"I have decided… I am going to kill this cryptid."
Caspar looked at me with surprise before he laughed. "Ha ha ha ha~! You? Kill Eden? Don't get too ahead of yourself. I'm offering you a helping hand here! Just cooperate and stay put. I'll put in a good word for DPO—"
I unsheathed my knife and stabbed him right in the heart.
The blade slid into him with an unsettling ease, the rush of adrenaline blurring the edges of my thoughts. His eyes widened in shock, the laughter fading as he staggered backward, grasping at the wound as if he could somehow pull the knife out of himself.
"Wha—" he gasped, his voice choked and disbelieving. "You're… you're serious?"
"Yeah," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. "I'm dead serious."
His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground. I stepped back, my heart racing, both from the shock of what I'd just done and the realization that I was now standing over a bleeding man—a man who had tormented me in ways I still didn't fully understand.
The smell of blood mixed with the fresh scent of earth and foliage, creating a heady concoction that made my stomach turn. Caspar's expression shifted from surprise to a dark, desperate kind of anger.
"You think this will change anything?" he spat, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "The DPO will come for you. They won't let you get away with this."
"I don't care," I said, trying to sound resolute. The truth was, I was terrified. But there was no going back now. The fire ignited in my gut, the urge to fight back against whatever the DPO had planned for me became all-consuming. "If they want me, they'll have to find me first."
He looked at me with a mix of disdain and something that might have been respect. "You really think you can take on the DPO? You've barely even tapped into your abilities, and you think you can hunt a cryptid?"
"I'm done being your pawn," I said, feeling the weight of my resolve. "If I'm going to survive in this world, I'll do it on my own terms."
Caspar's expression darkened as he struggled to rise, blood pooling beneath him. "You're making a mistake, Robin. You don't know what you're up against."
"Then let me find out," I shot back. "You've already taken enough from me."
He glared at me, a mix of fury and pain contorting his features. "You'll regret this."
"Maybe," I said, backing away slowly. "But at least I'll be free."
Screw-chan unleashed the finishing blow, exploding Caspar's skull in chunks of brain matter and skull fragments. "Yipee~ ka~ kay! Dead! He's very dead!"
With that, I turned and ran into the forest.
The realization churned in my stomach like a bitter cocktail, my heart pounding against my ribcage as I sprinted deeper into the forest. Each step was fueled by a blend of anger and desperation. I had never considered myself a hero—just a guy trying to get by in a world that felt increasingly surreal. But now? Now I felt the raw energy of rebellion coursing through me, igniting a fierce determination.
How could they think they had the right to manipulate people's lives, to erase memories, to turn us into their puppets? I cursed under my breath, imagining the faces of everyone I had seen in those glass prisons. Their lives snuffed out or twisted beyond recognition, all in the name of some dark agenda. My grip tightened around the knife in my hand, the metal cool and reassuring against my palm.
As I weaved through the trees, the branches clawed at me like hands trying to drag me back, but I refused to be caught. I was free now, or at least I thought I was. The air felt different—crisp, alive—as if the forest itself was welcoming me.
I stumbled into a clearing, the moonlight spilling through the canopy above like silver liquid, illuminating the ground below. The time cycle in this place was rather finicky. One moment, it was sunny, and the next, it was night. I paused, catching my breath. My mind raced with questions and plans. I needed allies—other Strangers who had escaped the DPO's grasp. I couldn't do this alone. But where would I find them?
Finding people like me could wait. For now, dealing with Eden was my top priority.
I returned to the facility I suspected was some sort of factory for creating more Strangers. It was good to be imaginative, but I had to confirm with my own eyes that it wasn't just some deluded conspiracy.
The facility looked like a dome shelter from the outside, not much bigger than a basketball court, but I reckoned most of its structure was underground.
I walked the familiar hallways where I had made my escape. Screw-chan had left a lot of dead bodies in her wake. The memories flooded back—echoes of screams and the metallic scent of blood still lingered in the air, a haunting reminder of the chaos that had unfolded and became as much capable in inflicting.
When I returned to where the glass prisons were, I was appalled to see dead bodies everywhere—both prisoners and soldiers alike.
"Damn, I knew this was some secret organization with means… so I should have seen this coming…" The sight of the dead guards surprised me more than the bodies of the prisoners. "I don't even know if I could have done something."
Screw-chan's voice cut through my thoughts. "Don't feel guilty!"
I turned to her, my heart racing. "What do you think are the chances that Eden did this?"
Screw-chan said, "Dunno… probably not Eden…"
I picked up an intact rifle, feeling the cold weight settle in my hands. It felt foreign, yet strangely comforting. I quickly equipped the dead guard's gear, adjusting the straps and buckles to fit my smaller frame. As a former convenience store clerk who wrote novels in my spare time, I didn't really expect much from myself in situations like this. I had always imagined heroes wielding weapons with ease, but here I was, fumbling through the remnants of someone else's life.
"Screw-chan, lead the way."
Screw-chan walked in front of me with a bounce in her step. "Okidoki!"
Since I had been unable to save my fellow prisoners, I would settle for the next best thing: avenging them. First, I had to sweep this facility for anything useful. Maybe a way to kill Eden. Caspar had motivated me a great deal to do this, so I better do it right.
"Screw-chan, how much time do you have left before you lose your energy and possibly dissipate? Is there any way I can recharge you?" Losing Screw-chan would be a significant loss for me. It wasn't like I had a good handle on my powers yet.
Suddenly, the lights overhead flickered and turned red, bathing the hallway in a sinister glow. The doors slammed shut behind me, sealing off any chance of retreat. I was trapped.
Caspar's voice echoed through the hallway, dripping with mockery. "You really are testing my patience, Subject-099!"
"Motherfucker, you're still alive?" I shouted back, disbelief coursing through me. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. I had thought I had killed him for good.
Caspar had long stopped using the veil of civility as he addressed me as Subject-099.
"Subject-099, of course I am alive! Don't look down on me too easily, or you'll be dead. So what kind of tomfoolery has led you back here? Hoping to kill Eden? Maybe finding its weakness? Give up while you can. Bend the knee while you can, or you will regret it."
Screw-chan urged, "Attack—"
"Wait, Screw-chan, don't waste your energy."
Before Screw-chan could tear through the door, I stopped her. I reached into my pocket and took out a 4.55mm bullet, charging it with my power. It transformed into a cute little girl, her wide eyes sparkling with mischief, unlike the gun girl I had previously summoned, who didn't have an iota of personality. I imagined that the less charge I gave, the less personality and strength the summon would have—and vice versa.
"Little Bullet, please pave the way for us!"
Little Bullet huffed, her tiny fists clenched in determination, and cutely ran toward the door. Once she was close enough, she superheated and flew like a projectile, blowing the door apart in a shower of splinters. I had transformed a single bullet into a bomb, and it felt exhilarating to see my powers come to life in such a spectacular way.
"Did you see that!?" I shouted, pulling out more bullets from my pocket. "If you want to deal with me, you have to fight me face to face! This place was unable to imprison me, what made you think you can just entrap me?"
Judging by the door closing to me, I realized this facility might be more than meets the eyes. I remembered having wrecked every door we came through when escaping, so it was a shock to see a door I thought I have wrecked just closing on me like that.
I charged the bullets with my power, and they transformed into little girls wearing yellow vests and sporting blonde hair. The sight was both adorable and oddly empowering.
Caspar could see us, which meant he was using the camera system. He should be inside the facility, but this place was just damn too big. I decided to stay put and let my summons do the work.
"My Little Bullets, go sweep the area. Fire at will if you must! Leave the non-combatants if you see any!"
Screw-chan piped up, "I will go too!"
"No, you need to stay by my side, Screw-chan."
She let out a disappointed huff, crossing her arms. I could feel her frustration; she was always eager to jump into the fray. But I needed her energy preserved. Moreover, I needed her protection.
As my Little Bullets darted away, I steadied myself, scanning the area for any signs of movement. The adrenaline surged through me as I prepared for whatever came next. With my summons doing their part, I hoped I could gather enough strength to face Caspar when the time came.
I secretly charged a dozen of 4.55mm bullets in my possession.
"Let's talk," Caspar said, his voice smooth and calm.
I knew he was buying time, but this could be an opportunity for me to gather more information.
"Tell me about the memory wiping… Were my assumptions on the mark?"
"Yeah, you're pretty spot on," he replied with a hint of amusement in his tone. "Eden was a safe haven from other cryptids. I am the only Stranger in this place. Eden rather hated Strangers, but I am different."
"Your Stranger abilities?"
"Yeah," he confirmed. "I can distort perception. Back then, you thought you killed me, but you didn't. I healed up rather easily—call it Cryptid technology. I was as spry as I could be like you've never hurt me. This facility was meant to create Strangers to combat the cryptids. It has produced a hundred to a dozen for over a decade and is an important resource for the DPO. If you kill Eden, there's no way in hell the DPO will let you live."
His words hung in the air, weighing heavily on my thoughts. The implications were staggering. If I really intended to take down Eden, I was stepping into a world much darker than I had imagined. But I couldn't back down now. Not after everything I had witnessed.
"What makes you think I care about what the DPO wants?" I shot back, trying to mask my unease with bravado.
I could feel Caspar smirk, despite not seeing his face. "Because, Subject-099, death is the least of your worries."
I heard a few explosions in the distance. I wished I could share senses with my summons, but I couldn't.
Caspar continued, "The Cherubim Program—that's what they call this project of creating brainwashed fanatics who would stop at nothing to extinguish all cryptids in existence."
"And you? Were you created this way too?"
"No," he replied with a hint of pride in his voice. "I am from an older program. There are different programs for creating more Strangers. The other methods have become too obsolete or dangerous. I never thought we could create someone like you, though. Your mental resistance is rather new. You'd make a fine addition to the Cherubim Squad. Accept my offer. It isn't too late."
His words twisted in my stomach. The idea of being part of a squad designed to eradicate cryptids felt both enticing and horrifying. Was that my future? I had fought tooth and nail to escape the clutches of the DPO, and now they were offering me a role in their twisted game?
"Thanks, but no thanks," I said, trying to mask the anger bubbling within me. "I have no intention of joining your ranks."
Caspar chuckled softly. "The DPO won't let you just walk away."
"Can you tell me what you're buying time for? Are you that scared of me?"
Caspar's confidence was unwavering. "Scared? No. A waste of time? Yes. There are better ways to handle you… to make you learn… to make you accept your role."
"How are you going to do that?"
"By letting you experience the real terror of a cryptid…"
Suddenly, piercing through the walls was a beautiful woman with blazing wings, her presence both mesmerizing and terrifying.
"Meet one of the angel cryptids, codenamed Uriel," Caspar announced with a hint of pride in his voice.
Uriel was naked, her sensitive parts exposed, and she wielded a blazing sword that flickered with heat. She was as fair a maide could be with flames licking on her skin. My heart raced at the sight of her. The raw power radiating from her form was unbelievable.
"Wielding the cryptid artifact, the Flaming Sword, Uriel is one of the most dangerous cryptids in existence. We've had to sacrifice villages after villages to find a compatible host with this cryptid. Let's see how long you will last."
Screw-chan jumped in front of me, blocking the descending flaming sword with her arms raised high.
"Get back!" I shouted, panic rising in my chest. I shot at the cryptid with my rifle, but the bullets seemed to evaporate against her fiery aura. Desperation clawed at me as I took out a few of my charged 4.55mm bullets and transformed them.
The transformed Little Bullets flew in a barrage at Uriel, but she remained unscathed, her fiery wings absorbing the impact effortlessly.
"Come on!" I yelled, frustration boiling over. "I can't let this be the end!"
This was seriously… nuts…
Uriel stared at me, her golden eyes as if tasting me. What the fuck?
I grabbed my knife and charged it with power, feeling the energy surge through me. "Screw-chan, hold her back for me!"
Uriel's wings flapped, creating an inferno from wherever she passed. She swung her sword down toward Screw-chan, aiming to smite her. But Screw-chan met her with force, unleashing a spiraling energy of metal from her fist, sending Uriel crashing against the wall.
However, Screw-chan wasn't unscathed. I noticed her clothes were torn in places, and her skin was slightly red from the heat. "Screw-chan… is fine… master! I will hold her back! Please… go away…"
"Caspar, you made your point—"
"What now? Going to surrender?" he taunted.
"Now, it is my turn to make my point." I had been charging the knife in my hands since I first got it.
I imbued it with as much power as I could and then unleashed it. A burst of cartoonish hearts exploded from the weapon as my Stranger abilities took effect, summoning a buxom woman in gray military fatigues. She had silver hair and wielded a knife similar to the one I just charged with my power.
"Do you have a name?" I asked.
"I am what you want me to be," answered the transformed knife, her voice strong and confident.
"Then I will call you Knifey. Don't hate me for it."
"Knifey is fine," she replied with a playful grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Perfect," I said, feeling a surge of energy as I felt my confidence grow. "Let's show Caspar what we're made of. Support Screw-chan, Knifey."
I grabbed a flashbang in one hand and a smoke bomb in the other, charging them with my power. The energy coursed through me, transforming the ordinary items into potent weapons.
I watched Knifey and Screw-chan engage Uriel, their movements fluid and determined. Knifey darted in and out, her knife flashing as she slashed at Uriel's wings, while Screw-chan used her strength to keep the angelic cryptid on the defensive. I felt the adrenaline surge, but I had to hold back. I needed to hold back.
I focused on the canisters in my hands, feeling the power simmer just beneath the surface. I couldn't afford to unleash everything all at once; I had to be strategic. If I miscalculated, it could cost us dearly.
"Just a little longer, ladies!" I shouted, trying to encourage them. "I've got something special planned!"
Knifey responded with a fierce grin, her eyes glinting with excitement. "Let's take her down!"
I threw the smoke bomb first, the canister bursting open and releasing a thick cloud of smoke and hearts that enveloped the area. As the smoke swirled around us, it transformed into a mature humanoid woman clad in a black leotard, merging seamlessly with the haze.
Uriel's fiery wings flickered momentarily as she struggled to see through the thickening mist.
"Close your eyes!" I shouted, hoping my girls could still fight without sight.
Next, I tossed the flashbang into the fray, feeling the anticipation build. The canister transformed into a little girl wearing a hoodie, who exploded in a blinding burst of light and sound. The shockwave echoed around us, disorienting Uriel and leaving everyone but me and my summons momentarily blinded.
"The sword!" I yelled, seeing the glint of Uriel's weapon.
Knifey lunged forward, stabbing Uriel right on her sword arm in an attempt to pry the weapon away. Uriel held tight, her expression shifting from surprise to fury. Screw-chan dropped into a low stance and unleashed a punch with her signature drilling fist, connecting hard with Uriel's elbow joint. I heard a sickening crack as Uriel's arm tore away, and Knifey seized the opportunity to wrest the sword free.
"Catch!" Knifey shouted as she threw the sword at me. I barely managed to grab it by the blade, the heat searing through my skin. "Fuck, it burns!" I exclaimed, quickly shifting my grip to the hilt and running toward the hallway.
"Kryaaaaa~!" Uriel cried in a high-pitched scream, the sound echoing through the facility as I sprinted away, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I couldn't stop now. We had the sword, and this was our chance to turn the tide.