“Adrian, I believe you’ve met her already. This is Anna, our receptionist,” the Captain said, gesturing toward the desk by the entrance. The young woman looked up from where she was fiddling with a quill. Her brown hair, loosely tied, brushed her shoulders. The soft green Loen-styled dress she wore was trimmed with lace at the sleeves and collar, a touch of elegance that softened her otherwise casual posture. Adrian smiled politely. “Nice to meet you.” Anna’s lips curved. “Hi. I’m Anna. Nice to meet you too.” Her voice carried a light cheerfulness, though her eyes gave off the weariness of someone who had seen far too many recruits pass by. “Later, you’ll have time to look around and meet the others,” the Captain said, already turning toward the corridor. “For now, follow me.” Adrian trailed after him. The hallway was narrow, lined with lanterns whose flames flickered against old stone walls. Their footsteps echoed faintly. The Captain pushed open an unlatched door. Inside was a

The first encounter came faster than Adrian expected. A low, guttural growl slithered through the alley to their right, chilling the night air. Kael’s massive hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword, muscles tensing like coiled steel. From the shadows, two gaunt, hunched beasts emerged. Thin and hairless, their pale skin stretched taut over sharp bones, eyes glowing a sickly green. They moved with unnatural speed, jaws snapping at the air like razors in motion. “Adrian!” Kael barked, voice cutting through the tension. “Position yourself between them and Rhea. Don’t hesitate.” Adrenaline surged, hot and electric. Adrian’s grip tightened around the hilt of his dagger, heart hammering. Time seemed to slow; he noticed subtle details, a faint shimmer around the creatures, a distortion in the air that marked them as something beyond natural. “Move!” Darius’ voice rang out, commanding. He swung his sword with precision, steel meeting claw in a shower of sparks. Adrian reacted

Adrian’s days had fallen into a brutal rhythm.Every morning, the captain drilled him until his legs felt like stone and his arms burned like fire. Afternoons were spent at the shooting facility, grinding through gun practice. Each wasted bullet reminded him that firearms were little more than toys here, useless against monsters unless against low level beasts.By nightfall, he patrolled alleys with his squad, always a breath away from becoming monster-meatSome nights he told himself he was growing stronger, other nights, he wasn’t so sure.That evening, while leaning against Anna’s desk trading idle talk, the captain’s heavy boots echoed down the hall. Andrew didn’t waste breath on greetings.“Adrian,” his voice carried the weight of stone. “You won’t be patrolling this evening. You’re heading out with Old Man Joseph.”The old man was waiting in the chapel turned basement, hunched over a table littered with candles, bones, and chalk.“You’re late,” Joseph rasped without looking up.

“So, what do you want to see me for?” Jordan asked his son. “I’m doing a little investigation on the ongoing crime,” Adrian said, steady at first. Then he hesitated. “I know this is weird to ask, but… can I see those dead bodies?” Jordan’s face stayed flat. “Dead bodies? Sure, why not. But mental warning… be prepared.” Adrian smirked, If this was a novel, he thought, ‘Dad sounds like he’s warning the audience, not me’. They walked to the back of the station. The hallway grew colder, and with each step, the air grew heavier. It hit Adrian before the door opened, a foul, cloying stench, sweet and metallic like rotting meat drenched in blood. It coated his tongue, made his stomach clench. Jordan pushed open the door. “These are the ones found in our district. We’re still trying to identify them… if there’s enough left to identify.” Adrian stepped in. The first body on the slab had no skin. None. Every inch had been peeled away, stripped clean so that slick muscle and tendons

The cavern split open as if the earth itself was screaming. Purple light bled from the cracks, and with it came the monster, stitched limbs, faces wailing in an endless chorus, its bulk dragging chains of bone and blood.Andrew’s squad was already breaking. Drius swung until his blade cracked, brute force driving him on even as corpses latched onto his arms. Rhea’s arrows carved the air into blades of wind, but each shot only staggered the abomination before another claw lashed out. Kael’s body shimmered with a strange distortion, his strikes folding space itself yet even that only slowed the tide.The cultists shrieked louder, drowning their terror in madness.A roar of power tore through the cavern as the tunnel wall bent inward, and suddenly reinforcements flooded in. Adrian was the first through, boots splashing into blood, his body flaring with beast-strength. Old Man Joseph followed, staff blazing, chains of light snapping across the abomination’s limbs.Andrew’s laugh broke t