《SYSTEM NAME: BELIAL》 Tomatoes The message blinked on the screen, too bright for the information it carried. [Power Assessment Complete.] [Ability Assessment Result: Pink.] [Classification: Extremely Unfit.] Eric stared at the screen. He blinked once. Then again, as if exhaustion alone could will the word into something else. When it didn¡¯t, he exhaled, pressing his forehead against the train¡¯s pole and silently chuckle. If luck was real, then he was definitely its repellent. Now that he thought about it, what the hell had he been expecting, walking into the Bureau? If the answer was "to see if I¡¯m eligible to join the military," then he wasn¡¯t just unlucky¡ªhe was also stupid. "Devil!" The crackhead shrieked for what felt like the thousandth time, jabbing a trembling finger at him. "You think no one sees? Hiding that evil with thy frail look?! Go back to hell, devil!" "Very convenient," Eric muttered. Once again, every damn eye in the transport was on him. Over a hundred people packed into the train, and yet the crackhead chose him. Screaming the same shit over and over again. At this point, he just had to accept that life was meant to suck. Now that he thought about it, he¡¯d never heard of anyone getting a pink result. Green meant gifted¡ªthe most common classification. Those ranked green had powers ranging from mild telekinesis to heightened reflexes or enhanced combat skills. They got recruited into specialized jobs like the military, security, or the occasional elite contractor. Blue meant latent abilities. Then came Red, Silver, and Gold¡ªthe ones who either became public figures, got detained, or straight-up disappeared. Even Gray, the mark of complete mundanity would¡¯ve been preferable. But Pink? Pink didn¡¯t exist. "Did I just unlock a new level of weakness?" He huffed a quiet laugh. "Sad thing bad luck isn¡¯t a power. I¡¯d be glowing gold." The girl beside the dark haired lanky young man [Eric] in faded out clothes clutched her bag tighter and slowly pulled away. Another one gone afraid he was mad. Maybe if he laughed louder, they¡¯d all move to the next cabin. But knowing his luck, they¡¯d just call security on him instead of the crackhead. "Devil! You shouldn¡¯t be here!" The shrieking escalated into something between a roar and a sob. "Go back to hell!" "Shut the fuck up¡­" Only when the train froze in place did he realize he¡¯d said it out loud. His fists were clenched, pupils blown wide, his body hard with the kind of spilled frustration that made people throw punches. He sighed knowing he just messed up. Exhaled slow. Shut his eyes and waited. "You should be ashamed of yourself," a gnarly voice scolded. "Your mother should have scrubbed your filthy mouth with soap." An old lady snapped. More scolding. More judgment but he shut his ears against them. Just a few more minutes to his stop. He could do this. Shoulders slumped, he tried to float out of his own body, something he¡¯d mastered as a kid. But today, it was impossible. So, finally, he gave up. Every day was a bad day. But today? Today was wearing the damn crown. All it needed was one more disaster to surpass that day eight years ago. He yawned, stretching¡ª And then his phone buzzed violently in his hand. He wasn¡¯t sure what he expected when his eyes drifted to the screen. Maybe an apology from the Bureau, claiming it was a glitch or offering him a second chance. But instead, there was a name. Kael. His breath caught. The train came to a stop, and he straightened. Pulse quickening, his thumb tapped the floating icon. Two words: The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Brother. Tomatoes. And his world stilled. Then, before he¡¯d fully processed it, his body was already moving. He shoved past passengers, nearly knocking the crackhead to the ground, and ran. Two words that sent him sprinting all the way home. "Young people," the old woman muttered, settling back into her seat. The crackhead, who had been watching Eric go, suddenly tilted his head toward her. His mouth worked soundlessly before he whispered something unintelligible. The old woman frowned. "What?" Then, with a powerful squeal, the crackhead shrieked¡ª "Witch! What are you doing here, witch?!" *** It had been three decades since the First Wake, yet Earth still suffered its aftermath. Which made sense, considering the destruction it left behind. Survivors who had witnessed it firsthand spoke of it in whispered tones. They whispered about the day the heavens wept fire, burning through cities, forests, and flesh alike. Buildings melted. Vegetation rotted. Those who didn¡¯t die screaming suffocated under the swirling ash. Day turned to night as half the world vanished. The blackened sky choked out the sun, leaving only a dim red glow behind the smoke. And from the ashes, the Ashspawns emerged. Mindless husks, born from humans buried too deep beneath the ruin, they tore across distances for a drop of blood. Sickly pale and grotesquely muscular, they were fast, strong¡ªunnaturally so, as though engineered rather than mutated. Weapons evolved to match them. Bullets designed to pierce their thickened hides and finally kill. But even then, everyone knew: humanity was on the brink of extinction. Yet from the same ashes, came the Ashborns. They were survivors of the First Wake who had inhaled just enough of its cursed ash, mutating in a different way. The harder their survival, the stronger but more uncontrollable they became. Where Ashspawns were mindless monsters, Ashborns were something else. Something worse. Neither wholly human nor fully monstrous, they walked the line between predator and survivor, their very existence a question no one wanted to answer. Or could. Some went rogue. Some disappeared before they had the chance. The rest,if they were deemed stable were ranked, trained, and stationed to fight the Ashspawns that still spread like a plague. Then, people started passing it down to their children. And soon enough, what was once a curse became a sought-after blessing. Parents lined up to have their children tested. ©¥©¥???©¥©¥ But what the hell was pink? Eric¡¯s breath came in ragged gasps as he sprinted home, sweat soaking through his shirt. He ignored the stares from the crumbling neighborhood around him. It didn¡¯t matter. Brother. Tomatoes. Kael had first used it when she was nine. He was fourteen. It was their code. Get home. Now! And Kael never used it lightly. He slammed into the door, nearly tearing it off its rusted hinges as he burst inside¡ª But that awful black smoke hit him first. He shut the door behind him. The house was silent and dim, except for the crackling coming from the kitchen. The kitchen¡ª Fuck. ¡°Kael!¡± He dashed in, yanking the tablecloth from the counter. The pot atop the stove was already bursting with flames. He killed the gas, shoved the thick fabric into the fire, and dragged it back, smothering the flames before they could spread. Another close call in the span of a week. His pulse was still hammering when the light caught his attention and he turned and finally saw her. Kael sat curled into the farthest corner of the kitchen, her arms wrapped around her knees, her body trembling and glowing. A glow that breathed like a pulse. She was bright enough to cast shadows against the walls, her head buried against her arms, whispering something just beneath the sound of her own whimpers. Something intelligible. But he knew better. Eric exhaled sharply. Of course she''d forgotten to take her pills. Of course she was spiralling again. Body relaxed, he walked over and sank down beside her, pressing close until their shoulders and knees touched. She was hot¡ªburning, actually. But she¡¯d burned him once, years ago, back in the orphanage. Since then, she never had. ¡°You saw them again?¡± he murmured. She nodded. Eric stared up at the ceiling. ¡°Did they try to grab you this time?¡± Another nod. More vigorous. His lips twitched, glancing down at her messy ponytail. Dark blue strands. Obviously styled by those trembling hands. He sighed lazily. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell them your brother¡¯s gonna mess them up if they get too close?¡± Her shoulders shook a little. A half-sob, half laugh spilling from her lowered head. But her glow dimmed just a fraction. Eric¡¯s chest loosened. Good. He ruffled her hair. ¡°Alright, Glowstick. Off the floor before you start fusing with it.¡± Kael sniffled. Didn¡¯t move. This one had been bad, then. Her body had stopped shaking, but her arms were still locked around her legs. So Eric leaned in. ¡°You know,¡± he said lightly, ¡°I did something stupid today.¡± Kael lifted her head then. Big, watery gray eyes peeking out from behind her knees. ¡°You do something stupid every day.¡± ¡°Fair, but this one¡¯s extra stupid.¡± She paused, then softly as though testing waters, she asked, ¡°How stupid?¡± He tilted his head toward the burnt remains of the pot. ¡°I might¡¯ve gone to the Bureau.¡± So for the next thirty quiet seconds he watched her make the calculations in her head. Kael froze. Her glow flickered. ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Oh, but I did.¡± He placed a hand over his chest. ¡°I walked in there like an absolute dumbass, thinking, ¡®Hey, maybe today¡¯s the day my bad luck turns around!¡¯¡± She sniffled again, but a tiny smirk twitched at the corner of her lips. ¡°And guess what happened?¡± ¡°What?¡± He groaned. ¡°I got pink.¡± Silence. Kael blinked at him. Waiting for the punchline. Then she let out the ugliest most unrestrained laughter he ever heard. She clutched her stomach, gasping between shrieks, her glow now sparking mildly. Eric''s stiff back relaxed against the wall again. ¡°Wait! Pink?!¡± she managed to choke through her gasp. ¡°That¡¯s not even¡ªthat¡¯s not even a thing!¡± "I know!¡± Eric threw up his hands. ¡°Got tired of getting retested over and over again, had to take my L''s." Kael fell over with a thud, laughing so hard she wheezed, her glow flickering erratically as it dimmed. ¡°You¡¯re¡ªsnrk¡ªyou¡¯re an undiscovered species of weak!¡± ¡°They noticed. Said something about never coming back for a recheck.¡± He stood and offered his hand. She took it. ¡°Guess I¡¯m the first person to ever get banned from the Bureau.¡± Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pounded her fist weakly against his arm, still giggling. Eric just leaned back against the wall, letting her get it out of her system. If anyone deserved a laugh, it was her. She was still grinning as they walked to her room. Within ten minutes, he had her tucked in, the last of her pills in her system, listening to her mumble soft, sleepy nonsense until her breathing evened out. But just before she drifted under... ¡°Eric?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± A pause. ¡°I¡¯m glad you got pink.¡± Of course she was. She was gone before he could reply. Not like he had one. So in the silence of their crumbling home, Eric sat on her couch, staring at the Bureau¡¯s damning message, fingers hovering over the thrash icon. She''d laughed and stopped glowing. He sighed and deleted it. And honestly? That was worth getting pink for. South Checkpoint The sky was dark. Not the usual murky blood-red, but a deep black, stretching westward like spilled ink on a white canvas. And that was very bad. Eric could smell it before he even reached for the radio in his only real possession¡ªa battered green car that screamed more than it revved and spent more time at the mechanic than with him. Still, it had its uses. A quick money-maker when he was desperate. And it carried memories, like the night he¡¯d fled the research center with Kael in the backseat, sirens blaring in his ears. He remembered the car rolling downhill, slamming to a stop against a rock. Ha. Good times. Now, though, he needed cash. Kael¡¯s meds were empty. The pantry was nearly bare. A couple of passengers would cover both. Transport was expensive. Except that wasn¡¯t happening. The radio crackled and the music was cut out. "This is an official government announcement," a voice cut through the rusted speakers. "This information is of utmost importance and will be repeated every thirty minutes." Eric exhaled. Shit. "Neal City lockdown. High-threat warning issued. Everyone remain indoors. Reinforcements en route. Next update in thirty minutes." The broadcast cut to static, and after that, it went silent. Eric leaned back, staring at the cracked windshield. Great. No passengers. No extra cash. No food run. And most importantly, no meds. No wonder the streets were empty. Not even the smugglers were out. Neal City never slept; however, tonight, it felt dead. His phone buzzed. Sighing, he picked it up. Kael: Guess who¡¯s here? He was about to reply when another message popped up. Kael: Natalie!!! And she¡¯s demanding you get your ass home if you haven¡¯t heard the news. Another buzz. Kael: I''m still mad you messed things up with her, by the way. What am I saying? You mess up everything. If Natalie was there, it meant Kael had called her way before or after she called him during her episode. And his ex was the only person, aside from him, who knew his sister was an uncontrollable Ashborn. They¡¯d stayed friends (if he could call it that.) after the breakup. He¡¯d ended it a year ago, knowing he couldn¡¯t give the spoiled heiress anything but baggage while her father kept demanding his head to leave his priceless Gem alone. Probably for the best. Eric chuckled into the silence, the familiar emptiness settling into his core. He should go home, get some rest and rise up very early when the scum of the earth began to roam. However as soon as his fingers brushed the steering wheel, there was a knock. Small and firm. Eric held the wheel before his gaze snapped to the window. A silhouette stood just outside, like a shadow beneath the weak glow of a streetlamp. Didn''t help that he was dressed in an attire so black he merged with the dark. Eric didn¡¯t move. No one was supposed to be out. No, No one was out. The lockdown had turned Neal City into a ghost town. But there was another knock just outside his door. Eric rolled the window down an inch, ignoring instinct telling him to grab the knife under the seat. "Sorry, man. I''m closed for the day." He started rolling it back up. "Six hundred." Eric halted. His brows knit. His gaze flicked over the man; tall, wrapped in a heavy coat that hid most of his form. Probably armed. Probably dangerous. Probably rich. And six hundred was a whole lot of cash to give up on. A week¡¯s worth of provisions. A month of Kael¡¯s meds. Enough to fix the damn house. Real easy, but definitely a bad idea. Another knock but this time quick and loud. "Don''t know if you can tell, but I''m in a hurry." Eric exhaled. ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°South checkpoint.¡± His heartbeat stopped. The f¡ª?! That¡ª that''s suicide! Neal City had three major checkpoints, each leading into different territories. The South checkpoint was the worst¡ªright in front of what used to be an industrial sector before the First Wake turned it into an Ashspawn breeding ground. Even smugglers called it a last resort. Eric squinted. ¡°You looking to die?¡± The man didn¡¯t even give the courtesy of a reaction. ¡°No.¡± Great. That was so reassuring. I definitely feel safer now. "That''s dangerous," he stressed out the obvious. "Going or not?" Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. He hesitated, glancing at his phone. Kael¡¯s texts still glowed on the screen. He should go home. Natalie was probably waiting to skin him alive. But Kael needed her meds and this was certainly the only cash he¡¯d see tonight. Eric clicked his tongue. Fuck it, his lids dropped, bargaining mode activated. ¡°Eight hundred.¡± ¡°Six.¡± He snorted. ¡°You hit your head? City¡¯s locked down.¡± ¡°Seven.¡± ¡°Eight,¡± he repeated flatly. ¡°And you don¡¯t die close to my car.¡± The man paused, then, finally: ¡°Fine.¡± Eric sighed, unlocking the seat beside him. "Just in case you move funny." The man slid in. No gun like Eric expected, just a black briefcase he hugged close. He turned his face to the window, hood pulled low. "You can drive now." His phone buzzed again. Eric clenched his teeth and started the engine before he could change his mind. The car wheezed like an asthmatic chain smoker, then roared to life. Too late to back out now. ©¥©¥???©¥©¥ The route to South Checkpoint was dark and unnervingly silent. Normally, even past curfew, someone would be lurking¡ªsmugglers, desperate runners, patrol drones sweeping the alleys with sterile white lights. But tonight? Nothing. The sky was getting even darker. Eric kept his grip steady on the wheel, even as his mind itched with second thoughts. This was stupid. An eight-hundred-dollar job to the South Checkpoint? He might as well have set himself on fire and asked for a tip. The man beside him hadn¡¯t moved an inch since getting in, shoulders hunched, face buried in his hood. The only thing he held onto was that damn briefcase, clutched and hugged against him in a death grip. He still hadn''t even caught a glimpse of his face. ¡°So,¡± Eric drawled, tapping the wheel, ¡°what¡¯s so important that you¡¯re risking your life out here?¡± Silence. Eric threw him a glance. The briefcase was still hugged to his chest, knuckles pale on the leather handle. "Just drive," the man said after a moment. Eric exhaled through his nose, dragging a hand through his hair. He hated jobs like this. Too much unknown, too much quiet. The kind of quiet that made your skin itch, made you wonder if you were walking into a grave before you even saw the shovel. But eight hundred was eight hundred. The road ahead was uneven, cracked asphalt blending into dirt the closer they got to the outskirts. A few of Neal City¡¯s infrastructure had been rebuilt after the First Wake, but the southern districts never made the cut. Too close to the Ashspawn ruins and most of all too hard to control. Eric¡¯s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. Still no drones, no patrols. Still too quiet. He adjusted his grip on the wheel. "You military?" The man didn¡¯t answer. Eric rolled his jaw, narrowing him another glance. Still hunched, still gripping that briefcase. Not military, then. Or at least, not active. The military was stiff, sure, but they didn¡¯t shake like this guy was shaking. "Smuggler?" Eric tried again. No response. "You know, conversation¡¯s free with the fare," he muttered. "Won¡¯t even charge extra." Silence. It¡¯s just the checkpoint, he told himself. One drop-off, then you¡¯re done. And finally, they were here. Rows of reinforced concrete barriers lined the road, merging into a single entry point. Thick chain-link fencing, double-layered with barbed wire, extended along both sides, curving inward like teeth. High above, watchtowers stood, their searchlights sweeping the area in white circles, briefly slicing through the shadows. At the center stood the main gate, a massive plate of steel embedded with reinforced plating, designed to withstand both explosions and Ashspawn attacks. It was flanked by automated turrets, some new, some worn out. Normally, they moved, but now they didn''t. "Here." The man''s voice cut through the silence. "That''s a thousand." Eric turned to the outstretched hand, brow lifting. He took the notes, counting them before shoving them into his back pocket. "Dude, you sure you wanna go in there?" He asked again, because, honestly, the two-hundred-dollar tip had just unlocked a little sympathy for this stranger. "The sky is¡ª" Without another word, the man unlocked the door and stepped out. The checkpoint gates were open. That alone was weird enough. South Checkpoint was a fortress, meant to keep things out¡ªor in. The guards were usually a pain in the ass, barking orders, checking papers, searching cars like they expected a bomb in every compartment. And yet¡­ no guards. No inspections. Nothing. Just the man, vanishing through the gates. Alright then. Eric thought. At least he tried. Yet it felt wrong. He couldn''t place it, but something felt off. His fingers brushed over the money in his pocket. Still there. Cool. Every other thing wasn''t his business. His phone buzzed and he looked at the screen. Natalie was calling . His fingers twitched then dropped. Eric blew out a breath. Was there any point in answering just to hear her scream when he¡¯d be home in two hours max? He shoved the gear into reverse, but just as he was about to pull away¡ª *Thud* Eric flinched, twisting toward the passenger seat. Immediately sighting that rectangular shaped, black leather coated object. The briefcase. ¡°¡­You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me.¡± An eight-hundred-dollar fare. A two-hundred-dollar tip. And the dumbass had forgotten the one thing he¡¯d been clutching so tightly, white knuckles and all. Eric rubbed a hand down his face. He should leave. Really. Just drive back, buy the meds, get food, let Natalie chew him out, and forget about it. Instead, he stared at the case, that gut feeling kicking in. Specifically the one that had kept him alive in the worst parts of Neal City. Check it. There were rules to shit like this. And the first was never open what isn¡¯t yours. Eric cursed under his breath, grabbing the handle and pulling the case onto his lap. It wasn¡¯t locked, but he still didn¡¯t open it. Instead, he glanced toward the checkpoint again. The man was gone. Probably inside. Probably wouldn¡¯t even notice he¡¯d left it until it was too late. And Eric had just made a thousand bucks. No reason to go back. His fingers tightened around the briefcase. ¡°¡­Fucking hell.¡± He turned the engine back on. It screeched, rumbled, and with a heavy sigh, Eric drove back toward the checkpoint. He¡¯d wait five minutes. If the man didn¡¯t come back out, he was going home. All for the kindness of a two-hundred-dollar tip. He parked. At intervals, he made the light blink, just in case it was too dark for the man to see. Other times, he watched the briefcase. Check it. Maybe he should. He could close it back. Nobody had to know. Not even the little mysterious dude. If he walked in on him with the lid flipped open or he noticed, Eric could just say he wanted an ID... But then there was a tiny beep. Eric pushed his ear closer. Another beep. He held his breath as he straightened up. He wasn''t hearing things, it came from the briefcase. Check it. Curiosity gnawed at him as he clicked the briefcase open¡ª The glow hit first. Warm red, blinking like a pulse and beeping like a heartbeat. His stomach turned even before he saw them. The wires. Red, blue and yellow. Weaving around in curls and attached to a timer. 00:04. Beep. Beep. Beep. Eric didn¡¯t have a chance to think. He moved. The car door slammed open as he flung himself out, hitting the ground hard just as the briefcase exploded. The force caught him mid-roll, launching him backward like a ragdoll. His shoulders slammed into the chain-link fence. Pain reverberated through his body, enough to ignore the searing heat and the blast still echoing in the air. His car. His only car was gone. Bits of metal rained down, clattering against the pavement, still hot enough to sear skin where they landed. Eric sucked in a breath¡ªthen choked on it as the heavy air invaded his nostril. And there amid the pain and almost dead ears, it dawned on him¡ª He was out in the open. Right in the center of an Ashspawn-infested street. Bloodied and actively bleeding. And right next to him was the warmth of his burning car. That bastard. Eric stared at the destruction, pupils blown wide. He needed to get out of here. Needed to stay alive. But that¡ªhe realized, as the familiar monstrous screeches drew closer, sending a deadly chill down his spine¡ª Was rapidly not becoming his choice to make. Experiment Pain. The first thing he registered as the ringing in his ears slowly died and the shock in his bones faded was pain. It resounded, latching onto his nerves until it hurt to even see. Shriek. Shriek. He froze. Not today. Fuck, not today. The world around him flickered in and out of focus like an old screen struggling to hold its images. Fight! Run! Instinct drove his limbs before reason could catch up. He shoved himself up, hands scraping against shattered asphalt, lungs dragging in heavy black. A low groan slipped past his clenched teeth. His left arm¡ªfuck. Something was wrong. He could feel the heat of torn skin, the sticky warmth of blood soaking his sleeve. He kept moving, every inch of his body screaming in protest as he scanned his surroundings: metal scraps, burning tires, thick smoke curling into the already darkened heavens. A groan tore through his clenched teeth. His left arm was useless. Were the muscles torn? Fracture? It didn¡¯t matter now. If he stopped, he was dead. He pushed forward, boots skidding against the slick pavement. Something wet trickled from his temple, smearing into his vision and burning opened skin as it mixed with sweat and dirt. His breath was short and raspy, fighting for a whisp of clean air, lungs barely keeping up as his body warred against itself, demanding he drop and give in. Finally, he saw it: his blade, now blackened and just a few steps away. It was close to useless¡ªno better than a kitchen knife, but it was better than nothing. Anything was better than nothing. Another screech rapidly drew closer. Eric bolted toward the open gates of the checkpoint. Once or twice, his knees gave out, and each time, it took that cursed sound storming closer to push him back up. His body knew what it felt like to be prey. It thumped in that familiar way that began at the orphanage, then after the escape, and every day ever since. No way had he stayed alive this long just to be some ashspawn¡¯s meal. Kael was waiting for him, and he wasn¡¯t about to let her down without a fight. Past the checkpoint now, his brain switched to full calculation mode as his eyes swept over the vast expanse of land before him. Thick darkness shadowed the parts the searchlight couldn¡¯t reach, leaving them in perceived nothingness. But Eric knew better. That void nothingness had just moved; bright, round torches shining like burning embers, their soft croons sending a chill down his spine. Shit. His instincts screamed trap, but his feet couldn¡¯t stop, not with those things behind him. He tightened his grip around the knife, fingers slick with sweat, and he took the only option left: up the stairs of a watchtower. Knife between his teeth, fingers clutching the rods tightly, he scrambled up with his one good hand, two steps at a time. Halfway up, he heard it¡ªlike a hundred wet feet skittering against the pavement, followed almost immediately by the soft clink of nails against metal. There, Eric made the mistake of looking down, and his blade nearly dropped from his lips. He¡¯d only ever seen them dead, or captured on billboards, but now, there they were. All maws, teeth, and hunger he could smell¡ªone that made him want to puke through his clenched jaw. He had to move, not think. Had to shut his eyes to how pale their skin were, to their gleaming red eyes, to how they moved on all fours with elongated limbs like spindly spiders. He didn¡¯t want to think about how that clinking sound came from creatures so gnarly. Five more steps to go. Then¡­ what? He just couldn¡¯t die! Kael needed him! If he was going to, it wouldn¡¯t be as dinner. He¡¯d promised her he¡¯d always be one ¡°Tomato¡± call away. ¡°¡­Can¡¯t die! Can¡¯t fucking die!¡± The metal rattled under his boots. He climbed faster. Don¡¯t look down. Don¡¯t look down! He looked down. And he saw them climbing, dashing up the stairs like ants¡ªweightless and quick. Fast, too? How could they be that fast when they weighed five times as much as him? What the fuck were these creatures? But just as he touched the edge, the first one lunged. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Eric barely jerked back in time. His hand slipped, and for a terrifying half-second, he was weightless, his balance tipping into the open abyss below¡ª He grabbed the edge. ¡°Christ!¡± He winced as pain shot through his arm and down his back, straining as he held on, the concrete biting into his palm. Below him, the shrieks grew louder, like laughter¡ªas though they knew he was slipping. As though they were just toying with him. Bastards! Damn, bastards! Damn the pink result and his weakness. He was going to show them how he¡¯d survived all those years with bad decisions and a scrappy car. Eric gritted his teeth against the blade and pushed upward, throwing his weight forward before the next one could grab him. Another pull was just another second alive. The platform was so fucking close. Then came the sharp snap and the stairs jerked back. Eric¡¯s stomach dropped. The whole structure swayed, metal groaning beneath the weight of the monsters scrambling up its frame. His hands slammed into the railing, barely stopping himself from tumbling back down. ¡°No. No, no, no¡ª¡± Something grabbed his boot. Wet and leathery, just as he¡¯d expected them to feel. Sickening and hot. Eric kicked, but the hold only tightened. The impact jarred his leg, sending sparks of pain through his already battered nerves. It was impossible to move, impossible to reach for his knife without slipping into the darkness below, filled with those bright red torches. Another jerk. The stairs strained again. A ball rose in Eric¡¯s throat. Lights flashed before his eyes. He needed a fucking miracle. If there was anyone above who could see this¡ªa God, a normal pair of eyes in the shadows¡ªhe needed a fucking helping hand. But nothing was coming. He should¡¯ve known that by now. Then another jerk, and up came another ash spawn, lurching toward him. The beast holding him screamed in agony as its colleague¡¯s nails dug into its hide. Its grip loosened, and Eric knew he wasn¡¯t getting another chance. So he kicked harder. The ashspawn¡¯s hold slipped¡ªand so did his. Fuck. The weight on his leg, mixed with the pain, was becoming too much to bear. Soon, he¡¯d be falling with them, whether the stairs gave way or not. To make it worse, the ashspawn¡¯s second hand wrapped around his calf. ¡°Get off!¡± he yelled, voice filled with agony and terror, reverberating through the darkness. The knife between his teeth clattered to the floor, his feet numb from their hold. ¡°Get off me, damn it!¡± This time, they did but not without sharp, pointed fingers dragging down his calf, tearing him open. Eric let it out, screaming into the abyss, tears trailing down his face even as his leg felt weightless. Even after he heard the bone-breaking thud below. In a flash, with the last ounce of his strength, he hurled himself onto the cemented platform. With a grunt infused with pain, he kicked against the hinges twice. Down went the stairs, toppling over, sending the ashspawns crashing like dead weight. Eric didn¡¯t need to look down to know it hadn¡¯t done much good. The rising shrieks were loud enough. Now, on his back on the pavement, sniffling against the back of his knuckles, pain tore through him. His eyes traced the inky sky as he fought not to roar¡ªnot just from the pain, but from every frustration and stroke of bad luck he¡¯d had to laugh off to stay sane in Neal City. It wasn¡¯t just bad decisions! They were choices he¡¯d had to make, damn it! He knew they were bad¡ªhe just had to make them. Where the hell was the second wave? Hell, the sixth! Let it all end right this minute. Burn the whole world to the ground so they all rose from ashes, seeking extinct blood. But¡­ he shut his eyes, rage dying. Kael¡­ Eric took a deep breath. For a second, he¡¯d almost forgotten about her. She¡¯d have a big laugh if he told her about this one, then call him stupid for never listening to his instincts. Then she¡¯d burn him to toast later with a tantrum for almost dying. Probably best he kept this to himself this time. Yeah, just that. He chuckled. With a series of groans and grunts, he pushed himself to a sitting position, then to a stand, gripping the brick banister for support. He peeked at his right leg, which nearly gave way beneath him. He flinched. Even his ligaments had been torn open. If he looked closer, he¡¯d bet he could see bone. He sighed. He¡¯d have stopped to wrap it up, but there was no time before those fleshed-out spiders realized they could scale the smooth wall. Maybe if he went far enough, he could bleed to death before they found him again. So, without thinking, he took the only route: a bridge-like path leading to the accessible entrance of a round, gigantic building. It looked like a mix between a dam and a stadium¡ªa brutalist structure with high walls, reinforced steel beams, and a domed roof that had seen better days. He limped all the way through until he was close enough to catch the faint white light seeping through the entrance, close enough to hear a cascading sound¡ªlike a waterfall, except heavier and drier. Too exhausted to think clearly, too desperate to investigate as he slowly lost half his blood to the floor, his body growing numb, he limped fully inside. He wasn¡¯t sure what he¡¯d expected to see¡ªmaybe thousands of cluttered plastic chairs? A black field of dust, dead grass, or ashes? But none of that. Just a thoroughly empty space. And at the edge, where the cascading noise came from¡ª Was a tall, seemingly familiar figure cloaked in black? ¡°Why are you still alive? Why didn¡¯t you die?!¡± The cloak''s hood was angrily pulled down, revealing a face streaked with dark veins across tanned skin. Even his bald head wasn¡¯t spared, and as Eric watched, the veins seemed to move with colors. ¡°Is that¡­ normal?¡± Eric murmured, not to anyone in particular. But it was what floated behind the man that truly caught his eye¡ªnot the ashes rising from the deep where the thunderous noise originated, but a breathing white light in the shape of a rough circle, spinning with symbols Eric had only heard about but never seen. An ashborn? But he¡¯d never seen an ashborn that looked like that¡ªsickening purple and green, a sore to the eyes. Was he a mutation? An experiment gone wrong? The image of his last passenger shielding his face with a cloak crossed his mind, and Eric''s curiosity dimmed. ¡°It¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it? You were the¡­¡± An ashspawn¡¯s scream cut him off. Eric''s fist clenched. The man seemed even more offended when he heard the loud shrieks closing in. His eyes darkened. Really darkened, pitch black like the inky sky, and as they scanned Eric¡¯s bloodied body, he grimaced, ¡°I gave you an easy death.¡± Eric¡¯s jaw ticked. ¡°Your definition of easy is differentnt from mine then. You blew up my fucking car.¡± But the man suddenly backed away trembling. What the hell was happening here? To Eric''s shock, so smoothly he barely registered it, in the next second, he was staring into the muzzle of a black pistol pointed directly at his chest. ¡°Hey¡­ hey!¡± Eric backed away, heart pounding. ¡°I don¡¯t want any trouble.¡± But¡­ ¡°I¡­¡± The trembling voice came again as the man¡¯s finger rested against the trigger. ¡°No one should see this. I GAVE YOU AN EASY DEATH!¡± Behind him, Eric could hear stealthy feet beating against the floor. He took a long breath. More ashes than air filled his lungs. For a second, he almost laughed in tired defeat. This was a nightmare. It had to be a nightmare. And he better wake up soon. Ash Memorial Cold sweat slid down his neck, drenching his bloodied shirt until it clung to his bruised body. The pain shooting through him was enough proof that this was no dream. Veiny, body trembling clicked the safety off. Not a dream. He was finally going to die. Everything eventually came to an end and his had been decided years ago; he¡¯d just been too stubborn to accept it. But the Ashborn wasn¡¯t pulling the trigger. Instead, his eyes widened at Eric as though Eric were the monstrosity, not him. The way he blocked that floating object behind him, with its glow intensifying, made it hard to focus on just dying when so many questions churned in Eric¡¯s mind. ¡°You brought them here!¡± The man¡¯s(?) voice was more of a cry than a berating. ¡°The blast was supposed to distract them, the warmth! But you brought them straight to me!¡± The fucker acted like there was a script they were meant to follow, and Eric¡¯s role was to just die. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but one grand to be used as bait?¡± Eric sneered. ¡°I''m up for selling but life¡¯s worth more than that, you know.¡± A pause. ¡°Did you say life¡¯s worth?¡± The Ashborn¡¯s shaking intensified but this time in laughter, his darkened eyes scanning Eric as though he were the dumbest person he¡¯d ever met. And that seemed to offend him more than his ruined plan. ¡°Life¡¯s worth nothing to them. Look at me!¡± Except Eric was. Really saw him this time. Colors crawled beneath his skin, painful to look at. Even his eyes, like a full-blown eclipse, screamed of something unnatural¡ªas if brushing against it promised punishment. ¡°This is what life is: weak, nothing.¡± The man stretched out his hands. ¡°We think we¡¯re so important, so indispensable, but¡­¡± He swallowed hard, shielding the circle further. ¡°We¡¯re nothing more than specks the universe uses or discards.¡± The gun swung back, aimed at Eric. ¡°And when you think you¡¯re being used, you¡¯re just getting discarded.¡± What should he say? Eric wondered. Play along with the madness to buy a little more time? His head spun, the room lurching as if tipping sideways. Blood soaked the concrete beneath him, it felt warm and slick, seeping from his torn leg faster than he could blink it away. He tried to focus on the Ashborn¡¯s rant, the gun, that damn circle, anything to keep his body from going numb, but it all blurred, colors smearing into a haze. ¡°Specks, huh?¡± he mumbled, staggering back, voice slurring. ¡°Guess¡­ I¡¯m a weak one, then.¡± The Ashborn stopped ranting then. His eyes softened for a second before he buried his face in his hands. ¡°I had to do it,¡± he whispered. ¡°I¡­ DON¡¯T YOU DARE BLAME ME, I HAD TO DO IT, OKAY!¡± The gun was back, pointed at Eric as the man heaved heavily. Only then did Eric collapse to his knees, eyes fixed on the light behind the Ashborn as the shrieks of the spawns closed in. ¡°Make it fast,¡± he muttered. ¡°Your whining¡¯s getting on my nerves.¡± Jaw clenched, the man¡¯s hands still shook, his finger still resting against the trigger. An Ashspawn launched into the room at full speed. ¡°The light!¡± A loud detonation rang out, and the creature dropped mid-leap, blue goo spilling from its shattered skull. ¡°Can¡¯t¡­ let them touch the light¡­¡± ¡°Not the¡­ hic¡­ not the light.¡± Perhaps he was mad. An Ashborn teetering on the edge of insanity wasn¡¯t rare, just a sight Eric had never seen. But with every minute Veiny didn¡¯t bury bullets in his skull, Eric doubted his own perception. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Or maybe the bastard was betting on him bleeding out. Effective without soiling his hands. But... the light¡­ what''s wrong with it? What was once a perfect circle had begun to splinter, its soft pulse now a small roar as thousands of sharp streaks of color formed a jagged, canine-toothed kaleidoscope, sucking in his attention and the silence between them. ¡°I wanted to be more than a speck. I needed to be needed,¡± Veiny said, looking up at the sky overhead. ¡°Instead¡­ I became a freak¡­ so I thought¡­¡± Shriek. Crack. Detonation. An Ashspawn dropped. ¡°...I need to be a god. The greatest God ever known!¡± Yeah¡­ he was crazy. But the light seemed to want to consume everything in its path. What exactly was it? Magic? No¡ªif it was, it didn¡¯t come from Veiny. It took a moment to realize, but Veiny wasn¡¯t an Ashborn just insane. Behind the light, ashes like crystals swirled like a storm, a beautiful sight, if Eric ignored his brain¡¯s insistence on figuring out what kind of ashes they were. Veiny blasted another Ashspawn storming in, the force splattering its hide against the wall. ¡°In a few minutes, I¡¯ll know what it feels like to be needed. Unignored. Divine.¡± ¡°I know, though,¡± Eric¡¯s amused voice cut through his reverie. With the silence he continued. ¡°Obviously not divine¡ªyou should get your head checked for that.¡± A small shrug. ¡°But needed? I know that. You took that from me.¡± Veiny turned to the half-dead man on the floor, skinny and clutching his side. He frowned. How could this wreck possibly understand what it felt like to toil toward a goal, only for it to explode in your face? And two weeks later, to slowly become this...freak while someone else took your sweat and made it¡­ ¡°Better?¡± Eric cut in again with a small, sad, dying smile. He nodded at the light. ¡°Is that it? What does it do? Hopefully, cool enough to warrant me dying.¡± ¡°Stay alive a little longer, and you¡¯ll see.¡± The swirling ashes had grown, claiming half the room. Eric pushed himself further against the wall. Better dead than an Ashspawn. But¡­ Shriek. Shriek. Shriiiiiiieeeek! Veiny¡¯s eyes widened, turning to the entrance as it darkened heavily with the noise of numerous feet skittering closer. ¡°Son of a¡­!¡± He looked back at the light. ¡°Not yet!¡± He fired like a madman, spraying bullets at the entrance. ¡°Go back! You can¡¯t come in now!¡± Eric didn¡¯t have the heart to tell him there were thousands of them, just below, waiting for their turn. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just die?!¡± Because he couldn¡¯t let go of the ecstasy of being needed. Because there was a gold-level Ashborn he was trying to protect while being laughably pink. He chuckled as his sight blurred. Sucks. The Ashspawns crashed into the room like waves. Eric watched it all through fading vision: the creatures rounding Veiny, their shrieks like laughter every time he fired, doubling in their numbers with each shot. ¡°Get out! You can¡¯t come in now!¡± A limb shot out, knocking the gun from Veiny¡¯s hands. His harsh breaths filled the room as he lunged toward the light. A clean swipe¡ªsounding like a blade¡ªand¡ª Veiny¡¯s torso slid off his lower body, dropping to the floor in a heap. Quick, Eric thought as dread pooled in his gut. For now, the creatures had their attention on him. Kael and Natalie were going to have his head for this. He could feel the icy chill surrounding him. It smelled of metal, of death. An Ashspawn stood before him, head tilted, as void eyes studied him for seconds that seemed too long, then with a loud, continuous crackle that made Eric nauseous, it opened its mouth so wide it nearly split its head in two. Eric scoffed. ¡°Only regret is you being the last thing I fucking see.¡± But as those rows of teeth nearly enclosed around him, a loud explosion rippled through the room, shaking the building¡¯s foundation as the walls denigrated to dust in a flash. A burst of illumination followed, and for a long second, time seemed to stop. ¡°What¡­ what¡­ is¡­¡± Eric tried to swallow, but every movement in his body seized. The room stood still. He couldn¡¯t feel the gritty floor anymore. Am I¡­ floating? Maybe he was near death, hallucinating. But this didn¡¯t feel like death, he could feel the heat against his skin. Did one feel this hot when they were about to¡­ Another sound, this time softer, thicker, like an implosion, and he found himself sucked into a brighter illumination of colors. It looked like a constellation. Pretty¡­ pretty enough to distract from the fact that he was falling, quite rapidly. Then the light cleared, and he heard it¡ªthe sound like a waterfall he¡¯d noticed on the bridge to this room. But it was no ordinary waterfall. Ashes like crystals cascaded down a jagged, high, black cliff, filling a river of ash below. An Ashspawn¡­ he¡¯d be buried in that¡­ and become the same creatures he detested. Wow, nice one, poetic justice. Outdid yourself this time. Kael should be calling. Sending messages. Tomato. She''d have no meds to stop her glowing. He felt his back hit the surface of the ashes, sinking rapidly as the currents sucked him in. Shutting his eyes, his body went numb, particles filling his nostrils¡­ But even with that, he regretted nothing¡­ absolutely¡­ nothing. ©¥©¥???©¥©¥ [Sys¡­] [REDACTED¡­] [System activation sequence initiated] [Welcome Back...] [BELIAL] Integration Beep¡­ beep¡­ beep. Eric¡¯s eyes flickered open, greeted by a bright white ceiling and the faint smell of antiseptic. A haze clouded his consciousnes¡ªand a weak beep stuttered somewhere close. More dead than alive. Alive¡­ He blinked at the ceiling. If he could feel his lips, he might¡¯ve chuckled. But then again, this couldn¡¯t be heaven; heaven didn¡¯t feel this shitty. Hell? The last he remembered¡­ his racked his brain: ashes flooding his lungs, that jagged light pulling him in, Veiny¡¯s torso hitting the floor, the Ashspawn¡¯s maw yawning wide¡­ Then nothing. Well, not nothing. He shut his eyes, a feminine figure materializing overhead¡ªpinkish-purple pupils¡­ and¡­ urgh¡­ Pain shot through his skull as his eyes popped open again. Maybe honey-blond hair? But her words pierced even his heavy unconsciousness, slurred and amused: ¡°Pity. My father will have a field day with you.¡± Who was she? He¡¯d never seen her before. Or had he? No¡ªthe question should be¡ªwhat was she doing in the light? Or was it the light? Or just a hallucination? After that memory, it all went blank. Pain shot through his skull again, his body stiffening, but Eric suspected groaning would hurt even more. ¡°Did I just¡­¡± He swallowed hard, feeling the scratchy hospital covers scrub against his skin. ¡°Did I just cheat death?¡± The beep, as though approving his intuition, sped up and grew louder¡ªso loud it hurt to listen. How the fuck am I still alive? He knew his luck; survival like this didn¡¯t come without a catch, lurking just around the corner to remind him he was the universe¡¯s punching bag. Like¡­ his eyes drifted down¡­ that. The sheet shielded his lower half from view. Was it still there? He couldn¡¯t feel much below the waist. Panic clawed at him¡ªthat was his fucking livelihood. If he¡¯d lost his leg¡ªor worse¡ªhe¡¯d rather the Ashspawns had finished the job. Wait¡ªKael¡­ His eyes flashed open. Shit! How long had he been out? He needed to get to her before she burned half the city down. Darting pupils grazed the room for a wheelchair, something he could swing by before he checked his legs. Or lack of¡ª But then, a rigid, trembling movement caught his attention. He turned¡ªow, fuck!¡ªto the entrance. By the door stood a brunette, slim and around his age, hands tightened around a clipboard she hugged to her chest as though it could protect her. Widened eyes gawked at him like he¡¯d just sprouted another head¡ªor two¡ªthen, with rambling he couldn¡¯t make out, she slowly began to pull away¡­ ¡°Hey, uh¡­¡± Eric began. ¡°Do you have any idea where¡ª¡± She bolted, her screams bouncing from the hospital hallway into his ears as she disappeared down the corridor. ¡°¡­I am,¡± Eric finished with a grimace. ¡°Dude, I¡¯m not even that ugly.¡± His frown deepened. ¡°Right?¡± Heaving a sigh, he glared down at his legs. He¡¯d just have to start small, so when he faced the reality of his unfeeling lower half, it wouldn¡¯t be so shocking. His palms twitched. Both of them. Arms too, as he raised them over his eyes, studying every inch. The pain was welcome¡ªit told him this was real, and he was alive. Cool, no missing hands. Just one bandaged left one¡­ fair. He dropped them back to the bed, lids lowering to the sheets. He held his breath and pulled the covers¡­ His legs were there. Perfectly intact, even if he ignored the clean bandage wrapped from his left calf to his ankle. Exactly as he remembered them. Except¡­ They didn¡¯t feel real. He reached for his thigh, pressing down hard¡ªnot even a slight sensation. It felt like he was touching something that belonged to someone else. Was he paralyzed in some way? [System Rebooting] His breath hitched. What the hell was¡­ Pain seared¡ªthe kind that split brains¡ªexploded in his skull, making the white screen that had just appeared seem even brighter. So intense it burned behind his eyes. His back arched off the bed, fingers digging into the sheet. Then words¡ªno, codes¡ªsprawled across that screen that refused to disappear: [SYSTEM ERROR.] The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. [USER RECOGNITION FAILED.] [BODY INTEGRATION: 12%.] [FINALIZED ADJUSTMENT REQUIRED.] The machine beside him flatlined. Eric gasped for air, fingers clutching at his neck as though strangled. He rolled off the bed, landing on the hard white floor as everything went white. A seizure? Why get me from the Ashspawns to die of a seizure?! What the hell is that screen?! And then¡ª A rush of something cold slammed into his spine like a lightning bolt. Eric choked on air as his lungs snapped back to life, his arched back hitting the floor with a hard thud. The flatline beep cut off. The normal rhythm returned. Beep. Beep. Beep. Too calm, too slow, as though his body had just reset itself. His toe twitched¡ªhe could feel his legs again, every inch of him, and unfortunately, that also came with excruciating, blinding pain. He panted, body drenched in sweat, but that was easy to ignore when he was gawking at this white screen that refused to leave his face. [SYSTEM STABILIZED.] [USER ACCEPTANCE: SUCCESSFUL.] [BELIAL] Eric pressed himself into the floor, but the damn screen seemed intent on staying four inches from his face. Belial¡­ Why does that sound familiar? [User: Belial // Designation: Lord of Anarchy & Chaos] [Location: Post-Apocalyptic Sector 7 // Neal City. Earth¡¯s favorite dump] Eric blinked. Okay¡­ now this hallucination was taking too long to go away. He raised his good hand, punching the screen lightly¡­ solid glitch¡­ His brows knit. The fuck! Maybe if he shattered it¡­ [Refrain from being a barbarian for one minute while I update your stats.] His fist froze midway, slowly dropping to his side as he swallowed hard. [STATS LOA¡­] His fist swung into the screen again, hitting it with a dull thud like a chop knock, yet it resounded in his ears. His lips pressed together as he waited. [Your wish¡­] The pain came down hard, like waves crashing into his already frail body. It felt like a million volts of raw electricity racing down his nerves, a convulsion that left his teeth grinding against each other and his body trembling when it ended. Fuck! What the fuck are you?! [Now that you¡¯re calm, surprisingly.] [Name: BELIAL] [Class: Pink] [Level: 1] [Luck: -5/100] [External Corruption: 50/100] [Sanity: 90/100] [Integration: 12/100] For the first time in his life, Eric thought of screaming for help. But another pop-up on that damn screen stopped him. [Strength: 5] [Endurance: 5] [Speed: 5] [Attack Potency: 5] [Skill: 5] [Intelligence: 5] [Allow Belial take over, A DEMO: YES/NO/REMIND ME LATER] Okay¡­ His fist clenched at his side, his gawk becoming a glare at the too-bright screen. The damn thing had just zapped him, then given him stats so degrading he felt the urge to punch it even harder. [You¡¯ll suffer the consequences.] Would be fucking worth it. [Let¡¯s see how long you last¡­ Pink.] What the fuck. [I¡¯ll be worried about your tongue if you¡¯re still alive after a week.] [Allow Belial to take over, A DEMO: YES/NO/REMIND ME LATER] With another heavy gulp¡ªso heavy he thought for a second he¡¯d swallowed his Adam¡¯s apple along with it¡ªhe gritted out, ¡°How do I answer when you zap me when I touch?¡± A long pause. Then, right on the screen¡ª [Clicking: An act of selecting an option on an electronic interface by pressing a button or touching a screen] Eric huffed. It was disgraceful enough bickering with a fu¡ª screen he wasn¡¯t sure was real, but that zap wasn¡¯t debatable. It hurt like hell. So, raising a finger, he clicked [NO] as gently as he could. The screen cleared, leaving one bold word: [CONFIRMED]. Eric¡¯s fists clenched again. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are, but you¡¯re leaving my damn face once I¡¯m out of this shithole.¡± Silence¡­ then: [We want the same thing.] [Only problem is you have to die before our wishes are granted.] Eric¡¯s breath hitched, fingers slackening. A virus¡­ was this a virus? He¡¯d need help to get it out of his head before he went completely insane. [First Quest] Quest? [Say nothing about the events leading to your fall. +5 points] Points? A screen telling him what to do, wanting him dead, indirectly ensuring he said nothing about Veiny, the Ashspawn, and finally the fall. Was this a way to keep him trapped? So he couldn¡¯t get the ¡°system¡± [Belial] out of his head? Besides, if he wanted to tell someone, who would he tell that wouldn¡¯t look at him like he was crazy? The screen lit up again. [The nurse. She¡¯ll bring friends.] [Failure to comply induces punishment.] Friends¡­ Just then, the door was shoved open, and half a dozen guards in matching black suits trooped into his ward. Ignoring his obviously sad, awakened state sprawled on the floor, they lined the wall of his room. Why? His brows knit. Come on, he groaned, realization sinking in. Using a car couldn¡¯t be that much of a crime¡­ could it? But then, as he watched, a couple of shadows strode into the room¡ªone bigger and broader than the other. And the sight of the bigger dude in a white dress shirt, blue jacket hanging from his arm, had Eric cursing under his breath. ¡°Mr. Eric,¡± the smaller guy said, looking down calmly as Eric struggled to push himself up. ¡°Cassian Gilmore, head of research, Ashborn unit, Neal City.¡± And right next to him, the man who couldn¡¯t keep the disdain off his face¡ªa sneer on his lips, pupils cold as blue ice¡­ Was the Warden of Neal City. Drenvar Veyle. Natalie¡¯s father. Eric struggled not to curse, head resting exhaustedly against the bed. Maybe¡­ just maybe¡­ it would¡¯ve been better if the Ashspawns had ended him.