The garage was barely lit, casting elongated shadows across the walls as tension the phone call was being made. The words sliced through the silence like a knife, leaving a bitter taste in the room. "Well, Kul's dead," he said, while putting down his phone. Shock ricocheted through the room, disbelief etched on every face. My mind raced, trying to grapple with the impossibility of the statement. I instinctively coiled my hands behind my back, trying to contain the surge of emotions threatening to spill out. I turned sharply, fixing him with a glare that could freeze time itself. "How and why?" I demanded, the words meant to intimidate. He shrugged, a gesture that belied the gravity of the situation. "Relax, brother." he said dismissively. "He wasn't useful after Abaddon died." My patience waned as I pivoted fully, facing him with an intensity that brooked no evasion. "Tell me how and why he died. You didn't answer." I pressed, my tone leaving no room for ambiguity.
Rising from his seat, he began to pace, the measured steps around us adding theater to his words. "You really want to know? Well, fine." he started, his voice sounding annoyed. "He was caught by the police and killed. They probably got their information, drugged him, then encased him in chains and liquid cement." The words painted a grim picture that made my blood run hot. "One of my subordinates almost met the same fate," he continued, his voice indifferent. "but who cares about him, right? What's important is that that f*****g b***h gave him to the police." I raised a hand, a plea for a momentary pause amidst the onslaught of information. "Wait, who? The one that killed Abaddon?" I interjected.
He completed his circuit around the room, coming to a stop in front of me, his gaze steely and unyielding. "Yeah, that one." he confirmed. "One of our informants saw him chasing Kul in broad daylight, took a picture of his face, and now we've been tasked with killing him."
A bitter laugh escaped me, a mixture of irony and ruthless determination. "What a naïve kid," I remarked, the resolve firm in my voice. "What are we waiting for?"
He materialized in front of the door, a formidable blockade halting our path. With a deliberate ease, he lowered his arms, his voice carrying an air of calculated reasoning. "No, no. Not like this. He has police protection around his new apartment, and they're vigilant. They'd alert the b***h and that other guy before any attempt, leading to our demise. But there's a stroke of luck—he has a girlfriend. One Kul manipulated him into pursuing. She's at his house right now. I have a proposal. Let's leverage your expertise, Coyote."
Coyote, ever alert, gestured to himself. "You mean my stealth skill?" he sought clarification. "Yeah.” he confirmed. "You can employ his skill to neutralize all the guards around the area, allowing us all to eliminate his girlfriend." The proposal was chilling in its cunning. I glanced left and right, gauging the reactions of my companions. "I think this is a good idea." I stated, seeking consensus. Their silent nods mirrored agreement. "Yeah, alright.” they echoed in unison.
He motioned us forward, the call to action palpable in his gesture. "Let's go, team." he rallied, a glint of determination in his eyes. My response was a measured smile. Together, we strode out of the door, our destination set—the Ainsworth Apartments.
As we exited the building, the afternoon sky cast a dusky glow over the parking lot, the shadows stretching long across the asphalt. The rented car awaited us, a sleek vehicle that bore the faint scars of previous endeavors. Our number four, the designated driver, initiated the ignition, the engine purring to life with a subdued hum that belied its horsepower. We filed in, adhering to the unspoken hierarchy of our roles, each of us taking our designated seat based on our ranking. The most vulnerable up front driving, the strongest positioned at the rear.
As we navigated the city's labyrinth of streets, our conversation shifted intermittently between the mundane and the sinister purpose at hand. "Hey, is that the Colosseum?" one of us pointed out, diverting attention to the ancient structure that stood as a symbol of power and influence. Glancing to the right, I confirmed, "Yeah, the Representative of Recruitment owns this spot. We might get some promising new members from here."
Unexpectedly breaking their usual silence, the second strongest of our group, one that almost never talks, murmured, "I feel bad for the ones fighting in there. Most of them are 'good'." It was a rare moment of reflection amid the impending chaos, a glimpse of empathy in a world devoid of it. Meanwhile, I reached for the coke, the familiar hiss of the can punctuating the atmosphere. Its taste served as a calming agent, a ritualistic prelude to the imminent expeditions into darkness.
The car glided to a stop in the heart of an alley, the abrupt cessation of motion signaling our proximity to the target. The driver broke the silence, his voice carrying a note of determination. "We're a few blocks away. I'm going to activate my skill and eliminate the guards. Get to the rooftop. In five minutes, I want you all to rush towards the apartment I'm in." he instructed, the gravity of his words underscoring the urgency of our mission.
I ascended to the rooftop and bid my comrades farewell. Leaping across gaps, I found myself on a building about half the size of the apartments, conveniently positioned for our plan. It was time to activate my skill.
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Soul: 60 (-40)
Skills:
Lvl. 2 Recognize - Anyone below your strength stat will not recognize you as an enemy if you act somewhat normal. 40 soul to use, one hour cooldown. (Activated) The one hour cooldown has commenced.
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I turned swiftly, the momentum of my movement enhancing the force behind the strike. A powerful punch sliced through the air, a controlled surge meant to create a whirlwind effect. The glass shattered explosively, yielding to the abrupt intrusion as I crashed through, leaving a sizable crater in the apartment wall. The room was strewn with shattered shards, a treacherous landscape that demanded caution. Intent on fabricating a convincing facade of injury, I scraped at the glass, barely inflicting superficial marks upon my skin. The scenario required a display of vulnerability, a meticulously crafted illusion that would serve my purpose well.
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Soon enough, the telltale footsteps approached, an officer drawn by the commotion. He assessed the chaotic scene before him and crouched down, concern etched on his face. "Who are you? Are you hurt?" he inquired, a note of suspicion lacing his words. Fueled by the urgency of the moment, I seized the opportunity, feigning distress as I pointed towards the rooftop I had just vacated. "There's an Alliance member, over there!" I exclaimed, a ruse designed to divert attention. As his gaze followed my outstretched finger, I swiftly closed the distance, seizing his neck in a vice-like grip. His startled attempt to articulate words was cut short as I decisively snapped his neck, the horror frozen on his face kind of haunted me. It was a necessary sacrifice in the grand scheme of our mission.
With a dispassionate efficiency, I appropriated his attire, donning his clothes to cloak myself in a guise of authority. The officer's lifeless body was a regrettable casualty, which I discarded over the balcony to the waiting anonymity of the side alley below. The distraction would buy us the necessary moments to execute our plans. Navigating the corridor, I sought the apartment's entrance, my urgency palpable in every step. As I approached the elevator, two figures stood guard. Without hesitation, I rushed towards them, desperation lacing my voice. "There's a super strong worker in here! Where's the apartment?!" I demanded, urgency coloring my tone.
They attempted to strike me with futile right hooks, their blows meeting an immovable force as their hands shattered against my resilient frame. Seizing both by their necks, I exerted pressure, a calculated display of strength designed to elicit the information I required. Struggling futilely, they attempted to resist, scratching at my hands in a fruitless attempt to break free. Unperturbed, I maintained my grip, demanding information. "Tell me where it is, and I might let you go." I asserted, a threat tempered with a hint of potential clemency.
One of them, seemingly more coherent, managed to utter, "Up.. another floor." prompting a derisive glance from his friend. Dismissing their feeble attempts at resistance, I flung them into the wall, rendering them unconscious. They were fortunate; their fate could have been far bleaker if I was as mean as one.
I stepped into the elevator, the metallic scent of grease and faint hints of disinfectant lingering in the air. With a casual flick of my finger, I removed some dirt from beneath my nails, a mundane gesture. The soft click of the sixth floor button resonated, and the elevator obediently began its ascent. Seconds stretched into an agonizingly long wait, a peculiar delay that seemed to prolong the impending confrontation. Thirty seconds turned into an eternity before the elevator jolted to a halt on the sixth floor. The doors parted, revealing the hallway beyond. I stepped out, the atmosphere charged with anticipation.
Following instructions, I approached the left door, my senses heightened in expectation. A voice from within queried, "Who is it?" I adopted a courteous demeanor, affecting my 'nice voice' as I replied, "Ma'am, I'm here to clean your bathroom." The response was an unexpected volley of gunshots, four rounds piercing the door and impacting my chest. The bullets ricocheted off my skin, leaving a searing sensation in their wake. This stupid b***h.. I grappled with the locked doorknob, frustration mounting.
In an explosive burst of force, I kicked the door, its hinges giving way as it careened into the room. Rage flowed through me as I bellowed a warning, the words reverberating through the apartment. "Come out, I will find you, and I will kill you! I'll at least make it quick!" Despite my threats, the room was devoid of her presence, an unsettling absence that fueled my fury. The arrival of my companions behind me was a bitter reminder of the failed execution. I turned to face them, the disappointment palpable in the room.
"Wow, this is one sorry a*s execution. No one was alerted, but she is a hundred percent calling someone." the discontented remark from one of my associates echoed the collective sentiment of disappointment and irritation. "Don't blame me, she just was luck-!" I started to respond, ready to deflect the blame—but a chilling snap was felt within my body, plunging my world into darkness.
In an instant, I found myself positioned right in front of Coyote, my hand twisting his neck with a swift, decisive motion. He collapsed to the ground with a resounding thud. "Find her, now." I commanded, my voice cutting through the shocked silence that had enveloped the room. The others hesitated, momentarily taken aback, but comprehended the underlying truth—Coyote was our weakest link. We dispersed, each of us scouring the house in search of our elusive target.
Amidst the disarray, the sudden shattering of glass ruptured the stillness. I caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure drop-kicking a window, the commotion jolting us into action. Before they could respond, my comrades started to collapse one by one, spitting blood, an inexplicable and chilling sight. I can't believe this.
Scanning the surroundings, I detected movement from my right—a man sprinting towards me with an unrelenting ferocity. Reacting swiftly, I raised my left hand, blocking his charge with my forearm. The force of his advance pressed against me, a futile struggle against my defenses. With a primal yell, he summoned an additional surge of strength, and I flipped backward over the couch, luckily evading his immediate grasp.
Undeterred, he pursued relentlessly, launching into a swift kick. My disguise's power seemed inadequate against his onslaught. In a reactionary move, I countered, sending him flying upside down with a forceful kick, reclaiming my stance.
In a decisive moment, I shed my disguise, tearing away the façade that concealed my true identity, revealing myself without pretense or subterfuge.
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Soul: 300 (-0)
Skills:
Lvl. 3 Body Steal - Steal another person's body by killing them. Lasts as long as you like, however, your stats are at 1/3 of their normal capacity in their body. Deactivate and return to your real body by tearing off your skin. 200 soul to use, one month cooldown. (Deactivated) The one month cooldown has commenced.
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Upon closer inspection, the figure revealed itself to be a police officer, standing tall with an undeniable air of strength and authority. His formidable presence was palpable, emanating a sense of power that surpassed any other officer I had encountered before. It was evident; this officer outclassed any other adversary, displaying a strength that exceeded even that of my 120.
Positioned across the room, he adopted a poised and ready stance. I disclosed my true identity, "I am the Representative of Deception."