Fantasy Dark World Book IP

[Thalia_Neko]

Part One
"Heath"​

The door creaked, sliding ajar just enough for a person to fit in. A second later it shut with a loud metal thud, and a figure skirted to one side of the dimly lit room; a single light hanging overhead.

"Excuse me," a timid, feminine voice muttered, brushing by some people already there. Chinking sounds heard as she shuffled to her place.

The girl put her back to the wall, turning her blue-green eyes to face the company that was cramed in that small room. The girl was 5'5'', and wore silver armor, her hair was orangey-blonde, and tied into a ponytail. Her hand rested on her sword, attached at her waist.

"You're late." A gruff voice sounded from across the room. From the man leaning against the table. Unlike most there, he was visible, as the only light, was hanging directly over him. He was tan skinned, tall, muscular, probably in his late 20s. He had dark black hair, and piercing amber eyes, of which were focused right on the girl.

"Forgive me. I had... a delay."

He stared at her one moment longer, before turning back to address the group there. "I have called this meeting for one purpose. -To end this blight on our world!" He said slamming his fist on the table that stood in the middle of the room. "Abnorms! Those filth wormed their way into every part of our lives, every crevice of humanity! They're unnatural. Up until now -we, the League of Bounty Hunters- have tried our damnedest to keep them in line! We've rounded them up, we've killed them, we've hurt them! And still - still they worm their way back to the top! They don't listen or learn!"

He pulled a paper from his dark gray jacket, and slammed it onto the table. His face one of fury, as he stared down at it. He leaned over the table shuddering, fuming. His hate was like a heavy fog, weighing on the room.

Katie leaned forward, along with many of the other hunters there. Her eyes fell on the piece of crumpled paper, and she read it. It appeared to be some sort of flyer. "What? I don't understand..."

He cut her off, screaming once again, as he so often did. "Those maggots! How insolent! They're organizing a rally in Freefall City! It's to happen three Sundays from now, and it'll last the entire week! Abnorms will flock to the city, from all corners of the country - possibly the globe! They intend to make their voices heard. Many prominent Abnorm figureheads will be there to oversee this event. This is a rally for 'equality and peace'. Pah. They're tired of being repressed, and..." his voice trailed off. "Hunted! They say this rally is for the people as much as it is for their sake! They say that this rally will be to show that as Abnorms, they intend to share this world with us - US!"

He shook his head, bent over the table, hands clutching the sides of table, his entire body was spasming, shaking the table. "How dare they. How DARE they! This curse on humanity! It intends to LIVE together with us? Breed with us! Propagate itself with us, as some sort of equal?! They want the right to exist in this world together?!? With us? Impossible." He paused a moment, scanning the room with his glowing golden eyes. Many there were murmuring to each other, clearly rattled and shaken.

"No! I say enough! Its time to end this. Those... -Devil's children, are through. I'm tired of this game. Humanity needs saving from these things! I'm done collecting bounties. Its time we made a difference. Time we showed those monsters who really rule this earth. We won't let humanity's existence be wiped out. Humanity will not fall." His eyes were red-hot. "Make no mistake. It was the Devil's machine that brought those things into our world. They are not people. They deserve no empathy and concern. They are demons at their core. Humanity will not be wiped out. We will send them right back where they came from!" His eyes stopped setting the air in the room on fire, and they drifted down to the paper on the table.

"Tch. 'International Abnorm Week'. What a load of shit."

"Heath..." Katie said under her breath, her eyes trained on the man at the end of the table.

 

[Thalia_Neko]

Part Two
SSX​

"All of us have fought hard. We've all experienced loss. Abnorms are trying to cement themselves into society, they're attempting to get the masses on their side. We cannot allow this to happen," Heath went on, addressing the congregating Bounty Hunters. "We will set up an offensive. That day Abnorms will try to get the world on their side. Instead, we are going to turn the world against them. Finally, we can start a movement against these so-called 'Abnorms'! These demons from Hell!"

"What of the World Government?" A gruffer voice than Heath's own spoke up from the back.

"As many are already aware the World Government tries to keep Abnorms regulated, they are regularly called in to stop rogue Abnorm attacks, and we bounty-hunt for them. That being said. I believe the WG are actually sanctioning this peace rally. Or at the very least are momentarily turning a blind eye to it," Heath responded. "I'm not sure what they are thinking! This is the time to strike! Not submissively bow your head!"

"Then it's simple," said another man, as he stepped forward. He had long wild black hair streaked with white. His wild eyes, could still be seen glimmering behind said wild set of hair. "We merely need to get the World Government to change its mind. If we get them on our side, perhaps we'll have the manpower, and force to end those Abnorms, and start to stabilize the world once more."

Heath nodded. "I completely agree. We must get the World Government involved -on our side. Rail, you take Agatha and Vicetto to the WG headquarters. Get them to side with us."

"It'll by my pleasure," Rail answered, his voice snake-like, as he stepped back, next to his companions Agatha, and Vicetto. Those three were three of the most ruthless bounty hunters Katie knew. The Trio of Destruction, they were commonly called by Abnorms. Or so the rumors said. They took the name and went with it, seeming to relish in the name's ability to instill terror. Though, why those three would do reconnaissance to the World Government confused the teen. Her attention snapped away from those three, back to the front of the table, hearing a voice announce something to the room, filling the previous momentary silence.

"Heath, we may have a problem," Another man said, as he stepped forward, one of his eyes covered by an eye-patch; covering a wound he sustained in battle. The patch-man laid a picture on the table, atop the flyer. Katie glanced at the paper, it was a picture of a woman. A woman wearing black and red, with raven-black hair, reaching the ground behind her. She wielded a wickedly curved blade, black as night, and as menacing as the Trio of Destruction - if not more so. The picture depicted her standing there, mostly with her back to what Katie assumed was the camera, but the woman was glancing back, one of her eyes visible.

Katie shivered as she stared into the woman's eye. It was cold. Colder than anything Katie had ever felt. Yet, at the same time, it also felt like that stare was burning a hole straight through Katie. That woman's stare, was one of pure malice. That stare felt like it would be the last thing Katie saw... Suddenly she snapped out of it, hearing more words, from Heath this time.

"Manus, who is she?" Heath grunted out, in his macho gruff voice.

"Unknown, but shes been given the nickname: Reaper," Manus admitted, ominously. "Bringer of Death."

Heath seemed a bit incredulous to this name, and he smirked mockingly, never one to take things about Abnorms so seriously. "Reaper? Really?"

Manus shrugged, before looking down, "I did some digging... As you know, Abnorms are generally classed in power by rank. Such as 'The Trinity' for example."

"Right; it's been confirmed they're attending the Abnorm rally," Heath interrupted, throwing that out there. Causing a hush to fall over the room. Manus held his mouth shut, and even the Trio of Destruction glanced at each other.

"Heath, is that true? The Trinity are going to be at this Abnorm rally?" Manus asked, frankly shocked.

Heath nodded. "Like I said, prominent Abnorms will be attending." He didn't seem as perturbed by this as the others.

Murmurs errupted around the room, as many of the hunters there went immediately into discussion. Katie glanced around. Katie knew of The Trinity. A group of three Abnorms, supposedly classed SSX by the World Government. They lived in New Europe, practically governing the entire country. The Trinity were so called, because of their affinity. In truth, together they were known as the Trinity, but there was really three of them. Three Abnorms classed SSX, a rank given to Abnorms more powerful than all the rest.

The ranking was known by all Bounty Hunters, but not many regular people knew. It went as follows:
A
B
C
D
E

With E rank being the weakest Abnorms. Abnorms with hardly any differentiation from regular Humans. A being the top. However, there was a rank above A. S rank. S rank Abnorms were Abnorms with powers unfathomable by Humans. Abnorms so powerful entire armies would be needed to put them down. Even still, there was a rank above that: SS. No one knew an SS Abnorm. Any were only said to be myths, so the ranking itself was largely a joke, as there were no currently observed Abnorms that fit the rank.

Even still, there was a rank even above that... "SSX," Katie murmured, barely able to breathe. There were only a handful of Abnorms with such a rank. The Trinity were classified SSX. Essentially gods.

The Ghost, The Holy, and The Vision. The Trinity. In New-Europe they were worshiped as gods among men. They were the heads of a new religion. A religion that believed Abnorms were Angels-born-Human. They believed Abnorms were to inherit the beautiful part of the afterlife. They believed the three Abnorms known as The Trinity were actually 3 parts of one being. They believed someday, The Trinity would bring upon the end of the World, and would open the gate to "Ascendus". Essentially Abnorm Heaven. And all loyal followers would be allowed to enter...

 

[Thalia_Neko]

Part Three
Gods Amongst Men​

"Heath... I don't know about this," Manus said, his face set sternly, sweat streaking down the side of his grizzled face. "The Trinity... " he began.

His eyes flashed as if he just realized something. "'Prominent Abnorm figureheads'..." he repeated breathily. "Heath, tell us, who else is supposed to be there?" he asked, feeling like Heath wasn't revealing everything. "Who else is supposed to be going to this rally in Freefall City. Who else?" he growled, his eyes furious. Freefall City; A city of new beginnings. The new-Capital of New-America. The city rose up not long after the Third World War. After all, Washington, D.C. was wiped out; caught in the first shot from the God Hand, all those many years ago. While most of the New World, after WWIII, remained in the dark, Freefall rose up.

Humanity in such a short time, working together, erected the 9th wonder of the world. It was remarkable really, such a massive city was built in just a few short years. It quickly became a place where many people flocked, in these trying times.

Frankly, it was staggering just how Humanity worked together to create the city of Freefall. It was regarded as a literal Heaven-on-Earth, despite just how awful the rest of the world had gotten. The World Government was founded there, and quickly became the first powerhouse of the New-World. The World Government's Supreme Star base is located in Freefall; speculated to be the biggest military base located in New-America. If you discount the Northern Star up North.

"Heath?!" snarled Manus, impatience tinting his voice. Impatience that was shared among all the Hunters in the room. Katie listened closely, her heart beating a mile a minute.

Heath sighed, his head lowered, eyes closed. Opening his eyes, he answered solemnly, "Jeauyus."

Katie's heart leaped into her throat.

Katie hated Abnorms; with a furious passion, that was probably only matched by Heath's hate for the demons of humanity. Even when she was young, she had sworn to wipe out all Abnorms, training herself in combat from a very young age; the age of 5. By age 11, she was a full-fledged Bounty Hunter, killing her first Abnorm for not only a profit, but for her righteous hate. If that Abnorm were to be classed, he'd probably fall under a C rank today. Not bad, but impressive for a 11 year old girl with only a dull, nicked sword.

This year Katie turned 18, and was one of the most ruthless bounty hunters around, right next to the Trio of Destruction. The young woman, was fierce and strong. Her blade quickly ended many an Abnorm, with little to no hesitation. She had a heart of ice, and a will of steel. Her hatred for Abnorms ran through her blood. Katie knew no fear when it came to facing Abnorms.

But there was one!.. One Abnorm. That even Katie froze in horror at.

His name: Jeauyus.

"The King of All," she heard his title, whispered, by some hunter, somewhere nearby.

"SSX rank..." Another voice crackled, the fear, too, could be heard there.

Jeauyus was self-proclaimed 'King of All'. However, he had the power to back up his claim. He reigned with a solitary iron fist throughout New-Asia and New-Africa. No one dared oppose him. Any who did, was ruthlessly, efficiently, and VERY quickly taken out. No amount of retaliation was ever heard of. Jeauyus had conquered the Eastern world, with his Queen. "'Goddess' of Blood", Queen Anjika, and their Forever Army. Only New-Europe remained unconquered, ruled and proceeded by the aforementioned, Trinity.

"HEATH!" Manus shouted, slamming his hand down on the table. "Goddammit Heath!" He hissed again, his anger just. "What in sam's Hell are you thinking, Heath? The Trinity? The King of All? I bet your going to tell us, next, that Sol Will will be there, as well!"

Sol Will, another SSX classed Abnorm. Sol Will's name was interesting, and held many meanings. Her name meant she was the sole Abnorm in the Americas that was SSX class. She was the sole one to be feared in the Americas. Her will was imposed wherever she went, without question, and without any form of objection. 'Sol' was also a play on words, meaning both sole and the sun. Sol Will had fire based abilities. Fire that ate away everything. Fire that was unrelenting like her will. Fire that consumed all. Sol Will operated differently than the Trinity and Jeauyus. She was evil. Nothing but. Pure as pure can get. Sol Will was out for only herself. Her power inmeasureable. Sol Will got, what her will wanted, no if ands or buts. However, that being said. Sol Will was a selfish person, but rarely did much outside of her own selfish desires. She usually didn't remain a large threat, despite being so enormously powerful.

Heath paused, and looked over at Manus, his eyes giving it away.

Manus stared at his friend. Took a deep breath and spun away, throwing his hand up in exasperation, "Oh, you got to be kidding Heath! Sol Will, too?" He turned back, placing his hands both, flat on the table, his face intent on Heath's. "Just what the fuck are you thinking? Heath, these are SSX classed Abnorms! We're mere humans!" He flourished his words, by swinging his hands to the group of hunters gathered there, to emphasize his words. "Just what do you think we can do to those type of people, Heath?"

"THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE, MANUS!" Heath shouted right in his friend's face, the fury from his shout felt all around the dimly lit room. He turned his eyes back to everyone there. "I was thinking this is perfect. The Trinity, Jeauyus and Anjika, Sol Will! Among many many others! All gathered in one place! This is the time to act! We can finally wipe out all these monsters!!! There's no other more perfect time!"

"Seriously? 'Gods amongst men'?" Heath went on, mocking the words so often spoken about these Abnorms. His posture was incredulous, his face masking rage behind the derisiveness. "Don't make me laugh! Its sacrilegious to even say such words regarding these... these... these abominations! The Trinity.. To think there's an entire Church - an entire COUNTRY, that worships three of those demons as some sort of deities! And 'King of All' Jeauyus? Who the fuck is joking about that? That title belongs to no one! Especially not that Devil's child!"

Taking a breath, circling around the table, trailing his finger along it, his eyes visible in the dimness. "Don't you see? This is our time to act, our time to strike! All these self-proclaimed gods and all their monster-underlings will be gathered in one place - ONE PLACE! We can finally wipe them out! Be rid of them from the World!" Heath shouted, head up, hands high to the sky. Too anyone else he'd resemble a mad-man, ranting nonsense, but to the group there, his words were completely sane: totally sound. Katie was with him most of all; her hand gripping the handle of her sword tightly - too tightly, as she listened to him.

"Some call them monsters - which they are," He nodded to reinforce this. "Some call them gods. Some call them friends, family, human beings." He finished circling the table. Heath slapped both hands back palm-down on the table, as he leaned forward, the light giving the man an eerie glow. "But I know, you put a sword through their heart, or a bullet through their head, and they'll die. Just like anyone else." His eyes swiveled around the room, daring anyone to challenge his claim.

Pulling back deliberately, he said, "The Trinity, Jeauyus, Anjika, Sol Will, and all the rest of them - they may be demons, they may be monsters, they may even be gods, but it doesn't matter. We'll kill them all just the same." His words were final. Absolute. They resounded around the room, instilled in every hunter there. No one stepped forth to challenge him again. Heath was right. Katie knew it. Manus knew it. The Trio of Destruction knew it. If they were to eradicate all those Devil-children that had for so-long laid waste to the land, and this earth. This rally would be the time and place. It didn't matter if they had strange abilities, or powers that were inhuman, or powers that were god-like. They would die. It wasn't a matter of how. It was a matter of 'would'.

Katie's eyes were aflame with renewed vigor; renewed purpose for their righteous cause. They were going to murder all those Abnorms. Show the world that Humanity reigned supreme. They would not fail. Any Abnorm there, god or otherwise would be dead, before the end of 'International Abnorm Week'. That was an absolute fact.

 

[Thalia_Neko]

Part Four
Reaper: Speculation and Hesitation​

After Heath's riveting outburst. No one dared speak another word. All Bounty Hunters there were of one mind. Were of one sole intent. The complete eradication of all Abnorms. Abnorms, that were the children of the Devil. Heath had gotten his point across. He was a genius, a visionary, as well as, a prophet. The rugged man, stood there, satisfied with himself. No one was questioning anymore.

Well. No one but one.

"What about her?" came a voice. As another man, age 22, stepped forward. He was well-built, with light brown hair, and calm, soothing blue eyes. His finger was outstretched, pointing at the picture on the table. That forgotten picture that when it was brought up, was so interesting, but after what had transpired, seemed inconsequential. Evon was his name. A calm, collected man, whom was well-respected among the League.

"Her?" Heath murmured, glancing down at that picture. That small picture Manus had laid out. Heath's eyes were unimpressed, and betrayed his disinterest.

"What about her?" Evon repeated, in his usual peaceful voice. Evon, ever the voice of reason among the League of Bounty Hunters. His voice alone had the ability to instill tranquility. If one didn't know any better, they'd claim he was an Abnorm.

Katie had many interactions with Evon. Hunting missions were often too dangerous, so the League insisted hunters often pair up. That's where the orange-haired girl had her interactions with Evon. They were often paired up for various missions, involving very dangerous Abnorms. Evon was unsettling to Katie. She had high regard for the man, and he was always level-headed. Even despite what he did, Evon remained calm, relaxed, and timid. It nearly drove Katie mad at times.

Despite her misgivings about Evon, Katie trusted him completely. They all did. Evon was meticulous. He was calculatory. He assessed each situation, and acted accordingly. Evon was an accomplished Hunter, and Katie knew first hand just how capable he could be. Evon never bat an eyelash. He never wavered. Evon may have been a reasonable person, even seemingly Abnorm-sympathetic at times, but he never faltered in his kill, or capture. That's what Katie feared about the man, but also respected about him. A reliable, level-headed person, trustworthy, calculating, efficient, but never antagonistic, or one to interfere with a mission.

The fact that he was speaking up now, wasn't unheard of, but it was slightly surprising.

"Manus said she was known as 'Reaper' colloquially," Evon stated simply, his eyes flashing up to Heath, and over to Manus.

Heath sighed, clearly through with it. Still, he humored Evon anyway, saying simply, "Manus?" His arm leaning casually against the table, with even apart of his elbow covering the very picture they were talking about now. Katie grinned. Heath was an asshole like that. It was funny to her.

"Oh, right, as I was saying..." Manus murmured, trying to recollect his thoughts, as he once again stepped into the light so he could be focused on; as was the custom at the League's meetings. "Well, Reaper... Well, back to the rankings. Abnorms are given a rank, based on their abilities and powers..."

"Manus..." Heath murmured, his face set in a stern look, that said 'everyone knows all this already, get on with it!'

"Right well. To put it simply. I believe, Reaper, this woman," he said, stepping up beside Heath, reaching for the picture. Thus, inadvertently, or maybe advertently, caused Heath to have to move - which, casually annoyed their infallible leader. Manus held the picture up, so the light shown on it, so those scattered in the back could see clearer. "Is class SS."

Once again, the room went quiet, as they all stared at the woman in the picture. That woman that looked like terror itself. Reaper. Death Incarnate. Certainly one with those names, would be fit to be the legendary SS rank.

Even Heath seemed to be at a loss at the moment. He stepped forward once more, to be at the front of the meeting, brushing Manus aside, Manus's arm bringing the picture back down to his side. "SS? Manus? What makes you think this woman is SS?" He shook his head, "As you know, there is no SS Abnorms. Its a fictitious rank! It means nothing!"

Katie was once again filled with dread, hearing the proclamation of this 'Reaper' woman, being an SS-rank Abnorm. She didn't even notice Manus lower the picture, she was transfixed. Her vision shifting from the picture of that midnight-haired woman, to another place;

A lowly, raggedy town on the Eastern coast, that smelled of rotting fish, and seagull shit. A place hardly fit to be called home. Where alcoholism, shady dealings, and violence ran rampant. Where the shift, the corrupt, and lame loser made home. A dank, groggy, forsaken town... called Scummerset Port.

 

[Thalia_Neko]

Part Five
Reaper: Instrument of Death​

A blood-curdling scream shook throughout the small cabin, penetrating the thin walls. A man next to a small, young girl, immediately turned around, his mouth agape, and his breaths already coming hard. He turned back to the little girl, who was cowering in the corner, bending over, huddling herself; trying to seem small, isolated, and protected.

"Unckie, w-wha was dats?" The little girl chirped, her voice small and cute, but most of all, shaken. Her blue-green eyes betraying her already very young fear as she looked up into his face, while she stood there, in a dirty, small blue dress, clutching a teddy-bear to her chest.

He slowly brought his hands to her, and clasped her around her shoulders, his face very close. It was unintentional, but she could feel his heavy breaths against her face. "Now now angel, just stay calm, Uncle Charles will be right back!" He turned to go, only one heavy boot hitting the floor as he stepped towards his front door, before he felt a small hand grab the back of his gray jacket. He glanced back, and that small tiny girl was closer, one arm protectively holding the teddy-bear to her, and one hand extended, clutching Uncle Charles's brown-gray denim jacket. She innocently looked up at him, lower-lip quivering. It was a heart-wrenching sight: that young girl, standing there, staring expectantly up at him, eyes fuzzy warm, and wide.

She shook her head wildly, from side to side, the girl, not yet astute in the art of social awareness. "Nyuuu! Dun gos! Unckie dun goes!" she screamed, her tiny pale hand gripping his jacket with much fervor. The girl buried her face into her stuffed animal. "Nnnh!!"

Uncle Charles, as he was called, placed his hand down softly onto hers that was holding his jacket. At his gentle coaxing she released her grip, and he held her hand, squeezing it firmly, once more bending down to be level with the girl. "Katie," Uncle Charles began in his most soothing voice. "I love you, but please stay here," he said, leading her to the back of the room, that could be used as a hiding space for a small person. A person such as Katie. He nudged the young girl, back towards the hidey-hole. With a warm smile, he brushed some of her orange hair out of her face, and he leaned in and kissed her forehead. Seeing her smile, Uncle Charles cupped the side of her face. "You resemble your mother so much," he spoke warmly.

Seeming to realize where he was, and what he was doing, he pulled back, standing upright, to his full 6'7''. A man of imposing stature, and a body built to match. "Now Katie - love, my angel, stay here. I promise I will be right back. I just need to check something. Promise you'll stay here," he said, looking down towards the young girl hiding in the corner. Once more, Katie's lip was quivering, but she nodded, clutching the bear up to the lower part of her face, her cute-as-a-button nose resting atop the soft toy.

With a nod to her, Uncle Charles turned to go, pulling aside the flimsy door, that was the only resistance to Uncle Charles's small, humble home.

As soon as the door was wrenched open, screams of panic could be heard, causing Katie to squeal, and ball herself up in the corner: the small girl hidden from view. She sat on the creaky wooden floorboards, curled into a ball, sobbing; the door left ajar, letting in those terrible screams. Suddenly, the door was pushed open not even a moment later, and for a second Katie thought her uncle had returned. She made the smallest of movements to peek out from her hiding spot, good-thing, too, because what she saw was not human. A man had come in -one who was most definitely NOT her uncle- who had four arms that were built like a bull. He even huffed, taking a quick glance around the cabin, with piercing yellow eyes.

Stifling a screech of terror, Katie shoved herself as far back as she could into her little cubby, shaking with fear, her only solace was the teddy, that she was clutching suffocatingly close to her. The strange man-creature-thing left the cabin, smashing carelessly back through the door, splinters of wood flying every which way. She shuddered, hearing big booms, crackling sounds, and worst of all, the screams, the screams of people in agony, the screams of people dying. "Wha-hahhhah!" Katie burst out into uncontrollable wailing. "Make it stawppp, make it stawppp!!" the girl blubbered, dropping her bear, her hands slapping to her ears instinctively trying to blot out all noise and sounds of whatever horror was going on outside.

An explosion struck the house and sent the young girl flying, falling over, wood and other various knick-knacks shattering apart at the impact. "AIIIEEE!" she screamed, as she hit the ground, which knocked the wind from the very young girl. The cabin all but collapsed around her. Luckily it was made from materials that were not really fit to be used in a structure, light and unreliable.

Katie pushed the debris that covered her aside, sitting up, in pain, but relatively unharmed. She opened her blue-green eyes, and gasped, forgetting the pain momentarily. What she saw was a nightmare. A proverbial Hell-on-Earth. Her teary eyes took in the dreaful scene before her. Scummerset Port, the small shanty town located on the lower East coast of New-America, was up in flames. People ran around in a panic, screaming... Being hunted down. Murdered.

Scummerset Port, was not the nicest of towns. It sat by a small marshy type beach. The place reeked. Its harbors stank of dead, rotting fish, the town was mostly made out of really brittle wood, that creaked and swayed during any storm. The "marketplace" -if it could be called that- was rundown, generally had rotted food -if it had any to sell at all. And the residents.

Oh boy, the residents.

Scummerset's residents were all a very sordid bunch. Citizens with no life anywhere else came to Scummerset. The place was filled with nobodies, ruffians, people of unsavory beginnings, and unsavory endings. The citizenry of Scummerset, was the worst around. Yet the town went on, days coming and going, the town remaining. However, this night, was totally different.

Scummerset was burning to the ground. It was being attacked maliciously, by inhuman monstrosities, that Katie knew not. She looked on in horror, watching buildings, alight, crumble to the ground, smashing in loud bursts. People attempting to escape the carnage - cut down in cold blood. It was all too much for the young girl.

Somehow, she found strength to get to her feet, and when Katie opened her eyes again, among all the chaos around her, she found herself running, running in a very deliberate direction, her tiny bare-feet clapping softly on the wooden boards underfoot...

"EEENHN!" Katie screeched as a man burst out of a building to her left, splinters from the shattered door spraying over her, the man himself, crashing to her feet. The girl glanced down, and immediately regret gripped her small beating heart. The man's face, deathly white, no light in his eyes, blood soaking his garments, laid there, with the biggest knife Katie had ever seen embedded deep in his back. Old man George. The man who gave her a yummy apple slice every time she passed his small little shop. She heard maniacal, haunting laughter resound from the building to their left. Without waiting to see what it was, Katie darted around the body at her feet, and ran, still crying uncontrollably, clutching... her teddy-bear! Somehow, she had managed to grab it before leaving, strange, Katie didn't remember doing that. Though, she also didn't remember getting to her feet, and leaving Uncle Charles's destroyed cabin. Her young heart had carried her, forcing her body to remain strong-willed, giving the young girl the strength to carry on.

Katie's feet pounded the flimsy wooden flooring of Scummerset Port, as she ran towards her... Home.

The girl paused, stopping for once, her feet on soft gritty soil. Her chest heaved as she struggled to breath, after having just ran for so long. Katie knew, she had to remain strong! She was almost there!! Against all odds, Katie, a 4 year-old child, just above a toddler, had managed to make it! Her feet had brought her to the dusty path that lead away from town; that lead towards her house... With all that horror and destruction happening just behind her. She didn't glance back. She had no desire to see what was happening back in Scummerset. The people of that town were vile, but they didn't deserve this. Steeling herself, forcing her lip to remain firm, with great-strength keeping herself from looking back, she began forward once more. Her feet plodding softly on the small road.

The screams and other noises of horror began to dwindle and fade; Katie was happy for that. Feeling just a bit better, the young girl rounded the all-too-familiar bend in the road, a tree's branch brushing against her exposed shoulder. It was dark in this part of the woods, nighttime in full-effect. Katie didn't yet know how to tell time, or even understand it fully. Even still, she knew it was late, and she was weary, her eyes unfocused, puffy from bawling for so long, but she had to continue, she was nearly nearly there. Her tiny feet hurt, and were blistered, her legs so sore.

Night crept around her, its dark shadows poking and prodding at her small small frame, its cold breath against the nape of her neck. It was as if the Night was out to get her, she could feel it, the malevolent force there. "Unnh," Katie moaned softly, unhappy with this uneasy feeling, her orange hair swaying in the light wind. That's when she came up the hill... Her home rising into her small view...

Katie came to a very abrupt stop, her feet scraping the rough ground underneath, her eyes wide, glowing, reflecting the scene before her. It was a scene out of the worst imaginable nightmares. Her home. The place she had henceforth grown up in... That small cottage on the outskirts of town, hidden away in a small beautiful, welcoming clearing, nestled warmly by the forest alround. That unassuming place...

Was up in flames. Immediately, dropping the teddy bear, she stood there, staring, unable to find even her small voice. The flames from the home were raging wild, casting eerie light over the entire clearing, trees dancing like mad-men, adding to that scene of terror. But that wasn't what that small girl focused on... Two figures fell out of the open doorway, covered in raging orange flames, screaming... clawing... reaching for anything... Any sign of help... There was no help. No "anything" that could help the those two poor souls.

Their blank white eyes stared back at Katie, all the life, all the hope, all the "everything" out of them, their mouths hung wide, no sounds even coming out anymore, both bodies completely black. What were those things? They were not her parents. There was no way those hideous creatures could be them! No way!!

Swallowing, countless tears streaming down her face, eyes wide, glued onto the blank stares of those things in the doorway; Katie opened her mouth to speak. "Ma-ma, pa..pa." Her words so inaudible they could've been mistaken for the wind. Katie's small hand reaching out towards them, their black, flame-coloured hands reaching back. Just then, a loud snapping sound could be heard, and the rest of the house came down, collapsing on top of those two ghoul-like figures.

"NYUUUU!!!!!" Katie screamed, her feet suddenly taking flight, carrying her across the small clearing. She fell on her knees, hands going quickly to work, as she attempted to tear away at the falling burning debris; trying with all her might to dig out those two figures. She was crying, searing her hands, ripping away the burning wreckage. She suddenly stiffened, hearing a low chuckle behind her, "Heheheh..."

"Lookie what we got here... A nice morsel. Another snack for my blade!"

"Stop!! You foul demon!"

The shadow around Katie, had risen its hand up, a weapon clutched there, menacingly poised. At the sound of a familiar voice the shadow visibly stalled. The shadow turned, and left Katie. Katie let out a breath, and turned around, no longer frozen with fear. What she saw, was nothing she wanted to see.

The man stepped in front of her Uncle: 'Unckie Charlie'. His hand, holding a blade, dripping blood. Uncle Charles himself looked worse for the wear. He was bent slightly over, clutching his side, his face in visible pain. It was hard to make him out in this particular wild lighting, but he didn't look good. Still he stood his ground, his eyes focused on the other man there. Forcing himself to bring up his fists, he said.

"Leave her alone. Leave the child alone."

"Oh? Hehehe," the other man mocked, bringing his blade up to his face, and in a cliche'd manner, licking the blood off of it. "Who's going to make me? You?" He asked, flicking his sword, to point it daringly at Uncle Charles. The man didn't know Uncle Charles's connection to the young girl he was tormenting, and he probably wouldn't even have cared.

Uncle Charles was having none of it. He wasn't playing this person's game. "AHHHHH!!" Shouting, Uncle Charles ran at the man, fists held high. Unbeknownst to Katie, but Uncle Charles had failed what he had left to do. He had failed horribly, and was wrought with guilt. He had attempted to save his family -her parents. That had ended in miserable failure. However, he had someone else to protect: Katie, his niece. He had to protect her, and this time he would not fail. He swung his right fist at the man, who easily side-stepped it, avoiding the attack.

Uncle Charles was quick though. He spun on his heel, and threw out a left jab. That one connected -hard, staggering the other man. Uncle Charles was a lefty after-all.

"Unckie... Yay," Katie's small voice came up, as she sat on the edge of her seat, watching intently.

"Oh you... shitter," the man growled, gripping his sword. He rushed Uncle Charles, and avoided another two punches. "NOW DIE!!" He shouted, managing to throw Uncle Charles off balance with a quick maneuver. Following his own momentum, the man stabbed his sword straight through Uncle Charles's chest.

Katie froze, and her eyes filled with tears again, as the blood from the attack splattered against her.

"Heh heh," the man snorted, catching Uncle Charles's falling body.

"You... Abnorm filth... W-what gives you the right..." Uncle Charles said softly, his voice revealing his death was imminent, blood coughed-up as he struggled to speak.

The man grinned, and leaned in, "It is because you are weak, pathetic human. I am an Abnorm. As Abnorms... we do what we want. It's obvious you humans can't. stop. us." He punctuated the end there, with a twist of his blade, still embedded into her uncle, causing him to wince. The man's words were confusing to Katie, and made no sense at the time, but it was clear to Uncle Charles. Uncle Charles understood this situation very well.

"You... " Uncle Charles trailed off, sliding down the man's body, as the man withdrew his blade from his victim's body, with a wetshhhlltttt. "Have... no right... Curse you... Abnorm..." With that Uncle Charles fell to the ground, thudding hard. "Run away... my angel..." he managed to say, reaching his arm out, before he went still.

"NYU!!! UNCKIE CHARRELLL!!" Katie screamed, wailing once more. Prompting the man to throw his gaze immediately over to her. He grinned wickedly, and stepped towards her, his blade now covered in her uncle's blood, dripping minaciously. His shadow once again loomed over Katie.

"NYUUUUUUU!!" Katie screamed loudly, getting to her feet, and sprinting quickly away.

"Hey!" He hollered, surprised by her sudden action. He immediately took off after the young orange-haired girl, gripping his instrument of death.

"NYU NYU NYU NYU NYU!!" Katie continued to scream over and over again, her feet carrying her through the forest, as she ran and ran, branches whipping passed her. The man struggled to keep up through the dense undergrowth.

"Hey get back here you little sh-" the man was cut off, as someone else shouted. Clearly calling for him.

Katie didn't hear what they said, as she slipped down into a hole under a tree, hiding, shaking uncontrollably, tears unrelentingly flowing.

"Aghhhhh! What-the-fuck-ever," she heard the man growl, after she slid into her hiding spot, as he turned to go, following whoever else it was that had called him.

"What was that?" Katie overheard, his dreadful companion's question, as she looked down, observing her hands, singed and red and bleeding and black; from digging around in the burning dross that had previously been her home. She closed her eyes, and rolled up her hands, blotting out the pain there.

"...Ah, nothing, just some stupid kid that I was having fun with," the man answered, Katie just barely able to overhear, before they were too far away, their voices too distant to be understood.

Katie remained in her new hidey-hole, until morning came, not sleeping a wink.

Hearing birds chirping, and seeing sunlight creep into her hole, Katie climbed out; feeling the freshness of the morning air on her dusty, ash-covered skin. With a heavy heart, the girl trudged back the way she had come. Katie stood at the edge of the clearing that surrounded her home. Her favorite flavors, no more, the grass completely burnt away. The entire place had felt the fire's kiss, burned completely. Her home, was barely a small smouldering pile of debris in the center of the clearing. Smoke billowing from it into the dimly lit, gray morning sky. Even the trees that encircled the clearing were all blackened, charred as the fire had nipped them when it raged. The entire place was a dead circle of nothingness now. Barren. A scar from the horrors of the previous night.

Katie turned her head, and walked away, eager to be rid of the place. Her feet once again took her towards the dusty road, plodding softly on the burnt ground. She stepped up beside a mostly-burned-away teddy-bear, but took no notice, and continued on down the road leading to Scummerset Port.

Katie rounded the bend, and solemnly stopped, as the remains of the town came into view. The girl stood there, a spitting image of the town that was next to the sea. Both were in tatters, shadows of their former self's, covered in cuts and bruises, grime and ash, both burned, smouldering from the hate-filled attack that had just transpired.

Katie stood there transfixed, in the morning haze, a soft breeze blowing, looking out over the town, destruction everywhere, smoke billowing into the sky above, silent except for the seagulls squawking down by the wrecked pier. She felt empty, hollow. Like no hope existed anymore...


~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~


Suddenly, she was back. Katie was back in the present, snapping out of whatever vision she had just been witnessing. She found herself breathing heavily, sweat rolling down her face. She felt like she had been running a mile a minute! "What?" she grunted, looking around. What had caused that memory to resurface? Why was she now recalling the most terrible day in her life, of all times? It had been something she had pushed far far down, but never forgot. A painful memory she no longer wished to remember, but couldn't repress. What had just caused her to relive it?

Looking around, she realized she was once more again in that room, with the League of Bounty Hunters around her. What had they been talking about? Oh right.. An Abnorm that went by Reaper. Right. A conversation that seemed old now... Reaper. An Abnorm apparently SS rank. An Abnorm.. That's when Katie realized it. Katie knew her! Katie knew Reaper! She knew... Her eyes once again finding their way to Manus's picture of Reaper. Katie once again, was losing herself..

"I.. I know that Abnorm," Katie said aloud, her vision already blurry, as she stood there unmoving. "I know her!" She shouted, drawing the attention from Manus, Evon, Heath, and everyone there. I know her... She went silent, and the room once again disappeared...

 

[Thalia_Neko]

Part Six
Reaper: Commanding Presence​

Katie was back, in Scummerset, nearly 13 years in the future from her previous venture into her memories. This one was a bit closer to the present.

Only a mere few months ago...

Despite the horrific events of that one night, Scummerset had continued on. People rebuilt, and the town survived. Survived as in the loosest sense of the word, of course, but survived nonetheless. While Scummerset remained like a stubborn cockroach, it still never thrived. The coastal port town remained with its nasty reputation, kept the shitty workmanship of its citizens, and had shoddy structures that passed as buildings, and to top it off, it kept that awful stench. The citizens of Scummerset forgot the catastrophe that befell their town, and remained being their average scumbags.

Katie had grown, however. She was taller for one, 5'6'', and pretty well built. The young girl had grown into a strong, fine young woman, hair as radiant orange as the sun, long and sharp, charming, tied normally in a ponytail. In the years that followed the tragic event, she had trained, trained, and trained some more. The girl was a known fighter, and was mostly left alone, some feared her. Since she had witnessed those horrible events first hand, she had become strong. Strong enough to kill. Strong enough to defend those weaker. The girl had become leader of a nearby group of vigilantes, that protected the town. They were enemies of Abnorm-kind, but no one there hated Abnorms quite the same way as Katie. Oh no. No one in her group even came close to the level of Katie's loathing. Katie was not only a leader to this group of vigilantes, but she also was a very dedicated, accomplished Bounty Hunter; capturing Abnorms wanted by the World Government, and returning them, alive or dead, for her prize money. But she didn't really do it for the money. She was happy to. Relished it. Katie had absolutely zero tolerance regarding Abnorms, believing, without a shadow of a doubt in her mind, that all Abnorms were evil. Were the devil's children, and were a blight on humanity.

Katie's usual combat attire consisted of a set very elegant, shiny, silver armor. Under her armor, she wore a splendid white cloak and atop her shoulders were sturdy pads. She sported a protective cuirrass, which was open above her stomach, but lead to strong faulds held, protectively around her waist; that's also where her blade hung. Along her legs were thigh-high mail chausses, embossed with beautiful golden design. Her feet were clad in beautifully-silver just-below-the-knee-high boots, sported with a short heel. Her armor was strong, durable, reliable, but also open, and streamlined for quick movements. Her entire ensemble made her look regal, imposing, much like knights of old. And that's how she liked it.

During combat, Katie made use of her speed; giving Abnorms no quarter when she struck them down. Today was that kinda day where she would strike them down. Seeing as how, Scummerset Port, the lowly town as it was, was once again being attacked by Abnorms... However, it wasn't going quite as planned.


It was nearly midday when the Abnorms began their assault, led by a psychopath named Grehg. It was a blisteringly hot day, no wind, and no clouds graced the sky, no sort of luxury for the citizens of Scummerset that day. Katie, some friends, and a small portion of her vigilante gang took up combat position in the streets of Scummerset.

She slammed her armor-clad back up against the nearby wall, of the alley they had just ran down. Breathing heavily, she looked back at her friend, "Carver, seriously!" She shouted. Artillery sirens sounding through the air, followed quickly by loud booms, obviously indicating explosions. One rocked the very building she was leaning against. "Send for the rest of the gang!! NOW!"

"B-but Katie..." His voice wavey, staggering when another bomb went off nearby, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. "They can't be sent for... Its Supply Day!" The worry clear in his shaky voice, he knew the problem that they were facing. But supply day was an important day. It was when members of her gang left Scummerset, to return days later, with a new haul of supplies for the town. People needed food. Medicine. Anything that would improve their quality of life. Katie's gang helped provide that -free of any charge. Supply day was a very important day.

"GGRAHH!" Katie growled in frustration, slamming her fist against the wall, her armor making pristine clanging sounds at the sharp movement. Katie knew just how important supplies were. She loved the people of this town dearly, despite most being royal scumbags. She knew some of them were also probably Abnorms, but she elected not to find out who, preferring to stay ignorant, loving the bliss that came with it. "Well we won't need supplies if the entire town is destroyed and everyone is bloody-freakin' killed!" She shouted at him, causing him to wince. Katie wasn't actually mad at him, she was mad at the situation, at the Abnorms, and how they conveniently decided to attack the town, when it was Supply Day. Almost too conveniently. Narrowing her eyes, she went on, "Well anyways, we have to make due with what we have! Go round up every member of the gang that's still in town and give them orders on what to do! I'm putting you in charge, clean up these Abnorms! I'll take out their leader. Now, Carver, GO!" She pointed down the alleyway. Carver nodded and left, to take charge of the situation. Katie was grateful to have Carver, he was good at commanding the others. She was better at simply leading the charge.

Katie was about to take a step, when the building next to her was bombed. "AH!" She screamed, thrown against the other wall of the alley, with a hard enough impact she dented the wooden wall. With a quick glance up, she yelped, leaping from the alley, and rolling to her feet; out of harm's way as a second later the building crashed right where she had been, sealing off the alley. That was fine, she was done with it. She turned forward, searching for that maniac, Grehg.

"Get those people out of here!" Katie shouted to some members of her vigilante gang, pointing at a cowering couple a few feet away. The men acted quickly, pulling the two away, a second before a shot hit the ground right next to them, exploding. Relieved, she looked towards the sky. The town was being bombed from afar. It was currently unknown to Katie how, but one thing she knew. Scummerset Port, was again under attack by malicious Abnorms. She didn't know how many, but that didn't matter. This would not be like the same disaster from years ago, she would make sure of that. She had the ability to make sure of that now...

With a swift swing of her sword, she jumped up, and cut up some burning falling debris, breaking it apart; before it had the chance to fall onto some fleeing citizens.

"Thank you Katie," she heard them say, before they carried on, their hands above their heads, their eyes upward, looking for any more falling danger. She gave them a quick nod watching them rush away. Katie turned back around, to continue heading into the heart of town, where Grehg was at, commanding his small army of Abnorms.

Katie brandished her sword, and it caught the sun's light, the beautifully crafted blade turning translucent, almost glowing golden, as she watched an Abnorm ahead of her, teleporting around, tormenting some innocent people. He sickened Katie, acting so disrespectfully to the victims he was toying with. She ran forward, both hands gripping the grip of her sword, just below the elegantly crafted guard. Her eyes trailed the teleporting Abnorm quickly, watching his movements. He was dressed in black, and wore a shroud over his head. Clearly, he thought himself some sort of ninja. That was fine. She was a knight. The knight would best the ninja this time.

Narrowing her blue-green eyes, she swung her blade, "Hyyah!" Cutting through the air, where she had anticipated he would show, after his teleportation. Katie was right on the dollar; the Abnorm appeared, and stood there for a split-second gurgling, before his body crumpled to the ground, blood running from his body, his head rolling away, down the cobblestones his blood was already staining red.

Katie heard commanding shouts behind her. Spinning around in place suddenly, the blood on her sword from her kill splattered nastily across the building they were in front of. She glared and stepped forward. "GREHG!" She shouted up at him, immediately snagging the leader Abnorm's attention. She pointed her golden blade up at him. "I'm here to end this - and you. You and your Abnorms will cease, and you will die. Too bad for you." Her face was set sternly, no second-guessing crossed her. Her words were laced with venom, and Katie 100% believed she was going to end this.

Grehg immediately burst into laughter, unable to understand what he had just heard. Wiping his brow he looked down at her with calm, yet mocking eyes. "We're Abnorms! We don't answer to you!" he shouted in response, his arms raised up. "All my Abnorms are tearing this town apart! Nothing you can do to stop it! Hawhawhaw!"

"You will stop it. Or I will stop it," the angry girl growled, gripping her blade hard. She was being disingenuous, she didn't care or want to hear he would end this. Katie stared up to the roof of the building, where Grehg was standing.

Grehg snorted flatly, and motioned to the Abnorm at his right. The Abnorm responded silently, by walking forward, and taking a step off the top of the building. As he fell, he changed suddenly, his body contorting, becoming something other than Abnorm, something other than human. A giant Tyrannosaurus rex hit the ground feet-first, sending out a big quake across the town. It stood up, and let out a ear-deafening roar: that shook the entire place, shattering glass, and causing many people to fall over screaming in terror.

Katie took a step back, her sword held down to her right, staring up at the monsterous beast before her with a gleam in her blue-green eyes. It barely was able to fit on the streets, with its feet crushing stands, and buildings bent around it, straining to break.

"Holy Hell..." she breathed. This Abnorm was stronger than most she faced.

The Abnorm, or beast, or monster, whatever you wanted to call it, started charging, smashing through everything. Katie had no choice, she took off in the other direction. She darted into an alley of some fairly large buildings, and stopped. The Abnorm slammed up against the buildings, trying to reach her. The buildings began to break away at the Abnorm's struggle. Katie glanced around, there was a hole in the side of the building.. She ducked inside, and out of sight. The Abnorm was too big to notice as Katie appeared around the side of him, exiting the building from a different angle. "Yahhh!" she screamed, slashing her sword across the giant ankles of the giant beast. To the orange-head's surprise she saw dark red blood splatter out, and the T-rex roared in pain. Taking this golden opportunity, she leaped and jabbed her sword as high as she could -into the Abnorm's lower thigh.

The beast roared in pain once more, and staggered to the side, crashing through a smaller nearby shopping hut. Luckily her sword slipped out, and fell to the ground with a few clangs. Katie picked it back up and watched as the T-rex stumbled around clumisily, smashing through, and destroying parts of the town. Admittedly, they weren't that unreplaceable, this was Scummerset after all. Katie watched as the dinosaur fell backwards into the putrid water of the cape, generating a very large wave, that splashed over most of the town, including herself.

"Oh ick," Katie hissed, lifting up her arms, and eyeing her now-soaked self, her hair messed up, and her cloak dripping the foul water. "Yuck, goddammit."

A loud clamorous sound could be heard from where the Abnorm fell into the water. Katie immediately looked over, her mouth aghast at what she saw; a giant tentacle'd beast rose up. The water cascading down it, showering like a waterfall. Its tentacles stretched out from its grotesque body, reaching out over the town. Katie looked up at them, in the suction cups were large spines, dripping purple.

Abnorms...

Abnorms were monsters. There was no way that thing she was looking at was Human. Unfathomable.

A guttural groan came from the beast, and its tentacles flew out, seemingly to act on their own. They began smashing everything, ripping their way through wood. Katie even watched as two tentacles wrapped around the biggest building in Scummerset, and crushed it ruthlessly between their grasp. All while this beast laid waste to the town, other Abnorms scampered about, causing havoc and other chaos, killing people that hadn't yet managed to escape. Abnorms were in the sky, with various disturbing ways to fly, some with gross buzzing wings akin to flies, others with no seemingly way of staying up in the air. And worst of all, that artillery bombing, had yet to finish. Bombs had been dropping the entire time. Katie couldn't imagine what was left of the town at this point. She wondered what an aerial view would look like -probably a warzone. Anyways, was that bombing, an Abnorm as well? She guessed it was. As if right on cue, an artillery bomb struck nearby her, causing a wave of force over her, making her head ring, but she was so appalled with what was happening, Katie hardly noticed. She stood there, her sword held downwards, her posture defeated. What... What could she do?

"Do you see?!" Grehg shouted, his hands held up. "We are Abnorms! This is what we're capable of! And no one - no one can stand in our way! Human!" He shouted, his gaze focused right on Katie. "Bow, and I might just spare your insolent, pathetic life."

A big explosion rocked the cape-area, and Grehg's arms fell to his sides, as it drew his, and Katie's attention. A orange cloud rose up from the collapsing tentacle'd monster, as it fell backwards into the water, a loud splash heard from its fall. Some of the members of her gang were near the pier, shouting in happiness as they had managed to take it down.

Katie wasn't paying attention, and suddenly felt a sharp pain coming from just below her right shoulder. "AHHH!" She screamed out, her eyes tearing up. A tentacle had been in Katie's vicinity, and when the beast went down, the tentacle had been pulled back. Striking her, it pulled her down, sliding back towards its body. Tugging back towards the water, the spine snapped from the tentacle, leaving Katie lying there, agony rocking her very being.

The defiant girl got back to her feet, shaky and wounded. "Aagh!" She grunted, pulling out the poisonous spine, and tossing it to the ground, blood and poisonous bile leaking from the injury in her left shoulder.

"What?! No way!!"

"That's impossible!"

Katie swiveled her head, in the direction of the shocked voices, her eyesight was blurring, and she was struggling to stand, clutching that open wound she had literally just received. Her eyes widened, watching the water billow out once more, as something rose up and out from the depths. Katie's blood ran cold, and her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes could not believe what they were seeing.

A dragon.

"Hnn.. ahhh... hhh..." Katie tried to form words of disbelief; the orange-haired knightess stood there, her entire body quivering.

The dragon rose up out of the water, its scales red and gleaming, his big green eyes slitted, with nasty teeth lining its giant maw. Her gang members ran screaming, clearly done fighting. Done with any hope at all.

No way. Just no way. It was impossible. Dragons were myths.

Katie found she couldn't even move; from where she stood in the middle of a street, bent over, huffing and puffing, one eye closed from all the pain, her right hand around her body, holding her left side. Her only open eye quickly losing light, and seeing the world in a blurry haze. Her sword in her left hand, hanging uselessly at her side, trailing the ground.

Her only working -albeit just barely- eye trailed the dragon as it took to the skies, its red wings sending out large gushes of air with each magnificent beat. It flew over to Grehg and bent its head down. Laughing maniacally, Grehg grabbed a horn, and stepped atop. He never ceased laughing while the dragon remained airborne, just above the town. "BURN IT! BURN IT ALL!" Grehg shouted, "AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The dragon reared its massive, elongated head back, smoke and flames undulated out from the corners of its mouth...

Katie's single eye that was open as wide as it could be. Fear, had been trounced by reverence for the majestic beast of legend, but even that had been trounced now, by unfeasibility. It could breathe fire? Now that was pushing it... Katie's heart was about to stop. Just what were Abnorms?!

That was when it all went haywire.

The dragon never relinquished its flames. Grehg never uttered another word. He didn't even know what hit him, but Katie saw. She watched it all.

A black streak, as fast as lightning landed atop the dragon. Her sword had pierced straight through Grehg, killing him instantly, and went down into the back of the dragon's neck and out the other side. With one very swift movement, that was only discernible by master swordsmen and women, such as herself, the figure severed the head from the dragon. She leaped into the air, as the dead bodies of Grehg and the shapeshifting Abnorm fell back to the earth (-that particular Abnorm's body shifted back to his human-like form as he fell, his head severed completely from his body). Katie saw the red flash of her eyes, and a quick swipe of her sword, and a black ringed slash crossed the sky, instantly cutting all airborne Abnorms in half, killing them all instantly. Blood rained down upon Scummerset, even some on Katie, but she didn't care, she kept her eye focused intently on the raven-black blur.

At least until, the woman landed somewhere in the town; A fall from a height that would kill any normal person, but this was no normal person. This Abnorm... Was something else.

Katie couldn't move, so she had no idea what was happening, but she heard chinks and slashes and other various noises, coupled with screams coming from throughout the town. Screams that at this point, could only belong to the invading Abnorms. Without warning, the woman appeared before Katie, staring down at her, only one visible red eye could be seen underneath the long, sleek, straight raven-black hair. She had a strange rancid scent. Her clothes were entirely red, and were ripped in many places. The figure before her was blurry, but she was unmistakable, and unforgettable. Just the presence she commanded was enough to stop someone's heart. And at that moment: Katie's heartbeat was once a minute. Darkness seemed to envelop around the two, or maybe just around the woman before her. Katie could barely tell, she was on the verge of unconsciousness.

The encounter had only last for a blink of an eye, before the woman was leaping, flying through the air, away from town, darkness swirling about her like a cloak; the woman's long thin katana-like blade held out to the side, pitch-black, yet as glossy and beautiful as onyx gemstone. Katie watched her easily block an incoming bomb. It hadn't even fazed her, like destroying an incoming missile was equal to swatting away a fly. Katie's last sight of the mysterious Abnorm, was her disappearance into the nearby forest. Katie noted, just before her vision went black, the bombs had stopped.

It seemed Scummerset had a guardian angel that day. Katie drifted into unconsciousness, collapsing, unsure if that's what it really had been...


~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~


Katie's eyes flew open, and she took a very deep breath, prompting everyone around her to look around, murmuring as if she had gone crazy.

"Katie?" A voice rang out, only barely heard by the ringing in the teen's ears.

"Katie!!"

"KATIE!" Heath shouted, snapping the girl out of it.

Her eyes refocusing, as she looked directly over at the man she regarded so highly. "W-wha? What?" she murmured, glancing around, her body covered in sweat. Sweat stinking up her armor, making her feel very uncomfortable. "Is it hot in here?" she asked out.

"Katie!" Heath shouted again, this time really gathering her attention, as she shut her mouth, and looked at him. "You said, 'I know her'. You know this Abnorm?" Heath asked, taking the picture from Manus, and walking over to her, and pushing the picture into her hands so the girl would focus.

Katie looked down at the picture in her hands. "O-oh. Oh. Y-yes!" she chirped up, finally self-aware. "R-right! Y-yes!" She took a breath, that memory had distressed her very core. Opening her eyes again, to look at Heath she nodded once. "Yes, a day a few months ago... I met her. Face to face."

Heath stood there, calmly listening...

 

[Thalia_Neko]

Part Seven
Reaper: Enigmatic Dragon​

"And- and so, yeah! Yeah... she was just standing there!" Katie exclaimed, her hands flailing in front of her as the girl had lost her composure; the metal of her silver armor dinged, as the metals collided, caused by her various overexcited movements. "She stood there, standing slightly to the side, clothes completely red and so disorderly! It was like she hadn't even bothered with her appearance at all! -For a long time!! And oh, her raven-black hair was all the way to the ground, dragging behind her in the dust. It covered most of her face actually, quite like the picture -just like the picture!" Katie shouted, holding it up, and poking at it wildly, so no one could actually see the flimsy thing as it crumpled around and creased. "Just like the picture.. One visible gleaming red eye... " Katie shuddered remembering the look in that eye. "Like my soul had just been sucked out," she whispered softly, looking down, seeming to settle down into a more melancholic mood. Then Katie seemed to perk up again, "Her blade was out to the side! It was the sickest thing I ever saw! Black as black could be, with deep red blood dripping from it -from all her victims! Her blade... like pulsated... I could feel it from where I stood. I felt a malevolent force...spiteful... it was like.. -again Iduno! Iduno! And oh how -"

"-She reeeeeked!!" Katie was yelling, bringing up her hand to her nose, pinching it there, scrunching up her face, and waving her left hand in front of her. "I couldn't describe the smell... It was like... It was like... I don't know!" Katie threw up her arms in exasperation, bent over a bit, tired from her long-winded gratuitous explanation, of the events that had transpired that day, ending in the most embarrassing outburst Heath had ever seen, regarding the Reaper woman, especially from the usual calm and cool Katie. Katie wasn't the most eloquent of people. "I mean it was baddddd! Like -when Don farts!"

"HEY!" One of the hunters shouted from across the room, clearly offended.

Katie calmed down a bit, her head lowered shaking. Actually, her entire body was shaking, as she recalled the vision of that Abnorm. That Abnorm that had single-handedly and decisively ended the battle at Scummerset. A battle that had seemed insurmountable at the time. Katie had been first hand witness to what had happened there, and she had come face to face with the one now called Reaper. Reaper had been imposing. Terrifying despite having been her technical savior. Reaper's presence had instilled something deep deep in Katie, turning her heart black. Black as the hair on that woman, black as the hair of that woman's sword.

Black as death itself.

They didn't understand. They hadn't been there. Reaper was no savior of Scummerset Port. She was no person. She wasn't even a monster. The monsters were the one's she had slain so effortlessly that day. No.

Reaper was her namesake. She was Grim. She was the Reaper in the flesh. Katie understood wholly the name which was given to that thing.

Katie didn't even know how she was alive today. Katie hated Abnorms, that needn't be repeated anymore, it was obvious. She thought all Abnorms should die regardless of who they were. But not Reaper. Reaper should never be messed with... Ever! By anyone. Ever! To do so was to be sent straight to Hell.

There was no doubt in Katie's mind that Reaper was indeed SS. If that rank didn't exist before, it did now. Katie feared Jeauyus. Katie feared the Trinity. Katie feared for her life when she was locked in combat. Katie didn't fear Reaper. Fear was a natural response to something. There was no natural response to Reaper. There was just the will of Reaper. Katie knew. If she ever saw Reaper again; Katie would die. It was foolish to fear that future, because it was an inevitability. Katie didn't know what it was she felt exactly towards Reaper, but it was not fear. Reaper was nothing natural.

She tittered, her mind trying to wrap around the thought of the nemesis-of-life, Reaper. Katie trailed off, sinking to her knees. Her armor clanged when her knees hit the cobbled floor of the hut their secret meetings took place in. "She smelled bad... I.. Heh heh.. I duno how to say it's...heh. Duno..."

"She smelled like Death," a brusque voice sounded from behind Heath and Manus, who had since Katie's entire story had started had stepped up right in front of her. Heath had been listening very closely. He trusted Katie completely, to see her shaken up like this. Well, to say he wasn't the least bit shaken himself was a lie. The man who loathed all Abnorms, but shoved fear aside for glory and passion, couldn't just ignore the orange-haired girl's tale. It didn't bode well. That one named Reaper... Yet still, he remained unconvinced, firmly believing if they could kill the Trinity, and Jeauyus, and Sol Will, then they could kill Reaper. Regardless of his misgivings, he shifted his position so that he -and Katie- could see the one who had spoken up.

"Go on," Heath gave his blessing, motioning with his right hand. "Your words, sir, seemed to hint like you had more to say."

The man had been all the way in the back of the room. He not once had even been able to see the picture, but he knew already who it was. Had known the entire time. In fact, despite himself, he would have brought the subject of Reaper up this very meeting. It was fortunate that Manus had done so earlier. Still, the man-in-the shadows had stuff to say on the matter.

So, he brushing passed two hunters that were in his way. The light illuminated who it was. To not-only Katie's surprise, but to the surprise of the whole room. It was the enigmatic, masked Bounty Hunter, known as Dragon. Evon was rare to speak. Dragon was never known to speak.

Dragon stood in the light to address the assembled hunters. Mysterious as he was, he stood there, poised upright, certain about himself. A mask covered his face completely -at all times. Katie had never once seen him without it. The mask was a deep red, with the lower half being comprised of dangerous pointed teeth that resembled dragon fangs. In fact, his entire mask reminded her of the dragon she had seen in Scummerset Port that one fateful day. Like the dragon that day, long red horns curled up the top of his head, and pointed upwards like a crown of sorts. The eyes of the mask were soulless black pits, that took your very essence away. Short spikey-black hair was the only visible part of Dragon's head.

Katie's eyes left his creepy dragon-mask, to observe the rest of him. Dragon was well-built, that much was obvious. By her guess he stood around 6'3'', with a very strong posture. His top consisted only of a tight black shirt, that revealed his sculpted muscles, and the hardened abs underneath. A scarf laid around his neck; it was a particularly long scarf, deep red, with -Asian Yeah, Asian- markings along it. The scarf was displayed out behind him, like a makeshift set of wings.

Bandages wrapped tightly around his large forearms and biceps; extending down from his hands, which were covered with plated, dark-red gauntlets, that went just passed Dragons wrists. Just beyond his knuckles, on those very gauntlets, were gleaming silver barbs. It would hurt to get punched by him, Katie made note.

Lowering, his pants didn't seem anything special in particular, aside from their deep red colouring. Dragon's feet donned big, sturdy black boots. Altogether, his look was samey, not very remarkable, but it was dragon-like, and still managed to give off that odd sense of trepidation, if one was to oppose him. Katie liked it. Except for that unnerving mask.

But, seeing him address the meeting like that... was strange. Dragon never had done that before.

"Death, I said," Dragon repeated, sounding rather mild. His voice was not what Katie had always imagined it would be. Unexpectedly, it was nice, not soft, but not too stuck-up-about-himself sounding. She had imagined it being gruff, like he spoke with his throat. In retrospect, she wondered what had given her that idea. She knew virtually nothing about Dragon, except for the fact he was one of the most skilled solo-hunters around. According to Heath, Dragon was strong, and could overpower A-rank Abnorms with his barehands; reinforced by the fact that Dragon carried no weapon.

"She smelled like Death," Dragon re-emphasized once more. Katie swore his head was bent her way, giving her the slightest of nods, from where she sat on the ground. "It is as you say. I have more words to speak." He was calm, and gentle. Katie was glad for that. Most around here spoke urgently, or in an aggressive manner. Katie, realized, maybe, just maybe, she was tired of hearing Heath speak. Huh, what a strange realization and even stranger feeling.

"I know who Reaper is," Dragon stated simply. "She didn't use to be the one you know as Reaper now. No, she was much different back then."

"Back then?" Manus snorted, "You sound as if you know the woman personally!"

Dragon turned his head slowly from Manus, to the group, "That is because, in a way.. I do."

 

[Thalia_Neko]

Part Eight
Reaper: Pretty Much Night and Day​

Dragon paused and held his head down slightly, probably in thought. "Alright brothers and sisters, let me recount my short tale." Underneath his mask, unbeknownst to the gathered hunters, he closed his eyes, remembering that day many years ago. The day he first met the one known now as Reaper. The day he made the mistake, that just might've cost them all their lives. Dragon was not a fearful man. Dragon was not a self-pitying man. He was not defeatist. However, he believed that he may have doomed his brethren of hunters, and wanted them to know. Years ago, he was not the same man, he was radically different. A lot less humble and vastly more egotistical. He much preferred his new-self, regarding his old self with much disdain.

Vision dark, he relied on his memory. His mind's eye to bring him back...


..


Dragon opened his eyes, to a bright warm day. The sounds of birds were chirping in the air. He stood in the middle of a sparse forest, with beautiful oak trees alround, the scent of flourishing wildlife hanging in the air. Morning dew sparkling like stars. Dragon recognized this forest. It was not too far from his mark...

The masked man took off running, through the trees, whipping pass the vegetation with a determined pace. He wasn't far now. Breathing fast, he slowed, eventually creeping through the undergrowth. Dragon was not a small man, but through training, he knew how to remain unseen, when he didn't want to be seen. This was one of those times.


..



"I stood there," Dragon went on, continuing his tale, his eyes still shut behind his mask, his visible body stoic and regal to the others in the room, the light dancing on his dark red garb; making his body look like it was shifting, almost reptilian-like in the dimness.

".. hidden properly behind the trees and underbrush, peering out, taking in my surroundings. Stealth. Recon first. Like any good hunter would. I saw..." He focused his mind, trying to recall. "Right - a small house - very small. Made of white brick, with a tan roof, made of small shingles. The door was wooden - easily breakable if the need would arise. My attention focused quickly, on the few people outside."

He cleared his throat, Katie hanging on every word, she had taken up a cross-legged sitting position, comfortable, listening like she was a kid at story-time.

He went on. "If I remember right, guessing... there was a few Abnorms. One Human. I recognized the man. A man that I respected. 'Ten-Tons' I knew him as." Chuckles rumbled from him, shaking his head, allowing Katie a few glimpses of his short dark hair. "Ten-Tons, man what a guy. Built like a freight-train! Heh heh heh."

Clearly, Dragon had some sort of past with this 'Ten-Tons' character. "Sir?" Katie piped up, people looking at her in annoyance for interrupting, especially since no one had interrupted her. "Does he really weigh ten tons?"

Dragon -still eyes closed- paused, underneath his mask, his face was one of irritation. "No, child. Of course not, don't be silly. It was an old war nickname." He didn't hear the feeble 'oh', or chose to ignore it as he carried on...

"I recognized Ten-Tons from the war years back. That Third World War. He and I were in it, deployed in the same battalion. This war... was brutal, we had to train extra hard, the enemy would give us no-quarter, no reprieve! The war was savage, but Ten-Tons took it all in stride: nothing able to stop him! What a glorious man. That man trained harder than all of us combined. He was a legend. Still, sometime after the war I suppose he retired; out where I found him that day."

"It was somewhat confusing, but mostly startling. He was training Abnorms!" Dragon shook his head. "Three I remember seeing. One male... Pretty well-built -not like Ten-Tons obviously, but he had muscle. The other two female. One shorter, scrawny, pale, only distinguishable trait I remember seeing... red hair. The other Abnorm... Well, heh heh..." He trailed off, remembering glossy long, raven-black hair.

"Anyways, I saw my prey, but didn't want to engage! Not yet. It would be risky to engage all those Abnorms at once, and I wasn't even sure how Ten-Tons would react. No. So, I waited, patiently, biding my time."


..


Dragon's eyes followed the Abnorm girl, his deep blue eyes trailing her, as she left the accompaniment of the others. Narrowing his eyes, he found the moment to strike. She was all alone, and away from the others! Leaping out, he aimed to break her neck with his punch. Ending things quickly was his specialty, but not his forte: it would be simple if it ended quickly, but a lot less fun and rewarding. The Bounty Hunter knew this Abnorm, he had seen Bounty Posters up in various towns for her, that coin was as good as his! And he would get the satisfaction of putting another one of these freaks down. Thattttt didn't go quite like he had expected -much to his demented glee. The girl's Abnormality gave her a sixth-sense; allowing her to preemptively sense danger that was to befall her. She quickly jumped to the side, rolling, and avoided his blow that would have killed her instantly; dodging, her nimble frame already to the other-side of the clearing, her short white sword already in her hand and pointed at him, anger and confusion in her haughty eyes. "I'm sorreh missy," Dragon taunted, walking over to a tree, and nonchalantly leaning against it. Snickering, thinking he had this in the bag, he pulled his mask off, thinking of teasing his prey just a bit more.


..


"SAY WHAA~AT?" Katie shouted out, "You took your mask off? Naw, I don't believe it!" She shouted, crossing her arms and faking a pout. "I think you should prove it to us. Take your mask off right now! Right here!" Gosh! She was so curious now! What did he look like underneath?

"Katie, what would that prove?..." Manus grumbled, trailing off.

"I'm not doing that," Dragon interrupted, stating simply.

"Aw! C'mon!!" Katie pleaded, pouting for real this time.

"Anyways, as I was saying..." -("HMPH!")- "..mask off, I taunted the Abnorm girl, saying some really foul things, edging her on, getting her worked up." Dragon carried on his story, ignoring Katie purposefully. "She swung at me with her blade, I dodged easily. To the right. To the left. I hit her stomach -it was hard, to my amazement. I felt her abs. She was stronger than I had realized, but not strong enough. I hit her again, and again, and again. All the while messing with her mind. Saying cruel things. She responded with some words of her own."

"How can you say cruel things to an Abnorm?" Scoffed a hunter. When he spoke again, Katie recognized who it was. Actually, his voice should've given him away. It was nasally, and was always laced with bile, with every word he spoke. Vicetto, one of the Trio of Destruction. He chortled, "Please, Abnorms are Abnorms, who cares what is said to them? Fuck them. I'd make fun of the bitch all day long! -It'd be fun! Hehehehehehahaha!"

While, Heath gave Vicetto a stern stare; Katie found herself sort of agreeing with him. Abnorms didn't deserve any sympathy or empathy. Really, who cared what was said to them? Dragon didn't respond, he didn't even make any indication he had heard -aside from stopping his story- or any sign of acknowledgement in what the nastier hunter had said.

Quiet again, Dragon took a breath, and went on.


..


A few more of his hits connected against his prey, bringing him intense pleasure. He enjoyed feeling her body cave in when he hit her, or when a kick connected. A rather nasty left hook, connected with the Abnorm's jaw, the barbs on his gauntlets pressing harshly into her face. -The force of his punch knocking her to the ground, roughly, dark red blood splattering against the dust. Somehow, even with her power to know when attacks were coming, this man was still managing to land them and she hadn't gotten in a single good strike of her own.

Dragon heard her cough, and watched her rub her mouth, blood dripping from it, all over her hand. She was resilient he'd give her that. He stepped up beside her, and she unexpectedly swung her blade right at his shins. He effortlessly kicked it away, the white shortsword clanging as it struck the ground, sliding away -out of reach. Dragon grinned, and looked down at her. He reached down, and sunk his fingers right into her glossy raven-black hair; pulling the Abnorm girl up by where he gripped her.

"AHHH!" She screamed in pain, her hands clawing at the hand holding her up by her hair. The ruthless Bounty Hunter held her at his level, face-to-face. He stood there, smiling, his eyes willingly displaying his intense pleasure and amusement from the whole ordeal. "Stupid fucking Abnorm," he spat, making sure to actually spit, right at her face.

She opened her eyes, her green eyes glaring at him defiantly, his spit wet on her stern face.

"I'm going to kill you now. Or perhaps I should play a bit more with you first? Maybe cut off a leg -or two. I could even use your sword to do it," He continued to mock her.

She remained there in his hand, her face set, revealing nothing but defiance. She was kinda cute actually. Even more surprising, was she was cute being defiant. "That's a good look for you," Dragon sneered.

"Heh. Thats what I thought, you worthless piece of trash." He shook her like a child, and she squeaked the horrific pressure of the sudden shake, opening her eyes once more, feeling him bring her back to face him. "Perhaps I should bring you alive to the World Government, witch. Maybe they'll make good use of you." Dragon faked a shudder. "Who knows what they'll do to a pretty young thing like you. Experiment.. Torture. Find out just what makes you tick?" His words were ominous and foreboding, as shook her again. "Huh? HUH?"

"I'm going to kill you," she said coldly, words dripping venom. Dragon paused for a moment. That warning... It sounded more like -a promise? Like she was promising him his death, not like she was casually making a pathetic death threat.

Narrowing his eyes, he retorted, "Oh yeah? How?"

"I'm training with Ten-Tons. He's helping me. Soon. Soon, I'll be strong. Stronger than you. Then I'll come for you. And I'll kill you. I'll hunt you down. There won't be a single place you can hide. You will not get away. Your end is coming: you will die."

For some reason, Dragon was finding it difficult to speak. His eyes even fell. Forcing, his eyes back up, to look at her once more, his heart skipped a beat, when their eyes re-connected. Her eyes were aflame. Burning with something Dragon didn't understand. 'Training' -that was something he understood, however.

Here this Abnorm was, on her death-bed, and she was saying weird things like that.. He dropped her to the ground, hearing a grunted, "oooafh!" escape her as she collapsed, barely able to move from the beating she had just received. He paced in front of her, tapping his chin with his left hand, his mask held in his right. "Yes. Yes... It's been awhile since I had a good fight..." He turned back to her. "What's your name?" he asked, a grin displayed sheepishly on her tormentor's face.

The raven-haired Abnorm glanced up at him, still her face one of dissent, knowing he was still ridiculing her. She answered simply, "Vira." The conviction could be heard in her voice, even with it as shaky, as it was from her near-death beating. A smile was the last thing she saw, before he slid his dragon-mask back on. A smile that was not one of mockery, but one that was hiding something. Something Dragon did not want to admit.

"Vira. Perfect. I will remember you. Today's your lucky day. You don't have to die! I've elected to not turn you in for a bounty. Nope, I think I'll leave you right here." The excitement could almost be heard from his voice. "Ten-Tons, eh? Train with him. I can't wait to see your growth. Then, maybe one day, we can have a proper fight. Oh, how splendid that will be..." He leaped into a tree, catching the branch, swinging and pulling himself up, the tree shaking and swishing with his weight. He looked back at the Abnorm, crumpled on the ground in a pool of her own blood. "I await that day. Vira." He turned and leaped away, hearing one last thing from the raven-haired Abnorm, before she were to pass out...

"And you remember, Vira will kill you on that day."

Dragon couldn't help but feel the hairs raise along his body. What was with that strange conviction-laden voice? Her tone was not one of a pitiful dying Abnorm. It was something else. Why didn't he just kill her? That Abnorm was at his mercy. She didn't stand a chance against him. What had spooked him so? Dragon didn't know, but he was ready to be gone from there, ready to push this out of his mind. He'd go kill another Abnorm to feel better. Maybe a whole town of them! Yeah, that would be good, and fun... Yeah.


..


"And you remember," Dragon, the Bounty Hunter that was standing amongst them all, recounting a story from his past, repeated the words of the Abnorm he failed to kill, "Vira will kill you on you that day."

He stopped, finally opening his eyes. Even the daunting Dragon was defenseless at the moment. He swiveled his head around, observing what the hunters in the room were saying and doing in response to his story. He had no other words. He knew his folly. Dragon's pass self was a pathetic, weak-willed megalomaniac. He deserved the fright he got that day. But what had become of it? What had he done letting her live? He was sure of it. Vira had gone on to train. She had mastered her craft. Somehow, sometime, the Abnorm he had beaten to near-death, had managed to surpass him. Surpass them all. Vira's words spoken to him that day... They were not threats. They were not promises. They were vows. An inevitability. Dragon knew Vira was Reaper. There was no doubt in his mind. An all-powerful SS rank Abnorm, built for mass-destruction.

Even though, the Abnorm he met that day, was weak, was easily discernible. Not at all like the Abnorm in the photograph, who appeared strong, and unknowable, exuding confidence. Not at all like the killing-machine that Katie had just described in her story, moments before.

Reaper and Vira were one in the same. Dragon was one-hundred percent sure of it. The one Abnorm that he had spared, in all of his life of Abnorm-hunting, had become the most deadly thing Dragon knew.

Even Katie was silent. Obviously seeing a completely new side of her nightmare. What did she think Dragon wondered.

"You're saying. You let this Abnorm live?" A voice hissed in the darkness.

"Yeah, what the Hell is that about?!" Someone else shouted.

More hunters spoke up, shouting things at Dragon, clearly rattled, and angry with his confession. Dragon bent his head, they had every right to be. The Bounty Hunter had screwed up BIG time. He had condemned them.

"Calm -calm- calm down everybody!" Heath shouted, his hands up in the air, everyone yelling over-enthusiastically; the League riotous, their fear very much real. He motioned with his arms, waving them up and down, to lower their voices, "SHUT IT!" When everyone had gotten quiet again, Heath turned to Dragon. "So... You... Just.. -Let her get away. Just let her live." His words were more statements than questions. He stepped a few paces away, rubbing his temples. "Just like that. Abnorm beaten. Abnorm near-dead. Nope. Abnorm 'you're free to go'. Just like that." He took in a deep breath, "Wow. Okay. I don't even..." He shook his head, holding his words back. Their leader turned back around. "Phew, ohhkay." He stepped back up to Dragon, and cupped a hand on his shoulder. He was nodding, looking into Dragon's mask-face. "You let her live, okay." He glanced down. Swallowing he brought his gleaming eyes back up. "That's fine. Absolutely fine."

Dragon turned his head just slightly, to look at Heath, confused by his words.

"It's fine," Heath repeated, slapping his hand down on Dragon's shoulder again, looking out towards the audience of hunters. "Fine! Fine fine. Right Hunters? Fine." He nodded. "Yup, fine." He looked quickly back at the man on his left. "I get it. You wanted her to get stronger. You... Wanted to test your mettle against her. For some reason, you... Uh.. What am I trying to say here?.. Um. You saw something in her. It was curious to you... And you left her - to train." His lips curled up, and he nodded. "Makes sense. That makes sense, RIGHT?" He shouted to the hunters, addressing them again. "Yup, no harm done. Fine. We all could've made that mistake. Probably some of us have."

Dragon wasn't so sure. Or convinced at all by Heath's understanding words. They did sound a tad bit condescending.

"What? Ridiculous! Dragon you're a bloomin' idiot you know that?" One of the hunters spat. "You're the sole reason that demon is out there now! That Devil's child should already be back in the ground -where she belongs! Ridiculous! No one just lets an Abnorm that becomes SS rank live!-"

"Too be fair, he couldn't have known she'd become SS rank.." someone interrupted, advocating for him, but was quickly shut up by the surrounding hunters.

"-That's lunacy! This is why we fuckin' kill them Dragon! What, she said some sad words, and you found your heart? Awww, the poor wittle Abnorm-y, boo-hoo-hoo! Bloody ridiculous! Snap her freakin' neck and get it over with! Then you wouldn't even have to here her stupid sob story!"

"I told you what she said. Those were not sobs, or sad words."

"Hmph, you're a hopeless, bloody lunatic. I have a daughter you know! If she dies it's on your head! Your head!"

The arguing and shouting commenced for awhile longer, from various others putting their two-cents in. Most wasn't really arguing, just shouting at Dragon for his foolishness. Katie remained where she was sitting on the cold, hard floor; her eyes downcast. Dragon's story had not been one she would've expected. It was almost the polar opposite of the one she had just narrated. They had witnessed two entirely different things. Could that pathetically weak Abnorm in Dragon's story really be the Reaper she had witnessed at Scummerset? The change pretty much night and day. It seemed implausible. 'Not impossible I guess,' Katie thought, shrugging gently to herself, but implausible... Had Ten-Tons's training really changed her so much? How? How could that be? How did a Human train an SS rank Abnorm? It just could not be done. What more to this story was there? That name hung on the tip of her tongue, at the tip of her thoughts: Vira...

"Vira.."