Valeria took long, calming breath, steadying herself as she squared off with the hlking creature. The screams of fleeing citizens echoed around her, mingling with the distant sounds of sirens. She felt her heart rate slow, her breathing deep and measured. This was what she trained for. And today, she would not fail.
She gripped her red daggers tightly, their edges glinting menacingly as she channeled energy into them. Her crimson hair whipped around her face, catching the gleam of sunlight as she crouched, calculating the monster's moves. Her eyes narrowed, studying it for weaknesses. Go for the legs first, she noted, eyes tracing over its bulky but awkwardly disproportionate build. The monster, with its gorilla-sized arms, bulging torso, and hideous fishlike face, was hunched forward, a creature of pure, brute strength. And yet, a flicker of intelligence shone in those oversized eyes as they locked onto her.
The monster roared, a deafening sound that rattled the windows of nearby warehouses, the bass-heavy vibrations reverberating through the ground and into her bones. It lunged forward, slamming a massive fist down with all its weight, but Valeria was faster. She sidestepped, her feet barely touching the ground as she slid to the side, her blades flashing as she sliced across its exposed arm in one fluid motion. Dark, viscous blood splattered onto the ground, and the monster howled in pain, recoiling slightly.
"Is that all you've got?" Valeria taunted, her lips curling into a smirk. She knew she was stronger, but she wanted it enraged, wanted it sloppy. Rage made them predictable.
With a snarl, the monster charged again, its arms swinging wildly in an attempt to crush her. She ducked, weaving gracefully between its attacks, her daggers spinning in deadly arcs that cut across its legs and side. Each slice seemed to drain the creature, weakening it with every wound she inflicted. Still, the beast fought on, seemingly unfazed by the pain, its raw power sending shockwaves through the ground as it thrashed about.
Valeria took advantage of its reckless anger, darting in close and ramming both of her daggers into its abdomen. She twisted the blades with a grin, causing the monster to scream in agony. But instead of retreating, it reached out, grabbing her by the shoulder in a vice grip. She gasped, the sudden pressure like a vice on her arm. It hoisted her into the air and threw her back with a strength that sent her skidding across the dock, her daggers clattering away.
Too slow, Valeria, she chided herself, groaning as she pushed herself to her feet. The monster was wounded and losing blood fast, but it was far from defeated. It bellowed once more, swiping at nearby shipping containers and tossing them like children's toys.
"You're strong," she muttered, rubbing her sore shoulder. "But strength alone isn't enough."
The monster charged again, its speed surprising for its size, and this time Valeria allowed herself a hint of her Ascendant power. In a burst of energy, she closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye, her body a blur as she appeared above it, her daggers poised for the kill. She drove them down into its neck, digging deep into the thick skin, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone as she wrenched her blades free and let the creature stagger.
The monster dropped to one knee, blood pouring from its wounds. It was finally slowing, its breath labored. Valeria took a moment, circling it as it struggled to rise. She raised her blades, preparing to deliver the final blow. But just as she stepped forward, the monster locked eyes with her. In its final moments, there was something strange in its gaze—something almost… conscious.
"You…" it growled, its voice raspy and distorted but unmistakably deliberate. Valeria faltered, the unexpected sound catching her off guard. "You are not... what I came for."
Her eyes narrowed. "Who, then?" she demanded, though she knew it was unlikely to answer. Still, a creeping suspicion crawled through her mind.
The creature's lips twisted into a grotesque smile, its bloodied face grinning up at her with a strange satisfaction. "I come… for the one... who wears the shadows. The prince of... the void…"
Valeria's heart skipped a beat. The Void Prince? She'd heard of him—a rogue Ascendant, infamous yet anonymous. A shadow who fought monsters but never joined the guilds, never revealed his face, only appearing when necessary, vanishing like smoke when the dust settled. Few had seen him, and no one knew his true identity.
Before she could process the implications, the monster's body convulsed, and it let out a guttural laugh, its hand clawing at the ground. In its final moments, it raised its massive fist and slammed it into the earth, releasing a pulse of dark energy that rippled through the air, spreading out in all directions. Valeria staggered back, sensing something sinister in the energy, an aura laced with malice.
"What the—?" she began, but the monster's laugh cut her off.
"He will know… I am not alone. You… cannot… protect him…"
And with that, the creature collapsed, its body crumbling to dust, leaving only a dark stain on the ground where it had fallen. The pulse of energy hung in the air, like a beacon sent out across the city.
Valeria stared at the spot where the creature had died, her mind racing. This wasn't just any monster attack; this was a message. She clenched her fists, frustration simmering beneath the surface. Whoever or whatever the creature was working for, it had been searching for Loki, the elusive Void Prince. But why? And how had they known he would be here?
She tapped her communicator, opening a line to the guild's headquarters. "This is Valeria Stormrider," she said, her voice tight. "I need an analysis on dark energy transmissions in the city. There's been a breach near the docks. Something big is happening."
"Roger that, Valeria," the dispatcher replied. "We'll pull up data and keep you posted. Do you need backup?"
She hesitated, looking out over the dark waters lapping at the docks, still unsettled by the creature's last words. "Negative," she replied. "Just… keep an eye out. And check the recent monster sightings, especially those with ties to Ascendants."
"Understood."
Valeria ended the call, her thoughts heavy as she looked back at the faint traces of the dark energy. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease. The Void Prince—whoever he was—had enemies, and they were closer than he might realize. And if they were bold enough to come looking for him here, it meant he was in serious danger. Valeria's fists tightened on the hilt of her daggers. She had to know more, to understand who this Void Prince really was and why he was so hunted. There was no time to waste.
As she walked away from the docks, she glanced back one last time at the spot where the monster had fallen, now empty, save for the echoes of its ominous final words. She knew one thing for certain: this was far from over.