[System Notice]
Valmer Valgrace van Ruvoch has activated the special skill [The Lord's Prayer].
Effect: Boosts all allies' stats by 15%. The first damage received is reduced by half.
The words of Valmer's prayer lingered in the air like a faint, holy echo, their power settling over the group as a warm breeze, strengthening their limbs and sharpening their senses. Kai Linwei strode at the forefront, his raven-black hair swaying like a dark banner, glancing back with a smirk, revealing his dragon tattoo under his half-zipped jacket. "Damn, priest, that's one slick skill you've got," he said, his voice a low rumble, his twin swords clinking against his hip as he led the way through desolate streets. The ruined city sprawled around them, a graveyard of shattered aspirations—toppled streetlights dangled like broken spines, their wires sparking faintly, while gutted buildings loomed under a sky bruised with storm clouds, the air thick with the acrid tang of ash and decay.
Valmer's brown hair fell in messy waves over his shoulders as he flashed a roguish grin, his eyes twinkling as he adjusted his rosary beads. "You beautiful ladies, stay close behind me, alright?" he said, winking at Celine and Ariel, his voice dripping with charm as he sauntered forward, his boots crunching over the debris-strewn pavement. Celine's freckled cheeks flushed faintly, her red hair catching the dim light, while Ariel barely registered his words, her heart pounding with the thought of seeing Zane after two years, unsure if he even lived.
"Tch," Kenshi Aokawa spat, his face a mask of disdain as he brushed past Valmer, his katana's hilt gleaming under his calloused grip. He stared ahead, ignoring the priest's taunt, his black coat billowing like a shadow in the wind.
"Got something to say, Kenshit?" Valmer teased, dragging out the mocking twist of Kenshi's name, his grin widening as he leaned closer, expecting a reply. The group's footsteps echoed in the quiet, broken only by distant Gemini roars.
Kenshi's stride didn't falter, his voice a cold, measured drawl. "Responding to you would only end in your death," he said, not sparing Valmer a glance, his hand tightening on his katana. The memory of his family's blood, spilled by Geminis, burned in his chest, leaving no room for petty games.
Valmer's grin faltered, his eyes narrowing. "You think you're so high and mighty, huh?" he snapped, his voice rising, his hand gesturing wildly. "I'll tell you what, after we gut those Elite Geminis, you're next, you bald old bastard." Kenshi's silence was a blade, cutting through Valmer's bravado, his steps steady as he moved ahead, the priest's words falling like pebbles into a void.
"Quit ignoring me, damn it!" Valmer barked, his face flushing with anger, his rosary beads glowing brighter as he stomped forward. Celine stifled a giggle, her hazel eyes sparkling with amusement. Ariel, however, walked in a haze, her fingers twisting nervously, her mind consumed by Zane. 'Is he alive? Will he even recognize me?' Her heart ached, the weight of two years' separation pressing down like Ravenloch's crumbling ruins.
Yuna Lee rolled her eyes, her snug black crop top shifting as she crossed her arms. "Men and their egos," she muttered, her flawless face sharp with exasperation, her gaze flicking between Valmer and Kenshi. Kai, leading the pack, snorted without looking back, his swords gleaming as he navigated a street choked with overturned cars and blood-slick asphalt, their path leading toward Ravenloch's old school, the Whisperkin's lair.
***
Meanwhile, deep within the school's shattered halls, where shadows clung like living things, a guttural exchange unfolded in the Gemini's alien tongue. The walls were scarred with claw marks, their plaster peeling like flayed skin. A massive Elite Gemini, crouched before a smaller, eerie figure—the Whisperkin, its form a shifting blur of darkness, its hum a chilling pulse that rattled the bones.
Ssss'la fin'krûn vesh'thar vadis'ra zhok'nul!
("Seems they're finally crawling our way.")
One of the Elite growled, its dual voices a discordant snarl, its eyes blazing with disdain.
(Kr'zhok VOK! Thal'krûn zhar'vok ssss'Whisperkin?)
("What's your call, oh mighty Whisperkin?")Another Elite hissed, the title dripped with mockery, its massive claws scraping the floor, resentment simmering at being led by the weakest among them.
"Grr'zhar skra'khrûn thal'grak!"
("They'll arrive soon!") the Whisperkinhissed, its voice a sibilant whisper, its form flickering like a dying flame.
"Zhrak'vyrn kwe'thrûm nal'skarn."
("It's time to move.") Its eyeless gaze seemed to pierce the shadows, its hum intensifying, a call to the pack as it slithered toward the school's heart, the Elite trailing reluctantly, their roars echoing through the ruined corridors.
After a tense march through Ravenloch's wreckage, the group reached the school's entrance, its rusted gate twisted like a broken jaw, half-buried in rubble. Celine paused, her breath catching, as she stared at the gate's warped bars, the school's once-familiar facade now a nightmarish husk. Shattered windows gaped like hollow eyes, their frames splintered.
"I never thought I'd hate coming to school this much," she said, her voice soft but heavy, memories of classmates torn apart by the Whisperkin flashing in her mind.
Ariel's gaze lingered on the gate, her heart racing. Kai adjusted his swords, his voice a low growl. "Enough sightseeing. Stay sharp or die." Yuna nodded, her hair swaying, her eyes scanning the shadows, while Kenshi's katana hummed faintly. Valmer's beads glowed, his grin gone, replaced by a steely focus as they stepped through the gate.
[System Notification]
You have encountered a Gemini.
Species: Whisperkin
Rank: Elite
Stats:
- Strength: F
- Intelligence: F
- Speed: F
- Agility: F
Final Rank: Whisperkin F
Abilities:
- Fear Sense: Cannot see but detects fear and movement with terrifying precision.
- Spatial Distortion: Opens random portals to disorient targets.
- Death Roar: Emits a scream that paralyzes the weak-willed.
Weakness:
- Soft Heartskin: Piercing the heart's exposed patch kills instantly, but shifting ribs guard it.
"What is that? Looks like the devil," Kai said, raising a brow, his twin swords gleaming as he gripped them in a ready stance, feet planted wide. His dragon tattoo peeked from his jacket, unmoving, a stark mark against his skin.
Before anyone could answer, more Geminis poured through the gate. Notifications blared in their vision with a relentless flood of data.
[System Notification]
You have encountered a Gemini.
Species: Dark Seraph
Rank: Elite
Stats:
- Strength: S
- Intelligence: B
- Speed: S
- Agility: S
Final Rank: Dark Seraph S
Abilities:
- Transmission: Transfers all damage received in battle to a chosen target (once daily).
- Bullet Feathers: Shoots feathers from its wings with lethal speed and accuracy.
Weakness:
- Wing Severance: Cutting off wings causes immense pain, halving combat ability.
Yo, my badass crew, sorry for the short Chapter, I know it's a tease, and I'm too damn good to leave you hanging like that. Tomorrow, I'm dropping a longer, skull-cracking update to make it right, swear on my ink. You keep this saga alive, so spread the word, hit me with your thoughts, or show some love by tossing a few powerstones my way. Let's keep owning this chaos. Much respect to y'all.