Ethan's figure moved swiftly through the dark alley, rain soaking his clothes.
Though he had escaped the manor, he knew it was only temporary safety. The thorny tendrils inside his body were still twitching, each movement bringing intense pain and blood loss, as though reminding him of the lingering aftereffects of the incomplete ritual.
"I need to find somewhere to rest, or I won't last long," Ethan gritted his teeth, struggling to maintain his balance on the slippery cobblestone path. His body was no longer as frail as before, but the new power within him was still hard to control.
Every twitch of the thorns felt as though they were tearing his insides apart.
He ducked into an abandoned tavern, the air filled with the stench of rot and dampness. The place had long been deserted, with only a few broken wooden tables scattered on the floor. Leaning against the wall, he closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing and sense the changes inside him.
Deep within his consciousness, a strange yet familiar voice suddenly echoed. The voice was hoarse and eerie: "I can help you... Ethan Gray, find me!"
Ethan suddenly opened his eyes, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Just then, a faint knocking sound came from the door, almost like the wind brushing against the door panel. But Ethan knew it wasn't the wind. He quickly stood up, hiding in the shadows, his eyes fixed on the door.
Her figure hid within the shadow of her cloak, her face as withered as decayed bark. She gripped a slender bone-handled cane, its top adorned with a few blackened feathers. As the wind blew, the feathers emitted a strange, mournful sound. Yet, in her eyes gleamed a sharpness not fitting for her age.
"The little mouse hiding here, running from the hunting dogs?" The old woman's voice was low and raspy.
Ethan said nothing, silently watching her. He wasn't sure if she was friend or foe, but he could tell that she had noticed his presence.
"I have no interest in you, child. But what's inside you... is very familiar to me." The old woman stepped closer, her bony finger pointing to Ethan's chest from beneath the cloak.
"Do you know what this is?" Ethan gritted his teeth, the thorny tendrils in his hand trembling, as if preparing to strike.
"Oh, of course." The old woman smiled, revealing a few missing teeth. "You think it's just power? It craves more than just your fragile body."
Ethan felt a cold sweat running down his back and instinctively took a step back.
"Who exactly are you?"
"I'm just an old woman who knows the secrets of the shadow of the Holy City." The old woman smiled.
"If you want to survive, if you want to truly control this power,
perhaps we can make a deal."
Ethan didn't respond immediately, but the voice craving power in his mind grew louder. He knew that if he didn't find a solution soon, the thorny tendrils inside would eventually drain the rest of his life away.
"Tell me, what do you want?" Ethan asked, his voice steady.
The old woman's eyes flickered for a moment, then she spoke slowly, "It's simple.
Help me with something, and I will help you avoid the search and heal your body."
Ethan knew he had no other choice. "What is it?"
"' need you to kill someone in the new recruits' trial." The old woman's hoarse voice was like a whisper in the dead of night, carrying a disturbing tremor.
"Why?" Ethan asked, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
"It's just a casual move," the old woman said, her icy smile carrying an inexplicable malice. "You don't need to know why."
Ethan thought for a moment, then locked eyes with her. "Who is the target?"
The old woman didn't answer but instead pulled out a black bone fragment from her cloak and handed it to Ethan. The bone was engraved with a twisted human face, one whose expression seemed to shift continuously, sending chills down Ethan's spine. The bone emitted a strange odor, like decaying flesh mixed with the smell of wet earth, making him feel nauseous.
Ethan tightened his grip on the bone fragment and whispered, "Whose mark is this?"
The old woman gave a cold smile and turned to disappear into the darkness. A voice echoed in the air, "You'll know soon enough."
Leaving Ethan alone, lost in thought, as the wind howled around him.
Four days later, Ethan arrived at the Recruiters' location for the Mutants.
The place used to be a luxurious theater, now overrun with vines and in ruins. The last rays of the setting sun cast their light on the crumbling stone pillars, creating mottled shadows.
The guard at the entrance leaned lazily against the wall, holding a cigarette.
He glanced at Ethan as he approached and casually asked, "Do you know where this is?"
Ethan didn't say much, simply replying, "I know."
The guard nodded and waved his hand, "Go on in. This place doesn't welcome regular folk, but someone like you, a monster, might just survive."
Ethan stepped into the theater, immediately hit by the smell of decay and dust, as though it hid countless forgotten corpses. The central hall was an empty, circular space. The ceiling was riddled with holes, allowing beams of sunlight to filter through, casting patches of light onto the floor.
A few people were scattered around the hall, some cloaked in worn black capes, seemingly hiding their physical traits, while others didn't hide their mutations at all. One man's hands had turned into sharp claws, gleaming like blades capable of tearing through anything. Another person was covered in thick scales that glistened with a dark, bluish hue, resembling a deep-sea creature.
Ethan stood quietly, observing them all. He could feel a heavy sense of oppression; everyone gathered here had once been cast out or escaped from the Holy City, and now, they were all potential enemies and prey.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from above. A figure swiftly leaped down and landed in the center of the hall. She was a woman with a well-proportioned body, her short hair tousled yet full of energy. She wore a dark, tight-fitting outfit for ease of movement, a dagger at her waist, and a noticeable scar running down the left side of her face, adding an air of deadly intent.
"Welcome to the trial," her voice was cold and crisp, carrying an unquestionable authority. "You're here for power, wealth, or some twisted desire. But let me tell you, this is not paradise-it's hell."
No sooner had she finished speaking than the man with the claws sneered, "Hmph, who are you to say that?" Ethan instinctively took a step back, knowing that such provocation would only lead to death.
The examiner didn't respond; instead, she flashed in front of the man at an astonishing speed. Her hand clamped around his jaw like a vise and wrenched his mouth open. The entire process was violent and swift; Ethan barely saw her movement, only feeling a cold breeze as her actions sent a chill down his spine.
"Unstable emotions, too much corruption," the examiner sneered, pulling out a glass bottle filled with gray liquid and forcefully pouring it into the man's throat.
The man began to convulse violently, his body expanding at an alarming rate. His skin turned gray and black, twisted veins covering him. His joints cracked audibly as his bones grew in an impossible manner, his limbs becoming long and deformed. He roared deeply, a sound filled with pain and madness, emanating an overwhelming sense of oppression.
With a heart-rending scream, the man's eyes lost their humanity, turning into blood-red orbs filled with endless malice and chaotic fury. His claws grew sharper, and bone spikes sprouted from his joints, transforming him into a monstrous creature.
His mouth opened wide, revealing sharp teeth like a wild animal, saliva mixed with blood dripping to the floor with a hissing sound. It was clear he had lost control. The entire hall filled with a sense of fear and oppression as the other recruits instinctively took a few steps back, their faces showing signs of terror.
The examiner kicked the creature, sending it crashing through the wall before turning to face the rest of the crowd, her gaze cold and calculating. "The location is limited to this theater. Run, or kill it."
Her eyes lingered on Ethan for a moment, a strange glint flashing in them.