Today marked a momentous occasion in history. The sighting of a creature was a rare and significant event. Typically, all departments of the organization would be prepared for such an occurrence. Teams that ventured into the final danger zone were scarce, and they underwent months of preparation before attempting it.
However, this time, no one expected three teenagers to enter a zone that had been crossed less than 20 times in the last century. Entering the red zone did not guarantee an encounter with one of those mysterious beings. Most teams would not dare to linger before swiftly retreating.
---
On the screen, a tall, shadowy figure could be faintly discerned, crouching on a branch above the children. The children appeared oblivious to their unseen observer, or at least, they did not let on.
"Can we get closer? We need a clearer image."
"May the Goddess bless us."
"If we approach any further, it might detect us."
"Someone fetch me the records! Perhaps it has been observed before."
"Silence!"
Morend's voice boomed, instantly silencing his busy subordinates who were scurrying about in a frenzy. They halted their activities, mindful not to further provoke their boss's anger.
"Now, I will give the orders!" Morend took charge of the chaotic situation. Standing up, he pointed at various individuals, directing them like a general commanding his troops.
"You! Retrieve the files on all the sightings."
"You two! Document everything you see."
"And you! Create accurate sketches, capturing every intricate detail."
He turned his attention to the corner of the room where the control center was situated.
"Attempt to obtain a better angle but maintain a safe distance. We cannot take any chances if it becomes aware of our presence."
Those addressed obeyed his commands, acting like loyal dogs obedient to their master's leash. A moment later, Morend held the files of the creatures in his hands. Two men in white coats diligently scribbled on their clipboards, while one woman gripped a pencil, staring blankly at the empty sheet before her.
But I can't draw, she thought.
---
Meanwhile, Isabell couldn't help but feel useless. Was Morend purposely ignoring her, or was it all just her imagination? She didn't care about whoever or whatever appeared on the screen. Her primary concern was her own career, which now seemed uncertain after today's events.
As she pondered how to regain favor with her boss, she noticed her bothersome colleague entering the room, cigar in hand. Determined, she approached him.
"Give me that!" she demanded.
"But..."
She swiftly snatched the cigar from his perspiring hand and made her way back to the table. Morend and Aldir were engrossed in their discussion about the various creatures when Isabell approached her boss.
"Sir Morend, your cigar," she said meekly, extending her hand towards him.
"Do I look like I have the time for this?!" he snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"..."
The relieved victim of the cigar theft stood by the doorway, releasing a sigh of relief.
---
"Those kids... They won't stand a chance," Aldir sighed, closing his eyes. "I doubt we'll gather any new information from this."
"If we can just make it appear, I'll consider that a victory," Morend reassured.
If they could just stall the creature long enough, even for a few precious moments, they might be able to gather crucial data that could aid the headquarters in their fight against the dark creatures.
Every detail they could glean from the encounter would be invaluable – the creature's appearance, weaknesses, behavior, and any signs of connection to the other ominous forces that had been encroaching upon the forest.
Morend's concerns weren't solely driven by altruistic motives; there was a personal stake in the outcome of this mission as well. As the leader of this branch, he was acutely aware of the crisis of reputation they were facing. Doubts and criticism had been steadily growing.
Funding was being questioned, and support from other branches within the headquarters was becoming hesitant. Morend knew that they were at a critical juncture – one that could determine the future of his branch.
This was an opportunity to show the headquarters and the other branches that they were still capable.
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"It has begun."
They observed the astonishing speed of the creature, seemingly teleporting between the children. It forced the girl to her knees, evaded the tallest child's attack, and swiftly grabbed the leader's head. Everything happened in an instant.
"Is it toying with them?" Aldir muttered to himself.
The forest creatures were infamous for their ruthless and swift-killing nature. Aldir had never encountered or even heard of a situation quite like this before. It was baffling; although the events on the screen unfolded in mere minutes, they felt like an eternity.
According to his calculations, the children should have been fatally overpowered by the creature within seconds of their encounter. Nevertheless, they would use this opportunity to observe it more closely.
"If that kid—what's his name—survives, he has potential. Good strength and speed. We should consider recruiting him..." Morend contemplated.
The next image on the screen silenced the boss. The boy's head exploded.
"I expected too much from him... Still, Aldir, make a note of it, he has a lot of potential" Morend instructed.
Aldir nodded and diligently wrote down the information.
The creature didn't stop its rampage even after the girl's life was taken under its feet.
"What idiot sent her on a scouting mission? She was a waste of resources," Isabell interjected, attempting to join the conversation.
Everyone present shared similar thoughts—the red-haired girl had contributed nothing from the start. She hadn't even bought them a single second. Now, only one remained: the blue-haired boy.
It required a leap of faith to believe he could engage the creature, even if there was a faint hope of witnessing more of its abilities in a fight. Yet, all hope vanished when they saw the motionless boy lying on the ground. The creature proceeded to torment him beneath its feet.
"It's over," someone uttered.
Aldir closed his eyes, absorbing every piece of information from the brief transmission. He would later compare it with his notes and sketches, meticulously documenting it for future analysis.
"Has everyone completed their assigned tasks?" Isabell commanded, looking around. "Let me see."
She moved about like a teacher collecting her students' work for review. Approaching the woman responsible for drawing the creature's appearance, she extended her hand.
"So, what do we have here?" Isabell asked, awaiting the submission.
The woman grew nervous. There was little to see, and the creature's ability to blend with its surroundings made it nearly impossible for her to produce anything useful.
"I couldn't do it," she admitted.
"What! Are you defying orders?" Isabell's lips curled into a sinister smile. Finally, she found someone to vent her frustration on.
"N-no, Miss Isabell, it was just impossible to see anything clearly," the woman defended herself.
"I see," Isabell replied condescendingly. "So, you're useless. We don't need anyone who..."
"Isabell!" Morend interrupted.
"Yes?"
"Shut up. Who told you it was already over?"
"But..."
'What does he mean? What isn't over yet? ' Isabell wondered silently.
She turned towards the screen, assuming that the creature must have already disposed of the last child. However, to her astonishment, the boy was still standing, facing his enemy with his head lowered. It was unexpected, but did it really matter whether he was standing, sitting, or lying down? The outcome would always be the same—a swift and lethal strike.
Contrary to her expectations, the boy skillfully evaded the attacker's strikes. Just as she was about to dismiss it as luck, he dodged the creature's claws once again. Was someone manipulating the transmission, or was this the reality she was witnessing?
The creature's rapid attacks became increasingly blurry to her, but the blue-haired boy effortlessly avoided them, almost making one forget the imminent danger he faced.
"Hahaha!" Morend's laughter erupted, filling the room. He rose from his seat, forcefully slapping the table and causing cracks to form across its surface. "That's it!"
The child could never surpass a creature born for killing. He was too young, too inexperienced, and undoubtedly too weak. Yet, it was exhilarating to witness the boy taunting and defying the forest's devil.
Memories from Morend's own youth flashed in his mind. He would never forget the moment when he stood in the boy's shoes, facing such a being head-on. His face flushed as he relived that mixture of terror, horror, fighting spirit, and an overwhelming rush of exhilaration. It had been over two decades, but those feelings would never fade. He had come close to perishing that day, but he believed the Goddess must have blessed him to still be standing there today. The scar on his face would never let him forget that moment.
"Chief."
Morend's assistant called him back, breaking his trance. His composure and authority had momentarily waned, but he didn't mind. Taking a slow, deep breath, he regained his calm and returned to his seat, leaving deep handprints and cracks on the table that seemed ready to crumble at any moment.
"I don't care anymore. Get as close as possible and capture their every move!" His deep, commanding voice reverberated throughout the room.
The image on the screen improved as they approached, allowing them to discern the features of the creature more clearly. Suddenly, its shape underwent a sudden transformation. Wings unfurled from its back, their span twice as long as its own body.
"It has wings! None of the previous sightings had them! It's an unknown!" the assistant exclaimed in surprise.
Just as they finally obtained a favorable viewing angle, the creature launched an attack.
The impact of the creature's assault created a cloud of smoke that now engulfed the entire image.
"Damn! Did anyone notice if it used a dark force?" Morend inquired. He scanned the room, but all he could see were puzzled expressions on the faces around him.
"I think I saw shadows moving around its claw, although the image was rather blurry," Aldir answered.
"I had hoped for someone to refute it... that young man is dead."
As the smoke gradually dissipated, the image on the screen grew clearer. A figure emerged from the smoky forest, its wings now absent. The creature stood before a sizable crater—a testament to the battle that had taken place. There was no sign of the boy as if he had never existed.
The creature lifted its head, and suddenly, the atmosphere in the room became tense. Its blood-red, dot-like eyes peered through the projected image on the wall. Under its piercing gaze, the people in the room felt vulnerable and exposed. It was as if those eyes could see through their very souls, leaving them breathless.
Most of the researchers present had never been in a fight and lacked any combat training. Their feeble minds almost crumbled, even though they knew logically they were not in immediate danger. Just one glance was enough to remind their bodies of their place in the food chain compared to this abomination.
They stood frozen, like statues, as the creature's lips moved, forming words they would never hear.
"Try to escape!" Morend, undeterred by the beast's murderous intent, turned to the control center and shouted, "Now!"
However, it was too late. The operator in white attire, who controlled the transmission, was still affected. He continued to sense two red dots fixated on him from an unknown location, even with his eyes closed. Consequently, his reaction time slowed.
The illuminated screen suddenly shattered, returning to its original configuration of multiple small screens. Only one of the screens vanished, along with the presence of the creature.
A collective gasp filled the room as the instinctto breathe, momentarily frozen, returned to the group of people.