" I need a flight ticket to Paris, please." Rowan said to the lady at the counter, trying to smile as much as possible.
Looking at his face, one couldn't really tell that he had applied some makeup on, in order to look more human, and too, so that his Identity Card matched his appearance.After acquiring the ticket, he went forth to board the plane. It took a total of nine hours to get to Paris. When Rowan stepped out of the plane, he headed straight towards the Jean Aubert Mansion.When he arrived outside the gates, it was already dark. He took out his binoculars and used the night vision mode to have a look inside the mansion. He saw several guards parading the Mansion.' Damn, I never thought there would be this many guards.' Rowan lamented.' Hmm that's true, so what do you plan on doing now?' Invidiak asked.' I need a way to sneak past them without getting noticed.' Rowan pondered in different ways to get in.' Try the shadow veil.' Invidiak suggested.With that said, Rowan checked the details about the ability on the screen. He smiled when he saw that the shadow veil acted as a cloak, covering his whole body, making him invisible. But this ability could only be accurate in the dark.Rowan activated the shadow veil and snuck into the yard.….….…Rowan, in his invisible form, quietly made his way towards the imposing Jean Aubert Mansion. As he approached the estate, a peculiar realization struck him – he could see right through the human façade of the guards stationed outside.Intrigued by this newfound ability, he asked Invidiak for an explanation. ' Is it just me or am I truly seeing strange things? What exactly are these guards? Why am I able to see their true form?'Invidiak, with his deep, sinister voice, responded calmly, revealing the secret behind Rowan's perception.'Those guards are not mere humans, Rowan. They are demons like me. Being in possession of your body has granted you the ability to detect the true forms of demons, Nameks, and other races.'' Nameks and other races?' Rowan repeated the sentence as he tried to make some sense of it.' Nameks are holy beings. They can also disguise themselves as humans. You see, in this world, there is another world in which the humans are not aware of, and now, you are just getting a glimpse.'Armed with this newfound knowledge, Rowan continued his stealthy approach toward the mansion. However, as he drew nearer, the demons guarding the premises began to sense a foreign presence in the air. They sniffed intently, their instincts picking up on something unusual, yet, to Rowan's shadow veil was proving to be very effective.The demons exchanged puzzled glances, their nostrils twitching as they attempted to sniff out the source of the strange aura surrounding them. Frustration mingled with curiosity as their eyes darted around, trying to catch a glimpse of the intruder.Rowan, observing the demons' confusion, felt a surge of satisfaction knowing that his invisibility was working effectively. He moved cautiously, ensuring that every step was silent and undetectable. .As Rowan reached the mansion's grand entrance, he couldn't help but marvel at the architecture. The demons, still on high alert, continued their fruitless search for the mysterious presence. Rowan saw an open window, and he decided that it was best if he went in through that way.As got closer, suddenly a gust of wind blew past him, carrying Rowan's aura with it toward the demons. That is when they knew for sure that someone was really around. One of them who looked like their leader was especially curious.He sniffed the air twice and immediately, he turned and looked at the direction of which Rowan was hiding. " Shadow bastards!" The demon said before clicking his gun.He walked slowly towards Rowan's direction, still sniffing the air, trying to pinpoint Rowan's position. When he got close enough, he stood there for a while.At this point, Rowan was disturbed. ' What is he waiting for? He hasn't seen me, has he?'' Hmm, I must admit that whoever hired these guys is a very smart person.' Invidiak Commented.Rowan furrowed his eyes in confusion, he couldn't understand ' what are you implying?'' They are Sun breathers, their greatest weapon is their sense of smell.' Invidiak explained.Rowan watched the demon, trying to keep still as possible, the demon took in a deep breath and suddenly, he opened his mouth and sprayed his saliva on Rowan.' Oh no, he has marked you. There is no point in hiding now, anywhere you go, invisible or not, he and the rest will find you.' Invidiak explained.' Guess I'll have to fight then.' Rowan said, taking off his cloak.' Time to send some souls to hell.' Rowan said as he used the shadow slicer on the demon, ending him on the spot.Rowan stood, his back pressed against the wall, as he witnessed the situation before him. Immediately, his dark brown eyes widened as the guards, consumed by fury, revealed their true nature. The whites of their eyes appeared to be ablaze, glowing red hue. In an instant, their once human nails grew into sharp claws, while their teeth elongated into fangs, ready for battle.' That's it baby, there we go.' Invidiak remarked in excitement as he was already enjoying the violence he anticipated to unfold.Without hesitation, the guards unleashed a barrage of bullets towards Rowan. Acting on instinct, he controlled the formless shadow surrounding him. With a surge of concentration, he molded the shadow into a sturdy shield, deflecting the bullets. The bullets bounced off the impenetrable barrier, harmlessly scattering across the room.Seizing the opportunity, Rowan unleashed his offensive powers. He reshaped the shadow around him to be thinner, flat and sharp as a blade. crafting what he was familiar with, known as the "Shadow Slicer." Rowan was already getting a hang of his shadow powers. With a flick of his wrist, the shadow blade sliced through the air, finding its mark with accuracy. One guard after another fell to the ground, a mixture of shock and disbelief painted across their demon faces.As the final guard dropped to the ground, Rowan made his way through the doors of the mansion. What awaited him there was a scene right out of his worst nightmares. Standing at the center of the mansion was a huge figure, a muscular man with an intense aura. Rowan's instincts told him that this must be Jean Aubert, the man he had been seeking all along.' But wait, is everyone suddenly a demon now?' Rowan asked himself.However, it was not just Jean Aubert's physical appearance that sent shivers down Rowan's spine. Hovering around him were several guards with massive wings and strange magic staff; unlike Jean, they had already transformed into their demonic forms, ready for battle.. Rowan's heart raced as he realized the magnitude of the danger he now faced.' Got Damnit Kraken !' Invidiak exclaimed when his eyes landed on Jean.' Hm? Who is Kraken?' Rowan asked.' He is a rival demon of mine. Unlike me who manipulates shadow, he Manipulates blood. With a single cut on your body, he can drain out every last drop of blood and use it at his will. Even a drop of blood could become a lethal weapon as he could create a blood bullet.' Invidiak explained.' That is one hell of a troublesome ability.' Rowan said, looking back at the blood he had spilled from the low class demons with the shadow slicer.' Right, to tell you the truth, I have never won a battle against him, and I have never lost one too.' Invidiak explained.Jean Aubert's eyes locked onto Rowan, It was a look that conveyed both power and horror, a stark reminder of the darkness that lay within his soul. The aura that surrounded him was terrifying, causing the very air to crackle with energy. He stood there for a while, staring at Rowan, suddenly he smiled." Invidiak, the god of death, what brings you to my territory." Jean asked, calming down the tensed air.' god of death? Why would he call you that?' Rowan was curious.Invidiak sighed, then he spoke. ' You see, unlike me who grows as the number of souls I send to the underworld increases, he grows when a new soul becomes a slave to addiction. That is why he is a drug lord.'' Guess there is still much I need to learn.' Rowan said as he looked at Jean who had his eyes locked on him." Nothing much. I was told you were in possession of something important to me." Rowan said as Invidiak asked him to." And what might it be?" Jean asked." An artifact. The one you bought at the charity event a few days ago." Rowan replied.Jean supported his chin," Is that so, then what was the need for the grand entrance?"" Just a little misunderstanding on my side, my apologies." Rowan bowed his head. " Now, straight to business. Where is the artifact?" Rowan asked, his voice echoing with unwavering authority.Jean couldn't help but laugh at Rowan. " Is this your new vessel, Invidiak? Poor soul. I'll destroy this one, same thing I did the last one."Rowan shook his head, " I knew things will go this way. Let me see you try."In a classroom, a frail and wimpy boy stood nervously in front of the classroom, clutching his assignment tightly in his hands. His ears, slightly elongated at the tips, added a unique shape to his appearance. As he began to present his work, a wave of laughter erupted from the students, causing his heart to sink.The laughter was not about his assignment but about his ears, with the students teasingly calling him an elf. The boy's face turned crimson as the words pierced through his fragile confidence. He desperately wished to be seen beyond his physical attributes and acknowledged for his abilities and ideas. But the laughter echoed, drowning his voice and mocking his vulnerability. The teacher, recognizing the hurtful situation unfolding, tried to intervene and bring order to the classroom. However, her attempts fell on deaf ears as the laughter persisted, showing no sign of abating. The boy felt a mix of disappointment and anger welling up inside him. 'Why do these humans keep c
Rowan , his body shaking from the exhausting battle with demons. Even though he had wicked shadow powers, the sheer number of devils gave him a tough time. But he played it smart, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed and hiding the guards under his shadow. Just as Rowan was catching his breath, he perked up when Jean chimed in, trying to sound all impressed, "Wow, you've really stepped up your game since we last met." Rowan shot a determined look at Jean, his eyes squinting."Where's the artifact, old man?" Rowan asked urgently, his voice filled with impatience. He showed off his control over the shadow ropes binding Jean, making them squeeze him tight.Jean's smirk grew wider as he teased, "Sorry, buddy, but your efforts are gonna be futile. That artifact is hidden in a place you will never reach."Rowan's frustration grew, and his patience was running on empty. "Well then, I guess I have no choice but to put an end to your little adventure," he declared, his voice tinged with anger. Qu
After a blissful union, their bodies relaxed on the bed, their breaths going in and out in harmony. Nina gazed at Rowan, her curiosity piqued. "What kind of demon are you?" she inquired, noticing his unique scent that differed from the rest. Rowan closed his eyes halfway as he pondered the question for a brief moment. "You know," he began, his gaze drifting towards the ceiling, "I've been contemplating that very question myself. Who am I?"Silence enveloped them, as each of them were in deep thoughts. Finally, Rowan broke the silence, opening up about his recent experiences. "Today, I experienced hell," he confessed."What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. "I'm on a quest to find an artifact, but the only person who had a clue took their own life. They said the artifact was somewhere beyond my reach," Rowan explained, frustration lingering in his voice.Nina, lying on the bed, listened intently. "I see," she replied softly.Rowan sighed, "but where is this place that I
Rowan stood beneath the Hell Gate bridge, anxiously checking the time. It was almost midnight and doubts began to creep into his mind. Would the reverend show up after all? But just as he started losing hope, a car parked in the distance, and Rowan recognized it immediately as the reverend's. With a bag in hand, the reverend stepped out and made his way towards Rowan. As he approached, he paused and looked around, as if searching for something. "Where is my daughter?" he inquired, his voice filled with worry. "Relax, she is nearby. Did you bring the artifact?" Rowan asked, trying to alleviate the reverend's concerns. After all, time was running out, and they had no room for mistakes. "Yes, but I won't hand it over until I see my daughter," the reverend insisted, his eyes darting around in apprehension. Rowan snapped his fingers, and suddenly Nina emerged from her hiding spot, bringing the reverend's daughter with her. "There she is. Now toss over the bag," Rowan instructed, his voi
After enjoying their last sips of coffee, Rowan and Nina embarked on their homeward adventure. Suddenly, a voice from a nearby corner cut through the air, piercing their ears with a desperate cry, "Leave me alone!" Concern flooded their hearts, urging them to rush towards the source of the commotion. To their dismay, they stumbled upon a distressing scene, a young boy being mercilessly assaulted by a pair of intimidating bullies. The sight was unbearable for Rowan, who couldn't simply stand by and watch. Defiance surged within him, and he yelled, "Hey, back off!" The bullies were jolted by the unexpected interruption, causing them to swiftly abandon their prey and flee into the shadows. Taking a deep breath to steady themselves, Rowan and Nina approached the trembling boy, reaching out a helping hand in solidarity. With genuine concern etched on his face, Rowan softly inquired, "Are you alright?" The boy, grateful for their courageous intervention, summoned a grateful smile and rep
"So you're running out of time?" Nina asked softly, her voice filled with sympathy.Rowan nodded, a flicker of worry crossing his face. "Yes," he replied simply, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation."Then you have the solution with you," Nina suggested softly. "Return the artifact."Rowan's gaze met hers, his eyes contemplating her words. "Yes, I will do that," he affirmed. "But first, I'd like to understand what the artifact stands for, its significance." just a little."Rowan's interest was piqued by her suggestion. He sat up on the bed, his thoughts now focused on the possibility of gaining insight from Deminor. "Do you really think he could help?" he asked, unable to hide his curiosity.Nina nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "Yes, I believe he might be able to shed some light on the artifact," she said confidently. "He has a reputation for his vast knowledge and wisdom. If anyone can provide answers, it's likely him."A sense of cautious optimism washed over Ro
Rowan scratched his head, completely puzzled. Nina, with her curious nature, watched him closely. And then, BOOM! Rowan suddenly jumped up and angrily yeeted that artifact to the ground! He was like, "Take that, you weird thing!" Frantically, he started searching for a humongous hammer and went berserk, SMASHING the artifact like a maniac. Nina, on the other hand, just sat back and folded her hands, all calm and composed. Meanwhile, the poor artifact was getting shattered into a gazillion pieces, and Rowan was left panting for breath. But wait, hold your emojis, because guess what? The artifact freaking rearranged itself magically into its original form! Rowan and Nina were both like, "Whaaaat!?" Rowan, not giving up easily, gave the artifact another hammering, but it just kept reshaping over and over again. It was basically indestructible. So, Rowan gave up and plopped down, exhausted AF. Naturally, Nina approached him and patted his shoulder to give him some comfort. He shook h
A little boy was happily playing with his friends at school. They laughed, ran around, and enjoyed their time together. Everything seemed normal until the boy's instincts kicked in, urging him to look through the steel fence surrounding their school.And there, beyond the fence, he saw someone who looked strikingly similar to his father, the same father that everyone believed was no longer alive. "Dad?" the boy exclaimed, his heart racing with excitement and disbelief. He quickly stood up and started running towards the fence, hoping to confirm his suspicions.As he got closer, he heard his friends calling out to him, their voices filled with concern. "Tom!" they shouted, attempting to catch up to him. Sensing their presence, the boy paused and turned around to see his friends running towards him, their breaths heavy and their faces flushed.One of the boys asked him, slightly out of breath, "Where are you running off alone, leaving us behind?" Tom took a moment to catch his breath be
Rowan's heart pounded in his chest as he faced off against the towering figure of Leviathan. The dark figure seemed to radiate power and malice, but Rowan refused to back down. He knew he had to buy time for his shadow powers to charge up, and he relied on his speed and agility to keep him out of harm's way.Leviathan swung a massive fist towards Rowan, but with lightning-fast reflexes, Rowan dodged the attack, narrowly avoiding being crushed, thanks to his shadow lightning. The force of Leviathan's punch sent shockwaves through the ground, causing rocks to fly in all directions."You're just a runner, not a fighter," Leviathan taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Once I'm done taking over this city, I'll move on to the next, until the whole world is mine."Rowan gritted his teeth, refusing to let Leviathan's words weaken his resolve. He continued to dodge and slice at Leviathan's feet, causing the giant figure to roar in pain. Leviathan noticed that he was slower in his giant
As Rowan, Ajatar, and Josh stepped outside with the military commander, they were hit with a sight they never thought they'd see. The transformed people were now overtaking the streets and multiplying like a swarm of zombies. The soldiers on the ground kept firing their guns at them, but they just kept rising, relentless in their pursuit. "Damn it," the military captain muttered, "we need to evacuate everyone right away."Rowan knew he had to act quickly. He created a shadow wall between the demons and civilians, trying to hold them back as much as possible. He knew he couldn't hold it for long, but it was the only option he had at that moment. "Captain, focus on evacuating everyone," Rowan said, his voice urgent, "I'll hold them off for as long as I can."The captain nodded and immediately turned to his team, barking out orders to evacuate everyone as quickly and safely as possible. Rowan focused on maintaining the shadow wall, but he knew it wouldn't last forever. He could already
Rowan was currently heading to Captain Reynold's office. In a fit of fury, Rowan stormed through the corridors of the building, his footsteps echoing loudly against the stone walls. His mind raced with anger and confusion as he approached Captain Reynold's office. Guards stationed outside the door instinctively moved to block his path, their hands gripping their guns tightly."Stand aside!" Rowan bellowed, his voice filled with venom. "I need to speak with Captain Reynold immediately!"The guards hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to handle Rowan's sudden aggression. But before they could react, Rowan raised his hands, summoning his shadow powers. The darkness around him seemed to come alive, swirling and shifting until it took the form of several sharp shadow spears."Move or suffer the consequences," Rowan threatened, his eyes glowing with a dangerous intensity.Realizing the gravity of the situation, the guards quickly stepped aside, fear etched across their faces. Rowan wasted
" That's one of your setbacks, Josh." Ajatar interrupted Josh. " You don't believe in yourself. You can hardly make up your mind. You feel like you are not good enough." She added." Am I?..." Josh asked.Ajatar never replied, she just leaned in and kissed Josh.Josh's eyes widened. " Woah!" He exclaimed. " I know it is not your first kiss, but I hope I did great." Ajatar asked." Yeah sure, that felt great." Josh commented, looking down, scared of making eye contact." I know you must miss her." Ajatar stated.Josh sighed, " yeah I do miss her, and am sure she misses me too." He lamented.The two parties were silent for a while before Josh broke the silence. " You know, I had always thought you hated me." He said.Ajatar sighed, " I must admit that at first, I hated you, but I didn't hate you in particular, I hated all holy beings. I saw them as beings full of pride. But after living with you all this while, I saw humility for the first time in a holy being." She explained." Can I
Rowan, Ajatar, Max and Josh, were currently enjoying their stay in Los Angeles. The authorities had looked for a foster mother for the orphan baby. As they all felt relaxed, a soldier suddenly showed up. He told Rowan that there was an emergency, stating that a group of transformed people had broken into the walls of the city. Rowan rushed out, the sword in his arm at the ready. The rest of the group followed behind.Upon arrival, Rowan saw five transformed people, attacking the city. The soldiers shot their bullets, but no weapon could kill those demons except the sword Rowan was carrying. Rowan quickly ran towards the commotion and quickly chopped off the body parts of the demons. The demons quickly fell down and died. However, the last one was proving difficult to kill as he had super speed abilities. Unfortunately, he couldn't fly and could only use his feet to be fast, so Rowan spreaded his shadow on the ground, making the demon's movement slower. The demon recognized the a
The group of guards stood on the watchtower, looking out for any sign of transformed people to gun them down before they spread the disease. Suddenly, they saw three pregnant women approaching. The guards looked at each other, thinking about how weird the situation was. As the women got closer, they grew uglier and uglier. When the three women got close enough to the gates, the guards asked them to halt and asked what was their mission. One of the youngest women stepped in front and replied that they needed a place to stay and safely give birth. The guard asked if they were infected and she refuted. The guard asked why the woman's voice sounded strange. And she said she had a cough. The guard asked them to wait. As they waited, a small part of the gate opened, and a guard came out with a cross, then he pointed it in front of each and everyone of them. He concluded that the women were not infected as they didn't react to the cross. He asked them to go in. As the woman walked toward
" What happened? Why were you there alone? Where are the rest of the survivors?" Ajatar asked, taking the baby from Max's hand, who seemed attracted to her.Max sighed." The demons attacked us and killed everyone including Mr Byrde. I managed to escape with this baby because somehow, I figured that these beings were scared of the cross." Max replied." Well, that is sad to hear. Who's baby is that?" Rowan asked." We met her mother on the way and she joined our group, only to get killed." Max replied with a tinge of sadness in his voice.He took a deep breath. " Look guys, about earlier, I am sorry for the way I treated you. We should have come with you guys. I mean.., I never thought you guys would still be alive, but here you are, meanwhile, the rest of the survivors are gone." He said, feeling guilty " You were just trying to do what was best for the group, and besides, the group made their choice to follow your words over Mr Byrde's." Ajatar said." Thanks," Max said, smiling at
"How did they get these abilities?" Ajatar asked as she kicked away one of the transformed people."I don't know, but we have to find a way out of here," Rowan replied as he swung his sword at another transformed person. " They will keep coming." He added.Josh looked at Rowan and said, "I agree. Let's get in the car and head to Las Vegas as planned." With that, they quickly got into the car and began their journey to Los Angeles?The Demons lunged at their vehicle, trying to stop it and break in, but they were knocked down and trampled upon."That was intense," Josh said as he drove through the deserted streets of New York City."Definitely," Rowan agreed. "But we need to stay alert. We don't know what's waiting for us in Las Vegas."Ajatar was silent and suddenly spoke. " Wait, are you the one who will drive us to LA?" She asked Josh." Yeah, why not? Are you suddenly scared? The great Ajatar is scared?" Josh teased, however he couldn't tease anymore when he felt a dagger behind hi
" Where are you from, out of space?" The man asked, leaving Rowan perplexed. " The first city that was affected by the virus was New York, and I am very sure that nothing lives there apart from the fully transformed.Rowan furrowed his brow, " the affected? what are we talking about?" Rowan asked." Huh? Do you mean you are unaware of what is going on in the world?" The old man asked.Rowan sighed, " actually, you were right when you said we were from another world or realm. Whatever is going on in the world now, is not a virus." Rowan said.This new found information left the old man confused even more. " Then how would you explain the transformation of normal people into blood sucking…. Is it vampires or demons?" The old man asked." All of that was caused by a very powerful Demon. He is gathering an army by transforming people into Demons." Rowan explained." Who is the Demon you are talking about and how can we stop him?" The old man asked, his curiosity piqued."That is why I ne