RISE OF AN ORIGINAL

Even the feared Adrian, known for his ruthlessness, was not immune to nightmares. He jolted awake, soaked with sweat and his chest heaving. He feared waking Diana from her sleep, and he struggled to regain his composure.He had trouble sleeping again, so he got up from the bed and walked over to the balcony to get some fresh air and drink some whisky.Diana noticed his absence in the bed not long after, prompting her to search the room. To her surprise, she slighted him on the balcony. Fueled by curiosity, she decided to go and check up on him.“You sneaked out of bed to drink whisky by this time? Or did something happen to you?" She inquired as she walked over to take a seat beside him.He was surprised to hear her voice; he never expected her company. “Mhm, I just couldn’t sleep."She smiled softly. “You look worried."The dull look on him disappeared and was replaced with a smile: “Worried? Seriously! I’m a monster, which they are afraid of; they should be worried instead."With a

The dimly lit bar was thrown into chaos as Adrian stood his ground. His hybrid instincts urged him to fight, but caution held him back.The lead hunter advanced with unwavering determination. “I have been waiting for this moment for years,” he said with a sinister grin.Adrian's voice was laced with tension. “I never thought I would see your face again, Rylan."With a swift motion, Adrian lunged at Rylan. He aimed a powerful kick that sent Rylan sprawling backward and crashed into a table.However, as he turned to face the remaining hunters, he felt a stinging sensation on his arm and glanced down. “What the hell?” he mumbled as he saw a silver dart inserted into his flesh. It appeared to be some kind of hybrid venom, though Adrian had no idea what that meant. The hunters had a trick up their sleeves.The effects were almost instantaneous. His limbs grew heavy, and his vision began to get blurry. He knew he had to retreat. With one final burst of strength, he smashed through a nearby

The night was dark, with only the distant glimmer of city lights and the faint brightness of the moon to break it up. Adrian and Lucas proceeded through Nexus Heights' labyrinthine streets, their goal propelling them ahead despite the unsettling silence that surrounded them.Lucas's voice shattered the silence as they strolled side by side. "You know, Adrian, no matter what the world thinks of you, I've always believed you're not the monster they claim you to be."Adrian's eyes were fixed forward, and his only acknowledgement was a modest gesture of gratitude. “You've always been loyal, and I've never questioned that," he replied, his voice tinged with gratitude. "I’m glad to have someone like you around me.""Don't you think it's possible to change people's perceptions of you? Take, for instance, the time you saved my life when I was on the brink of death, despite not knowing anything about me. You can't imagine how much that second chance meant to me. I'm deeply grateful. I'll use i

Adrian sat in the courtyard, his phone screen glowing warmly. He was preoccupied by a string of messages from Lucas.Diana rested against the stone wall of the courtyard. His face was looked at by her deep, curious eyes. "You appear to be really happy. What's the story behind this huge grin?"He raised his head, his smile dimming. He shook his head, as if trying to clear his mind. "Oh, nothing at all. I was just chatting with Lucas."She shook her head, evidently dubious. She'd known him long enough to notice when something wasn't right. "I can tell when you're trying to hide something. Spill the beans. What's going on?"He sighed. "Well, you remember the hunter who attacked me?"She nodded, her interest growing. "The one that attacked you at the bar?"He nodded. "That's the one, Rylan. On our approach to the cemetery, his brother attacked us. I defended myself, and... well, I ended up presenting his dead brother's body to him."Her eyes widened in shock. "You did what?"He massaged t