Once Damian's sense of detachment faded, his awareness returned to him. He found himself outside with no clear memory of how he had gotten there. A strange sensation gnawed at him, something akin to hunger but not quite the same. Pushing the feeling aside, he looked around and realized he was on a rooftop near the store he had just been in. There was a pull, a subconscious urge that had drawn him here, though he couldn’t fully understand why.

As he shifted back into his human form, the sound of gunshots echoed through the air, followed by a female voice yelling. Instinctively, Damian's thoughts turned to Amanda, who had called him while being chased. Moving to the edge of the rooftop, he peered down into the street below.

What he saw wasn’t Amanda, but a girl dressed in a red tank top that accentuated her figure, paired with blue jeans that had a few rips here and there. A black leather jacket was casually worn, giving her a rugged yet stylish appearance. Recognition flickered in Damian's mind—she was the girl he had seen at the zoo. Her name was Isa-something, but the exact details eluded him.

As if to answer the question of the girl’s name, the game panel appeared before him.

Name: Isabella Castiego

Alias: N/A

Alignment: Neutral

Power Level: 🎨🎨 (2/5)

Danger Level: ☠️ (1/5)

Power Status: 35% of Abilities Unlocked

Health: 100%

Karma Level: Neutral Good

Faction: Independent

Abilities:

Artkinesis (Ink, Spray Paint, and more): Isabella can manipulate various artistic mediums with her mind. She can control the flow and properties of ink, spray paint, and other materials, allowing her to create intricate works of art with ease.

Creation of Living Art: Anything Isabella draws or paints comes to life as a living entity under her control. These creations can be used for various purposes, such as assistance in combat or solving problems creatively. (Limit 2 minutes)

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Damian, of course, couldn’t ignore the situation. The girl was clearly in distress, as she was being chased by gun-wielding Reapers. However, Damian decided not to intervene just yet. He was curious if Isabella had figured out her powers and how she might handle the situation on her own.

As the Reapers opened fire, Isabella ducked behind a large garbage container, using it as cover from the hail of bullets. Damian watched closely from his vantage point, intrigued by how she would handle the situation. He noticed her demeanor—there was tension, but besides the initial scream she didn’t seem to freak out.

Isabella quickly removed the black leather jacket, revealing a nautical star tattoo on her shoulder. Her fingers traced the outline of the tattoo, and to Damian's surprise, the tattoo lifted off her skin, transforming into a solid, black nautical star that floated in the air as if alive.

With a quick flick of her wrist, Isabella sent the star flying toward the two Reapers who were closing in on her position. The star moved with precision and speed, stabbing one Reaper in the chest before it swiftly targeted the second, piercing through his torso. Both Reapers crumpled to the ground, their bodies bloody and lifeless.

Isabella took advantage of the brief lull in the gunfire, slipping away quietly while the remaining Reapers were momentarily disoriented. Damian observed as she moved quickly and efficiently, putting distance between herself and the danger.

The nautical star continued to float in the air, as if awaiting further commands, but as Isabella moved further away, it began to lose its solid form. Gradually, it faded from sight, dissolving into the air until there was no trace of it left. The power she had wielded was impressive, though Damian noted its limitations—her creations didn’t last long and disappeared once she was far enough away from them. Of course, the distance could be false as she might have simply called the star back.

Damian remained on the rooftop, intrigued by what he had witnessed. Isabella’s powers were clearly developing, and she had a unique ability that set her apart from the other conduits he knew of. However, her inexperience in battle was also very evident. She had managed to escape this encounter, but Damian knew that she would need to hone her skills if she were to survive in a city as dangerous as this.

Despite his body urging him to consume her, Damian refrained from doing so. Even if he wanted to eat her she was not yet ripe enough. She need more time to train so that she could understand her abilities and RFE to unlock more of them.

He briefly considered forcing Isabella into Trish’s care, but that option was currently off the table—Trish was busy trying to save Amanda. Additionally, there was the risk that Isabella might recognize him from their previous encounter, which would make her more cautious and less likely to trust him. Only a fool would trust someone they had met once appear right after a dangerous encounter.

Damian’s mind began to race through the next steps in his plan. He needed to collect more animal DNA samples; the Dark Stalker was a good first attempt, but with more diverse DNA, he could undoubtedly create something far superior. He also needed to figure out the best time to take in Sasha, a task that was becoming increasingly urgent. All of these objectives were important, yet his curiosity about Isabella persisted. She had the potential to be beneficial to his goals, but the question was how to best manipulate Isabella and use that potential.

Damian decided to follow Isabella, intent on learning where she lived. Having that information would make it easier to find her the next time he needed to. Moving silently from one rooftop to another, he quickly caught up with her, observing her as she made her way to a house in one of the nicer areas of the Neon District. The Reapers hadn’t taken control of this area yet, but Damian knew it was only a matter of days before they did.