Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56She 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 to the concrete with a thud. "Oh, Lords." She turned completely now, facing Neon. "Fuck is your problem, man?" "You're killing her. I can't stand by and watch that." She scoffed. "Right. But you can watch your organization kick out those who have dedicated their whole lives to them just because they got a bit weaker, right?" He released a sigh. "Your grievance is with the organization, not me. Now, the Entity…" "I don't have time for this." She held out her gloved hand above the woman, and it glowed a faint purple. "Step back, or I blast her to heavens come." Neon forced back a smirk. She very clearly did not know his rank, neither had she heard of him. "Alright." He placed one foot backward, and then in a burst of wind, he was standing beside her. He gripped her wrists and the glow in her gloves died down. Her eyes widened. "What the…?" "I've shut down your tekhans for the time being. Now, tell me what I need to know." She wrinkled her nose and pulled her wrists back out of his grip. "You can go back to the kernel you came from. I don't have business with your people." "You were once a Hunter, weren't you?" Neon asked. "Like hell you care." She stooped down and grabbed the woman by her coat lapels. She sat up with a groan, the stony look on her face had lessened a bit, and her eyes quivered with what seemed to be fear. "Now tell me. If it wasn't you, then who put me on that thing's trail? Why did they do it? Who are they?!" The woman on the ground was afraid, that much Neon could tell. It showed in her eyes as the Rogue grabbed her coat lapels, but it wasn't the person in front of her that she was afraid of. There was something else… Neon started to stop her, but a quick movement behind him caught his ears. "Move!" He pushed the Rogue out of the way, just as the sharp whiz of a bullet split the air. The woman went limp against the wall, a trail of blood trickling thin from her head. He snapped around, just in time to spot the shooter slipping behind a roof. "Hikaru!" He barked into his tekhan. "We have a situation…" "Ahead of you, brother." Hikaru streaked past the street in front of the alleyway, hotly pursuing the assassin. "Didn't think I'd miss out on the fun, eh?" Neon clicked his tongue and turned back to the Rogue, but she ran past him in a breeze. "Hells," he cursed, and pursued after her. She was fast, running at a pace he had never seen on a Rogue Hunter before. But then, there was no one nearly as fast as he was. He caught her cloak before she got to the highway, sending a paralyzing shock down her back at the same time. She hissed out a half curse, then dropped to the ground unconscious. 7.30 PM, UPTOWN, NODERYN CITY Whoever the hooded killer was, they were highly skilled, thought Hikaru, as he gave chase. He took the street below, while his target jumped from roof to roof almost silently, but he kept up with their scent. The assassin was turning right, taking an opening into the taller buildings of the city. Hikaru followed suit, leaping to the top of a hair salon in a flash. "Okay, this is getting boring," he muttered after a while. Taking a deep breath, forcing it to every part of his muscles, he leapt forth in a burst, catching up to his target. "Stop." The assassin obeyed, apparently recognizing the click in his tekhan as he did so. "Turn around, slowly." They stood atop a high-rise apartment building, with the winds whipping his coat about and carrying the sounds of Noderyn nightlife. It would have been a beautiful sight and a beautiful night if he wasn't chasing a killer. The assassin turned. Clad in a black jacket and a black hood over a mask with two black holes for eyes, there was nothing to give away an identity. "Take off the mask." She chuckled. The voice was thin and high and sinister, but there was no mistaking that it was a feminine one. She held up her hand. "See you around, Hikaru." She stepped back and fell off the ledge before he could move. When he hurried to the spot and looked over, she was gone. 8.47 PM, MAEGEN SAFE HOUSE, NODERYN CITY. Akira blinked. The view in front of her blurred dangerously and her head wobbled a bit. She blinked some more, raising her head with a soft groan. Bones in her neck cracked with relief, stretching from what must have been hours of immobility. There were voices coming from the next room. Room? She looked down and saw that she was tied to a chair at her forearms, her waist and her calves, in the middle of the room with two beds, an adjoining door and nothing else. Not even a window. She started to struggle, then she realized her gloves were gone. The voices had also stopped. Almost immediately, the door swung open and she jerked her head back. Two men walked in; one with short dark hair and piercing black eyes, while the other had long golden hair and eyes that seemed to gleam with the light. One wore a black shirt and the other had a white shirt on. It was like staring at the same person, but in separate bodies and an entirely separate fashion sense. "Drink up," said the dark-haired one as he placed a glass of water in front of her lips. He held a chair in the other hand. "Let me out of here," she responded quietly. "No can do," he replied, handing the cup to his twin and sitting astride the chair in front of her, "Now I'm going to ask you for the third time about the creature you captured."
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Hunter's Creed 7: AN INTERROGATION
She scoffed and raised her head. "Let me guess, you were sent after the Entity?" "Answer the question." "Or what?" Neon sighed, rubbing his nose between his thumb and index. "I can force the information out of you. It's quite nasty, but not impossible." "Go ahead," she said, "Break your rules. It won't be the first time you Hunters have gone unorthodox." He stared at her for a few seconds, and she thought he was the coldest person she had stared at, blank faced and unpredictable. He wouldn't torture her, no but she had a feeling he could do something worse and was contemplating it. She did not want to know what it was. "Oh for Lords' sake." The golden haired one stepped forward, tipping the glass of water toward her lips. "Here, have a sip. You must be thirsty." She hesitated, but couldn't completely ignore the coolness coming off the liquid. She lowered her head and drank steadily until the cup was empty. "There." He twirled the chair properly and sat in fron
Hunter's Creed 8: INTRUDERS
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
Hunter's Creed 9: MURDEROUS INTENTIONS
« ASSESSMENT » ROGUE HUNTERS GAMMA-RANK COMBAT ALERT: LETHAL FORCE IMMINENT He scoffed. "Yeah, no kidding." They attacked simultaneously, with one behind the other. He moved backwards, dodging their strikes with quick, subtle movements. «COUNTER MEASURES» ENTER CLOSE COMBAT ACTIVATE DEFENSE SHIELD DEPLOY LONG-RANGE ATTACKS ACTIVATE SPECIAL ABILITY ALL-OUT OFFENSIVE EMPLOY STEALTH MODE "All-out offensive does sound good. Any other options?" The system showed three words: REASON WITH OPPONENTS He chuckled. "Yeah, Lexa, I don't think that's gonna fly at the moment, but let's give it a try." The second Rogue swiped at his head from the side, then switched almost immediately and brought it down on him as he ducked. He propelled backwards in a breeze, landing in a crouch, placing them both in his line of sight. That was close. He looked up. "I'm running out of patience so I'll ask once: who are you, and what do you want?" They didn't reply. Instead, th
Hunter's Creed 10: AND THEN THERE WERE TWO
“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
Hunter's Creed 11: ANOMALIES, ASSASSINS AND COFFEE
“THE HORNED ARE CONSIDERED THE FASTEST….OF THE ANOMALIES. THESE ENIGMATIC BEINGS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR GRAY, KERATINIZED SKIN AND IMPOSING HORNS. THEIR MOST STRIKING FEATURE, HOWEVER, IS THEIR UNIQUE ABILITY TO EXTRUDE AND/OR FIRE BONY PROTRUSIONS FROM ANY POINT ON THEIR BODY, WHICH THEY EMPLOY BOTH AS AN DEFENSIVE MECHANISM AND AS A DEADLY OFFENSIVE WEAPON…” {A.H ORWYCK, THE WARDEN'S GUIDE TO HUNTING} The flame bolt from the handblazer tore off the Horned's arm, sending it crashing into the floor next to Sanji. Neon took aim again, but in that split second, it flipped over and aimed at him with the other palm. He ducked just in time as a bone missile whistled past his ear. "How the hell are these things so fast?" The beast had sprung to its feet. Reaching down, it grabbed Sanji and hauled him up into the air. "Hey!" Barked Neon. He pointed the blazer at the Horned. "Hey, let him go!" His finger hovered above the trigger while he gritted his teeth, contemplating
Hunter's Creed 12. AT THE PAWNSHOP
"CHAPTER VII: ROGUE ELEMENTS There exists a subset of Maegen energy users who operate outside the bounds of the Order's jurisdiction. These rogue hunters, driven by self-interest and a disregard for the greater good, seek to exploit Anomalies for personal gain. They capture and trade these beings on the black market….undermining the balance of power in our world. The Wardens of the Order are tasked with bringing these renegades to justice, apprehending them whenever possible and subjecting them to the appropriate tribunals. The punishment for such transgressions is severe, ranging from a minimum of seven years imprisonment to a permanent blockade from the Maegen energy. Their actions are a affront to the principles of the Order….only through the combined efforts of our hunters can we hope to eradicate this scourge and ensure the safety of humanity." {I.H EBUKA, THE WARDEN'S COMPENDIUM} 1.49 AM, THE SAFE HOUSE, OUTSKIRTS OF NODERYN CITY. The tekhans on Neon's wrists glowed a
Hunter's Creed 13. WHISPERS IN THE UNDERGROUND
7.54 AM, GIICHI'S STORE, ROJU ALLEY, WEST BLOCK, RADALTHRA. "You are on your own from here on out," Giichi said as the elevator dinged, signaling their arrival. The doors didn't slide open though, and Hikaru raised a brow at his former mentor. "What?" "I just thought it over. I don't want anything to do with your Warden investigation, whether you've got something in it for me or not." "It's brilliant what an elevator ride can do to one's resolve, eh?" Hikaru said dryly. "You got ten minutes before I kick your ass out. Try not to attract attention in there before then. A disguise could work. Honestly, it's a miracle they haven't slapped your face on some Wanted poster." "Right. Thanks anyhow." Hikaru pulled a hood over his face with a sigh. "Ten minutes." In the years when the wars were being fought, there were a web of underground networks that had been built below the districts close to Noderyn. Some say their purpose was to transport supplies for soldiers, others s
Hunter's Creed 14: REVEAL
“...there can be found among their number, upgrades to their equipment. One such example are suits modeled after exoskeletons, worn by a select few...It represents the pinnacle of clandestine innovation. These remarkable attires could boast, to name the least, adaptive camouflage capabilities, enhanced strength and agility augmentation, integrated life support and medical systems, advanced sensors and threat detection.” {I.H EBUKA, THE WARDEN'S COMPENDIUM} 7.42 AM, ROUTE 9, LEADING OUT OF NODERYN. RADALTHRA IS DUE NORTH. The sun was just beginning to rise in the horizon when the screen on Neon's mobike flashed green. The caller ID read 'Norrie.' "Well you look like shit," she said when he connected the call. She was already in her blue coat and her hair, tied back in a prim ponytail, was being whipped about by the wind. "Where are you?" He asked. "Rooftop. It's a bit noisy down there in the office. What you got?" "You were right," he said, "There wasn't an Arkeian."
Latest Chapter
- Hunter's Creed
15. ONSLAUGHT
“Chapter Three: Radalthra: A Record Of Resilience.…..During the Great War, the landmass now known as Radalthra served as a major front for the Aethorian armies, owing to its unique geography and vantage point.….After the War and the Unraveling, the city’s founders, wise to the dangers of Anomaly invasion, divided Radalthra into North, South, East and West blocks to facilitate swift response and decisive defense. The North Block, with its proximity to the Veil, served as the primary hub for Hunter activities…The South Block was dedicated to research and development…the East Block, with its reinforced defenses, serves as a secure residential area for citizens and a retreat area in times of crisis….the West Block is the commercial heart of the city. This, of course, was (and parts of it remain so) the order of things before the sudden ‘colonization’ of Radalthra by the Rogue Hunters.”{THE ATLAS OF AETHORIA: A GEOGRAPHIC COMPENDIUM BY ELLIAN MARKUS}8.06 AM, ROJU ALLEY, WEST BLOCK, RADA
- Hunter's Creed
14: REVEAL
“...there can be found among their number, upgrades to their equipment. One such example are suits modeled after exoskeletons, worn by a select few...It represents the pinnacle of clandestine innovation. These remarkable attires could boast, to name the least, adaptive camouflage capabilities, enhanced strength and agility augmentation, integrated life support and medical systems, advanced sensors and threat detection.” {I.H EBUKA, THE WARDEN'S COMPENDIUM} 7.42 AM, ROUTE 9, LEADING OUT OF NODERYN. RADALTHRA IS DUE NORTH. The sun was just beginning to rise in the horizon when the screen on Neon's mobike flashed green. The caller ID read 'Norrie.' "Well you look like shit," she said when he connected the call. She was already in her blue coat and her hair, tied back in a prim ponytail, was being whipped about by the wind. "Where are you?" He asked. "Rooftop. It's a bit noisy down there in the office. What you got?" "You were right," he said, "There wasn't an Arkeian."
- Hunter's Creed
13. WHISPERS IN THE UNDERGROUND
7.54 AM, GIICHI'S STORE, ROJU ALLEY, WEST BLOCK, RADALTHRA. "You are on your own from here on out," Giichi said as the elevator dinged, signaling their arrival. The doors didn't slide open though, and Hikaru raised a brow at his former mentor. "What?" "I just thought it over. I don't want anything to do with your Warden investigation, whether you've got something in it for me or not." "It's brilliant what an elevator ride can do to one's resolve, eh?" Hikaru said dryly. "You got ten minutes before I kick your ass out. Try not to attract attention in there before then. A disguise could work. Honestly, it's a miracle they haven't slapped your face on some Wanted poster." "Right. Thanks anyhow." Hikaru pulled a hood over his face with a sigh. "Ten minutes." In the years when the wars were being fought, there were a web of underground networks that had been built below the districts close to Noderyn. Some say their purpose was to transport supplies for soldiers, others s
- Hunter's Creed
12. AT THE PAWNSHOP
"CHAPTER VII: ROGUE ELEMENTS There exists a subset of Maegen energy users who operate outside the bounds of the Order's jurisdiction. These rogue hunters, driven by self-interest and a disregard for the greater good, seek to exploit Anomalies for personal gain. They capture and trade these beings on the black market….undermining the balance of power in our world. The Wardens of the Order are tasked with bringing these renegades to justice, apprehending them whenever possible and subjecting them to the appropriate tribunals. The punishment for such transgressions is severe, ranging from a minimum of seven years imprisonment to a permanent blockade from the Maegen energy. Their actions are a affront to the principles of the Order….only through the combined efforts of our hunters can we hope to eradicate this scourge and ensure the safety of humanity." {I.H EBUKA, THE WARDEN'S COMPENDIUM} 1.49 AM, THE SAFE HOUSE, OUTSKIRTS OF NODERYN CITY. The tekhans on Neon's wrists glowed a
- Hunter's Creed
11: ANOMALIES, ASSASSINS AND COFFEE
“THE HORNED ARE CONSIDERED THE FASTEST….OF THE ANOMALIES. THESE ENIGMATIC BEINGS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR GRAY, KERATINIZED SKIN AND IMPOSING HORNS. THEIR MOST STRIKING FEATURE, HOWEVER, IS THEIR UNIQUE ABILITY TO EXTRUDE AND/OR FIRE BONY PROTRUSIONS FROM ANY POINT ON THEIR BODY, WHICH THEY EMPLOY BOTH AS AN DEFENSIVE MECHANISM AND AS A DEADLY OFFENSIVE WEAPON…” {A.H ORWYCK, THE WARDEN'S GUIDE TO HUNTING} The flame bolt from the handblazer tore off the Horned's arm, sending it crashing into the floor next to Sanji. Neon took aim again, but in that split second, it flipped over and aimed at him with the other palm. He ducked just in time as a bone missile whistled past his ear. "How the hell are these things so fast?" The beast had sprung to its feet. Reaching down, it grabbed Sanji and hauled him up into the air. "Hey!" Barked Neon. He pointed the blazer at the Horned. "Hey, let him go!" His finger hovered above the trigger while he gritted his teeth, contemplating
- Hunter's Creed
10: AND THEN THERE WERE TWO
“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
- Hunter's Creed
9: MURDEROUS INTENTIONS
« ASSESSMENT » ROGUE HUNTERS GAMMA-RANK COMBAT ALERT: LETHAL FORCE IMMINENT He scoffed. "Yeah, no kidding." They attacked simultaneously, with one behind the other. He moved backwards, dodging their strikes with quick, subtle movements. «COUNTER MEASURES» ENTER CLOSE COMBAT ACTIVATE DEFENSE SHIELD DEPLOY LONG-RANGE ATTACKS ACTIVATE SPECIAL ABILITY ALL-OUT OFFENSIVE EMPLOY STEALTH MODE "All-out offensive does sound good. Any other options?" The system showed three words: REASON WITH OPPONENTS He chuckled. "Yeah, Lexa, I don't think that's gonna fly at the moment, but let's give it a try." The second Rogue swiped at his head from the side, then switched almost immediately and brought it down on him as he ducked. He propelled backwards in a breeze, landing in a crouch, placing them both in his line of sight. That was close. He looked up. "I'm running out of patience so I'll ask once: who are you, and what do you want?" They didn't reply. Instead, th
- Hunter's Creed
8: INTRUDERS
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
- Hunter's Creed
7: AN INTERROGATION
She scoffed and raised her head. "Let me guess, you were sent after the Entity?" "Answer the question." "Or what?" Neon sighed, rubbing his nose between his thumb and index. "I can force the information out of you. It's quite nasty, but not impossible." "Go ahead," she said, "Break your rules. It won't be the first time you Hunters have gone unorthodox." He stared at her for a few seconds, and she thought he was the coldest person she had stared at, blank faced and unpredictable. He wouldn't torture her, no but she had a feeling he could do something worse and was contemplating it. She did not want to know what it was. "Oh for Lords' sake." The golden haired one stepped forward, tipping the glass of water toward her lips. "Here, have a sip. You must be thirsty." She hesitated, but couldn't completely ignore the coolness coming off the liquid. She lowered her head and drank steadily until the cup was empty. "There." He twirled the chair properly and sat in fron
