The city lay beneath a thick blanket of fog, the night air dense with tension. Seraphina could feel it in her bones as she walked through the dimly lit streets, Michael trailing behind her like a silent specter. The air felt heavy with anticipation, as if the world itself was teetering on the edge of chaos.
Michael, as always, seemed unfazed. His gaze was sharp and focused, his senses attuned to the disturbances in the ether that had brought them out tonight. He was in his element, but Seraphina was struggling to keep up. Her heart pounded as they approached an industrial district—a perfect hiding place for glitches, according to Michael’s tip. The buildings were old, their facades crumbling, and the atmosphere reeked of forgotten despair.
Michael held up a hand, signaling for her to stop as they neared a particularly decrepit warehouse. He crouched down, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. Seraphina tried to steady her breath, her heart racing in her chest.
“There’s something here,” Michael murmured, more to himself than to her. His eyes darted around the area, searching for any sign of the glitch they were hunting. “Stay close.”
Seraphina nodded, trying to calm her nerves. They moved in sync, their footsteps silent against the cracked pavement. But Seraphina felt a split second too slow, her movements slightly out of sync with Michael’s. Despite the martial arts training her father had insisted on when she was young, she wasn’t used to this kind of battle—the unpredictability of fighting glitches was a world away from the controlled environment of a dojo.
Without a word, Michael slipped through a side door, and Seraphina followed close behind. The interior of the warehouse was a cavernous, dark expanse. The air was thick with the scent of rust and decay, and the only light came from the few flickering overhead lamps that still clung to life.
Seraphina’s hand tightened around the hilt of the short blade she carried—a reminder of her training, though it felt inadequate in the face of the supernatural. Michael had drawn his own weapon, a long, wicked-looking dagger that seemed almost alive in his hand, pulsing with a faint, otherworldly glow. It was one of the few times she had seen him draw it, and the sight sent a shiver down her spine.
They moved deeper into the warehouse, their movements precise and calculated. Seraphina’s heart pounded in her chest, her body tensed for action. The silence was unnerving, and the darkness seemed to press in on them from all sides.
Then, without warning, a low growl echoed through the space, followed by the sound of something skittering across the concrete floor. Seraphina’s breath caught in her throat as she saw a shadow move in the distance, its shape grotesque and unnatural.
“Glitch,” Michael whispered, his eyes locking onto the creature as it emerged from the shadows.
The glitch was unlike anything Seraphina had seen before. It was humanoid in shape but twisted and malformed, its skin mottled with patches of darkness that seemed to writhe and pulse. Its eyes glowed with a sickly yellow light, and its mouth twisted into a snarl as it fixed its gaze on them.
Michael moved first, his body a blur of motion as he lunged toward the glitch. The creature let out a shriek, its limbs elongating grotesquely as it lashed out at him. Michael dodged with inhuman speed, his dagger flashing through the air as he struck at the glitch—not to kill, but to incapacitate it.
Seraphina hesitated for only a moment before joining the fray. She moved quickly, her blade slicing through the air as she aimed for the glitch’s vulnerable spots. But her movements were slightly off, her timing just a fraction too slow. The glitch twisted and contorted, dodging her strikes with unnatural agility.
Michael’s expression was one of grim determination as he fought, his movements precise and lethal. The dagger in his hand seemed to hum with energy as it connected with the glitch’s flesh, sending waves of energy through the creature, designed to disrupt its unnatural power. But as much as they wounded it, the glitch didn’t seem to weaken. Instead, it fought back with a ferocity that took Seraphina by surprise.
The battle raged on, the warehouse echoing with the sounds of their struggle. Seraphina’s breath came in ragged gasps as she fought to keep up with Michael’s relentless assault. Her martial arts training came into play, but the unpredictability of the glitch’s attacks threw her off balance. She was used to facing human opponents, not twisted abominations like this.
“Focus!” Michael barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Don’t hesitate!”
Seraphina gritted her teeth and tried to steady herself. She couldn’t afford to make mistakes. But every move felt a beat too late, her body unaccustomed to the raw intensity of the fight.
The glitch was powerful, its strikes growing more desperate and wild as it realized it was outmatched. But it wasn’t enough.
With a final, powerful swing, Michael drove his dagger deep into the glitch’s side, the blade sinking in up to the hilt. The creature let out a horrific, ear-splitting scream before it collapsed to the ground, its body convulsing violently as it tried to tear itself free. Seraphina watched as Michael’s dagger glowed brighter, the energy within it seeping into the glitch, subduing it.
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The glitch’s movements slowed, its form becoming less distinct as the energy pulsed through it. Finally, it went still, its twisted shape collapsing into a heap on the floor. The capture was complete.
Seraphina stood back, her chest heaving as she watched the last remnants of the glitch fade away. The air was thick with the scent of ozone, and her ears rang from the intensity of the fight. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her hands still trembling slightly from the adrenaline.
Michael pulled his dagger from the ground, wiping the blade clean on a piece of cloth before slipping it back into its sheath. He didn’t look at her, his focus still entirely on the now-captured glitch.
“That was… intense,” Seraphina finally said, her voice shaky. She had faced glitches before, but nothing like this. This one had been stronger, faster—more dangerous. It was a stark reminder of the stakes they were playing with.
“Some are tougher than others,” Michael replied, his tone flat. “But it’s done now.”
Seraphina swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. “We should get out of here.”
Michael nodded, but as they turned to leave, something caught his attention. He paused, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the shadows once more.
“What is it?” Seraphina asked, her senses immediately on high alert again.
Michael didn’t answer right away. He took a step forward, his gaze locked on something in the darkness. Seraphina followed his line of sight, but she couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
“There’s something wrong,” Michael muttered, more to himself than to her. “That glitch… it wasn’t alone.”
Before Seraphina could respond, a sudden explosion of force slammed into them from the side, sending her flying across the warehouse. She hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Pain shot through her side as she struggled to get up, her vision swimming.
“Michael!” she gasped, trying to find him in the chaos. The warehouse was now filled with a thick, unnatural fog, and she could barely see a few feet in front of her.
Michael’s voice cut through the haze, calm and steady. “I’m here. Stay down.”
Seraphina heard the sound of metal clashing against something solid, followed by a guttural roar that sent a chill down her spine. She forced herself to her feet, ignoring the pain that shot through her body. She had to help—she couldn’t let Michael face this alone.
As she stumbled forward, the fog began to clear just enough for her to see what was happening. Another glitch—larger and more monstrous than the last—had emerged from the shadows. Its form was barely recognizable as human, with twisted limbs and a maw filled with razor-sharp teeth. It was attacking Michael with a ferocity that was terrifying to behold.
Michael was holding his own, his movements swift and precise as he dodged the glitch’s attacks. But Seraphina could see that he was struggling. The force of the creature’s blows was unlike anything they had faced before, and even Michael’s supernatural reflexes were being tested.
She gritted her teeth and charged forward, her blade ready. She couldn’t let Michael do this alone—not when he was clearly being pushed to his limit.
The glitch seemed to sense her approach, its head snapping around to face her. It let out a low, rumbling growl, its yellow eyes glowing with malevolent intent.
Seraphina didn’t hesitate. She swung her blade with all her strength, aiming for the creature’s neck. The glitch moved to block her, but Michael was faster. He drove his dagger into the creature’s side, forcing it to recoil in pain and giving Seraphina the opening she needed.
With a final, desperate strike, she drove her blade into the glitch’s neck. The creature let out a blood-curdling scream, its body convulsing as it tried to tear itself free. But Seraphina held on, pushing the blade deeper until she felt the creature’s resistance falter.
Michael quickly moved in, his dagger glowing brighter as he directed its energy into the glitch, subduing it just as he had the first one. The creature’s struggles grew
As they stepped out of the warehouse into the cool night air, Seraphina leaned heavily against the wall, trying to steady her breath. The fog that had enveloped the warehouse was now dissipating, and the first hints of dawn were beginning to break through the horizon. Her muscles ached, her body still trembling from the battle.
Michael’s gaze was fixed on her, a rare flicker of concern crossing his normally impassive face. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice unusually soft.
Seraphina managed a weak nod, though the pain in her side was intense. She could feel the dull throb of her injuries, a reminder of how close she had come to being overwhelmed. She reached a trembling hand to her side, wincing as her fingers brushed against the injury.
“I… I survived,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I can’t believe I took that blow. It felt like I was hit by a truck.”
Michael studied her for a moment before speaking. “The glitch’s attack was powerful, but you’re not exactly normal anymore.”
Seraphina raised an eyebrow, her fatigue making her even more impatient. “What do you mean?”
He paused, then gave a slight nod as if considering how best to explain. “You’re a reaper, which means you have traits that go beyond regular human capabilities. Your body can withstand more than it used to, but you’re still mortal. You can be injured, you can be hurt. You just have some… enhancements that make you more resilient than an average human.”
Seraphina blinked, her eyes widening in shock. “So, I’m not entirely human anymore? But you’re saying I’m still vulnerable?”
Michael’s expression remained serious. “Yes. You’re tougher than most people, but you’re not invincible. The traits of a reaper enhance your physical abilities and senses, but they don’t make you impervious to harm. You survived the glitch’s blow because of those enhancements, but you’re still subject to injury and pain.”
The gravity of his words sank in, and Seraphina’s hands clenched into fists. The realization that she wasn’t fully protected was unsettling. She had always relied on her training and her reaper abilities to keep her safe, but now she understood that those wouldn’t be enough to shield her from every danger.
“I need to be more careful,” she said, her voice laced with a mixture of frustration and determination. “I can’t afford to make mistakes like that.”
Michael nodded. “That’s the right attitude. We’ll get through this, but you need to stay sharp. We’re dealing with forces beyond normal human understanding, and it’s only going to get harder.”
Seraphina took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. “Alright. Let’s finish what we started and make sure we’re ready for whatever comes next.”
As they walked away from the warehouse, the first light of day casting long shadows behind them, Seraphina couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered. The battle had been a stark reminder of her vulnerabilities, but it had also strengthened her resolve. She was determined to face the challenges ahead, no matter how dangerous they might be.
Michael glanced at her as they walked, his eyes reflecting the early morning light. “We’ll keep pushing forward,” he said. “And I’ll be here to make sure we get the job done.”
Seraphina nodded, her mind already racing with the implications of their encounter. Whatever lay ahead, she knew she had to be prepared—for both the physical and psychological battles that awaited them.
End of chapter 13