A room of darkness, lit up by screens. A single throne in the void.

"Hehehahahaha....I've been waiting this moment!"

"...Sir, you knew this would happen?"

"Of course!" He looks back at his assistant, eyes shining in excitement. "It's how humans work, after all."

"How humans...work?"

"Yup! Think of it like this. Humans may look complex.....but in reality, they're just a mess of primal instincts and desires. They react to situations based on their emotions, and reap the consequences of their rash decisions. They suffer, so, so much.....just to fulfill their desire."

".............."

He continues. "These desires are different for everyone, varying in degrees."

"Money."

"Happiness."

"Fame."

"Power."

"They all share these desires, some crave one more than others. But there's one desire that trumps all of these...."

".....And that is?"

The screens show a boy ducking behind a golden automaton to avoid a sword swing, the golden titan raising its arms to block it. A feral light burns in the boy's eyes as he snarls.

"The desire to live."

________________________________________________________________________________

"Just give it up, kid!" His summon, a massive knight wielding two blades stands tall behind him. It swings furiously, the swords becoming a grey blur that hacks at the golden hide of Sir Catnip, leaving behind thick grooves.

"You're no match for me and my summon, Twin Decimator!"

What kind of name is that!?

"......I feel sorry for your summon, man-" Catnip can only hide behind his own summon, noting the damage building on Sir Catnip's arms.

He can't take much more of this. I have to take this guy down somehow.

Sir Catnip stands his ground, determined to protect his creator, his master. Twin Decimator(God, I hate this name-) continues to slash away to its hearts content, his own master standing confidently behind him. Twin Decimator is at a higher level than this scrap of metal! I'll definitely win!

......Wait, why is that kid.....

Catnip skids through the two summon's legs, knife in hand.

Just charging at me!?

"TWIN DECIMATOR! PROTECT ME-!"

Sir Catnip grabs unto Twin Decimator's arms, holding him in place.

"!?"

Is the summon acting on its own!? The kid didn't tell him to do anything-

He lets out a scream as a rusty blade rips into his stomach, shredding apart his intestines as Catnip twists it. A flame glints in Catnip's eyes as he drags the blade upwards, blood spraying out as he disembowels his opponent with one clean stroke.

"Without the summoner....the summon is useless."

Twin Decimator crumbles to pieces as Catnip says this. His hand and knife soaked in blood. His opponent gurgles on the floor in front of him, choking on his own organs. He kneels down, a look of guilt but resolved coldness in his eyes as he raises his blade, before bringing it down one more time.

[Catnip has killed Decimator Knight!]

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Life. What is it, really?

A characteristic that identifies that a creature has certain biological processes that allows it self-sustain itself in an environment. That's the proper term, the ambiguous definition.

But....for humans....life is something else entirely.

It's emotions.

It's experiences.

It's time.

Humans have expanded on the simple meaning of life and have made it something that is....difficult to understand. To comprehend. Now in this day and age, it's become hard to know if you're truly alive yourself. Being able to breath or process things no longer identify you as a living person.

Life....it's a confusing thing. But it's a gift. A gift many try to keep, to prolong, to protect with all of their being. To lose this gift....this privilege......or to be even threatened with losing it......

He watches the bloodshed occurring on the screens with a euphoric expression.

The reactions are amazing, so amazing to watch!!!

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Sweat rolls down her face and her breaths come out in harsh pants. As she runs she constantly looks over het shoulder, firing beams of light at a black blur that continues to close the distance between het and them at a terrifying speed. It launches into the air and slams feet first into the ground, shattering the floor and knocking her over once again. Het arms ache and her face is bruised as she gets to her feet once more, staring at her attacker.

Their appearance isn't anything special, a shirt and shorts. But the shorts is stretched and ripped at the bottom, legs morphed into black stalks, stitched together with numerous red ligaments of muscle. With their tall, thin but athletic build, black hair tied back in a ponytail, it seems like they are an experienced runner, perhaps maybe a track runner for their college or university. Whereas Eclipse's simply thin and fragile build.....

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

She's amazed she's been able to avoid getting hit by them, but she knows that she's fast approaching her physical limit. Her throat is parched and she's beginning to feel faint, her vision blurring.

They smirk, before crouching and rocketing forward, thousands upon thousands of muscle fibers working together to deliver a resulting force comparable to them getting shot out of a cannon. Eclipse raises up her arms with a gasp, crying out as a black pillar slams into her side, sending her flying. She hits the floor, bouncing before skidding to a stop. Her head swims as her whole body throbs in pain, partially numbed by the adrenaline rushing through her.

"The heck? I didn't even put all of my strength into that kick. " They snort at the sorry sight of the frail girl lying before them. "Like, don't get me wrong, I've fought a couple of mages before you, and they were weak, but none of them flew quite as far as you did when I hit them." They kick Eclipse in the stomach, sending het spinning through the grass and dirt. "How pathetic."

"MOM!" HAV0C starts over to help, but a hand grabs unto his shoulder and yanks him back. Second shakes his head.

"Don't, HAV0C."

"What!? What do you mean-?"

"Listen to me." Second's eyes glow cyan as he spins HAV0C around to look at him. "You don't have an ability while everyone else here does. You are currently the WEAKEST person here."

"I-"

"No. Getting into a fight right now will without a doubt result in your death. The best thing you can do right now is find somewhere to hide and wait for this to be over."

Hide?

HAV0C stares at Second, dumbfounded.

He wants me to hide!?

His eyes scan over Second's build, thin with little muscle attached.

Who is he to tell me to run and hide when he's practically a skeleton!? One punch would-

The chilling memory of Second snapping someone's neck with ease cuts through his thoughts like a knife. The calm smile, the uncaring, unwavering eyes.....

He didn't even hesitate to take his life......would he hesitate to take mine?

But I can't just leave Eclipse when she's-!

"ARGH!" A loud cry makes him turn back to the scene, just in time to witness Eclipse fire a beam that narrowly misses her opponent's head. She's already back on het feet again, a hidden strength glinting in het eyes as the sun shines down on het.

"See?" Second's steady voice makes him flinch. "Eclipse can handle herself. You'll just get in her way."

HAV0C lowers his head and nods, embarrassed by his surge of pride. Having muscle doesn't matter here, not when you can shoot laser beams. Second allows himself to relax a little.

"Just stay close to me and-"

A shiver runs down the both of their spines, and they simultaneously turn to the source. HAV0C's eyes widen, an involuntary shake sneaking into his voice.

"Y-you!?"

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".....I take back what I said about you." They rise to their feet, eyeing Eclipse with new-found respect, a small smile on their face. "You're tougher than you look."

"..........."

A speed-related ability.....she's fast enough to dodge my attacks, and she can close the distance with ease.

She can almost feel the crushing weight of defeat.

She has the perfect counter to my ability.

"My username is Stryder. We should at least exchange usernames before we get serious, right?"

Serious? You mean she wasn't trying her hardest to kill me back then!?

"......Eclipse." Despite the exhaustion, the pain....she keeps her voice steady, looking Stryder right in the eye. "My username is Eclipse."

"Eclipse, huh? Flashy." Stryder crouches down again, smirk ever-present on her face. "It was nice meeting you, Eclipse."

The headless boy. The bat, the blood-

No more.

"......Wait." Eclipse raises her hands in the air. "Can...can we just talk?"

Stryder frowns. "Huh? Talk?"

"Yeah, talk." Eclipse takes a step forward, eyes blurry due to the lack of glasses. "I....I don't want to fight you. Or anyone else, for that matter."

She can't do it. Not anymore. It's been weighing down on her ever since shr took her first kills. The shame. The guilt.

Those people I've killed....did they have families, did they have someone waiting for them at home?

Someone who loves them. Someone who cares for them. A father. A mother. A friend. A lover.

They'll never see them again, because I took their lives. Because I killed them.

How can I raise my head and walk around, knowing what I've done? How can I face their friends, their family, their lovers with the knowledge I've taken someone that means the world to them?

I can't. I just can't-

"Ohhhh, I think I get it now. You're one of those guys."

Eclipse looks up at them in confusion. "Those guys-?"

"Those guys. You know, the self-righteous fucks who preach to others about killing, when they're not a saint themselves."

"......What?"

"Oh come on, bitch." Stryder sighs, crossing their arms. "You believe killing is wrong, unjust, right? Yet here you are, killing others for your own survival. That's the only reason you have an ability now. Because you killed for it."

"I-" Eclipse isn't sure what to do or say, stunned. "I didn't have a choice-"

"You did have a choice." They slowly approach her, claws cracking the stone floor. "If you're so against murder, why don't you just roll over and let others kill you? Why don't you stick to your ideals?"

Stick to my ideals....?

"Now, let me tell you my ideals, okay? Letting something as pathetic as emotions get in the way of a decision for your survival is disgusting. In this world, sticking to such rules and laws is just ridiculous."

"But-!"

"But what? So what if they were innocent? So what if they had a family? That has nothing to do with me. I've only done what I had to do to keep on living, so I have no regrets. Besides......" A smirk creeps across their face.

"I'd be lying if I say I'm not enjoying this, not even a little."

"...What?"

"Killing has a certain....thrill to it? I dunno, it's just so much fun-"

"W-wait, you enjoy this-?"

"Yeah, I do. The more I kill..." Their hands drift down to their mutated legs. ".....The stronger I become. I know you've experienced it to. This continuous surge of strength....."

Their face is flushed with blatant glee. "I love it so much~"

Eclipse feels something within her snap. Her hands tremble as her heart beats furiously in her chest.

They're enjoying this. They're enjoying killing these people.

How can someone be so devoid of compassion, of empathy?

Are they even human-?

Her eyes drift to their mad smile, then their mutated legs.

No. They're not human. They gave up their humanity a long time ago.

She straightens up, an icy feeling coming over her heart, reflecting in her eyes.

They're a monster.

Stryder's grin gets even wider as they see Eclipse's cold expression.

"Oho? Tired of talking?"

[Eclipse uses skill! Ray of Light!]

Stryder leaps back, the beam just meeting their feet.

"Shut the fuck up."

Eclipse glares at them, voice no longer trembling, raised arm steady.

"You monster."

Stryder blinks in surprise, before throwing their head back in laughter.

"Are you seriously trying to dehumanise me in order to go through with killing me!?"

They shoot forward, black stalks becoming a blur.

"COME AND TRY IT!!!"

Eclipse doesn't waste any time going into rapid fire, anger removing her caution for conserving her mama. As she blocks another jarring blow she notices something. And despite the pain, she smirks.

"WHAT'S WITH THE GRIN, HUH!? FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE TO KILL, YOU LOOK PRETTY HAPPY!"

Stryder stamps down, the floor cracking as they spin on the balls of their feet as they deliver a devastating roundhouse kick to Eclipse's head. Except it doesn't land.

"!?"

Eclipse ducks at the last second, almost dropping to her knees before rolling away and setting off at a run, wind stripping the sweat off of her face and turning her skin ice cold.

She's running away!?

Stryder bursts after her in hot pursuit.

"SO YOU'RE NOT ONLY A HYPOCRITE, BUT YOU'RE ALSO A FUCKING COWARD!"

They launch into the air, prepared to deliver an axe-kick to rip her in half.

No. I'm not a coward.

She skids to a halt, a wild grin erupting on her face.

[You're in Sunlight! All stats and mana regen are slightly increased!]

I'm a fucking genius.

During all this running, fighting, and hiding....Eclipse has been taking note of her surroundings, a plan brewing in the back of her mind. She knows Stryder has a habit of doing an aerial attack. She knows the flag is high above them separated by a glass ceiling.

She also knows it's a prime spot to get into some much-appreciated sunlight.

[RAY OF LIGHT X 5!]

By the time Stryder realizes what's going to happen, it's too late. They can only scream as their body is caught in five powerful beams of light, disintegrating their flesh and shattering the ceiling above. The flag plummets to the ground in a shower of glass shards.

"You can call me a hypocrite all you want." The toasted remains of Stryder's leg hits the ground, before getting pierced by the flag pole. "You can call me self-righteous, a coward....but that doesn't matter to me. Because in my eyes.....you're even worse than that."

She grasps the pole and rips it out, hefting it unto her shoulder.

"I'm just getting rid of a filthy monster. Nothing more, nothing less."

[Eclipse has eliminated Stryder!]

[Eclipse has acquired the Leader's Flag!]