ã€ŠThe Hero Hunterã€‹


 Im quiting heroing

    Chapter 1

    The cheers were deafening, and Gabriel stood at the heart of it all, surrounded by familiar faces¡ªpeople he had grown up with, laughed with, and called family.

    The air carried the sweet scent of roasted meat and spiced wine, mingling with the faint traces of smoke from torches that illuminated the night.

    Children darted between legs, their shrill laughter blending with the raucous voices of the gathered townsfolk.

    There was so much merriment. At least more than he had ever seen in his life, and it was all for him¡ªtheir war hero.

    A banner hung above the orphanage gates, his name crudely painted in purple.

    ¡°Welcome Home, Gabriel!¡± The letters were uneven, clearly the work of excited children.

    Gabriel let out a quiet chuckle at the thought. He could recognize little Mara¡¯s handiwork anywhere.

    The thought of her and the others putting in so much effort just to make him happy felt like a stake to the heart.

    They saw a hero, but they couldn¡¯t be further from the truth.

    ¡°To Gabriel, our hero!¡± A striking young woman cheered as she raised her glass high. Gabriel returned the gesture, albeit with less enthusiasm.

    After a while, the cheers softened as the townsmen huddled up to discuss politics ¡°Did you see the return fleet? I''m telling you we barely lost a man.¡±

    The children meanwhile had gathered around Gabriel, bombarding him with questions.

    ¡°Big bro, tell ''em about the time you and the prince were stuck behind enemy lines!¡±

    ¡°Or when the eldritch witch ambushed your troop!¡±

    ¡°Big bro, is Prince Icarus really that amazing?¡±

    The flood of questions threatened to drown him, but before he could even attempt an answer, the young woman from earlier appeared behind him. ¡°Now, now, big bro needs some time to rest. He has a trip to the capital tomorrow.¡±

    The kids paused for a while, their already shimmering eyes turning to literal stars.

    ¡°Ohhh Big bro how many tall buildings are in the capital.¡±

    ¡°Are you going to meet a general?!¡±

    ¡°That''s enough interrogating for one day, bath time¡¯s been pushed back an hour, so off you go.¡±

    As the children groaned and shuffled inside, she turned to Gabriel. ¡°So, are you going to tell me what¡¯s bothering you?¡±

    Gabriel wasn''t even surprised by her question. If anyone could tell he wasn''t in a good mood it was going to be Pearl¨C His younger sister.

    ¡°It¡¯s the orphanage''s deed,¡± he admitted.

    ¡°Yeah? What about it?¡±

    ¡°I can''t risk us getting thrown out¡­"

    ¡°We¡¯ve been threatened before, Gabe. But we¡¯ve never actually had to leave. The professor always finds a way.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much longer he can keep doing that. That¡¯s why we need this.¡±

    She sighed. "I still say you trust the professor. That badge of valor was something you earned with so much strife. Cashing it out for this shabby old¨C

    "I''m not doing all this because of the damned building¨C"

    "Exactly! You know, sometimes you are actually allowed to think of yourself first..."

    They stayed like that for a while silently watching their little celebration come to an end. The music was slow and the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy could be seen enjoying each other''s warmth with a slow dance.

    Pearl wore a pleasant smile as she watched them dance. But her eyes held something more, something he couldn''t decipher.

    After a while, she spoke again. "But if this is something you believe you have to do..." She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek. "Then at least be sure of what you''re giving up in exchange¡­ It''s getting late Gabe, go get some rest."

    With that, she walked away. After a while Gabriel said to himself.

    ¡°I already know what I''m giving up¡­ tainted valor.¡±

    ***

    The capital city Veinne was breathtaking at dawn. The first light bounced off its towering structures, making the gold-plated buildings shimmer with such brilliance it was almost blinding.

    The city never truly slept, and by the time the sun rose, the streets were already bustling with movement.

    Gabriel had seen Veinne countless times during his military training and deployments, yet its majesty never failed to amaze him.

    He had left Pogswood in the earliest hours, and the contrast between the outskirts and the capital was stark. Here, men in gold and red armor patrolled the streets, while civilians donning extravagant robes moved around with purpose.

    Something was off, though. It was subtle, but Gabriel¡¯s senses had always been... extra sensitive.

    The closer he got to the government district, the louder his instincts rattled. It wasn''t long before the unease seemed to permeate the air. There was this unusual tension, tensed faces, more and more guards than usual, hurried steps, hushed conversations. Then came the sirens, and after that...

    "Gods be damned," the driver muttered, his wide eyes locked on the side of the road ahead. He was so distracted that he rear-ended the car in front of him. But Gabriel had already stepped out, his focus elsewhere.

    A massive centipede lay dead beside a skyscraper.

    Strangely, the gathered citizens weren¡¯t looking at the monstrous corpse but at the figure hovering above it. The man had his back turned with his vermilion cape billowing in the wind.

    He hung like that in the air as if deep in thought.

    "With just a punch?..."

    "He wasn¡¯t even wearing armor."

    "How does he stay up there like that?"

    "I swear, he¡¯s a god¡ª"

    Murmurs swirled all around Gabriel. It wasn''t long before most began to call out to him almost like collective hypnosis.

    "Icarus... Prince Icarus."

    Gabriel¡¯s belly churned.

    The prince meanwhile turned at the mention of his name, revealing his handsomely sculpted face, framed by dark blond hair. The chanting grew louder as he descended, civilians reaching out to touch the hem of his cape or the shine of his red boots.

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    Gabriel watched him with furrowed brows as he hovered above the swarm of civilians.

    Then the crowd saw her, the woman Icarus held in his arms. The excitement died soon after, and the crowd slowly parted.

    Gabriel recognized her. The minister of defense¨C Minister Amadala. She had once been part of the inner war council. Her unyielding ethos was one of the major reasons why the war had ended.

    There was a temporary barrier put up by the security officers, with Icarus and the lady he held at its center. The paramedics swarmed in after her, but it was already too late. She had already been killed by the eldritch beast.

    Attacks like these weren¡¯t unheard of, but for a creature to appear this deep into the capital... was deeply unsettling.

    The Prince''s involvement was even more disturbing.

    But the masses couldn''t be more glad that Icarus had been there. His presence alone dulled the fear in his people¡¯s hearts, so there wasn''t much panic.

    Gabriel lingered at the scene for a while, watching the prince Icarus as he discussed with the security officers.

    A flurry of emotions welling in his chest when suddenly, Icarus''s gaze shot towards him.

    Gabriel was already gone. Shrouded deep in a canopy of civilian bodies.

    Gabriel caught another cab before long. But even after leaving the scene, he couldn''t help but wonder: An attack this close to the government district could mean war. Or perhaps just an excursion out of the dome to inspect for anomalies¡ª maybe a reminder of Icarus''s strength to keep their enemies in check.

    Either way, it was a dangerous precedent, one he wanted no part of.

    Gabriel arrived at the Sovereign Hall before long.

    The massive building loomed over him. ''The empire¡¯s administrative heart''. The sheer size of it was staggering, spanning over an acre in width alone. Glass and thin gold filaments made up most of its structure, reflecting the light like a beacon of authority.

    Gabriel forced himself to remain unimpressed as he stepped inside. He was clad in one of his red formal uniforms with his badge of valor dangling just below his heart.

    The sight of it left him with a bitter after-taste, but there wasn''t much he could do about that.

    He had a meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs¡ªa man who had done everything in his power to keep this meeting from happening, even scheduling it at an absurdly early hour, knowing how far Pogswood was from the capital. Unfortunately for him, Gabriel was the timely kind.

    He still had Gabriel wait a little while before sending for him.

    "Sir."

    Gabriel said with a salute which the minister acknowledged with a barely audible grumble before sliding a stack of documents across his desk.

    "Listen, kid. That old shack of yours was sitting on a railway system. And due to the influence of its previous owners, the government had decided against tearing it down, choosing instead to build around it for whatever reason. Hence, its increased value."

    "So?"

    Gabriel urged.

    "The current owners simply don''t see how a badge of honor can compensate for the land''s current value."

    The minister said matter-of-factly.

    "Don''t see how... it''s a farm in the middle of nowhere how much value could it possibly have!"

    Gabriel roared.

    The minister simply gestured to the documents on the table, and with reluctance Gabriel reached for them.

    After a while Gabriel clenched his jaw. "So, it was never going to be ours."

    "Never." the minister said with a smirk. "I¡¯d suggest you stop wasting your time. If the owners have been good to you all these years, I advise you just keep paying the lease and go find something worth your badge of honor."

    Frustration boiled in Gabriel as he stormed out of the man''s office.

    "80 million V''s. How the hell is a farm in the middle of nowhere worth so much. This isn''t a price, it''s a wall."

    Gabriel mumbled as he stomped. He had barely made it down the hall when he felt the hair behind his neck stand on end.

    The air thickened as Gabriel¡¯s breath hitched¡ªthe world around him fading to red.

    Beads of cold sweat trickled off his skin as his instincts screamed at his feet to run for dear life. But from what?

    Then he saw him.

    Above the hall, staring right at him with a subtle grin. The Prince Icarus.

    ¡°Oh Fuck.¡±

    1. I¡¯m Quitting Heroing

    The cheers were deafening, and Gabriel stood at the heart of it all, surrounded by familiar faces¡ªpeople he had grown up with, laughed with, and called family.

    The air carried the sweet scent of roasted meat and spiced wine, mingling with the faint traces of smoke from torches that illuminated the night.

    Children darted between legs, their shrill laughter blending with the raucous voices of the gathered townsfolk.

    There was so much merriment. At least more than he had ever seen in his life, and it was all for him¡ªtheir war hero.

    A banner hung above the orphanage gates, his name crudely painted in purple.

    "Welcome Home, Gabriel!" The letters were uneven, clearly the work of excited children.

    Gabriel let out a quiet chuckle at the thought. He could recognize little Mara''s handiwork anywhere.

    The thought of her and the others putting in so much effort just to make him happy felt like a stake to the heart.

    They saw a hero, but they couldn''t be further from the truth.

    "To Gabriel, our hero!" A striking young woman cheered as she raised her glass high. Gabriel returned the gesture, albeit with less enthusiasm.

    After a while, the cheers softened as the townsmen huddled up to discuss politics "Did you see the return fleet? I''m telling you we barely lost a man."

    The children meanwhile had gathered around Gabriel, bombarding him with questions.

    "Big bro, tell ''em about the time you and the prince were stuck behind enemy lines!"

    "Or when the eldritch witch ambushed your troop!"

    "Big bro, is Prince Icarus really that amazing?"

    The flood of questions threatened to drown him, but before he could even attempt an answer, the young woman from earlier appeared behind him. "Now, now, big bro needs some time to rest. He has a trip to the capital tomorrow."

    The kids paused for a while, their already shimmering eyes turning to literal stars.

    "Ohhh Big bro how many tall buildings are in the capital."

    "Are you going to meet a general?!"

    "That''s enough interrogating for one day, bath time''s been pushed back an hour, so off you go."

    As the children groaned and shuffled inside, she turned to Gabriel. "So, are you going to tell me what''s bothering you?"

    Gabriel wasn''t even surprised by her question. If anyone could tell he wasn''t in a good mood it was going to be Pearl¨C His younger sister.

    "It''s the orphanage''s deed," he admitted.

    "Yeah? What about it?"

    "I can''t risk us getting thrown out¡­"

    "We''ve been threatened before, Gabe. But we''ve never actually had to leave. The professor always finds a way."

    "I''m not sure how much longer he can keep doing that. That''s why we need this."

    She sighed. "I still say you trust the professor. That badge of valor was something you earned with so much strife. Cashing it out for this shabby old¨C

    "I''m not doing all this because of the damned building¨C"

    "Exactly! You know, sometimes you are actually allowed to think of yourself first..."

    They stayed like that for a while silently watching their little celebration come to an end. The music was slow and the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy could be seen enjoying each other''s warmth with a slow dance.

    Pearl wore a pleasant smile as she watched them dance. But her eyes held something more, something he couldn''t decipher.

    After a while, she spoke again. "But if this is something you believe you have to do..." She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek. "Then at least be sure of what you''re giving up in exchange¡­ It''s getting late Gabe, go get some rest."

    With that, she walked away. After a while Gabriel said to himself.

    "I already know what I''m giving up¡­ tainted valour."

    ***

    The capital city Veinne was breathtaking at dawn. The first light bounced off its towering structures, making the gold-plated buildings shimmer with such brilliance it was almost blinding.

    The city never truly slept, and by the time the sun rose, the streets were already bustling with movement.

    Gabriel had seen Veinne countless times during his military training and deployments, yet its majesty never failed to amaze him.

    He had left Pogswood in the earliest hours, and the contrast between the outskirts and the capital was stark. Here, men in gold and red armor patrolled the streets, while civilians donning extravagant robes moved around with purpose.

    Something was off, though. It was subtle, but Gabriel''s senses had always been... extra sensitive.

    The closer he got to the government district, the louder his instincts rattled. It wasn''t long before the unease seemed to permeate the air. There was this unusual tension, tensed faces, more and more guards than usual, hurried steps, hushed conversations. Then came the sirens, and after that...

    "Gods be damned," the driver muttered, his wide eyes locked on the side of the road ahead. He was so distracted that he rear-ended the car in front of him. But Gabriel had already stepped out, his focus elsewhere.

    A massive centipede lay dead beside a skyscraper.

    Strangely, the gathered citizens weren''t looking at the monstrous corpse but at the figure hovering above it. The man had his back turned with his vermilion cape billowing in the wind.

    He hung like that in the air as if deep in thought.

    "With just a punch?..."

    "He wasn''t even wearing armor."

    "How does he stay up there like that?"

    "I swear, he''s a god¡ª"

    Murmurs swirled all around Gabriel. It wasn''t long before most began to call out to him almost like collective hypnosis.

    "Icarus... Prince Icarus."

    Gabriel''s belly churned.

    The prince meanwhile turned at the mention of his name, revealing his handsomely sculpted face, framed by dark blond hair. The chanting grew louder as he descended, civilians reaching out to touch the hem of his cape or the shine of his red boots.

    Gabriel watched him with furrowed brows as he hovered above the swarm of civilians.

    Then the crowd saw her, the woman Icarus held in his arms. The excitement died soon after, and the crowd slowly parted.

    Gabriel recognized her. The minister of defense¨C Minister Amadala. She had once been part of the inner war council. Her unyielding ethos was one of the major reasons why the war had ended.

    There was a temporary barrier put up by the security officers, with Icarus and the lady he held at its center. The paramedics swarmed in after her, but it was already too late. She had already been killed by the eldritch beast.

    Attacks like these weren''t unheard of, but for a creature to appear this deep into the capital... was deeply unsettling.

    The Prince''s involvement was even more disturbing.

    But the masses couldn''t be more glad that Icarus had been there. His presence alone dulled the fear in his people''s hearts, so there wasn''t much panic.

    Gabriel lingered at the scene for a while, watching the prince Icarus as he discussed with the security officers.

    A flurry of emotions welling in his chest when suddenly, Icarus''s gaze shot towards him.

    Gabriel was already gone. Shrouded deep in a canopy of civilian bodies.

    Gabriel caught another cab before long. But even after leaving the scene, he couldn''t help but wonder: An attack this close to the government district could mean war. Or perhaps just an excursion out of the dome to inspect for anomalies¡ª maybe a reminder of Icarus''s strength to keep their enemies in check.

    Either way, it was a dangerous precedent, one he wanted no part of.

    Gabriel arrived at the Sovereign Hall before long.

    The massive building loomed over him. ''The empire''s administrative heart''. The sheer size of it was staggering, spanning over an acre in width alone. Glass and thin gold filaments made up most of its structure, reflecting the light like a beacon of authority.

    Gabriel forced himself to remain unimpressed as he stepped inside. He was clad in one of his red formal uniforms with his badge of valor dangling just below his heart.

    The sight of it left him with a bitter after-taste, but there wasn''t much he could do about that.

    He had a meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs¡ªa man who had done everything in his power to keep this meeting from happening, even scheduling it at an absurdly early hour, knowing how far Pogswood was from the capital. Unfortunately for him, Gabriel was the timely kind.

    He still had Gabriel wait a little while before sending for him.

    "Sir."

    Gabriel said with a salute which the minister acknowledged with a barely audible grumble before sliding a stack of documents across his desk.

    "Listen, kid. That old shack of yours was sitting on a railway system. And due to the influence of its previous owners, the government had decided against tearing it down, choosing instead to build around it for whatever reason. Hence, its increased value."

    "So?"

    Gabriel urged.

    "The current owners simply don''t see how a badge of honor can compensate for the land''s current value."

    The minister said matter-of-factly.

    "Don''t see how... it''s a farm in the middle of nowhere how much value could it possibly have!"

    Gabriel roared.

    The minister simply gestured to the documents on the table, and with reluctance Gabriel reached for them.

    After a while Gabriel clenched his jaw. "So, it was never going to be ours."

    "Never." the minister said with a smirk. "I''d suggest you stop wasting your time. If the owners have been good to you all these years, I advise you just keep paying the lease and go find something worth your badge of honor."

    Frustration boiled in Gabriel as he stormed out of the man''s office.

    "80 million V''s. How the hell is a farm in the middle of nowhere worth so much. This isn''t a price, it''s a wall."

    Gabriel mumbled as he stomped. He had barely made it down the hall when he felt the hair behind his neck stand on end.

    The air thickened as Gabriel''s breath hitched¡ªthe world around him fading to red.

    Beads of cold sweat trickled off his skin as his instincts screamed at his feet to run for dear life. But from what?

    Then he saw him.

    Above the hall, staring right at him with a subtle grin. The Prince Icarus.

    "Oh Fuck."

 Icarus The Hero

    Chapter 2

    Gabriel trembled under the weight of the prince''s intent. He had his head lowered as his knees threatened to buckle, reminding him how ill fitted he was in actual combat scenarios.

    A flash of pain suddenly coursed through his every nerve, accompanied by a metallic tang that flooded his taste buds.

    He had bitten his lower lips in hopes of gaining control of his body again, but just then, the prince''s suffocating presence suddenly vanished alongside his regal figure.

    Gabriel darted his head about searching for him, but the prince Icarus was nowhere to be found.

    There was this creeping sensation that lingered though¡ªlike unseen fingers tracing his spine¡ªstill setting his nerves on edge, albeit mildly.

    His instincts flared again in warning, but Gabriel was far too slow to react. Before he could turn, Icarus was already there, standing right behind him.

    Too close.

    ¡°Easy there,¡± Icarus said, raising his hands as if to calm him. His grin disarming, almost friendly. ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to spook you.¡±

    Gabriel didn¡¯t relax, more like he couldn''t. ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡±

    Icarus chuckled as he spoke. ¡°Oh? I''m sure I didn''t, soldier. After all, what could possibly frighten a ghost?...¡±

    Gabriel didn¡¯t answer, his hands still rattling as the adrenaline flooded his blood stream.

    His intuitions were still tolling bells, but Icarus wasn¡¯t acting like a beast about to rip out his throat. If anything, he looked amused.

    So Gabriel feigned composure as he assumed a much more comfortable stance. Then came his salute.

    "Your highness."

    He said, not daring to look the prince in the eye.

    "Please, please. At ease, soldier."

    Icarus said with a sigh, and Gabriel was quick to respond.

    "I apologize for my little indiscretion. I was merely curious about the extent of one of your... special traits. So I decided to test it out for myself.¡±

    ¡°I hope my performance pleased his highness.¡±

    Gabriel said, his expression failing to reveal his distress.

    ¡°You were sharp. A bit sharper than I anticipated, but when has that ever been an issue...¡± Icarus said with a smile as he tilted his head. He let his cold blue eyes linger on Gabriel for a bit before speaking again. ¡°I heard you can sense danger from far away before it''s even anywhere near you... and I hear that''s not all.¡±

    Gabriel didn''t reply for a while as he considered Icarus''s words and their intent. He and the prince had not worked at the front lines together in fact, the few times they had met, was during the war councils¨C and only on mission briefings he was directly involved in.

    The true extent of his capabilities had always been kept a secret from his pairs and even high-ranking officials. The only members of the war council that had sufficient information on his capabilities were the prime minister and Gabriel¡¯s Handler¨C the late minister of defense, Miss Amadala¡­

    Icarus had been kept out of the loop, much to his distaste, but there wasn''t much he could do about it. As powerful as he was he couldn''t have possibly dared to defy the entirety of the war council¡­ at least at the time and certainly not because of him.

    Still Icarus wasn''t the first member of the war council that had tried to bring Gabriel under their camp, knowing how invaluable his abilities could be in political warfare.

    Fortunately, there were laws that protected him and his interests. But how useful were laws against men like Icarus.

    "I can recall reading your file, and I can''t deny that I was fascinated enough to wish you joined my company. We''ll be more than welcome to have you."

    "... My ability isn''t as useful as it seems sir. And... I plan to retire from active duty as soon as possible."

    Gabriel stated firmly. He knew what he was passing off¨C the wealth, the power, but the mere thought of what he would have to do in exchange made his stomach churn.

    ''Never again.''

    He wasn''t going to let anyone use him as a tool ever again.

    "Retirement? Huh." Icarus finally said as his grin slowly faded into something more professional. The prince now seemed a bit more rigid, locking both hands behind his back.

    "Well it''s a shame. As you would''ve probably noticed, the capital is in a bit of a peril. Your services would''ve been very much appreciated.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately sir an attack this deep in the government district is something even my intuition couldn''t have predicted.¡±

    Gabriel replied.

    ¡°How do we know that for sure if we are yet to try?... Tell me Ghost, your little sister back at Pogswood, if she had a knife to her neck right this moment do you really doubt you''d be able to tell?¡±

    Gabriel turned to face the prince then his expression sour.

    "Why stand in the middle of nowhere, when there are funeral preparations to attend to Prince Icarus!"

    A familiar voice suddenly called out from behind. When Gabriel turned he could see the overly robust minister of internal affairs struggling to make it across the hall.

    "Minister Doku."

    Icarus smiled as he received the minister''s hand.

    Gabriel stared at them both with furrowed brows. It was a stretch, but a vile suspicion had begun to take root in his mind.

    "Well then Ghost. I hope you reconsider before next we speak."

    Icarus said as he walked away with the Minister at his side.

    Dammit!

    Gabriel cursed silently as he watched their departing backs. They seemed too close, how hard would it be for Icarus to convince the minister of internal affairs to falsify land documents?

    Certainly, not hard enough.

    But could the prince really have done something to delay the redemption of his badge of valor?

    Since only soldiers on active duty are allowed to redeem their badges. Delaying his could prevent him from wanting to retire at least until he had chosen to serve under Icarus.

    But why would the prince go out of his way to preserve his servitude, if the war was truly over, and it really was¡­ no soldier who had witnessed the war''s conclusion harbored a shred of doubt.

    Then there was the death of minister Amadala and that eldritch beast appearing in the government district.

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    Something doesn''t smell right. It was subtle but even now, his intuition couldn''t quiet down.

    The prince was gone and yet, Gabriel could still feel danger lingering around¡­ just like it had been before he spotted the giant centipede on his way here.

    The Sovereign Hall was awfully crowded today. Stuffed with all sorts of dignitaries. The longer he stood, the quicker the hall got filled up.

    It didn''t take too long before he found what was causing his intuition to scream in distress, but Gabriel couldn''t care less.

    He had decided long ago that he wasn''t going to play this game any longer.

    Gabriel clenched his fists as he turned for the exit. He had more important things to worry about¡ªlike the orphanage that should have been his by now.

    But just as he descended the Sovereign Hall''s outer steps, a beautiful young lady draped in all black had begun to ascend the marble steps with two young girls following closely beside her.

    Gabriel recognized them to be minister Amadala''s sister and her nieces¨C the late minister''s kids.

    He watched them silently as they reached the first landing, mixing in with the crowd as they entered the building. They were young girls barely at double digits. The minister''s younger sister meanwhile looked much older¨C albeit not much older than Pearl looked.

    The minister''s death must have hit them hard, even now, they moved with little orientation, their eyes bleak and sullen.

    For whatever reason Gabriel couldn''t get the young girls out of his mind, knowing that they were stepping blindly into danger.

    What sort of demon would he be if he left them there to die without even lifting a finger?

    Dammit!

    Gabriel cursed as he halted his steps. He turned to face the building then with a sigh proceeded to climb the steps once more.

    "Damn it. Let''s just have a quick look around¡­ what could possibly go wrong."

    2. Icarus The Hero

    Gabriel trembled under the weight of the prince''s intent. He had his head lowered as his knees threatened to buckle, reminding him how ill-fitted he was in actual combat scenarios.

    A flash of pain suddenly coursed through his every nerve, accompanied by a metallic tang that flooded his taste buds.

    He had bitten his lower lips in hopes of gaining control of his body again, but just then, the prince''s suffocating presence suddenly vanished alongside his regal figure.

    Gabriel darted his head about searching for him, but the prince Icarus was nowhere to be found.

    There was this creeping sensation that lingered though¡ªlike unseen fingers tracing his spine¡ªstill setting his nerves on edge, albeit mildly.

    His instincts flared again in warning, but Gabriel was far too slow to react. Before he could turn, Icarus was already there, standing right behind him.

    Too close.

    "Easy there," Icarus said, raising his hands as if to calm him. His grin disarming, almost friendly. "Didn''t mean to spook you."

    Gabriel didn''t relax, more like he couldn''t. "You didn''t."

    Icarus chuckled as he spoke. "Oh? I''m sure I didn''t, soldier. After all, what could possibly frighten a ghost?..."

    Gabriel didn''t answer, his hands still rattling as the adrenaline flooded his bloodstream.

    His intuitions were still tolling bells, but Icarus wasn''t acting like a beast about to rip out his throat. If anything, he looked amused.

    So Gabriel feigned composure as he assumed a much more comfortable stance. Then came his salute.

    "Your Highness."

    He said, not daring to look the prince in the eye.

    "Please, please. At ease, soldier."

    Icarus said with a sigh, and Gabriel was quick to respond.

    "I apologize for my little indiscretion. I was merely curious about the extent of one of your... special traits. So I decided to test it out for myself."

    "I hope my performance pleased his highness."

    Gabriel said, his expression failing to reveal his distress.

    "You were sharp. A bit sharper than I anticipated, but when has that ever been an issue..." Icarus said with a smile as he tilted his head. He let his cold blue eyes linger on Gabriel for a bit before speaking again. "I heard you can sense danger from far away before it''s even anywhere near you... and I hear that''s not all."

    Gabriel didn''t reply for a while as he considered Icarus''s words and their intent. He and the prince had not worked at the front lines together in fact, the few times they had met, was during the war councils¨C and only on mission briefings he was directly involved in.

    The true extent of his capabilities had always been kept a secret from his pairs and even high-ranking officials. The only members of the war council that had sufficient information on his capabilities were the prime minister and Gabriel''s Handler¨C the late minister of defence, Miss Amadala¡­

    Icarus had been kept out of the loop, much to his distaste, but there wasn''t much he could do about it. As powerful as he was he couldn''t have possibly dared to defy the entirety of the war council¡­ at least at the time and certainly not because of him.

    Still, Icarus wasn''t the first member of the war council that had tried to bring Gabriel under their camp, knowing how invaluable his abilities could be in political warfare.

    Fortunately, there were laws that protected him and his interests. But how useful were laws against men like Icarus?

    "I can recall reading your file, and I can''t deny that I was fascinated enough to wish you joined my company. We''ll be more than welcome to have you."

    "... My ability isn''t as useful as it seems sir. And... I plan to retire from active duty as soon as possible."

    Gabriel stated firmly. He knew what he was passing off¨C the wealth, the power, but the mere thought of what he would have to do in exchange made his stomach churn.

    ''Never again.''

    He wasn''t going to let anyone use him as a tool ever again.

    "Retirement? Huh." Icarus finally said as his grin slowly faded into something more professional. The prince now seemed a bit more rigid, locking both hands behind his back.

    "Well, it''s a shame. As you would''ve probably noticed, the capital is in a bit of a peril. Your services would''ve been very much appreciated."

    "Unfortunately sir an attack this deep in the government district is something even my intuition couldn''t have predicted."

    Gabriel replied.

    "How do we know that for sure if we are yet to try?... Tell me Ghost, your little sister back at Pogswood, if she had a knife to her neck right this moment do you really doubt you''d be able to tell?"

    Gabriel turned to face the prince then his expression sour.

    "Why stand in the middle of nowhere, when there are funeral preparations to attend to Prince Icarus!"

    A familiar voice suddenly called out from behind. When Gabriel turned he could see the overly robust minister of internal affairs struggling to make it across the hall.

    "Minister Doku."

    Icarus smiled as he received the minister''s hand.

    Gabriel stared at them both with furrowed brows. It was a stretch, but a vile suspicion had begun to take root in his mind.

    "Well then Ghost. I hope you reconsider before next we speak."

    Icarus said as he walked away with the Minister at his side.

    Dammit!

    Gabriel cursed silently as he watched their departing backs. They seemed too close, how hard would it be for Icarus to convince the minister of internal affairs to falsify land documents?

    Certainly, not hard enough.

    But could the prince really have done something to delay the redemption of his badge of valour?

    Since only soldiers on active duty are allowed to redeem their badges. Delaying his could prevent him from wanting to retire at least until he had chosen to serve under Icarus.

    But why would the prince go out of his way to preserve his servitude, if the war was truly over, and it really was¡­ no soldier who had witnessed the war''s conclusion harboured a shred of doubt.

    Then there was the death of Minister Amadala and that eldritch beast appearing in the government district.

    Something doesn''t smell right. It was subtle but even now, his intuition couldn''t quiet down.

    The prince was gone and yet, Gabriel could still feel danger lingering around¡­ just like it had been before he spotted the giant centipede on his way here.

    The Sovereign Hall was awfully crowded today. Stuffed with all sorts of dignitaries. The longer he stood, the quicker the hall got filled up.

    It didn''t take too long before he found what was causing his intuition to scream in distress, but Gabriel couldn''t care less.

    He had decided long ago that he wasn''t going to play this game any longer.

    Gabriel clenched his fists as he turned for the exit. He had more important things to worry about¡ªlike the orphanage that should have been his by now.

    But just as he descended the Sovereign Hall''s outer steps, a beautiful young lady draped in all black had begun to ascend the marble steps with two young girls following closely beside her.

    Gabriel recognized them to be Minister Amadala''s sister and her nieces¨C the late minister''s kids.

    He watched them silently as they reached the first landing, mixing in with the crowd as they entered the building. They were young girls barely at double digits. The minister''s younger sister meanwhile looked much older¨C albeit not much older than Pearl looked.

    The minister''s death must have hit them hard, even now, they moved with little orientation, their eyes bleak and sullen.

    For whatever reason Gabriel couldn''t get the young girls out of his mind, knowing that they were stepping blindly into danger.

    What sort of demon would he be if he left them there to die without even lifting a finger?

    Dammit!

    Gabriel cursed as he halted his steps. He turned to face the building and then with a sigh proceeded to climb the steps once more.

    "Damn it. Let''s just have a quick look around¡­ what could possibly go wrong."

 Straight Through

    Gabriel could immediately feel his gut churn as he stepped into the hall.

    The grand chamber was stuffed with nobles and Military officials chattering among themselves, oblivious to the danger lurking in their midst.

    He had lost sight of the cloaked man, but his instincts hadn''t, pulling him through the sea of bodies like fish caught in a hook.

    Gabriel didn¡¯t put too much thought into it¡ªhe just let his body follow the pull of intuition, weaving through the crowd until he found himself behind a small group.

    Minister Amadala¡¯s sister and her children stood just ahead, their backs turned to him.

    He had stood behind them for barely a minute when he saw it¡ªa figure draped in a dark cloak slipping through the crowd.

    Gabriel didn''t need his instincts to sound an alarm to know he was looking at the cause of his turmoil.

    The way the man moved, the way his gloved fingers tightened around something in his hand¡ªit was too purposeful, too deliberate. So, Gabriel moved first, before the assailant could even notice him.

    Gabriel lunged forward.

    His shoulder crashing into the assailant¡¯s ribs, knocking him off balance. A small glass syringe slipped from his grip, clattering onto the marble floor. The man twisted, quick as a snake, regaining his footing as his hood fell back. His face was ordinary, forgettable¡ªone of the many shadows that lived within the capital¡¯s underbelly. But his eyes burned with something Gabriel knew all too well¡­ desperation.

    The man dove for the syringe, snatching it up before bolting deeper into the mix of nobles.

    Gabriel started after him, but the assailant was fast, slipping through the crowd like a rat.

    They had barely gotten half way through the main hall when the assailant came to a sudden stop, then in one swift motion, he plunged the needle into the neck of an unsuspecting nobleman.

    The effect was immediate.

    The man convulsed, a strifeld scream prying out from his throat. His veins bulged, skin rippling as if something was crawling beneath it, struggling to break free.

    Then, with a sickening crack, his body twisted¡ªelongating, distorting. His fingers stretched into jagged claws, his jaw unhinging as monstrous fangs pushed through.

    The nobleman was gone.

    In his place now stood an eldritch beast. Six blood red eyes on black seething flesh. The creature stood on all fours, its tail breaking through the air like a leather whip.

    Chaos erupted.

    Screams tore through the air as the creature lunged at the nearest nobleman, sinking its teeth into her fat shoulder. Blood sprayed, staining the pristine marble floors.

    Panic spread like wildfire, people shoving and trampling each other in a desperate attempt to flee.

    Gabriel ignored it all. His focus locked on the cloaked man as he darted away, vanishing into the corridors beyond.

    Gabriel gave chase.

    The sounds of battle faded as he pursued the assailant through twisting halls, past startled servants and frantic guards. The terrorist was quick, but Gabriel wasn''t letting up.

    The corridors tightened as they neared the lower levels. Gabriel skipped a series of steps, leaping from one landing to another as he closed in on the assailant.

    The man looked like he knew his way around, leading Gabriel deeper and deeper still, until a massive door stood a couple dozen meters away.

    From where he was Gabriel could see two guards standing by the massive door.

    ¡®The archives? why would he lead me down here?!¡¯

    Perplexed, Gabriel chose to activate his other blessing.

    The panicked man meanwhile had just crashed into the door.

    ¡°I''m- I''m being chased.¡± He said panting, pointing nervously at the space behind him.

    Completely confused, the guards¨C who didn''t seem stunned by the assailant''s appearance, offered to go search for the man he claimed had been chasing him.

    Once they had disappeared into the corner the assailant entered the room with strained breaths.

    He had barely gotten a couple steps away from the door when Gabriel suddenly appeared behind him like a herald of death.

    Gabriel spared him no time, immediately slamming the man into a nearby shelf. Papers and books tumbled to the floor. As Gabriel grabbed him by the collar.

    ¡°Who sent you?¡± Gabriel hissed, binding the man¡¯s arm in a gruesome hold.

    The terrorist didn¡¯t answer. His face folding into what Gabriel could only assume was a smirk. It was hard to tell through the man''s panic and hesitation.

    Before he could react though, the man bit down on something hard. A satisfying crunch reverberated through the air and seconds later, the man had begun to convulse vigorously¡ªfoam gathered at his lips as the poison worked through his system.

    Within moments, he was dead.

    Gabriel cursed under his breath, stepping back from the corpse with an exasperated sigh.

    The man had been prepared.

    After all, dead men tell no tales.

    Gabriel¡¯s pulse still thrummed with urgency though, and an opportunity had just presented itself.

    Right now he stood in the Sovereign Halls archives, all alone.

    Firstly he had to force himself to breathe, to push past the lingering rush of the chase and focus on the here and now.

    His orphanage.

    The deed.

    The Archives were lined with shelves, each one several dozen meters tall.

    Thankfully they made it easy to navigate through. The aisle labeled ¡®Landed Properties¡¯ was just a couple shelves away.

    It wasn''t long before he found the cabinet on lands in and around Pogswood. His fingers moved fast, rifling through documents, scanning names and seals. He didn¡¯t know how much time he had before the guards arrived. But then¡ª

    There.

    A leather-bound folder, stamped with an official insignia.

    ¡®Saint Marvel''s orphanage home.¡¯

    Gabriel grabbed it, flipping through the pages. His eyes darting across the text, absorbing what he could¡ª

    Footsteps.

    He froze.

    The sound was slow, measured, confident.

    Gabriel barely had time to retreat into the shadows before the door opened. Luckily he didn''t have to. All he did was activate his blessing and almost instantly Gabriel had turned invisible. His body blending into the backdrop of high shelves and paperwork.

    Then three men walked in.

    Gabriel recognized them instantly.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Icarus, draped in his signature blood red cape and what Gabriel could only identify as a pristine white bodysuit laced with gold embroidery. He looked as dastardly dashing as ever, a lazy smile playing on his lips. And beside him¡ªthe robust Minister of Internal Affairs and his aide.

    Gabriel held his breath.

    The two men spoke in low voices, their words clipped and laced with hidden meaning. But Gabriel¡¯s mind reeled as he pieced together what he was hearing.

    The minister was uneasy. He mentioned something about "the failed peace talks," about "loose ends."

    Icarus listened patiently, nodding along as if humoring him.

    Then, without warning¡ª

    Icarus''s hand flashed.

    Slick, precise, straight through the minister¡¯s chest.

    The older man choked, eyes wide with betrayal as blood gurgled from his mouth. He couldn''t even last a second longer, falling lifeless onto the cold marble floor.

    Gabriel¡¯s stomach twisted at the sight, but he remained still.

    The minister now laid in a pool of his own blood, a gaping hole occupying the majority of his chest.

    Icarus barely flinched at the sight, his expression untouched by remorse.

    Instead, he sighed, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off a minor inconvenience. Then, he turned to the lone security officer still standing in shock.

    ¡°Here,¡± Icarus murmured, pulling out a familiar glass syringe. ¡°Hold still.¡±

    Before the man could resist, Icarus plunged the needle into his neck.

    Gabriel watched in horror.

    The same serum.

    The same transformation.

    The guard convulsed, body reeling in pain as veins darkened beneath his skin. Bones popped twisting in all the wrong ways, until the man was gone, replaced by a towering beast with dagger long spikes protruding out of its skin.

    It stood in silence for a while, four beady eyes staring right at Icarus with dreadful curiosity. There was a subtle clicking reverberating off the creature''s hideous maw that dripped with saliva.

    Icarus stared right back at it, his head slighlty tilted. Then unceremoniously the prince let out a yawn.

    All the eldritch beast did was twitch and a gaping hole replaced its upper half.

    Icarus had struck it down with a single blow.

    What followed after was this long sickening silence.

    Gabriel¡¯s fingers twitched against the wooden shelf. His body pleading to flee, but he was paralyzed, caught between fear and disbelief.

    Then¡ª

    A sudden, careless movement.

    His elbow knocked against a small stack of books. They toppled, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

    Gabriel¡¯s heart stopped.

    Icarus turned. A slow smile lining his lips.

    Gabriel didn¡¯t wait to see what would happen next, bolting out of the hall the very next second.

    3 Straight Through

    Gabriel could immediately feel his gut churn as he stepped into the hall.

    The grand chamber was stuffed with nobles and Military officials chattering among themselves, oblivious to the danger lurking in their midst.

    He had lost sight of the cloaked man, but his instincts hadn''t, pulling him through the sea of bodies like fish caught in a hook.

    Gabriel didn''t put too much thought into it¡ªhe just let his body follow the pull of intuition, weaving through the crowd until he found himself behind a small group.

    Minister Amadala''s sister and her children stood just ahead, their backs turned to him.

    He had stood behind them for barely a minute when he saw it¡ªa figure draped in a dark cloak slipping through the crowd.

    Gabriel didn''t need his instincts to sound an alarm to know he was looking at the cause of his turmoil.

    The way the man moved, the way his gloved fingers tightened around something in his hand¡ªit was too purposeful, too deliberate. So, Gabriel moved first, before the assailant could even notice him.

    Gabriel lunged forward.

    His shoulder crashed into the assailant''s ribs, knocking him off balance. A small glass syringe slipped from his grip, clattering onto the marble floor. The man twisted, quick as a snake, regaining his footing as his hood fell back. His face was ordinary, forgettable¡ªone of the many shadows that lived within the capital''s underbelly. But his eyes burned with something Gabriel knew all too well¡­ desperation.

    The man dove for the syringe, snatching it up before bolting deeper into the mix of nobles.

    Gabriel started after him, but the assailant was fast, slipping through the crowd like a rat.

    They had barely gotten halfway through the main hall when the assailant came to a sudden stop, then in one swift motion, he plunged the needle into the neck of an unsuspecting nobleman.

    The effect was immediate.

    The man convulsed, a stifled scream prying out from his throat. His veins bulged, skin rippling as if something was crawling beneath it, struggling to break free.

    Then, with a sickening crack, his body twisted¡ªelongating, distorting. His fingers stretched into jagged claws, his jaw unhinging as monstrous fangs pushed through.

    The nobleman was gone.

    In his place now stood an eldritch beast. Six blood-red eyes on black seething flesh. The creature stood on all fours, its tail breaking through the air like a leather whip.

    Chaos erupted.

    Screams tore through the air as the creature lunged at the nearest nobleman, sinking its teeth into her fat shoulder. Blood sprayed, staining the pristine marble floors.

    Panic spread like wildfire, people shoving and trampling each other in a desperate attempt to flee.

    Gabriel ignored it all. His focus locked on the cloaked man as he darted away, vanishing into the corridors beyond.

    Gabriel gave chase.

    The sounds of battle faded as he pursued the assailant through twisting halls, past startled servants and frantic guards. The terrorist was quick, but Gabriel wasn''t letting up.

    The corridors tightened as they neared the lower levels. Gabriel skipped a series of steps, leaping from one landing to another as he closed in on the assailant.

    The man looked like he knew his way around, leading Gabriel deeper and deeper still until a massive door stood a couple dozen meters away.

    From where he was Gabriel could see two guards standing by the massive door.

    ''The archives? Why would he lead me down here?!''

    Perplexed, Gabriel chose to activate his other blessing.

    The panicked man meanwhile had just crashed into the door.

    "I''m- I''m being chased." He said panting, pointing nervously at the space behind him.

    Completely confused, the guards¨C who didn''t seem stunned by the assailant''s appearance, offered to go search for the man he claimed had been chasing him.

    Once they had disappeared into the corner the assailant entered the room with strained breaths.

    He had barely gotten a couple of steps away from the door when Gabriel suddenly appeared behind him like a herald of death.

    Gabriel spared him no time, immediately slamming the man into a nearby shelf. Papers and books tumbled to the floor. As Gabriel grabbed him by the collar.

    "Who sent you?" Gabriel hissed, binding the man''s arm in a gruesome hold.

    The terrorist didn''t answer. His face folded into what Gabriel could only assume was a smirk. It was difficult to tell through the man''s panic and hesitation.

    Before he could react though, the man bit down on something hard. A satisfying crunch reverberated through the air and seconds later, the man had begun to convulse vigorously¡ªfoam gathered at his lips as the poison worked through his system.

    Within moments, he was dead.

    Gabriel cursed under his breath, stepping back from the corpse with an exasperated sigh.

    The man had been prepared.

    After all, dead men tell no tales.

    Gabriel''s pulse still thrummed with urgency though, and an opportunity had just presented itself.

    Right now, he stood in the Sovereign Halls archives, all alone.

    Firstly, he had to force himself to breathe, to push past the lingering rush of the chase and focus on the here and now.

    His orphanage.

    The deed.

    The Archives were lined with shelves, each one several dozen meters tall.

    Thankfully, they made it easy to navigate through. The aisle labelled ''Landed Properties'' was just a couple of shelves away.

    It wasn''t long before he found the cabinet on lands in and around Pogswood. His fingers moved fast, rifling through documents, scanning names and seals. He didn''t know how much time he had before the guards arrived. But then¡ª

    There.

    A leather-bound folder, stamped with an official insignia.

    ''Saint Marvel''s orphanage home.''

    Gabriel grabbed it, flipping through the pages. His eyes darting across the text, absorbing what he could¡ª

    Footsteps.

    He froze.

    The sound was slow, measured, and confident.

    Gabriel barely had time to retreat into the shadows before the door opened. Luckily, he didn''t have to. All he did was activate his blessing and almost instantly Gabriel had turned invisible. His body blended into the backdrop of high shelves and paperwork.

    Then three men walked in.

    Gabriel recognized them instantly.

    Icarus, draped in his signature blood-red cape and what Gabriel could only identify as a pristine white bodysuit laced with gold embroidery. He looked as dastardly dashing as ever, a lazy smile playing on his lips. And beside him¡ªthe robust Minister of Internal Affairs and his aide.

    Gabriel held his breath.

    The two men spoke in low voices, their words clipped and laced with hidden meaning. But Gabriel''s mind reeled as he pieced together what he was hearing.

    The minister was uneasy. He mentioned something about "the failed peace talks," about "loose ends."

    Icarus listened patiently, nodding along as if humouring him.

    Then, without warning¡ª

    Icarus''s hand flashed.

    Slick, precise, straight through the minister''s chest.

    The older man choked, eyes wide with betrayal as blood gurgled from his mouth. He couldn''t even last a second longer, falling lifeless onto the cold marble floor.

    Gabriel''s stomach twisted at the sight, but he remained still.

    The minister now lay in a pool of his own blood, a gaping hole occupying the majority of his chest.

    Icarus barely flinched at the sight, his expression untouched by remorse.

    Instead, he sighed, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off a minor inconvenience. Then, he turned to the lone security officer still standing in shock.

    "Here," Icarus murmured, pulling out a familiar glass syringe. "Hold still."

    Before the man could resist, Icarus plunged the needle into his neck.

    Gabriel watched in horror.

    The same serum.

    The same transformation.

    The guard convulsed, body reeling in pain as veins darkened beneath his skin. Bones popped twisting in all the wrong ways until the man was gone, replaced by a towering beast with dagger-long spikes protruding out of its skin.

    It stood in silence for a while, four beady eyes staring right at Icarus with dreadful curiosity. There was a subtle clicking reverberating off the creature''s hideous maw that dripped with saliva.

    Icarus stared right back at it, his head slightly tilted. Then unceremoniously the prince let out a yawn.

    All the eldritch beast did was twitch, and a gaping hole replaced its upper half.

    Icarus had struck it down with a single blow.

    What followed was this long sickening silence.

    Gabriel''s fingers twitched against the wooden shelf. His body pleading to flee, but he was paralyzed, caught between fear and disbelief.

    Then¡ª

    A sudden, careless movement.

    His elbow knocked against a small stack of books. They toppled, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

    Gabriel''s heart stopped.

    Icarus turned. A slow smile lined his lips.

    Gabriel didn''t wait to see what would happen next, bolting out of the hall the very next second.

 Welcome Home

    <ol start="4">

    <li> Welcome Home</li>

    </ol>

    The archive chamber was dim, lined with towering shelves of forgotten records and dust-covered tomes. It smelled of ink, old parchment, and something faintly metallic.

    Icarus stepped inside, his boots clicking against the marble floor. His presence alone made the room feel smaller, the air heavier. He barely glanced at the documents surrounding him, his focus entirely on the man at his side¡ªthe Minister of Internal Affairs.

    The minister adjusted his collar, flipping through a leather-bound ledger. "Minister Amadala had quite a number of properties. Her estate alone¡ªvaluable land, prime real estate, not to mention the funds in her private accounts. With her unfortunate passing, there''s much to be allocated." He mused.

    Icarus hummed in response, only half-listening.

    The minister continued, oblivious. "And then, of course, the spoils from the war. The assets seized from enemy territories, the redistribution of resources. We need to ensure everything falls into the right hands. It would be disastrous if¡ª"

    A wet squelch cut him off.

    The minister gasped.

    He looked down in shock. Icarus''s arm was buried up to the elbow in his chest, fingers pressing against his still-beating heart.

    For a moment, there was only stunned silence.

    Icarus tilted his head, his expression almost thoughtful. "You talk too much."

    Then, with a sharp twist, he drove his fingers through the minister''s heart, until his hand popped out from his back.

    The minister convulsed once, blood spilling from between his lips before collapsing lifelessly onto the cold floor.

    His aide¡ªstanding mere steps away¡ªchoked on his breath. Panic seized his body, his feet stumbling backwards as he turned to run.

    He didn''t make it far.

    Icarus was fast¡­ too fast.

    He caught the man by the collar, dragging him back effortlessly. In one smooth motion, he pulled out a syringe, pressed it against the man''s neck, and drove the needle in deep.

    The aide screamed.

    His body spasmed, veins bulging black beneath his skin. He fell to his knees, convulsing as his features distorted¡ªhis bones snapping, muscles twisting.

    Within seconds, he was no longer human.

    Icarus sighed. "A pity."

    Then, with the same ease as before, he ended it. A swift, clean kill.

    Just as the creature''s corpse hit the ground, something shifted in the room. A sound¡ªsoft, but distinct.

    A thud.

    Icarus''s eyes narrowed.

    He turned, his sharp gaze scanning the archives. Nothing seemed out of place.

    He walked around for a bit, growing bored from searching. He was moments away from giving up when he finally caught something.

    His scarlet eyes landed on something near the outer shelves. A body. One of his own.

    The commissioned assailant. Dead. Poison pill between his teeth.

    Icarus crouched, inspecting the body with mild curiosity. "Hmm. Who pushed you this far?" He glanced at the surrounding area, his eyes picking up on the fallen ledgers that had previously caught his attention.

    After a while, he paused, his lips curving into a slow, knowing smile.

    "Interesting."

    ---

    Gabriel ran.

    His heartbeat thundered in his ears as he tore through the long halls of the nation''s administrative heart, gripping the orphanage documents so tightly his fingers ached.

    He could still see it.

    The way Icarus smiled as he drove his arm through the minister''s chest. The way he injected that other man was like it was routine.

    The way he murdered without hesitation.

    The fear worsened. Panic rising in his heart.

    Had he noticed? Did he know?

    Gabriel''s stomach churned, bile rising in his throat.

    ''No, that''s impossible.''

    If there was one thing Gabriel was sure of, it was that his blessing ''Stealth'' was nearly undetectable. From his steps to his heat signature, it was like he didn''t occupy space at all.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    He had been careful. And even then, there was no way Icarus would be able to tell it was him. Hopefully.

    He pushed forward, shoving past terrified nobles, evading guards who had no idea what kind of monster lurked just a couple of ways behind him.

    And even if they knew, what could they do? What should he do?

    By the time he reached the government district''s main streets, his breathing was ragged. The cool evening air did little to calm him.

    With a thought, he activated his blessing and snuck through the police barricade, only deactivating it once he was a safe distance away.

    There were sirens and journalists flooding the scene. Noblemen littered the entry steps of the great hall with blankets over their shoulders as they shuddered in terror.

    It was only after confirming the safety of the late minister''s sister and children that Gabriel fled.

    He needed to think.

    He needed a plan.

    Gabriel pulled out his transmitter, his fingers shaking as he dialled.

    After three rings, Pearl answered.

    "Gabriel?" Her voice was thick with concern. "Where are you? What''s happening over there?"

    "Pearl, listen," he said, voice low. "You need to find the professor. Right now."

    "The professor?" she echoed, confused. "Why? Gabriel, what''s going on?"

    "No time," he snapped. "Just¡ªplease. Find him. And tell him, wherever the fuck he is, he better get his ass down here right now!"

    Gabriel yelled. A long pause followed. Then came a quiet, "Okay."

    Gabriel exhaled. Then spoke again:

    "Pack all your bags too. We''re leaving for a while."

    He could hear Pearl''s worry from his side of the line, but she was smart enough to not ask questions.

    With another ''Okay'' she hung up and Gabriel was left in silence.

    He didn''t know if this would change anything. He didn''t even know if it mattered anymore. But if it were the professor, he''d surely know what to do¡­ In the meantime, all they could do was run away and lie low for now. At Least until they could come up with a concrete plan.

    With that, he pocketed the transmitter and continued walking.

    It took him a while to reach the next bus terminal, and that was when he saw it.

    The massive broadcast screens that hovered all across the cityscape flickered to life.

    A live address.

    Icarus stood before a grand podium, his golden hair gleaming under the spotlight. His expression was somber, and composed, the perfect countenance of a loyal leader.

    "My fellow citizens," his voice rang through the streets, smooth and authoritative, "Today, we faced an unspeakable act of terror. The tragedy within the Sovereign Hall was an attack not just on our government, but on our peace. But rest assured¡ªjustice will be swift."

    Gabriel clenched his fists.

    "The perpetrators sought to divide us. But they have failed. We remain united. Strong. And we will not allow fear to control us. We had given them an opportunity for peace talks, but it has become evident that they harbour no interest in coexistence¡­"

    People in the streets murmured, nodding, believing every word.

    Gabriel meanwhile held his stomach in disgust.

    "They''ve given us no option than to repay in kind. This time we shall have no mercy. Justice must prevail."

    The streets roared in unison. Oblivious to the tyrannical maniac they rallied behind.

    He had just seen this man commit unspeakable acts¡ªcold, ruthless, methodical. And now? Now, he stood before the entire nation, wearing a mask of righteousness.

    A monster pretending to be a saviour.

    Gabriel forced himself to breathe.

    They had thought the war was over.

    But in truth, it was only just beginning.

    --

    When he finally reached Pogswood, exhaustion weighed on his body. His thoughts¨C occupied by the events of the day, left him feeling drained and weary.

    His intuition hadn''t shut up since back at the Sovereign Hall.

    The bus he had taken, took quite some time to leave the capital, especially after everything that had occurred earlier.

    By the time they had reached Pogswood, it was already after dark. The sun had fled, painting the sky blood-red¨C then a deep magenta as it sank behind the stunning countryscape.

    The green hills and scarce buildings did little to calm Gabriel. He sat by the window watching the farms and old buildings pass by. It was then he recalled the ledger that rested in his idle grip.

    He stared at it for a bit, his mind blank as a board. He had no idea what he was hoping to see but hoped it could at least point him towards something. Furthermore, he didn''t know if it even mattered, if it would change a thing, but he hoped regardless.

    With a sigh, he flipped the ledger open and soon steel grey eyes stalked the tea-stained pages, growing wider and wider the further he went.

    "How is this even possible?"

    He had lived in the orphanage all his life, every memory he had growing up was within those four walls. Although not as knowledgeable or involved in the orphanage''s internal affairs, he could still boast of being well-informed about the orphanage''s history.

    But this piece of paper in his hands flipped everything¨C he thought he knew, on its head.

    He was so engrossed by the revelation he had no idea when he had gotten to the ranch the orphanage was in.

    The bus had dropped him by a large field of golden brown wheat that fluttered in the evening breeze. The orphanage was just up ahead, a soft orange glow spilling out its windows.

    As much as he hated it, Gabriel couldn''t just look at the building the same way.

    He was confused, occupied entirely by thoughts and questions.

    But all of it¡ªall of it¡ªcame to a screeching halt the moment he stepped through the front door.

    Laughter.

    Lighthearted chatter.

    And then¡ª

    "Welcome home, Ghost."

    Gabriel''s heart sank.

    There, sitting comfortably in the living room, was Icarus.

    A soft, eerie smile played on his lips.

    His fingers idly frolicking in little Martha''s curls, his entire presence relaxed, as if he belonged here.

    The room blurred at the edges. Gabriel''s pulse rushed fast enough for him to hear.

    This was wrong.

    This was so wrong.

    Icarus met his gaze, his smile widening just slightly.

    "Long day?" he asked, tone light. "You look exhausted."

    Gabriel couldn''t move. Couldn''t speak.

    Because at that moment, he understood.

    Icarus knew.

 Incubators

    Chapter 5: Incubators

    Gabriel was paused by the scene before him, even his intuition couldn''t help but remain still.

    Icarus''s golden eyes bore into him. A phantom pressure wrapped around the young man''s throat, like unseen hands.

    ''He knows.''

    Gabriel''s gaze darted toward the guard standing by the steps. He stood on his lonesome, towering over the room, unreadable and still.

    Pearl meanwhile sat by the table, her fingers intertwined, tension rolling off her like a thundercloud waiting to burst.

    The children, unaware of the demon in their midst, chattered excitedly. Hanging over his arm and rolling between his knees in glee. Even young Martha sat on his neck, drowsily braiding his hair.

    "Sit," Icarus urged, his voice a blade hidden in silk. Gabriel hesitated, but something in the prince''s gaze pulled him in along. In mere moments, Gabriel had sunk into the leather chair, entirely without his will.

    "I think it''s well past bedtime, come on, let''s head up," Pearl said as she stood up to gather the kids off the Icarus. They groaned and grumbled in protest, but Pearl wasn''t letting up.

    They had all begun to ascend the wooden steps when Pearl reached for the last child¨C Young Martha, who still sat upon the prince''s head, sleeping peacefully.

    Just as Pearl closed in on her, a calm hand grabbed hers.

    "Don''t worry, she''ll join the rest of them after."

    Icarus said with a gentle smile. His gaze then wandered towards his silent guard. And almost instantly the man came alive, his lean armour groaning as he made his way towards Pearl.

    Pearl exchanged glances with Gabriel briefly before following the guard up the stairs to meet with the kids.

    It wasn''t long before she returned. The children were long asleep and well protected by Icarus''s guard.

    It was then that Icarus spoke, leaning back into his chair¨C gently so as not to wake up the slumbering child on his head. "The world is dangerous, Gabriel. Eldritch, Wrymorg, Mauqee... The fell. The Eldritch are beings without reason, while Wrymorg and other enemy nations too primitive in their thinking. And those damned terrorists¡ª The Fell, simply unwilling to see reason."

    "It takes very wilful souls to commit to what has to be done. You should know what I mean, right, Ghost?"

    Every time the prince called him that, there was this irritation that washed over him like he was somehow outside the comfort of his own skin. Memories crawled out of the depths of his stomach, resurfacing with quick flashes.

    "You did what needed to be done, and your nation thanks you for it. The late Minister of Defence, especially... It takes a certain amount of audacity, don''t you think?..."

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    Icarus concluded, and Gabriel said nothing in response.

    Icarus let out an exaggerated sigh, before tilting his head as he asked. "Speaking of audacity, where have you been all day?" His lips curled in amusement, but there was nothing amusing about those eyes.

    Gabriel swallowed hard, pulse-pounding loud enough for him to hear.

    The prince watched him closely and then sighed. "Your Ministers were assholes, Gabriel... lying conniving little¨C"

    There was a pause, veins bulging just below the prince''s neck.

    "Killing them was the only solution."

    The prince said after a deep breath.

    There was a long, deathly silence after.

    Gabriel sat in total shock, his mind pulling at Icarus''s last few sentences, slowly piecing things together.

    After a while he finally spoke, his words hesitant; "I''ll do whatever you want, your highness. If you wish for me to join your party, I won''t hesitate."

    Icarus''s smile widened, his amusement genuine. "Now that''s what I love to hear."

    He smiled so wildly, that it was difficult to imagine him as anything more than a guardian angel. The hero of Exeges.

    "But tell me, Gabriel¡ªdid you observe what I did to the minister''s aide?"

    Gabriel''s mouth went dry then.

    Icarus watched him for a while before continuing, a quiet, knowing chuckle slipping from between his words. "Ahh, you know what, it doesn''t matter. We should put that behind us."

    He stood, taking the child off his shoulder and gesturing for the teen girl to approach. After looking around for a bit, he then said, "I actually came searching for the professor."

    Gabriel exchanged a glance with Pearl, but she was unreadable as she took slow steps closer, carefully grabbing the slumbering child and turning to leave. "We don''t know where he is."

    "A shame," Icarus said, unbothered. "But as much as I''d hate to intrude, I flew all the way out here¨C quite literally. I want to see his lab... care to lead the way"?

    ***

    It wasn''t long before they were carving through the corridors. Icarus chatted casually as they did. "I''ve been reviewing land distributions as of late. Turns out certain ministers have been buying up interesting plots. A lot of them, in fact. It was strange enough already, but the more bizarre part was where these lands were located. It never really made much sense to me, you know" His gaze flicked toward Gabriel.

    "Why come all the way out here, in the middle of a maize field...You wouldn''t happen to know why, would you, Ghost?"

    Gabriel''s hands curled into fists. He had no answer, only the exact same questions.

    When they reached the professor''s lab, Icarus moved leisurely, running a gloved finger across the desk. At some point, he paused, picking up an old phone resting on the table. The screen lit up, revealing a photo of Professor Alden, a young Gabriel, a younger Pearl, and¡­ another boy.

    Icarus''s lips twitched in amusement. "Adorable." He glanced at Pearl. "You were cute." Then at Gabriel, "And you always had those shifty eyes."

    Pearl who had returned to escort them flinched, and Gabriel''s frown deepened.

    "What do you want from the professor?" Pearl asked, and Icarus simply ignored the question. Instead, locking eyes with Gabriel.

    "Tell me, Gabriel. What did the professor do down here?"

    Gabriel hesitated. He thought he knew. But standing here, under Icarus''s scrutiny, he realized how little he understood about the man who had raised him.

    "He¡ªhe researched medicine...Science?"

    Icarus sighed, feigning disappointment. "See, I wanted to believe that. I really did." He tilted his head, then struck the floor with his heel. A hollow echo rang out.

    Gabriel''s stomach dropped, and the prince''s fist with it. Like a sledgehammer his fist fell, bursting right through the wooden flooring and then the metal door beneath it.

    Then with a mighty pull, the entire door came right off, revealing a decent drop and laddered steps that led into what could only be described as a hidden basement.

    The moment they stepped inside, the stench of chemicals filled Gabriel''s lungs. Dim lights flickered to life as they led further into the basement.

    They soon entered a spacious lab with white sterile lights. Then not too far away rows of incubators, and glass chambers filled with strange, suspended figures. Embryos, children, some¡­ half-formed.

    Gabriel''s breath hitched.

    Pearl, however, didn''t react.

    Gabriel turned to her. "Pearl¡­?"

    She wouldn''t meet his gaze.

    His stomach twisted into nuts.

    Icarus watched the exchange with quiet satisfaction. "Now, this is fascinating."

 A BAG OF CHIPS

    Chapter 6: A BAG OF CHIPS

    Gabriel turned to Icarus, his lips trembling in confusion. "What¡­ what the hell is this?"

    Icarus chuckled. "You tell me."

    Gabriel shook his head violently. "I¡ªno. No, I didn''t know¡ª"

    "Didn''t you?" Icarus drawled. "Your childhood home. Your orphanage. And you never suspected a thing?"

    Gabriel''s breath came shallow.

    Icarus hummed. "I killed Minister Amadala the moment I learned she owned the orphanage. Do you know why?"

    Gabriel didn''t answer.

    "She was secretly funnelling an absurd amount of funds into it. But why? Surely not out of the kindness of her heart." Icarus stepped closer. "Then I dug deeper and learned she did all this for me... Out of fear of me."

    Gabriel felt his pulse thundered in his ears.

    Icarus leaned in. "So tell me, what exactly are you and your siblings? Huh? Human Bombs? Me repellants? You have to give me something."

    His gaze then fell on Pearl. "Or else she dies."

    Gabriel barely had time to react before Icarus moved, placing his hand on her neck.

    "I¨C I don''t know."

    A sickening snap.

    Pearl crumpled to the floor like her strings were cut off.

    Gabriel''s breath hitched, his eyes fading into bleakness.

    "Tell me, Gabriel. You were their most promising lab rat. I mean Amadala recruited you herself."

    Icarus said as he snapped his fingers. Just then the guard that had escorted the children to their bedrooms appeared in whisps of black smoke, holding one of the sleeping children in his armoured arm.

    Dark steel-plated fingers clutching onto Martha''s cotton pyjamas.

    Gabriel couldn''t breathe.

    ''They wouldn''t.''

    ''They wouldn''t dare.''

    Immediately Icarus grabbed the child''s throat, violently waking her up.

    "Answer me, Gabriel, what are you and your siblings?"

    Martha was so confused, panic bursting from her eyes as she dangled off Icarus''s hand.

    He was quick just like he was with Pearl. Pressing far too quickly for Gabriel to even react.

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    "..."

    "You know Gabriel I kept wondering from the very first day I saw you."

    The prince said as he let Martha fall like a rag doll. Then without a second thought proceeded to step on the little girl''s head splitting her skull open like a bag of chips.

    Then like nothing even happened he continued talking; "I knew something was wrong. I did my digging and do you know what I found out?"

    Icarus''s lips curled. "I found out that¡ª "

    "You didn''t even let me¨C" Gabriel paused. "No. You never really needed my replies. Nothing I said would have stopped you from killing them."

    Icarus''s brows rose. "...Well I guess you''ve ruined the fun. Azazel go kill them all."

    The guard came alive again like an ancient engine. Darkness suddenly spills out of its dark lightless visors. But just then Gabriel suddenly vanished, his body heat, shadow, presence all of it completely vanished, almost like he had never even existed.

    Then the guard''s blade suddenly drew sparks as it skidded out of its scabbard.

    The next instant Gabriel was right behind the Hero of Exeges appearing out of thin air with a lengthy long sword barreling towards the young prince''s head.

    Gabriel had always been fast.

    Although lacking in mana, and physical prowess. Short bursts of speed had never been out of his reach in fact because of the nature of his skill he had combined these short bursts of speed to swiftly take out enemies before they knew what hit them.

    But this time his dangerous sense hadn''t chosen to remain silent like it usually does.

    It felt like doomsday alarms were going off in his head as Icarus''s eyes followed his descent.

    Before he could even notice he felt something tap his chest and the next moment a fist had gone right through him.

    Icarus had driven his hand right through Gabriel''s stomach.

    The pain was instant and all-consuming.

    Gabriel gasped, choking on blood as the blade fell from between his fingers. His vision blurred, the edges darkening.

    Above him, Icarus sighed. "This what she had spent so long constructing just to kill me?"

    He let Gabriel stay on his fist for a bit, before pulling him closer till his lips were almost kissing Gabriel''s ears.

    "But it doesn''t really matter. No one can kill me."

    With that he let Gabriel fall to the ground.

    Gabriel lay there, blood pooling beneath him, his body shaking. He turned his head, and through the haze, he saw Pearl''s lifeless form beside him and Martha''s brain matter not too far away.

    Tears welled in his eyes. He tried to cry but he couldn''t. He opened his mouth to scream but all that came through were hollow wails.

    Somehow it made the pain hurt more. Not being able to scream in pain.

    It felt like something had gone through his heart like his whole world had gone up in flames.

    Icarus meanwhile had begun to go through the professor''s office. Ransacking the desks and cabinets.

    He searched long and hard till worry lines had begun to appear on his forehead.

    His guard meanwhile had left for the children. It wasn''t long before the sound of their scream had begun to reach the underground lab.

    And Gabriel wasn''t dead yet.

    Like divine punishment for his audacity, Gabriel remained self-aware enough to hear his siblings'' wails. The cries were like shrill high-pitched daggers. He could even identify whose scream belonged to who.

    What an awful fate.

    And it was all his fault. If only he left the hall when he did...

    No! He already knew.

    He had been dead set on killing them all the moment he found out... If only they had talked it out. If Icarus actually had a heart they wouldn''t have suffered like this.

    I swear by the dead gods I''ll sell my soul even if it might be artificial, I''ll sell it either way.

    Just help me kill this bastard. I''ll do whatever you desire.

    Gabriel never prayed. Which was a strange thing in today''s society where gods sent down power to their worshippers.

    Even Icarus had to have had a god he served that chose to favour him with such an insane amount of Grace.

    Yet, Gabriel¨C right from the moment he had discovered his abilities, had never had a god to beg to retain his power.

    Which was why the concept of prayer was so strange to him.

    He didn''t have any other option though, so he begged and begged some more. Surely one of the thousands of gods out there could here him.

    He had read something like that in a novel before. Dying and receiving power from the gods.

    But unfortunately, no god was coming to save him.

    It wasn''t long before the guard returned reeking of gasoline. Icarus backed him as he leaned over the professor''s table, sheets of tea-stained paper scattered across the wooden desk.

    "Couldn''t find it." He said with a defeated sigh. After a few moments of silence, he waved his hand, and his taciturn guard began to move.

    It held a keg of gasoline in his hands, spilling it all over the lab.

    Icarus stood and watched with his hands behind his back, all on his lonesome.

    Did he even feel a bit of regret?

    Gabriel wondered as his sight wavered before going entirely black.

    ***

    When he woke up again the lab was already on fire. What was once a neatly preserved facility was now a pile of burning wood and thick black smoke.

    It was then he saw it. Starks of incandescent red light refracted off a pair of round glasses.

    "...Professor?"

 Awakening

    Chapter 7: Awakening

    Gabriel was running again. Not through guild halls or war-torn streets, but through an endless stream of memories.

    The professor''s lab had always been cold, its walls lined with glass canisters filled with substances he never cared to understand.

    Gabriel had rarely ever been in the professor''s lab, at least not long enough to retain curiosity about his guardian''s work.

    The professor always chased them away when they got too close to the lab¡ªespecially while he worked.

    At all other times, the lab remained tightly sealed.

    The professor spent hours there, sometimes even days, but Gabriel and his siblings hadn''t known life any other way.

    At least until Gabriel had turned eleven, and began to spontaneously vanish right out of thin air.

    From the moment his ability manifested, his daily routine had changed. No more carefree afternoons outside the orphanage. No more chores or time on the swing.

    Brooms and tablecloths were replaced by syringes and sensors. The professor would call Gabriel into his lab more frequently now. They would chat while the professor drew his blood and recorded his vitals.

    It was strange, but Gabriel quickly grew accustomed to being in his guardian''s presence daily. At some point, he had even begun to look forward to it.

    He never got to see the Professor so often.

    But it quickly grew tiring. It just never ended. The older he got, the more intense his abilities became, turning his daily tests into more complicated routines.

    Gabriel never questioned why. Why, unlike other kids, he could vanish¨C more like cease to exist. Why, when he tried hard enough, no one could see him, or find him¨C excluding the professor.

    He always knew where to find him.

    But the tests were only getting more and more demanding, and even more exhausting.

    Gabriel spent entire days strapped to machines, sometimes entirely unconscious.

    Then one day, she arrived.

    Miss Amadala. She had fiery red hair and dark eyes. She was young at heart and incredibly fierce. The staple definition of a  Hero¨C but politics offered her a better chance at saving the world than being a rank B hero ever could.

    Gabriel could recall how she looked at him on that first day. Her eyes were wide with curiosity but also laced with concern.

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    She had argued with the professor, her voice sharp and scrutinous. Gabriel couldn''t remember the exact words, but he remembered the outcome. She had taken him away. Away from the lab. Away from the professor''s watchful gaze, and away from his family, handing him over to the military.

    Gabriel could recall the professor''s gaze as he left. Stale and devoid of emotion. His glasses shimmered in the dim light of his lab. But suddenly the lab was gone, whisked away by violent red flames.

    Gabriel gasped, the world around him burning. The room had transformed into a blazing inferno. Smoke filled his lungs, and the heat seared his skin. Yet, the professor remained the same¡ªstanding in the centre of the chaos, untouched, his glasses gleaming.

    Gabriel stared at him, his lips quivering as he worded lifelessly. "Where were you?" Before drawing his last breath.

    ***

    "Hhk!"

    Gabriel gasped as his eyes snapped open.

    His vision was blurred, but he could tell something was terribly wrong. How long had he been asleep?

    He wasn''t even lying on a bed or something so casual. No¨C he was floating.

    Warm liquid surrounded him, pressing against his body from all sides. A mask covered his nose and mouth, feeding him sterile oxygen. His mind was hazy, struggling to grasp his situation. Beyond the curved glass of the chamber, the world outside was distorted, a mix of shadows and flickering lights.

    He was in an incubator of sorts, and Gabriel''s heart pounded upon realization.

    Why? How? He reached out, his hands pressing against the glass.

    "Huh?"

    His arms¡ªthey looked smaller. His fingers were frail and definitely different from what he could recall.

    Panic surged through him. His breath quickened. With all the strength, he could muster, Gabriel struck the glass panel with his fist¨C nothing. So he struck it again and again and some more after that.

    He had always hated tight spaces, So he kept bashing his fist against the glass until¡ªcracks finally spider-webbed across the surface.

    One more hit and the incubator shattered. Glass and red liquid flying all over the place. The incubator itself came apart, its bolts and parts tearing through the air.

    Gabriel fell forward, coughing as he hit the cold, metal floor. His body felt strange, lighter, and unbalanced. He pushed himself up, gasping for air.

    His surroundings were compact, reinforced with thick steel doors, and stuffed with equipment. There were canisters piled on canisters, cages and cardboard boxes lying about.

    Where am I?

    Gabriel wondered as he took a good look around.

    The ceiling was low and the walls were not far apart. Was he in a crate of sorts?

    It wasn''t long before he caught sight of a canister knocked over and pierced at the side from the chaos of his escape.

    Something dripped out of it, black and oozing.

    The stench was horrid like something had died in it.

    That wasn''t the only thing he could smell, though.

    Alcohol?

    Just then, something small and hairy caught his attention, scurrying by the crates'' metal doors.

    A rat, white with beady red eyes, and it wasn''t alone. Like a rash, they had suddenly begun to appear, skittering all over the place. Some chewed on electrical ware while others rummaged through the pile of cartoon boxes stacked at the back.

    He must have accidentally released them upon his escape.

    Gabriel watched them for a while as he tried to piece things together. But unfortunately, his mind and memories were terribly foggy.

    All he could do for now was figure out a way out of here.

    He tried bursting out of the crate as he had done with the incubator, but unfortunately, all that did was leave fist imprints on the metal door.

    He had already given up hope when he watched one of the lab rats waltz over to the black goo from earlier.

    Gabriel''s face curled in disgust as he watched the rodent bury its snout in it.

    He was already pulling his face away when he watched the rat suddenly pause.

    Its beady eyes stared off into the distance.

    Then suddenly the rat let out a shrill shriek like it had gone mad.

    It screamed as its bones popped and turned in all the wrong directions.

    Its white fur was now stained black as it tossed about in the black goo. Then all of a sudden, the rat paused, before rolling back onto its four little feet.

    Something seemed different, though. The rat''s eyes were still beady but now completely black.

    Then, like it had dropped all pretence, the rat stood on its hind legs. Black hollow eyes now locked onto Gabriel''s, its gaze unnatural¡ªunblinking, knowing.

 The Ratéˆ¥æªš Gambit

    <ol start="8">

    <li> The Rat¡¯s Gambit</li>

    </ol>

    Gabriel stared at the rat, and the rat stared back. The stench of alcohol only thickened as time went by.

    A strange chittering sound escaped the rat''s tiny mouth, and in response, the other rats emerged from the shadows, scurrying toward the slick black ooze pooling near the crate.

    Their movements after that were oddly coordinated, almost ritualistic.

    As they disbursed the lead rat tilted its head, as if inspecting the crate''s surface.

    Gabriel''s brow furrowed. Something about their movements felt off. Some rats scuttled toward the electrical wires, their tiny claws scraping against the metal casing. Others disappeared into the darkness, only to return moments later, dragging with them a dull, misshapen object¡ªsomething metallic. It looked like a lid, barely larger than the rats that pulled on it.

    Then, Gabriel saw it¡ªthe wires stretched taut, the rats moving in eerie harmony.

    The lead rat bolted toward the edge of the room, carrying the metal lid like a makeshift shield.

    Gabriel''s instincts screamed urging him to run, but it was too late.

    Sparks leapt from the exposed wiring, catching onto the alcohol-soaked floor.

    A violent flame roared to life in a jagged path, racing toward the crate''s base where the flammable liquid had spilt from.

    Gabriel''s stomach twisted as the flames stretched deeper into the crate.

    Boom!

    The crate exploded.

    The blast hurled Gabriel backwards. Bashing him against the metal door.

    In milliseconds the door gave way, bursting forward in a rain of splinters and metal debris.

    A burning sensation lingered on Gabriel''s chest. When he looked down anticipating the worst, Gabriel was pleased to find his torso still in one piece. Only slightly reddened by the flames.

    Even then, the bruise looked more like a slight kiss from a heated surface than what he had just actually survived.

    It still hurt, though. He might not have turned to ash, but the force from the explosion still weighed on his every muscle.

    He had crashed onto the concrete flooring with the crate''s metal door beneath him.

    With a weak groan, he rolled onto his side as he looked back at the blazing inferno behind him.

    The unhinged crate door he lay beneath had thrown him several meters away from the burning wreckage, but it was still close enough to feel the searing heat.

    Smoke curled toward the ceiling, the scent of molten plastic and chemicals permeating the air.

    Gabriel coughed, pushing himself up with trembling arms.

    Then he saw it.

    The lead rat strolled out from the wreckage¨C with its hind legs, almost entirely unharmed. It moved with an unnatural grace, pausing for only a moment to inspect its surroundings before disappearing into the maze of crates. The other rats scattered in all directions too, fleeing on all fours, unlike the superior rat.

    Gabriel barely had time to process the surreal scene before he felt it¡ªdanger.

    His senses prickled.

    When he turned, his blood froze.

    Armed guards were flooding into the storage unit, their guns levelled directly at him.

    Their sharp, commanding voices rang out through the thick air.

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    "Hands up! Now!"

    Gabriel didn''t move. His mind is racing.

    He had no idea who these people were. What did they want from him? Could he trust them?

    Then¡ª

    A rat scurried between the boots of one of the guards.

    The man flinched.

    His finger tightened on the trigger.

    Bang!

    The gunshot cracked through the air, and Gabriel''s instincts took over. He dove, snatching up the heavy crate door, and using it as a makeshift shield. The single impact rattled his bones as it tore through the metal door.

    Those bullets weren''t normal. They lit up when they met the air, their energy scorching the door on impact.

    Unfortunately, there were more after that.

    His shield wouldn''t last.

    Think, think!

    Gabriel''s eyes darted across the room. He timed his moment.

    Then with a grunt, hurled the crate door at the guards, and lunged forward in the same instant.

    What the?

    He was fast¡ªfaster than he had expected. In the blink of an eye, he was already among them.

    Not letting the initial shock get to him, Gabriel clenched his fist and swung.

    Mid-swing he realized just how much weight his fists were moving with.

    This isn''t going to end well.

    But just then, someone appeared between him and the guards raising his fists in defence.

    The shockwave was deafening, sending the entire line of guards reeling.

    That felt like¡­ the explosion¡­

    The realization barely had time to settle before Gabriel noticed the man who had caught his punch with equal force.

    Tall, armoured, with a commanding presence. He pulled a massive mace from thin air, its dark metal gleaming under the dim storage lights.

    A hero?

    It was then that Gabriel noticed something was off. His body... sort of felt lighter than it did a couple of moments ago.

    When he stared down at his body, a grim realization washed over him.

    Gabriel barely had a second to react before the man charged.

    The mace came crashing down in a brutal arc, and Gabriel twisted¡ªjust in time.

    The weapon shattered the floor where he had stood.

    Dust and debris explode into the air.

    Gabriel moved purely on instinct, dodging again and again. But the hero was relentless, pressing forward with crushing force that pushed Gabriel to a corner.

    I can''t keep dodging.

    But he didn''t have any other option, he couldn''t possibly hope to match the power in the man''s mace. Since just his fist had managed to blow off Gabriel''s right arm.

    Gabriel couldn''t believe it when he saw bone and flesh dangling off his shoulders.

    He wasn''t in any serious pain which was strange, but the fact he wasn''t bleeding was even more disturbing.

    Man meanwhile was still in one piece, with no inclination of stopping any time soon.

    What do I do?

    The pain from his missing arm wasn''t interfering with Gabriel''s train of thought so he was still level-headed¨C as inhuman as that seemed.

    His breath came fast, as he danced around the man. The dull pain from his chest wound had somehow vanished, so he found it easier to evade as time went on.

    The man wasn''t letting up though, and soon Gabriel had no option but to meet the man''s blow with one of his own.

    Gabriel prepared to counter, but almost on instinct, he had accidentally moved with his right arm¨C which was nowhere to be found.

    Dammit!

    Gabriel cursed already bracing for impact, as nothing stood between his skull and the hero''s terrible mace.

    Bang!

    The hall suddenly quaked.

    Gabriel opened his eyes to find his knuckles pressed against the man''s mace.

    Both Gabriel and the hero stared at each other confused.

    There was silence like the air was still reeling from the weight of their blow.

    And for the first time¡ª

    The hero staggered.

    Gabriel stared at his right arm with a stunned expression. Just as surprised by its sudden regeneration as the man before him.

    What the hell?

    From the moment he had woken up, he knew something was different

    It wasn''t just speed.

    It wasn''t just strength.

    Something significant had changed in him. Something deep and internal, changing him from the inside out.

    If not, what else could explain this?

 Bulk x Gabriel

    <ol start="9">

    <li> Bulk X Gabriel</li>

    </ol>

    Bulk leaned against the wall outside Kathlyn''s room, arms crossed, sighing through his nose. Of course, she was taking forever.

    "Kid, hurry it up," he called. "Your mum''s waiting."

    "I don''t wanna go," Kathlyn shot back from inside, her voice muffled but full of defiance.

    Bulk pinched the bridge of his nose. He should''ve expected this. "Yeah, well, neither do I, but here we are."

    There was a loud thud¡ªprobably her flopping onto the bed in protest.

    "Why do I have to go?" she grumbled. "It''s going to be boring."

    Bulk smirked slightly. "It''s not a punishment, you know."

    "It feels like one."

    "Then stop dragging your feet, and you''ll get it over with faster."

    Silence. Then, begrudgingly, the sound of shuffling. A few seconds later, the door swung open, and Kathlyn stepped out, arms crossed and scowling. "Fine. But I''m not wearing a dress."

    Bulk glanced down. She had thrown on a jacket over her usual clothes¡ªpractical, boyish, and slightly rumpled from how she''d probably wrestled with them before deciding they were good enough.

    "Hell no. Your mum specifically said a dress." Bulk chastised "Get in there and change young miss."

    Kathlyn huffed before storming back to her room.

    He could hear her grumbling in protest on the other side of the door.

    But he didn''t mind the attitude. She was fiery, tough in a way that reminded him of her mother¡ªbut still, she was just a kid. She''d get over it in a couple of moments.

    After some time she opened the door, her blonde hair was tied neatly in a bun, and her blue eyes matched the sea-blue dress she had on.

    "You look stunning," Bulk said as he offered her his arm. With red cheeks, the little girl took it.

    But just then the alarms started blaring.

    Bulk''s easy mood evaporated instantly. His hand tensed around Kathlyn''s as his communicator crackled to life.

    "Bulk."

    He tapped it, already annoyed. "Yeah, I hear it. What''s going on now?"

    "The lower levels," the commander''s voice came through, sharper than usual carrying that slightly breathless strain she''d had for the past few months "You''re needed down there and fast."

    Bulk frowned. "Lower levels? I thought they were cleared?"

    "Is that mum?"

    Kathlyn asked and Bulk responded with a curt nod.

    "If it''s just some idiot messing around where they shouldn''t, why the hell am I being sent?"

    There was a pause¡ªnot hesitation, exactly, but something close to it.

    "Fine I''ll go myself," the commander said, irritation and strain threading through her voice.

    Bulk''s frown deepened.

    "Fine, fine," he grumbled. "I''m going."

    He turned, already heading toward the exit, but before he could take more than a few steps, Kathlyn yanked at his sleeve.

    "I''m coming too."

    Bulk glanced back. Her scowl had faded, replaced with something more determined.

    "Hell no."

    "But isn''t this what I''ve been training for," she persisted.

    "Kathlyn," Bulk said firmly. She seemed to realize herself then slowly pulling her hand away.

    Bulk smirked then, ruffling her hair. "You''ll get your chance soon enough short stack."

    She still didn''t look convinced but after a moment. She said, "Be careful."

    "I always am."

    And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Kathlyn all alone outside her door with a face curled in hesitation.

    ***

    When the alarm had gone off a part of Bulk couldn''t help but feel irritated. He hated working and now just when his shift was about to end there was an emergency in the lower levels.

    And as usual, he heroically sprung into action.

    It didn''t take him much time to reach the lower levels of the research facility. There were multiple lifts that made the trip almost unnoticeable¨C especially after the most recent touch-ups that were made after the attack.

    Luckily, he had made it just in time to prevent a naked kid from turning the small troops they had left over into mangled corpses.

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    The blow he had tanked from him was so terrifying he doubted his arm would''ve remained the same if he had taken it without coating his arm with mana.

    His arms still ached all over. It was sort of exhilarating.

    Bulk stared at the young boy for a bit. He looked to be somewhere between fourteen and fifteen Bulk couldn''t tell. He is older than Kathlyn though that much was certain.

    It wasn''t long before an expressionless voice whispered into his ears "Try not to kill him... please, if you can. I''m still searching for his fail-safe."

    Then the commander''s voice came through only seconds after; "Restrain him. But if you can''t don''t hesitate to kill him. His existence puts the rest of the populace in danger."

    Bulk frowned, a bit irritated. Whose order was he obligated to follow?

    "Those two."

    It was almost like they got off on throwing him in between their squabbles.

    With a sigh Bulk quickly weighed his options, comparing them based on what would let him sleep best tonight... as he often did.

    Based on what he knew the kid packed a serious punch, and for whatever reason threatened the safety of everyone in the facility. Could he restrain him on time? And if things went south could he kill him before lives were hurt?

    ''Ah fuck it.''

    He wasn''t really keen on harming children anyway.

    So, Bulk pushed with caution not even coating his mace with mana.

    The kid was already missing an arm. How much more of a threat could he possibly be?

    Strangely enough, the young boy had almost no issues evading his blows.

    But eventually Bulk had him cornered ready to incapacitate him with a swift blow to the head.

    But just then the air trembled.

    The kid''s bare knuckles met his steel mace sending shockwaves rippling through the storage unit.

    That wasn''t the strangest part, though. What really caught him off guard was the fact that his arm which was missing only moments ago had just reappeared.

    Now they were back on equal footing.

    Every time his mace clashed against the boy''s fist, the vibrations cracked through the room, rattling the guards who stood far away.

    Bulk gritted his teeth.

    "This ain''t right," he muttered under his breath.

    The boy''s strikes weren''t just strong¡ªthey were matching his.

    Blow for blow.

    Every time Bulk adjusted his strength, shifting the weight behind his swings, the kid did the same. It was as if the boy was mirroring his power. But not quite.

    Nah, that''s impossible.

    A bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he tried to reinforce the thought. Could he really restrain him on time?

    "Kid! Stop this! Now!" Bulk barked between blows.

    Gabriel''s narrowed eyes flashed. "You started it."

    Bulk hesitated, just for a second.

    The kid''s voice was sharper than he expected and far too calm given his circumstances.

    They stared each other down, fists still clenched.

    For a brief moment, neither moved.

    Then¡ª

    "Bulk! Stop messing around and take him!"

    The commander''s voice exploded through Bulk''s transmitter as even more guards flooded the storage unit.

    "If you can''t just kill him!"

    Bulk exhaled sharply. The stress was starting to set in¡ªhe was supposed to be in bed right now, not wrestling with some freakishly strong fourteen-year-old. His grip tightened around the handle of his mace.

    "Listen, kid. I don''t want to kill you, but if you keep this up, I won''t have a choice. Just come quietly, and we can figure something out."

    His voice was harsher than he intended, but he didn''t have time to speak warmly.

    The boy seemed like he had finally listened.

    But the next second his muscles tensed¡ªthen he bolted.

    "Shit!" Bulk cursed.

    The guards fired.

    Bullets streaked through the air, but the boy wasn''t moved. His eyes flicked to a jagged piece of steel on the ground¡ªa twisted fragment of shrapnel. In a flash, he grabbed it, swinging it like a makeshift blade.

    The bullets never reached him.

    With frightening precision, the kid cut through the incoming rounds, deflecting them in midair. Sparks scattered across the floor, the metallic clatter of ricochets filling the space, leaving the guards in awe.

    Then he moved again¡ª heading right for the hallway.

    "Don''t let him reach the exit!" the commander bellowed through Bulk''s earpiece.

    Bulk lunged forward, but¡ª

    Gabriel pivoted, swinging his fist into a smaller crate beside him.

    With a single punch, he had the crate barrelling towards the exit, drawing sparks as it skidded across the concrete.

    The boy followed closely behind it.

    The guards scrambled out of the way, just in time for the crate to slam into the entrance, blocking their path.

    The boy meanwhile had managed to leap over the crate before it met the door, successfully separating himself from the guards.

    Bulk skidded to a stop, staring at the metal container that now blocked their path.

    His grip on his mace tightened.

    "Damn it."

    He shoved the crate aside and surged forward, but Gabriel was already gone, disappearing into the maze of concrete hallways ahead.

    Just then Bulk''s transmitter crackled. "Status?"

    Bulk exhaled sharply. "I wasn''t enough to contain him," he admitted. His fingers flexed over his mace. "And if we aren''t quick, we''re going to lose him."

    Static filled the line before the commander''s voice cut through, sharper than before. "I''m coming down there."

    Bulk stiffened. "What?"

    "He''s getting too close. I''ll handle this myself."

    "No," Bulk said immediately. "You can''t¡ª"

    The line clicked dead.

    "Shit."

    Bulk swore under his breath and reached for his communicator again, switching to the central command frequency. "This is Bulk. I''m in Subsection B-12, pursuing the target. I need immediate¡ª"

    A voice interrupted him.

    Soft. Sweet. Innocent.

    "Thanks, Uncle Ben."

    Bulk froze.

    The device nearly slipped from his grip. The voice was too familiar, too smug.

    His stomach dropped.

    "Kathlyn!" he barked. "You better not¨C

    The connection cut off before he could finish.

    The creeping cold along the walls told him all he needed to know, though.

    "I hate teenagers."

 Frosted & Dangerous

    10. Frosted & Dangerous

    Gabriel ran.

    His breath came quick but steady, his heartbeat thumping heavily, loud enough for him to hear.

    The halls twisted ahead of him, the sterile glow of overhead lights casting long, sharp-edged shadows. He didn''t need to check behind him¡ªhe knew the guards were still in pursuit, though their numbers were thinning, and the distance between them was now palpable.

    He had no idea where he was, even worse, his pursuers knew the surroundings far better than he did.

    But He had to keep moving.

    Just then, the sound of bashing metal met Gabriel''s ears as three guards shot at him from ahead.

    Gabriel ducked around a corner, narrowly dodging the volley of bullets. Still holding onto the discarded metal shard from the wreckage, he swung it in a wide arc, deflecting the shots he could.

    Some bit into his flesh, leaving finger-wide gnashes on his thigh and left arm.

    The pain was raw and searing, but he couldn''t let it stall his escape. So, he pushed forward, barrelling down another hall.

    More guards came after that, although they never seemed to be more than four or five. Gabriel tried his best to incapacitate them as quickly as he could, then moved on.

    He had to escape. These bastards had him sealed in a container. Whatever plans they had for him, it definitely couldn''t be good.

    Gabriel had just turned a corner when he suddenly felt it.

    A chill.

    Not the kind that came from fear or exhaustion. No, this was something else¡ªsomething unnatural.

    The air grew heavy, and crisp, like the first bite of winter.

    His breath misted, his skin prickled, and an instinct¡ªsharper than thought, honed by survival¡ªscreamed at him to jump.

    He leapt just in time.

    Ice surged beneath him, jagged shards stabbing up from the floor where his feet had been an instant before. A second too late and his leg would have been frozen solid.

    Gabriel twisted in midair, preparing to land¡ªbut something else was coming.

    He barely managed to raise his arms in defence before someone''s shin slammed into him.

    The impact sent him skidding back, his boots scraping against the frozen floor. His arms stung¡ªnot from pain, but from the creeping cold spreading along his skin. His hands were starting to freeze over, albeit slowly.

    A light yelp drew his attention to a girl standing a few steps away, hunched slightly, her blue eyes staring bleakly at the floor.

    Gabriel scowled, his patience wearing thin. "What the hell¡ª"

    "P-P-PERVERT!" she shrieked, hastily throwing a palm over her eyes.

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    Gabriel blinked. Then, with a sinking feeling, he followed her gaze to himself.

    ¡­He was still naked.

    His scowl deepened. "Of course."

    He exhaled sharply through his nose, shifting his focus back to the girl. She was dressed in a blue dress that seemed to be freezing over as they spoke, with patches of ice clinging to her skin.

    Her ears were bright red, her shoulders trembling slightly. One hand was still plastered over her eyes, with the other clenched into a fist at her side.

    "You absolute degenerate! Running around like this¡ªwhat if you ran into a little girl?!"

    Gabriel gave her a flat look. "I did. And she¡¯s wasting my time."

    She looked younger than him¡ªthirteen, maybe.

    "Tsk. Damned brat." He muttered as he struggled to endure the numbing pain that crept up his arms.

    "P-Perv¡ª" she stammered again, her fingers still crudely placed over her eyes.

    For some reason, that actually stung. Maybe because he really was naked. Or maybe because a kid, who hadn¡¯t even hit puberty, had just called him out. Either way, it pissed him off.

    A slight shudder ran through the girl as she stood upright.

    Gabriel''s gaze followed, watching as her lips curled into a quaking grin.

    "I¨CI''ll  make you p©\pay for your d¨Cdisregard of public decency."

    Gabriel narrowed his eyes, his words thick and deathly. "Get out of my way."

    Her grin only widened, utterly unphased by the warning. "Make me."

    His irritation flared. He didn''t have time for this.

    So, he bolted forward, intending to slip past her, but the moment his foot touched the ground, ice spears erupted in his path.

    Gabriel skidded to a halt, barely avoiding being skewered by the child''s frozen spikes.

    It seemed she could control ice on command, to a very frightening level.

    Just how many strong assholes can one building hold? The tall man from earlier was plenty strong too. If Gabriel were to place him anywhere, it would probably be a C-rank hero.

    This child, however, showed prowess slightly beyond that. She was still just a child though.

    With his patience thinning, Gabriel took in a deep breath. Fine, If she wanted a fight, he''d give her one.

    He lunged, closing the distance between them in mere seconds. But she was quick to react, summoning another ice lance that immediately shot right for him.

    He parried with his metal shard, knocking the lance to the side.

    Gabriel was right before her now, two icy blue eyes staring up at him. He didn''t want to kill her, so he aimed at her with the dull end of his makeshift blade.

    The next second, something materialized in the girls'' palms and before Gabriel could notice, their weapons had kissed with a sharp crack.

    His makeshift blade took the weight of the blow but folded right after, turning to just another piece of scrap metal.

    The girl didn''t hesitate, closing the distance between them pretty quickly. She had two frost daggers in hand now, effortlessly skidding across the frozen floor, aiming both daggers at Gabriel.

    She moved like a whirlwind of snow and hail, using the lack of proper friction to spin faster, making her strikes deadly and hard to predict.

    Her daggers were everywhere from his knees to his neck and even his calves. But Gabriel had no qualms about evading, always one step ahead, just enough to dodge and redirect her attacks. Every now and again he would throw a blow of his own for good measure.

    Gabriel was holding back¡ªhe would rather not hurt a kid¡ªbut it quickly became apparent that she wasn''t sharing the same sentiment.

    She moved with lethal precision, every strike aimed to kill.

    Her attacks were relentless, cold, and sharp, forcing Gabriel onto the defensive. The ice on his arms spread with every blow he blocked, slowly numbing his movements.

    What made her so terrifying was how she managed to mix terrain attacks with her melee. Every now and again, the frozen floor would release spikes tall enough to reach his head.

    Luckily, Gabriel''s uncanny senses were plenty sharp, allowing him enough time to evade and anticipate them. She couldn''t do them quickly enough though and with how much focus he forced out of her in melee, the rate at which she realized the Ice mines were few and far between.

    Yet, the child still made it work.

    She was fast. Trained. And completely fearless.

    But also reckless.

    Gabriel saw it the moment she overextended. She lunged too hard, putting too much force behind her next attack. He shifted to counter¡ª

    ¡ªonly for her ice to betray her.

    A sudden frost spike shot from the floor, disrupting her footing. She gasped, her balance breaking, her momentum carrying her forward.

    Gabriel''s eyes widened.

    She''s going to skewer herself¡ª

    Without thinking, he moved, grabbing her by the wrist to yank her back before she could impale herself on her weapon. The motion sent them both tumbling to the ground.

    For a brief second, there was silence.

    Then he realized¡ªshe wasn''t moving.

    Gabriel pushed himself up, looking down at her unconscious form. She had hit the ground hard, her body limp in his arms, with a slight bruise on her temple.

    He exhaled sharply, annoyed.

    "Dumbass."

    Just then, a new presence entered the room. Gabriel turned to catch the bulky man from earlier waltzing towards them.

    He had his hands on his mace with a calm but smouldering anger bursting between the seams of his stale expression.

    Gabriel glanced at him, then at the girl who lay underneath him.

    "Oh shit."