The swirling mists of the plane parted as Kira materialized, her taloned feet finding purchase on what seemed like solid nothingness. The dromaeosaur's sleek, feathered form tensed, her senses immediately on high alert. This was the Overseer's domain—a realm of Utility and strategy—yet the palpable tension in the air spoke of something far more ominous.

Kira's iridescent feathers shimmered in the ethereal grey light, a kaleidoscope of turquoise, magenta, and gold that seemed almost too vivid for the colorless expanse surrounding her. Her raptor-like form stood out starkly against the misty backdrop, razor-sharp talons clicking softly as she shifted her weight.

Before her stretched a vast expanse of grey, punctuated by clusters of beings gathered beneath various sigils. The symbols pulsed with otherworldly energy: a crimson Omega, a purple Xi, a green Phi, a golden Alpha, an orange Theta, and others she didn't recognize. Each group stood apart, eyeing the others with a mix of wariness and barely concealed hostility.

Kira found herself among a small gathering beneath Sigma's mark, a shimmering Σ that seemed to bend the very fabric of reality around it. She glanced at her fellow chosen, a motley crew of strategists and analysts from across the world. Unlike the brutish monstrosities that populated some of the other groups, Sigma's chosen were a diverse array of beings united by their keen minds and adaptability.

So these are the Overseers' chosen, Kira mused, her emerald-ringed amber eyes taking in the assembly. The pinnacle of their respective domains. And I'm supposed to... what? Analyze them? Sigma, what game are you playing?

She shook her head slightly, iridescent feathers catching the dim light. This was no time for doubts. Sigma had chosen her for a reason, and she would not fail.

Stay calm. Observe. Adapt. Survive. The mantra echoed in Kira's mind, a touchstone of rationality in this surreal gathering. It was a phrase that had served her well throughout her existence, from her early days as a simple predator to her current role as one of Sigma's analysts.

Piercing amber eyes, ringed with a corona of emerald green, darted from one group to another. Kira's elongated snout twitched, nostrils flaring as she took in the scents of the gathered beings. Each creature was a testament to the System's warped sense of evolution, and Kira found herself fascinated by the diversity on display.

Quite the army the Overseers have assembled. But why? What's the endgame here?

Kira's gaze lingered on the group gathered beneath the crimson Omega symbol. A tendril of fear rippled down her spine, ruffling her feathers. She'd heard whispers of Omega's cruelty, snippets of information hoarded from Sigma's rare interjections about the other Overseers.

Focus. You're here for a reason. Sigma chose you for this. Don't let them down.

"Apical Awareness," Kira subvocalized, activating her Special. The world sharpened into crystal clarity, every minute detail thrown into stark relief. Colors became more vibrant, scents more potent, sounds more distinct. It was as if someone had suddenly cranked up the resolution of reality itself.

With her heightened senses, Kira began to analyze Omega's chosen from afar. The obsidian creature, the whale-shark hybrid, the conjoined bear-elk monstrosities – each radiated an aura of raw, destructive violence that made her want to flee and hide.

Brutes, the lot of them. All power, no finesse. But that can't be all there is to Omega's strategy.

But something wasn't quite right. Kira's eyes narrowed as she focused on the center of the group. There was a distortion there, almost like a heat haze, but subtler. If she hadn't been actively looking for anomalies, she would have missed it entirely.

Interesting. A stealth specialist among the behemoths? Now that's unexpected.

Intrigued and wary in equal measure, Kira activated her Unique Ability. "Synergistic Surge," she whispered, feeling the familiar rush of power as her body's systems kicked into overdrive. Every muscle tensed, ready for action. Her mind raced, processing information at an accelerated rate as the Ability boosted her active effects almost twofold.

Let's see what you're hiding, shall we?

With both abilities working in tandem, Kira focused all her considerable perception on the anomaly. Slowly, like a mirage solidifying in the desert, a form began to take shape.

What Kira saw made her recoil instinctively, a soft hiss escaping her beaked maw. The sound drew curious glances from her fellow Sigma chosen, but Kira paid them no mind. Her entire being was focused on the horror that had just revealed itself.

The creature that materialized was much smaller than its companions, but no less terrifying. It was a bat, or at least it had started as one, but the System had warped it into something straight out of a primordial nightmare.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

What IS that thing?

Jet-black fur covered its form, broken by subtle striping in shades of deepest charcoal. But it was the face that truly captured Kira's attention. What might have once been an ordinary bat's visage had been transformed into a predator's nightmare. A thin layer of dark fur did little to soften the harsh, almost skull-like structure beneath. The muzzle had elongated, filled with dagger-like fangs that extended past its lips.

Its wings were massive, currently folded against its body in an almost regal posture. Kira could see wickedly curved talons at the wingtips, perfect for rending flesh. The membranes bore intricate patterns – full moons and swirling designs in a purple so dark it was almost black.

Those patterns... they're not just for show. Some kind of power focus? And that posture – it's so controlled, deliberate.

But it was the eyes that truly chilled Kira to her core. Set deep in the skull and protected by heavy brow ridges, they glowed with an intense, blood-red eyeshine. They spoke of an intelligence that was all too human, trapped behind a visage of primal fury.

There's a mind in there. A cunning, dangerous mind. This is one…this one is different.

As Kira stared, transfixed by the horrifying spectacle, she noticed something else. Nestled in the thick fur around the bat-creature's neck was a necklace. It was a gaudy thing, a peace sign incongruously decorated with glittering shards and what looked like fragments of crystalline...

With a start, Kira realized what she was seeing. Those shards – they had to be pieces of Shards of Supremacy. Her mind raced, wildly calculating probabilities. Based on the fragments visible, this creature could potentially have claimed five, maybe even seven, Shards.

Seven Shards? Impossible. The casualty rate would be... unless... unless it's far more dangerous than it appears.

The realization hit her like a physical blow. This... this thing wasn't just another of Omega's monstrosities. It was a killer, someone that didn't just rely on brute force to solve problems.

Kira's feathers stood on end, her body instinctively preparing for fight or flight. But before she could decide on a course of action, those burning red eyes locked onto her. It was as if the creature could sense her scrutiny, piercing through the vast distance between them with terrifying ease.

It sees me. How? My analysis should be undetectable. Unless... unless it's been aware of me this entire time.

In that moment, Kira felt the full weight of the bat-monster's presence. It was like standing at the edge of the firelight, knowing that one false move would send you plummeting into darkness. Every instinct screamed at her to run, to fly, to do anything to put distance between herself and this predator.

But she couldn't move. Whether it was fear or some power the creature possessed, Kira found herself rooted to the spot, caught in its burning gaze.

And then, to her horror, it smiled.

The expression was a grotesque parody of mirth, splitting its face to reveal row upon row of needle-sharp teeth. It was a smile that almost promised pain, that spoke of hunts in the dark and the thrill of the kill.

This is wrong. All wrong. It's toying with me. Why? What does it want?

Kira's heart hammered in her chest, her enhanced senses working against her as they picked up every terrifying detail. She could hear the soft rustle of its fur, smell the faint caustic scent of chemicals that clung to it like a shroud, even from this impossible distance.

Toxins? I…of course. It makes perfect sense, bats were always carriers of…And with its size and stealth it would only need a split second to–

But there was something else, something that made her pause despite her terror. The scent was... off. Layered. As if...

It's controlling its scent? Masking it. But why? And how did it know I'd be able to detect that?

In that endless moment, Kira understood with perfect clarity why this creature was among Omega's chosen. It wasn't just its obvious physical threats or the potential Shards it had claimed. There was something fundamentally wrong about it.

As the smile widened, Kira felt her grasp on her abilities slipping. Apex Awareness and Synergistic Surge faltered, overwhelmed by the sheer, primal terror that radiated from the bat-monster.

No! Focus! Don't let it get to you. There's a pattern here, a purpose. Find it!

With the last vestiges of her enhanced perception, Kira forced herself to look deeper, pushing past the initial wave of terror. What she saw next rattled her analytical mind.

It's s body language... was something else entirely. Despite being surrounded by monstrous killing machines three times its size, the bat-monster seemed almost... relaxed. Playful, even.

This can't be right. It's acting like it's at a casual social gathering, not a summit of apex predators.

Kira watched, dumbfounded, as the creature's attention flitted from one hulking beast to another. It barely spared them a glance, as if they were no more threatening than houseplants. At one point, it even seemed to stifle a yawn, its dagger-like fangs on full display.

Is it...bored? How is that possible? Those things could tear it apart in seconds!

The bat-monster's movements were a strange juxtaposition to its terrifying appearance. It shifted its weight from one foot to the other, almost bouncing on its toes. Its wings twitched occasionally, as if itching to stretch out. It was the kind of restless energy Kira associated with someone waiting in line for coffee, not a horror at a gathering of nightmares.

It's like watching a comedian backstage before a show, not a predator. What game is it playing?

As Kira's mind raced to make sense of the scene, she realized something crucial. This wasn't just a mindless killer or even a cunning predator. This was something far more complex, possibly more dangerous than anyone – even Omega – realized.

I need to warn the others about this. This... it could change everything we thought we understood about hunter-killer Evolutions.

With a supreme effort of will, Kira forced her abilities to stay active, fighting against her instincts screaming at her to flee and rapidly flagging stamina. In that moment, Kira swore she saw something in those burning red eyes. Was it... mischief?

What ARE you? Kira thought, her fear slowly transforming into a bewildered, burning curiosity. And what in the world are you really doing here?