As soon as Cipher turned the corner, he saw why so many ambulances were needed.
People in white medical suits were scrambling to tend to the wounded. Some victims lay on stretchers, while others, with less severe injuries, were being treated in a designated area. Nearby, another section held those in critical condition, their bodies wrapped in bloodied bandages.
The air was thick with cries of pain, voices rising in desperation.
"Please, make it stop!"
"Help me! Someone, please!"
"Where are the damn doctors!?"
The sounds clawed at Cipher's ears, making it hard to focus.
Then, through the chaos, another sound pierced the air—a high-pitched scream, shrill and desperate, coming from a towering glass building ahead.
Cipher's eyes snapped toward the structure.
"New Life Laboratories"
The words were displayed prominently across the upper floors, standing out against the sleek, futuristic design. It was supposed to be a place of research and progress, but now, it was a place of horror.
While Cipher stood frozen, trying to process everything, two medic droids rushed past him, carrying injured civilians.
"…Warning. Medical personnel passing…"
The robots barely slowed down as they brushed against Cipher, making him stumble back a step.
Trailing behind them was a young man in a white medical uniform, his suit soaked in blood, making him look more like a butcher than a healer.
The man barked orders at the other personnel.
"Hurry, we need a stretcher over here! We found two more inside!"
As he stepped closer to Cipher, he reached out a bloodstained hand.
Cipher hesitated for a second before taking it.
"Hey, kid. Looks like you got in the robot's way. You alright?"
Now that Cipher could see him clearly, he noted the man's physique—broad shoulders, muscular build. His uniform looked like it might rip apart if he flexed too hard.
Cipher brushed himself off and nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine. They totally plowed through me, though."
The medic gave a short chuckle, but his gaze quickly dropped to Cipher's twin swords, strapped to his lower back.
His expression shifted.
Weapons were incredibly rare in Future City. Even law enforcement relied on energy-based restraints or drones to handle threats. But this kid… he had swords. Not even just one—two.
Something clicked in the medic's mind.
"No way…"
He recalled hearing a report on the news—the city had requested a Knight of Light. But looking at the teenager in front of him… there was no way this kid was it.
Sure, the white hair and silver eyes matched, but this boy looked sixteen, maybe seventeen. There was no way he was a high-ranking Knight.
Still, the thought nagged at him.
"You wouldn't happen to be a Knight of Light, would you?"
Cipher wasn't offended by the doubt in the man's voice. It wasn't the first time someone had looked at him and thought he was too young to be what he claimed.
"Yeah, I am. My name is Cipher Starlight, and I'm a Knight of Light."
The medic, still skeptical, folded his arms.
"Alright, if you're a Knight of Light, then what type are you?"
Cipher answered without hesitation.
"I'm a Counter."
Silence.
The medic—Tank, as his name tag read—cocked his head sideways. His brow furrowed as he processed the response.
"Really?" He gave Cipher another once-over. "I figured you for a Scout. You're pretty young, huh?"
Cipher gave a small shrug, unbothered.
He didn't take offense to the assumption—Scouts had it rough. They were the ones sent into unknown regions with little information, risking everything just to gather intel. Sometimes, they walked straight into a horde of Nightmares. Sometimes, they stumbled upon something worse.
Cipher had nothing but respect for them.
But he wasn't a Scout.
He was a Counter.
Before the conversation could continue, another bloodcurdling scream echoed from inside the New Life Laboratories building.
Cipher's expression hardened.
"I hate to cut this short, but… what exactly is going on here?"
Tank let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his blood-matted hair.
"Yeah… yeah, I should've explained sooner."
He took a breath before launching into an explanation.
"From what we've been told, there's a Nightmare loose inside the building. They were performing experiments on it, trying to find a way to control or eliminate them. But… something went wrong."
Cipher's hands tightened into fists.
"They were experimenting on a Nightmare?"
Tank nodded grimly.
"Yeah. And whatever they did—it didn't work. That thing is on a bloody rampage. Nothing has stopped it. We've tried explosives, firearms, even fire. But nothing works. In fact… we think it's only getting stronger."
Cipher's jaw tightened.
"Stronger?"
Tank gave a sharp nod.
"Yeah. It's like it's absorbing whatever we throw at it. Every attack just makes it more dangerous. It's already killed dozens. And from what we can tell…"
His voice dropped, a grave warning in his tone.
"It can decapitate people in a single hit."
Cipher's eyes widened slightly at that last part.
This wasn't just a normal Nightmare.
He had expected to face a B-Class threat in Future City, but… if what Tank was saying was true, then this thing might be on the verge of becoming an A-Class.
Cipher exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
He turned toward the New Life Laboratories building.
"Alright. Time to get to work."
As he started walking, he lifted a hand in farewell to Tank.
Tank hesitated, then called out.
"Hey, kid—be careful!"
Cipher didn't look back.
Instead, he reached out with his thoughts.
{Cipher~ Time to get to work. Hey, DEM, any ideas on what we might be facing?}
A familiar, monotone voice responded in his mind.
{DEM~ Nightmares have a multitude of different varieties and subclasses. There is no way for me to provide you with reliable information. In fact, relying on assumptions may put you at a disadvantage if you expect one type but face another.}
Cipher exhaled sharply.
"Great. Looks like I'll have to figure it out the hard way."
As he approached the shattered glass doors of New Life Laboratories, the sounds of screams and destruction grew louder.
And then, just as he stepped inside—
The entire building shook.
Cipher froze, his muscles tensing as a deep, guttural growl echoed from within the darkness.
He had a feeling he was about to meet the Nightmare firsthand.
And it wasn't going to be pretty.