The Beginning Of The End
Dax jolted awake, his breath ragged, drenched in cold sweat. The dream had returned—no, the memory. A scene that had haunted him for years.
His mother, clutching him tightly, tears streaming down her face. His father’s silhouette racing toward them, his older brother Syrus at his side. Black flames roared around them, debris cutting through the air as a violent gust threatened to swallow them whole. The image blurred, shifting to Syrus carrying him, running through the chaos as their parents stayed behind.
“Run! Don’t turn back!” their mother’s desperate voice echoed.
Thunder cracked, an explosion rippling through the night. Syrus’s hair whipped forward from the force, his grip on Dax tightening as aftershocks trembled beneath them. Dax, still a child, wailed in his brother’s arms, but Syrus only smiled—a fierce, warm reassurance amidst the destruction.
“It’ll be okay. I will protect you, no matter what.”
A shadow loomed behind them, dark and faceless. It reached for Dax, a hand covering his eyes—
Dax gasped, his body jerking upright in bed. His pulse pounded in his ears. He wiped the sweat from his brow, exhaling as he realized it was just another dream.
His phone buzzed, pulling him back to reality. The screen flashed a familiar name.
Jiro.
Dragging himself out of bed, he got dressed, passing framed photographs of himself and Syrus over the years. The door swung open to reveal a young man standing outside, earphones draped around his neck.
“Thank god I came over,” Jiro said, patting Dax’s back. “Knew you’d be late if I didn’t drag your ass out.”
Dax chuckled, embarrassed. “You know me too well.”
The two set off down the neighborhood, their usual morning banter filling the streets. But their lighthearted mood shattered when they stumbled upon an alleyway scene—a young couple, cornered by a group of thugs.
The boyfriend laid on the ground, groaning in pain as one of the gang members stomped on his leg. His girlfriend screamed, pinned against the wall by a brute twice her size.
The gang leader stepped forward, placing his hand beside the girl’s head, fingers tracing her cheek.
“Now, as I was saying before this piece of trash interrupted—how about I pick you up tonight, sweetheart?”
Before he could finish his sentence, a fist wreathed in blue flames crashed into his face. His body jerked back violently, limbs flailing as he slammed into the wall. A sickening thud echoed through the alley, debris scattering around his crumpled form.
The gang turned in shock.
“Who the hell—?”
Dax stood in the clearing, his knuckles still ignited with fire. Jiro cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. “Guess it’s time for a workout.”
A brute lunged at Dax, attempting to lock him in a bear hug. But the moment his arms wrapped around him, searing flames erupted from Dax’s body, forcing him to release his grip, howling in pain. He fell to the ground, rolling in agony.
Two thugs rushed Jiro at once. He caught their fists mid-air, twisting their arms with ease, forcing them to their knees. “Bad move.” He grinned before delivering a devastating sidekick to their heads, knocking them out cold.
As the dust settled, the girl rushed to her injured boyfriend, struggling to help him up. His leg, likely fractured, made standing impossible.
Jiro knelt beside them. “Don’t worry. We’ll get you to a hospital.”
Just as the girl let out a sigh of relief, a presence loomed behind them, thick with malice. The gang leader, bruised and enraged, staggered to his feet. A knuckle duster knife shimmered in his grasp, its blade pulsating with an eerie aura.
“You bastards…!”
Jiro tensed, ready to fight again, but a firm hand landed on his shoulder—and Dax’s.
A tall figure stepped past them, eyes glowing a menacing crimson, a devil’s grin curling his lips. Smoke and vapor coiled from his arms like living entities.
“Hey now,” he murmured, locking eyes with the trembling thug. “What do we have here?”
Dax sighed, half-smiling. “You do love to make an entrance, Brother...”
The gang leader’s bravado shattered instantly. He dropped to his knees, forehead pressed to the concrete.
“P-please forgive me! I—I had no idea who you were!”
The couple watched in stunned silence, realization dawning upon them.
“The Crimson Devil…” the girl whispered. “The leader of the Beasts of Prey… Syrus.”
Syrus approached, his predatory gaze never leaving his cowering prey. Wisps of smoke slithered from his fingers, wrapping around the man’s arms and lips like shackles.
“You’re not even worth my time,” Syrus muttered. “But even a lion would crush a mouse for stepping into its den.”
The thug trembled, his breath ragged. “I—I’ll leave! I swear! I’ll never return!”
Syrus smirked. “Then get lost.”
The man scrambled to his feet, stumbling away. Syrus turned to the couple. “You guys alright?”
They nodded, still in awe.
Jiro dusted himself off. “Well, that was entertaining. But…” He glanced at Dax. “Aren’t we late for our movie?”
Dax’s eyes widened. “Shit.”
Syrus sighed, already dialing his phone. “Go on. I’ll take care of these two.”
As they ran off, Jiro snickered. “Your brother’s scary as hell, But he sure has a heart of gold from what I can tell!”
Dax grinned. “Yeah, he sure does.”
They raced through the streets, desperately trying to call Briggs . Each attempt went straight to voicemail.
“You think he’s mad?” Dax huffed.
Jiro groaned. “Does it matter? We’re definitely owing him for this.”
Arriving at the cinema, they sighed in relief—the movie was only halfway through. But before they could relax, a furious woman stormed toward them.
“You two have a lot of nerve showing up here today!”
Jiro barely had time to react before she slapped him across the face.
“The hell was that for?!”
She crossed her arms, scowling. “Briggs said you guys forced him to hang all night! Now he’s too tired for our date!”
Dax’s expression darkened, a smirk forming. “Did he now…”
——
Briggs’s eyes cracked open to find two figures standing at the foot of his bed, knuckles cracking ominously.
“You’re tired,” Dax said, his smile almost sinister, “because we forced you to ‘hangout’ till the crack of dawn?”
Jiro’s voice was equally chilling. “Funny, considering you weren’t even with us last night.”
Before Briggs could explain, two fists came flying toward his face.
——
Later that night, bruised and laughing, the three friends sat in their usual hangout. Briggs revealed the truth—he hadn’t wanted to go on the date. Instead, he had spent the night refining his ability.
He conjured a sleek pistol in his palm. “Check this out.”
With a flick of his wrist, he fired. The bullet ricocheted off the alley walls before exploding in flames.
Jiro whistled. “Damn. That’s sick.”
Dax stared at the sky. “I want to be the strongest.”
His friends exchanged glances before grinning.
“Then be sure to hire us as your right-hand men,” Jiro joked.
Dax chuckled. “You got it.”
That very night, Dax jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat. The nightmare had returned—the same one of that fateful night. He saw his parents, the looming dark figure reaching for him once more. But this time, the dream didn’t end when he woke up. A sharp pain pierced his chest.
His breath hitched as his aura darkened, dread creeping over him. He wasn’t alone.
The figure from his nightmares stood in the same room, its presence suffocating. Before Dax could react, his legs buckled, and he crashed back onto his bed, shattering the frame beneath him. He shoved broken pieces of wood off his body, too stunned to comprehend what had just happened. Was it a ghost? A monster? Had something broken into the house?
His instincts kicked in. He rushed to the light switch, a small blue flame igniting at the tip of his thumb. As he reached for the switch, his gaze caught something beyond the window.
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The entity floated outside, beckoning him.
Heart pounding, Dax grabbed his phone and called Syrus. “There’s something outside our house. A ghost or something—I’m going after it!”
“What?! Stay put, I’m on my way!” Syrus barked.
But Dax ignored him. Without hesitation, he leaped out the window, landing in pursuit of the entity. It led him toward the forest, gliding effortlessly above the treetops before stopping in the middle of an open field. The moonlight illuminated the creature’s form, its shapeless mass of darkness pulsing like a living shadow.
Dax hesitated. It didn’t seem hostile, yet something felt… wrong. He took cautious steps forward, narrowing the distance.=
Then—pain.
A searing, unbearable pain.
His body jerked as something impaled him from behind, the blade’s cold steel piercing straight through his chest. His breath left him in a shuddering gasp. He turned his head, barely able to register the sight—the entity had stabbed him. As its form detached from the weapon, it vanished into the night, leaving him suspended in agony.
Dax’s body convulsed. His veins burned as if his very blood had turned to fire. A scream tore from his throat as dark blue flames erupted from his body, consuming everything around him. The once-serene forest transformed into an inferno. His eyes blazed with unnatural light, the sheer intensity of his flames warping the air.
Minutes later, Syrus and his crew arrived, only to freeze in place. The heat was suffocating. The raw power radiating from Dax stopped them in their tracks.
Syrus was the first to move. Gritting his teeth, he charged toward his brother, but the flames forced him back. He clenched his fists, summoning his own fire to shield himself. As he got closer, his eyes locked onto the source of the chaos—the katana, still embedded in Dax’s chest.
Determined, Syrus reached for the weapon, but the moment his fingers brushed the hilt, a force knocked him backward.
The katana pulsed, absorbing the surrounding flames into its blade. The firestorm died down as the sword greedily devoured the inferno, pulling every last ember into itself. Then, with a deafening boom, the weapon dislodged from Dax’s body, striking the ground with force. A shockwave erupted, sending everyone tumbling backward.
The blade, now wreathed in blue fire, rose on its own.
And then—it flew straight at Dax.
Before he could react, the katana fused into him. His body trembled as the last of the flames dissipated, leaving behind only thick black smoke.
In the distance, sirens wailed. Authorities were closing in.
Syrus wasted no time. He slung Dax over his shoulder, signaling the others. “We’re leaving—now!”
The gang disappeared into the night before anyone could arrive.
A Week Later
Dax awoke to the sight of a dimly lit room. A woman in her thirties, her blonde hair neatly tied into a bun, stood at his bedside. She smirked.
“Well, well… look who finally decided to wake up.”
Dax groaned, trying to sit up, but a sharp ache in his chest stopped him. He pressed his palm against the spot where he had been stabbed. It was real. It all happened.
The doctor gently pushed him back down. “Easy there. You’ve been out for a week.”
His eyes widened. “A week?”
Before he could process the shock, a loud voice boomed from the hallway.
“DAAAAX!!”
A massive figure stormed into the room, nearly knocking over the door. Dax barely had time to react before he was engulfed in a bear hug. His ribs protested under the sheer force.
The doctor sighed and smacked the giant away. “Felix! Do NOT crush my patient!”
The tank of a man stumbled back, rubbing his head with a sheepish grin. “Oops.” Then, his face lit up. “Wait till Syrus hears you’re awake!”
Dax blinked as recognition hit him. Felix. One of the Beasts of Prey. The biggest, strongest, and most boisterous member of the crew.
Before he could say anything, two more figures entered the room. Naz & Dan
Naz, the shortest but deadliest fighter, approached first. Without warning, he karate-chopped Dax’s head.
“What the hell were you thinking? Didn’t your brother tell you to wait?!”
Dax groaned, rubbing his head. Before he could snap back, a chilling presence made him shudder.
He turned—Syrus stood there, arms crossed, a smile stretching across his face.
“Jeez, could you not do that?” Dax muttered, unnerved.
Syrus, however, wasn’t amused. “You nearly burned down our neighborhood because you got curious.”
Dax frowned. “I had no choice! That thing—it’s been haunting my dreams for weeks! Every time, it gets closer. And that night, it was real. It was in my room. I need to know what the hell it wants from me.”
Syrus exhaled deeply, then gestured for the others to leave. Once the room was empty, he sat beside Dax, his expression serious.
“That night, your flames were completely out of control. They would’ve destroyed everything… if it weren’t for that katana.”
Dax stiffened. His hand instinctively went to his chest.
Syrus continued. “I’ve seen that blade before. The last time… it was in our mother’s hands.”
Dax’s breath caught.
“It was there the night I ran away with you,” Syrus admitted. “They never told me what it was or what it did. I thought it was just a weapon. But I never imagined… it would come back.”
Dax’s shock quickly turned into excitement. “Wait—does this mean I have my own weapon now? Like, a partner blade? Does this mean I’ll get stronger?”
Syrus groaned and rubbed his temples. “Calm down.”
Dax grinned, but before he could say anything else, Syrus cut him off.
“Rest first. We’ll figure this out once you’re back on your feet.”
Dax sighed, finally laying back down. He stared at his hands, the remnants of blue flame flickering faintly between his fingers.
Whatever had happened that night… It was only the beginning.
Syrus stepped out of the room after his conversation with Dax, the weight of the situation pressing on his mind. With a furrowed brow, he turned to his friends and asked, “What should I do?”
Syrus, his voice calm but grave. “It’s going to take a lot to keep him calm and grounded. He’s already a Revenant like us, but now, with that katana ghost fused inside him, it’s only a matter of time before he spirals out of control.”
Felix and Naz both nodded in agreement, the concern evident in their eyes.
“I know he’s your little brother,” Naz interjected, his voice hard, “but if we don’t step in now and guide him, he’ll end up turning against all of us. With that kind of power, it’s just a matter of time.”
Felix recalled the night before, his tone serious. “I’ve never felt an aura like his before. The flames—those blue flames, they might even rival yours, Syrus. The sheer power radiating from him gives me chills.”
He looked up, his expression thoughtful. “We’ll have to see if he’s ready for what’s coming.”
“What do you mean ‘ready’?” Felix raised his voice, his usual cocky confidence filling the room. “No doubt the kid’s got not much experience, but you’ve got to admit, he could kick some serious ass. And we can keep an eye on him while he’s with us. There’s no one else out there who has his best interests at heart like we do.”
Syrus turned to him, his gaze cold, the weight of his words deliberate. “This team consists of the four of us, and that’s because I recognize each of you as equals. He may have the power, but he’s not our equal yet. Even if he’s my brother, I won’t accept anyone who doesn’t share the resolve to wield that kind of power.”
Dan and Naz nodded, understanding. If it weren’t for Dax’s history with them, they wouldn’t consider adding a fifth member to their team just for raw power alone.
Syrus sighed deeply. “I’ll think of something. You guys get some rest. I’ll call you if needed.”
As his friends dispersed, Syrus walked down the corridor, his mind racing. Stopping in front of Dax’s room, he found himself lost in memories of their family—his mother, stepfather, and the young Dax. A promise lingered in his thoughts: Whatever it takes, I will take care of him.
Syrus peeked inside, watching Dax as the doctor tended to him. A faint smile crossed his face, but it was tinged with worry. Whatever it takes…
The next morning, Syrus walked into the room where Dax was supposed to be resting, only to find it empty. He scratches his head, immediately suspecting where Dax might be.
He exited the room, the corridor bathed in bright, illuminating white light. His footsteps echoed as he walked through the main area, cluttered with the spoils of past battles—weapons, armor, and accessories. A screen flashed in the corner, listing bounty requests with options to “Accept” or “Decline.”
A loud bang interrupted his thoughts, followed by the sound of commotion. Syrus recognized the signature aura of Felix. He followed the noise and entered a massive training room, its ceilings towering nearly ten stories high.
Inside, Felix and Dax were locked in a sparring match. Naz, watching from the sidelines, shot Syrus a knowing look. “Yeah, I don’t think he needed that week-long nap.”
Syrus watched as Dax blocked Felix’s punches with surprising precision. Felix’s strikes, powerful as a cannonball, were being deflected, leaving Syrus wondering if he was seeing things. “Felix’s punches are like cannons firing at an enemy ship …” he murmured. “A smarter option would be just dodging them.”
“Well, he did,” Dan quipped with a chuckle. “But after a while, Felix was just punching air.”
Syrus grinned. “You better not be holding back, Felix!”
Felix smirked, the air crackling with energy as he launched an uppercut. The force behind his attack sent a gust of wind through the room, but Dax managed to dodge just in time. The pressure from the punch sent his hair flying.
“This isn’t going anywhere if you’re just using your fists!” Syrus shouted across the arena, tossing a massive axe towards Felix without hesitation.
Without missing a beat, Felix caught the axe with ease and stared down Dax. “Let’s rumble, bro.”
Dax’s blue flames erupted around him as he retaliated with a barrage of flaming projectiles, each one hurtling toward Felix at alarming speed. Felix and the others couldn’t help but smirk.
With his axe pointed towards the projectiles, Felix created an energy shield that absorbed the flames. He laughed, watching as the fire was consumed by the weapon. Dax, deep in thought, realized that while he had raw power, he needed tactics and adaptability—both of which came with time and experience.
As the last of the flames fizzled out, the axe glowed bright orange, its aura illuminating the entire room. Felix, now dripping with sweat, raised his weapon. “Whatever you throw at me, I’ll throw back—harder!”
Felix swung his axe, sending a massive vertical projectile rocketing toward Dax. The attack was colossal, two stories high, filled with the flames and energy from the previous onslaught.
Dax narrowly dodged the attack, but the projectile slammed into the wall, sending debris flying everywhere.
Felix laughed. “You see, Dax? We don’t deal with small-time crooks. When we fight, it’s life or death!”
Dax smiled, his gaze fixed on Felix’s weapon. He dashed forward, ignoring the danger, and threw a powerful punch imbued with blue flames. Felix blocked it effortlessly. “You’re getting slower, that’s for sure.”
Dax chuckled and launched a flurry of similar blows, each one slower than the last.
Syrus, watching with pride, laughed. “Didn’t expect him to think on his feet that quickly!”
Dan grinned. “Yeah, Dax is getting slower—but so is Felix.”
Felix could absorb attacks, but the more he took on, the heavier they became, especially with the axe in his hands. Without an opening, exhaustion was starting to take its toll.
Naz, watching the battle unfold, understood the strategy. “Felix is running out of steam. He needs to find an opening fast.”
Felix’s face reddened from the heat and fatigue. In a last-ditch effort, he expelled a shockwave of energy to push Dax back. The opening allowed Felix to launch another devastating attack. His attack, now three times as large, crashed toward Dax with overwhelming force.
But before the attack could land, Dax was already in front of Felix. In that split second, everything clicked for Felix. The point of the fight wasn’t to overpower him—it was to exhaust him, to leave him vulnerable.
The moment Felix realized this, Dax’s flaming punch landed squarely in his gut, sending him crashing into the debris-strewn wall.
The arena shook from the impact, the force of the hit leaving both sides in ruin. Dax’s side had two massive slashes in the ground, while Felix lay embedded in the wall, debris crumbling around him.
Syrus watched, a proud smile forming on his face as he saw his brother’s potential unfold. Though Dax had achieved a great feat, Syrus knew that training him was only part of the journey. The boy needed knowledge and control to truly be an asset to the team. Only then can he fully be a ‘Beast of Prey’.
As Felix slowly emerged from the rubble, barely bruised, he looked at Dax with admiration. “I gotta say, that was some quick thinking. But I’ve taken harder hits than that!”
Dax grinned, his flames dissipating. “I didn’t want to kill you with that, so I had to dial it back.”
Felix laughed heartily. “Just as cocky as your brother! You’ll fit right in.”
With a handshake, the two sparring partners acknowledged each other’s strength, the match having ended not just in victory, but in mutual respect. This Revenant’s battles are just beginning…