[There are rumours that the Cerberus Guild are inviting you to join their company. Is there any truth in that, Sophie?]
[Well, I guess. It's not really a secret anymore.] "No…" The sun was still out, and yet the only source of light that could be seen in Kyle's room was his phone; the face of his sister, being reflected into his eyes. The two didn't really look alike at all—his sister had orange hair and a small, cute face—easily making her popular with boys, as is most of her subscribers. [But aren't there also rumours that… Derek West is also joining the guild? He's being released today. How do you feel about that?] [There's… nothing to feel,] Sophia just shrugged her shoulders as she looked right at the camera, [I'd like to leave the past behind me.] [But he killed your mother… and posted it on LitTube.] [I can't really blame him for what happened, we were all young. I was just 10 then and I can't really remember much… …but I think my brother instigated the situation.] "...What?" Kyle could not help but hold the phone with both his hands as he replayed the video. [...I think my brother instigated the situation.] "What?" [...My brother instigated the situation.] "No… no, no, no," Kyle quickly threw his phone away, not even bothering to watch the rest of the interview as he started walking around his dark room; biting his nails and repeatedly hitting his head with each step. "Why… why would you say that? It's not my fault. It's not… It's not?" Kyle's eyes, as well as the tone of his voice, finally started to waver. His eyes that did not flicker even as he was being beaten almost to death; his voice that did not scream and crack even as a pain enough to turn one crazy bathed his body… both now stuttering. "No… no, no—Is it my fault?" Kyle's breaths started to become heavier by the second, "Did I do it? Did I… did I kill mom? Was it me? No… no… no…" Kyle then rushed to get his phone that he threw to call his sister, only to find the screen completely shattered. "Please… please tell me you don't think that," Kyle started looking everywhere, almost as if trying to find something that wasn't there. But finally, after a few more seconds of walking around his dark room, Kyle's breaths started to calm. And without any delays, he quickly grabbed a hoodie from his suitcase; messing up his hair so it could cover his face, and then wearing the hoodie to cover his head even more before he stepped outside his room. Kyle and Sophie did not go to the same school. Both their fathers were deceased, and when the government found out that Kyle was a Lowborn, they decided to place Sophie at a different school. Kyle approved of this—he was twelve and completely shaken when the incident happened. But if he had to make the decision now, he would still put Sophie in another school. After all, if the people found out that he was her brother, they might also start bullying her. And now, she is being continuously trained by the government; even managing to get her Explorer license at a very young age. She was set for life, and that was all Kyle could hope for. Kyle rode the train, making sure that his face wasn't being caught by the CCTV or any other cameras. And after a 2-hour commute, he arrived in front of his sister's dorm. "Good day, ma'am. Can I meet… Sophie Wolfe?" "..." The person in charge of taking care of the dorm could not help but squint her eyes as a tall young man, with half his face completely hidden, stood in front of her counter; his lazy and somewhat soothing voice, almost causing her to shiver. "Oh…" Kyle quickly saw the old lady's expression, "I'm… her brother." "...Do you have any ID as proof?" The old lady's eyes were still squinted as she looked at Kyle from head to toe like he was some sort of creep. "Yes…" Kyle nodded as he immediately handed her his student ID. "..." The old lady could really only slowly and carefully grab Kyle's card; how could she not, when Kyle looked too jittery and nervous? As soon as she took a look at Kyle's card, however, her eyes started to roll. "Sir, it says here your name is Kyle Anders." "I… took my mother's name," Kyle said as he unconsciously started biting his nails again, "We have different dads." "Sir, I would have to ask you to leave the premises," the old lady stood up; signaling the guards that were outside to come in. "No, no. Please, just… call her," Kyle raised both his palms. "Sir, calm down." "I am calm." Kyle's voice became even more soothing as he placed his palms on the counter. "What's going on here?" And with the arrival of the two guards, Kyle quickly moved away and once again showed his palms to show he wasn't a threat—which he truly wasn't. "P… please escort this gentleman out," the old lady slightly stuttered as she looked at Kyle for some reason. "No, please. I'm sorry…" Kyle pleaded; his hands, trembling due to the weight of his thoughts, "I am not going to—Sophie!?" And right as the guards were approaching him, he saw a glimpse of Sophie across the hallway. "Sophie! Sophia!" Rhys screamed as he hastily forced his way between the two guards. "...Brother?" "That's… your brother?" Sophie, who was with two of her friends, could not help but almost gasp as she saw her brother running toward her. And before she could even make it halfway to her, she quickly turned around, "Let's just go." "Wait, Sophie!" Kyle hastened his steps, but the guards already grabbed him by the arms; even violently pinning him to the floor in front of the people that were starting to gather due to the commotion. "Just leave me alone, okay!?" Kyle, however, did not seem to mind as he just looked at his sister, "Sophie, please talk to me! Why, why did you say it was my fault that mom was murdered? Please, please tell me that was script, Sophie... Sophie, please, I---" And before Kyle could finish his words, Sophie turned around and looked him straight in the eyes, "It is your fault!" Sophie screamed as she pointed at her brother, "And you know what… …I think you're the one that should have died!""It is your fault! And you know what... I think you're the one that should have died!" And all of a sudden, everyone and everything turned quiet. Even the guards that were pinning Kyle down could not help but instinctively let go of Kyle, just looking at each other in shock. The people that were watching the scenario, whispering and letting out gasps of bewilderment. Even Sophie gasped, not believing the words that came out of her mouth. "You, think I should die?" Kyle stood up very weakly, almost falling on his knees again as his eyes which were hidden by his hair started to falter while looking at Sophie. "Why? Was it really my fault?" "Brother.." Sophie's head started to tremble as she backed away; she saw a glimpse of her brother's eyes, completely still.. and almost lifeless, "Brother, I'm s- But before she finished words, Sophie suddenly turned around and ran away. "Sophie!?" One of Sophie's friends, a girl with long blonde hair, could not help but stare at Kyle fo
"...Huh?" The Underworld--not much is known about this realm beneath the world of men. The humans know only what the gods have told them. But if there is one undeniable truth, it is that the Underworld is where the souls of men ferry to once they meet their end. And if their souls are judgged evil, they are deemed unworthy of rest and will be spawned back as monsters. That is why Kyle believes that the monsters will never truly disappear, because the number of evil men outnumbers those that are not. The humans make their hell a reality. One would think the Underworld would be a gloomy place because of this, but no, Kyle has seen his sister's explorations in the novice and training areas, and it looked just like the surface... except one could see half the world on the horizon. As the Underworid is beneath the Earth's surface, the Earth's surface is beneath the Underworld, relatively speaking, Once you pass through the Portal, the gravity starts to invert making what is sup
3-Headed hounds, giant eagles with the body of a lion, a literal half-human half-reptile with small snakes as hair. There were also sorts of monsters that existed in the Underworld, completely different from each other and varying in strengths. And yet, there was one thing that was consistent amongst all of them-none of them could talk. Even those that have human heads and faces are not capable of speaking to men. Many Explorers have already tried, some have even captured monsters to experiment on them when the technology needed for such procedures became available, and yet to no avail. And yet right now, in front of Kyle, with its mouth dripping with blood-a monster spoke. "Did.. you just speak?" Kyle slightly flinched, standing up from the frosty ground as he looked the spider lady in the eyes. "Gruhh..khee?" "..Oh." But as the monster opened its mouth again, the only thing that escaped its lips was a mumbling screech. It opened its mouth again, but no words that Kyle cou
Awakening. The process when the blood of the gods that lay dormant in a human's veins starts to wake up, hence the name. People could usually trace what part of society one belongs to by checking their history and bloodline, but it is truly only when one awakens that people could truly judge one's potential. Awakening commonly happens right in the middle of puberty, with the average age being 12, It could be early or late for a year or two, but it happens for everyone; even for Lowborns. But for Kyle, nothing ever really woke up-a testament to how diluted his blood was, is what the doctors said to him. But now, as he turned 18, Kyle could feel every strand of muscles in his body throb as the blood of the gods in his veins started to burst forth. The blood of the gods is powerful. Once it wakes up, it restarts your entire existence; it alters your instincts. Their blood literally injects power into your brain, giving it knowledge it never had before. Special talents, abilit
"Back is itchy. My back is itchy." The ability to know someone's desires. Kyle wasn't a fool, he knows that in the hands of a more intelligent person, this kind of ability would be one of the most overpowered skills to have. But why, why would the heavens give someone who lived a life of solitude like Kyle this kind of ability? "Ha.." But then again, no matter how intelligent one is; a plan usually shatters in the face of overwhelming strength-and that is exactly what the arachne means for Kyle right now. He wanted to try and see what would happen if he filled up the five hearts and turned them all red. He got Iucky earlier when the arachne's neck was itching because he was lifted in the air. But now, her back is itching. Her legs were still tapping from Kyle's.. magic touch, and as she was even backing away, it gave Kyle, ample time and space to think everything through. Should he just run away? No, that was absolutely not an option. So, what was Kyle even supposed to
The same words repeated in Kyle's mind as he watched the arachne very gently fondle her own bosom. The edges of her fingers, being filled up due to how soft and arge they seemingly were. Does.. he really have no other options here Kyle thought. "Hm.." The arachne seemed to have noticed him hesitating; her head, slightly tilting to the side as the smile on her face turnd into light bewilderment. But then, very slowly, the smile once again appeared on her face. She lifted one of her soft bosoms closer to her face, before leaning her head down and sticking out her tongue. She then turned to look Kyle hys straight in the eyes... before touching the tip of her tongue on her own teat. "!!!" And like a throb that echoed throughout his entire body. Kyle felt a sort of warmth rushing through his veins-like a surge of power that made him feel like he could survive anything the world throws at him. Unfortunately for him, that surge of power all settled at the already raging rod between
"Are these your clothes?" "Yes... Thank you." "Why were you naked?" What was Kyle even supposed to reply to that? That he took off his clothes because it was liberating that his life was about to end? Or that he was deliberately trying to kill himself? Which one would be the more sane response? "It's.." And when Kyle finally opened his mouth, the rescuer who handed him his clothes back was already gone. Kyle was already back on the Surface; right outside the dorm and being assessed for any injuries. While everyone around him was running around. he was just asked to sit on the side and wait for instructions. They gave him a pair of pants and a jacket, but they were too small so he wasn't even able to zip the jacket up. Fortunately for Kyle, they were at least able to give him a warm, damp towel to cover his head, which was throbbing like crazy earlier from the gravity shift upon returning to the Surface. Now that he was looking at the Portal he fell into, he realized how
"Show me your face. Show me your beautiful face." "..." The woman's desires were loud, louder than Arachnea's. Is it because she's human? Did she sce Kyle's face when they rescued him? But he even covered his face before the thing between his legs when they arrived. Truly, a Hunter's eyes were fast... ...and perhaps he can use the woman beside him to confirm that? Kyle then turned to look at the five gray hearts above the woman's head again. A sort of idea has already formed in Kyle's head of what happens when he turns all the target's hearts red. Kyle then took in a small breath, turning to see if there were people looking at them. But as soon as he realized that everyone was busy with the Portal, he looked the woman in the eyes, before subtly pushing the towel on his head backwards. "Oh.." And without even a second later, a loud gulp whispered into Kyle's ears. One of the hearts flickered, but it did not turn red. "Have.. l already thanked you for getting me out,
"Did he just??" "..." "He avoided the damn knife, twice! Nobody has avoided the knife twice!"Ominous. Even though the girl's voice was cute and all bubbly, the fact that she was wearing a white weird mask and then running across the dimly lit room and circling the other people that were wearing the same mask was quite.. ominous.But after a few seconds of thinking how weird they were. Kyle stood up straight and once again introduced himself."Kyle.. Kyle Anders, reporting for duty!" "Whoa! He even saluted too?" The little girl shricked as she pointed at Kyle, "What a freak.""Stop it, Cat. You are making the new boy uncomfortable."And as someone calm finally approached him, Kyle finally realized that their masks were not as plain as he had thought, no. They were carved differently, each perfectly portraying the face of an animal. And the person approaching him currently, had a mask with the face of wolf."My name is Wolfsbane, but call me Wolf." The man had brownish red hair, alm
Chapter 41: The Weirdos "You called for me, Ma'am?" "How are you finding your new roommates?" "They.. are very interesting." "They are freakishly weird is what they are, you don't need to be nice. Cone on in." "Yes, Ma'am." "Are you not going to ask why I threw you to them instead of with the other recruits?" "No, Ma'am It is not my place to ask questions." "Wow, would you look at that? Just one day with Pervert and Baldie and you're already learning. Let's hope being an obedient soldier is all that you learn from them, Well, take a seat." "Yes, Ma'am." "What about Tate? That fairy still giving you a hard time?" "..No, Ma 'am." The Defense Corps has two main bases. The secondary base was in the Surface, while the primary one was here in the Defense, where there were tall walls and several buildings where the members were living. How they built the walls and buildings, exactly, was something Kyle deliberated randomly from time to time. Right now, Kyle was in the Command bui
"What are we looking at Tate? How many died?" "13 confirmed, 5 MIA, Commander Miranda." "They just got here." "Shit..That's the number of the latest batch of recruits with Kyle Anders. Anyone actually from his batch?" "Two of them, Ma'am." Sergeant Andrew Tate was now back in the walled base, along with the new recruits who were currently sprawled down on the ground like lifeless puppets, with only their chests moving heavily as their breaths created an orchestra of gasps. "I'll.. I'll do it, I'll talk to the families." Kyle was also there, seated on the ground with his hair fully covering his face. He was also breathing heavily, but not because he was exhausted, no- he was still thinking of how Miranda just killed the red Orthros he painstakingly tried to keep alive, while killing almost a dozen dogs But the more he thought about it, the more he thought it didn't really matter. How was he going to be able to take care of the dog in the first place while he was in serv
"Are these all the items the new recruits brought?" "Yes, Ma 'am!" "Shit! I am right in front of you, you dumb squid. You don't have to shout so loud!" "Y-yes, Ma'am." "Where is Kyle's bag?" And while the new recruits were fighting for their lives and being gnawed and chased by 2-headed dogs. Commander Miranda was inside their tent, leisurely examining their bags. This was not against the constitution, of course, as members of Defense Corps have already waived their rights as soon as they stepped inside the base. "Why are there so many beds here? Where is Kyle's bag?" Commander Miranda repeated her words as she dropped a bag full of erotic magazines. "The Lowborn, Ma'am?" "Do you want to be born again?" Commander Miranda snarled at the officer behind her. "No, Ma'am." The officer stood up straight, "The bed at the end of the tent, Ma'am." "..Why was he put--Nevermind," Miranda scoffed as she started walking to the bed assigned to Kyle, "I was told he brought a k
"Every one, calm the fuck down! Panic will get you killed!" "Don't go there! Gods damn it!" "Kyle!" "...Kyle!?" Kyle knew he was being called by his superior, but the growling and howling of the orthros were loud and visceral. Drowning even the screams of the recruits who were sadly at the back of the line and being eaten alive. There was all sorts of noise, and yet that wasn't the reason why Kyle could not really hear any of it, no. It was the red orthros that had five Gray Hearts floating above its head. A dog. He could understand the arachnes having one as half of their body is human, but the beasts in front of them right now were literal dogs, 2-headed dogs. He hadn't really thought about it since he was busy training his Active Abilities and trying to find a way to become a Hunter.. ...but his abilities also work on literal beasts. But to what extent, exactly? Would it work on a literal spider too? Would he want it to? And while Kyle was stuck in his thought
"Take a minute to gather yourselves!" "F.. Finally." "I feel like Im going to die.." "You will, just not today!" "Look at that guy, is... he even human?" "Shit... he's the only reason why we're only resting now." "Tch, show off." "Fucking Dregger." "Woah, woah. Who used the D-word!?" "With the hard R too!?" "Wow.. you guys are classist as fuck." Dregger. It has been a very long time since Kyle heard someone call him like that-it was what they used to call people like him in the past. The dregs of society, slaves. "Don't mind them, Kyle. Recruits are always like that. They see others as competition, not realizing that we really only have each other to rely on." "I remember you being one of those people, baldy." "Shut up, you perverted monkey. I am not a classist." "It's all.. just white noise to me at this point." Kyle let out a small sigh, before taking off his shirt; squeezing it, and letting his sweat shower the blades of grass beneath his feet. And p
"Attention, recruits!" Rest. The new recruits have already forgotten what the word meant, and it hasn't even been a full day since they entered the Defense Corps. No, perhaps rest doesn't even exist in the Fourth Division. For the past 8 hours, they have been jumping up and down the Portal without pause. They were handed rations, but they had to eat them while falling. Some thought that by fainting during the fall, they would be able to rest; but they ended up even more exhausted than they already were. They haven't seen a bed, or even the rooms where they are supposed to be staying in if they even existed in the first place. And so, suffice it to say-most of them didn't even know what they were doing as they just instinctively gathered in front of a superior officer they hadn't seen before. And of course, this superior officer noticed how exhausted everyone was, it was a sight he has been used to for the past 10 years. "My name is Sergeant Andrew Tate! For the next 24 hour
"It all makes sense now." And as Kyle was surrounded by the other recruits that were either groveling on the floor or struggling to sit up, he continueded scanning his surroundings. When he was previously in the Underworld, he was inside some sort of cavern-but this time, he was outside. He had seen photos of it before, but seeing it in person truly makes one almost felt like they were drowning. No photo could do this place justice. The Surface world is a sphere, the horizons will always have an end. But in the Underworld, the horizons do not end, it loops. It almost made Kyle feel like he was in some sort of gigantic ball.. which he sort of actually was. Floating at the very center of the insides of this sphere, Tartarus. It was hard to see the distance, however, as a sort of fog seemed to blanket the endless horizon. And of course, perhaps the most noticeable of all was the 'sun' showering everything with its light. It is said that one of the gods, Hades, resided here
"Such flexibility, and you can also harden it by will." "...Yes." It was a completely different reaction than what Kyle was expecting. Although he already knew that Katherine and Miranda's personalities could not be any more different, he was still quite intrigued by how tuly different their responses were. Miranda's face was completely covered in Kyle's thick white web, and yet unlike Katherine who slightly panicked.. Miranda was playing with it. She was testing its flexibility, and is even rubbing it even more on her face to test how sticky it was. And even as Kyle hardened it, Miranda just casually snapped it in half like a biscuit. His webs had the strength to lift an entire human without breaking, and yet Miranda was just treating it like a toy. Just a testament to how strong Level 5 Rankers were. "Huh... this is extremely useful," Miranda hummed as she pulled a web that was on her lower lip, stretching it along with her lip, "But increased reflexes... and web shoote