Chapter 15: Ray’s Discovery
The room was dark, save for the dim hum of the overhead light, casting a faint glow on Ray's desk in the SAAHO dorm. Silence enveloped him, but his mind buzzed with restless energy. Questions swirled, unanswered and growing louder by the minute. He knew he wasn’t supposed to wander beyond his room after hours, but his curiosity about SAAHO’s operations and its enigmatic enemies had become too much to ignore.
The hallways outside his room stretched long and silent, the only sound the faint echo of his soft footsteps. Ray moved cautiously, his every nerve on edge, until he reached the file room. The door creaked open under his hand, revealing shelves that loomed like silent sentinels, packed with files of all shapes and sizes. A computer sat in the corner, its screen blinking faintly, inviting him to uncover the secrets hidden within.
Ray hesitated for a moment, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. Then, with a deep breath, he began to type. The computer whirred softly, bringing up a list of files. The screen filled with technical jargon, data on tactical armor, weapons schematics, and mission reports. But one file stood out from the rest: “SAAHO Scientist Findings.” The title sent a chill down his spine, yet he couldn’t look away. Compelled by an unshakable need to know, he opened it.
The file’s contents were chilling:
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Rage Toxin
A drug engineered to enhance physical strength, speed, and pain tolerance. Under its influence, users exhibit heightened reflexes and unmatched endurance, making them nearly unstoppable. However, the effects come at a dire cost. Rational thought is replaced by uncontrollable rage, turning the user into a berserker for ten minutes. Once the effects wear off, the body collapses from exhaustion, leaving the user severely weakened and vulnerable.
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Ray’s pulse quickened as he read the details. “This explains it,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. Memories of Michael’s brutal fight with Doku flashed through his mind. He’d seen Michael take blow after blow, rising each time against all odds. For a moment, Ray wondered if the Rage Toxin had been the secret to Michael’s resilience.
But then it hit him. Michael hadn’t relied on the toxin. Every ounce of strength, every act of defiance in that fight had come from sheer willpower and grit. A mix of awe and disbelief washed over Ray.
“Damn...” he muttered, leaning back in the chair. “Michael’s more of a beast than I thought.”
Yet he couldn’t stop there. Driven by an insatiable need to understand the world SAAHO fought against, Ray clicked on another file. This one was simply labeled “Doku.” His breath caught in his throat as he opened it, revealing the profile of one of the most terrifying enemies he’d ever encountered.
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Doku
Reaction Time: 44ms - 70ms
Abilities: Mastery over 600 types of venom and poison
Physiology: Enhanced strength and agility, regenerative capabilities, and snake-like traits, including scales for protection.
Senses: Acute olfactory system capable of tracking scents over vast distances using his tongue.
Defensive Mechanisms: Shedding damaged scales to regenerate new ones.
Offensive Capabilities: Snake-like fangs capable of injecting venom, paired with advanced hand-to-hand combat skills.
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Ray stared at the screen, his stomach twisting into knots. The cold, clinical description did little to mask the horrifying reality of Doku’s power. “Damn,” he whispered again. “He’s built different.”
The thought of facing someone like Doku—a man who was more monster than human—sent a shiver down his spine. It wasn’t just Doku’s physical abilities that made him dangerous; it was the combination of his intelligence and sheer brutality.
But Ray wasn’t done. His curiosity burned brighter than ever, driving him to delve deeper. He scrolled through the list of files, stopping when one name made his blood run cold: “Tori no Ichizoku.”
He knew the name well. The Tori no Ichizoku was a shadowy criminal syndicate, infamous for its ruthlessness and global reach. SAAHO had spent years battling their operations, yet their influence only seemed to grow. With a steady hand, Ray opened the file, steeling himself for what he might find.
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Tori no Ichizoku
Recruitment Process: New members are often recruited from gangs and cartels, drawn by promises of wealth, power, or protection. Initiation requires recruits to kill 3-5 people, often innocent civilians, as proof of loyalty.
Training: Recruits undergo rigorous physical conditioning, designed to enhance combat endurance and strength.
Weapons and Gear: Graduates of the training program are armed with a standard-issue kit, including guns, knives, and light body armor.
Operations: The syndicate engages in various illicit activities, including murder, robbery, arms dealing, drug trafficking, and corruption of government officials. Their primary motivations are wealth, power, and the preservation of their criminal empire.
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Ray’s grip on the mouse tightened. He’d known the Tori no Ichizoku was dangerous, but the sheer scale of their operations and their methods left him shaken. These weren’t just criminals; they were a well-oiled machine, their cruelty matched only by their ambition.
The room seemed to close in around him as he absorbed the gravity of what he’d uncovered. For years, he’d thought he understood the stakes of SAAHO’s mission. Now, he realized how naive he’d been. This wasn’t just a battle of good versus evil. It was a war against forces that thrived on chaos and destruction.
Ray’s thoughts turned inward. He wasn’t ready for this—not yet. But he would be. He couldn’t afford to be a weak link, not when the stakes were this high. The lives of everyone he cared about depended on it.
With renewed determination, Ray shut the files and rose from his chair. The file room felt colder now, the weight of its secrets pressing down on him. He glanced back at the shelves one last time before stepping out into the hallway.
As he walked back to his room, his mind churned with plans and possibilities. He’d have to train harder, think smarter, and be ready for anything. The war ahead was bigger than he’d ever imagined, but he was done running from it.
Ray didn’t just want to survive.
He wanted to win.