As John and Robert stepped into the narrow and filthy alleyways of the poor side of town, the overwhelming stench of garbage and waste hit them like a wave.The ground was slick with slime and trash, and the walls were covered in grime and visible cracks.The sight before them was a stark contrast to the clean, well-lit streets of the city center they were used to.Shadow, their ever-watchful companion, was perched atop a nearby rooftop, scanning the area for any potential threats.His sharp eyes were alert and his movements were precise as he searched for signs of danger.Suddenly, as they rounded a corner, they were confronted by a group of rough-looking men. Their faces were twisted into sneers, and their hands were gripping dangerous-looking weapons. John and Robert knew immediately that they were in trouble.The men had them surrounded, with three behind them and four in front.One of them, a burly man with a rough beard and a scar on his cheek, stepped forward and spoke in a gru
The air crackled with tension as the masked man let out a chilling laugh, his voice deepening and distorting as his muscles bulged and swelled."Looks like I'm outnumbered," he growled menacingly."Let's see if you can survive." With a sudden lunge, he charged forward, his arms crossed in front of him like a battering ram.Robert and John reacted quickly, pulling out their revolvers and firing with deadly accuracy.But to their shock, the bullets just ricocheted harmlessly off the masked man's body, as if he was made of some kind of metal."What the hell?!" Robert exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief."Keep shooting!" John shouted, his voice laced with a mix of fear and determination.But the masked man seemed almost impervious to their attacks, shrugging off each bullet as if it was nothing.With a sudden burst of speed, he closed the distance between them, his fists hammering down towards their heads.Robert and John leapt backwards, narrowly avoiding the deadly blow. They exch
The loss of their backup was a devastating blow, particularly with the formidable task that lay ahead of them.John was acutely aware of the potential consequences of their battle, which would almost certainly have drawn the attention of the heretics, it would not be good outcome if they got themselves surrounded.As a result, he knew they had to keep moving and quickly.John gestured towards Robert to follow him,"We need to move, this fight most likely grabbed the atention of the heretics".Robert nodded and they took off in a sprint, their footsteps echoing through the streets.As they moved through the city, John couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency and dread. The task before them was fraught with danger, and he knew they had to remain vigilant at all times.Robert, too, was feeling the weight of the situation, but he tried his best to remain calm and focused on the task at hand.After a few minutes of running, Robert turned to John and asked,"This should be far enough, righ
As John and Robert turned to leave, they were surprised by the sudden appearance of a new nun in black robes. Her voice was as enchanting as the siren's song, and anyone who heard it was compelled to follow her instructions. John and Robert felt the pull to do what she said, but they knew better than to let his guard down. Robert channeled his power to his hand and revolver, ready to defend himself if needed. Without warning, John turned and shot towards the nun. One of the other nuns, quick as lightning, jumped in front of the black dressed nun, taking the bullet instead, it left the nun incapicated but not dead. The atmosphere changed completely as all the nuns took combat positions, ready to defend themselves and their fellow sister. Robert took his revolver out as well, not willing to take any chances. The nun in the black robes stepped forward, her voice calm and commanding, "Gentlemen, please drop your weapons. We
John and Robert raced through the darkened streets, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they ran for their lives.Their hearts pounded in their chests, and their eyes darted nervously around every corner, searching for any sign of pursuit.Finally, John reached into his jacket and pulled out his radio. He keyed the mic and spoke in a hushed voice,"Anyone in? We are dealing with a high tier ascendant, and not a regular one. She's a chosen of a god, over."After a moment of static, Eugene's voice crackled through the speaker."Got it. You did good! Retreat to HQ. It's time to bring out the big guns. We need to remind the heretics what they can and what they can't do... and keep them out of the city, over and out."John's heart leapt with relief at the sound of Eugene's voice.He replied quickly,"Roger that. Over and out."With that, he and Robert sprinted towards headquarters, their legs pumping furiously as they ran.As they ran, John couldn't help but think about the terrifying p
As the doctor entered the room, her presence commanded attention from everyone gathered there.She greeted them with a warm smile and wasted no time in getting straight to business."Hello to you all," she began,"Time is of the essence. I will explain the paths you have to choose and the risks involved."The room grew silent as the doctor continued to speak. She presented three options: hunter, artificer, and apothecary."The most safe ones, are hunter, artificer, and apothecary. We have the formula of the concoction for those three." she said.The doctor went on to explain the benefits of each path."Hunter enhances your vision, agility, and dexterity, making it great for focusing on combat and range weapon proficiency,""Artificer enhances your intelligence and your ability to analyze materials, making it easier for you to master the profession of artificer. It's great for those who wish to pursue crafting."The doctor then turned her attention to the third path, the one she chose
The doctor stood before the group of ascendant candidates, a grave expression etched upon her face. "The time has come," she began, hervoice low and solemn. "Those of you who have chosen the safer paths have been given the concoctions, drink them which will help you to better attune your mortal bodies to your chosen path. You will soon begin your trial." She turned to the other group, those who had chosen the more dangerous paths and had been given artifacts instead. "As for you," she said, her eyes scanning the faces of the candidates, "You have been given artifacts that will trigger the transition and initiate the trial. They were crafted from the remnants of ascendants who failed to complete the transition and perished in the process. Their sacrifice has allowed you the chance to become one of the chosen few." Robert felt the weight of the golden medallion in his hand, its smooth surface cool to the touch. He knew what was expected of him. He lifted the medallion to his lips a
As Robert opened his eyes, he felt disoriented and confused. He found himself back in the room where he first started his trial, surrounded by his comrades.His head throbbed with pain, and he reached up to touch his nose, which was bleeding profusely.Slowly, his memory started to return, and he realized that the world he had just experienced was nothing but an illusion.The damage he had suffered there had somehow manifested in his physical body in the real world.Looking around the room, Robert saw that some of his comrades had not been so lucky.Some of them were lying on the ground, lifeless and without human form. They had been transformed into grotesque, creature-like beings.Robert felt a shiver run down his spine as he realized the magnitude of the trial. He knew that if he hadn't persevered and succeeded, he too would have been transformed into one of those creatures.He felt a new sense of respect and appreciation for the powers that he had gained through his success in the