt of fear, saw what William had seen. In his mind's eye, he glimpsed the future—the moment his foot hit the ground, Malphas's fingers would have torn through his throat in an instant.
William pulled him back and whispered a quick plan. The black-haired boy nodded, stepping back slightly before giving a thumbs-up to a teammate behind them—an archer cloaked in a hood, their face mostly hidden.
The archer notched an arrow, the bow glowing with a faint emerald aura. They pulled back, ready to shoot. Malphas watched, confused. He had never seen a weapon like this before. Behind William's back, three fingers counted down.
Three.
Two.
One.
The arrow shot forward, surrounded by a green aura. Malphas leaped backward, landing against the wall with inhuman agility. The black-haired boy charged, his blade glowing with a fierce blue light.
But everything moved too slowly for Malphas. His mind was faster, and clearer than ever in this world. He propelled off the wall, destroying part of it in the process, and landed near the archer. Before they could fire another arrow, Malphas delivered a swift kick to their head, slamming their face into the ground and knocking them out.
'What the hell was that speed?!' William thought in shock as Malphas soared across the room.
The black-haired boy yelled, "Azure Slash!" as he swung his sword, releasing a torrent of azure flames. Malphas bent backward, his knees almost touching the ground, narrowly avoiding the attack as only a few strands of his hair were singed.
Below, the students waiting outside the building exchanged nervous glances.
"What's going on up there?" one of them asked.
As the question echoed, the black-haired boy raised his sword for another strike. But before he could move, a pale fist crashed into his face.
BAM!
The impact reverberated through the building. The boy fell backward, his sword slipping from his grasp, three teeth flying out, and blood pouring from his broken nose. His eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness.
William stared at Malphas, now standing in the dim light, the only thing visible being the faint red glow of his pendant.
'This kid…' William thought, heart pounding in his chest. 'Is a real monster.'