A hundred years ago, the Great War broke out between the world powers, spanning across continents and wreaking untold havoc on the Earth. It was during this period that the Rift occurred, a visible tear in the space between the human world and the Veil of supernatural entities. Some say it was caused by the cataclysms and cosmic shootouts from the war. Others speculate that there were those who wanted to go beyond the physical world for help, and some mishap must have happened. And there are still those who believe curiosity and hidden experiments to harness the Veil's power pushed it through to our world. Either way, the Rift and the emergence of a translucent force field brought significant changes to the world. It granted abilities to humans who had been close to the Veil at the time of its appearance, but it also trapped and mutated others into what they called Anomalies. And when the original creatures or spirits of the Veil possessed those Anomalies, they gave rise to wha

5.27 PM, THE DAY BEFORE, IN NODERYN. In a quiet bar, in the farthest, darkest reaches of the city, Akira Storm sat by the counter with a mug of ale. She did not possess the looks of the average lady, at least not with her hood pulled up over her head as it was now. Other than her slender build and long fingers, there wasn't any other indication that she was a lady. Once in a while, she expanded her senses, taking in the environment without turning or looking. There were just two men at the table behind her, and the bartender was sitting on his perch, reading a book. Otherwise, it was quiet. Just as she liked it. "You are very difficult to find." Akira turned slightly. The intruder was a heavyset woman with dark hair and a stony face. She wore a gray jacket and her jeans looked worn. Her scent was a mixture of spirits and sweat and dried figs, as far as Akira could smell. If there was any malicious intent, she couldn't sense it. At least, not yet. "Don't worry, I'm

She turned slightly, revealing a lock of silver hair. "This doesn't concern you. Please, leave." "You're killing her," Neon pointed out, "And if you want information, you can't get it from a dead person." "Right, well maybe I don't want information anymore and maybe I want her dead." He clicked his tongue. Trouble was something he actively avoided, but right now, he wasn't so sure it wanted to avoid him. "Let her down, and tell me about the Entity you fought," he said. She turned again, and with his heightened senses he could see the sharp outline of her cheekbones, her nose, her dark green eyes. He could also smell her rage, slow and controlled. "You're with the Maegen, aren't you? A Warden." She said softly. Above her, the woman's eyes were shutting close, as her breaths started slowing down. Neon held out his index finger, aimed up at her hand and fired. A thin blue bolt shot out, hitting her on the wrist. She released the woman with a slight hiss, dropping her t

Hikaru walked up coffee table and placed his palm on the edge. The glass glowed blue in response, casting a visual image of the area around the house. He watched for a while with a beer in one hand, as Neon checked his bearings outside. Then he got on one of the mobikes and took off, out of sight of the cameras. "You are one hell of a brother," Hikaru muttered and took a swig of his beer. "Hey, douchebags! You've got a lady in here, remember?! And I've got to use the fucking toilet!" His brows shot up in his head as though he only just remembered his captive. He took out another bottle in addition to the one he held and headed into the adjoining room. Her expression hardened as soon as he walked in. ‘She didn't expect to see me,' he thought. He couldn't sense any emotion coming off her, as opposed to the fear that had leaked off her earlier. "I'm impressed," he said, "Youmask your feelings properly." He set the bottles on the bed and took a knife out of his ba

“THE ANOMALIES ARE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE TYPES: HORNED, CLAWED, WINGED….THE BASICS OF WHAT WE HAVE DEDUCED SO FAR ARE THAT ANOMALIES DO NOT GROUP TOGETHER……THAT THEY POSSESS VARYING DEGREES OF INTELLIGENCE….DO NOT REGISTER ANY EMOTION OTHER THAN THE PREDATORY INSTINCT TO SURVIVE.” {A.H ORWYCK, THE WARDEN'S GUIDE TO HUNTING} 9.32 PM, YUGEN CASTLE, THE WASTELANDS. Castle Yugen loomed over the landscape like a dark sentinel, the silent, great testament to a gone age. Its crumbling towers pierced the night sky, twisted plants strangled the ancient stone walls, their gnarled tendrils creeping into the shattered windows. Nothing moved and nothing breathed as far as Neon could tell. He didn't lower his guard even then. He watched and listened and sniffed at the air now and then while he walked up the hillock. He paused at the open gates, activating body shield before he walked in. Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of decay and abandonment. Grand chandeliers hung precario