The forest was dark, darker than the night enveloping it.

Heavy rain rumbled against the giant evergreen trees, water pierced the barrier of treetops, and rained down like a waterfall.

Among these trees, a lone person wandered at a fast pace. Her body was drenched in the cold rain, which made her already pale complexion more paler, very much like a ghost, which, if combined with a white oversized coat, made her extremely distinctive from the background despite the darkness.

She was walking in whatever direction she faced with no destination to reach. Her goal was to only get as far away from a certain place as possible and never return.

Thunder and lightning roared above her, briefly illuminating the pitch-black world of the long late autumn nights.

Among the deafening rain and occasional thunder, she started to hear a different type of noise that she'd never heard in the wilderness. It was distant and hard to detect, but thankfully for her, her pointed ears were more than capable of capturing it. Her brain automatically denoised the sound, allowing her to isolate and focus solely on the unique source.

It was a sound she heard for the first time in her lifetime - cheerful laugher of people, who were having fun. While she did hear the laughter before, it was solely one of ridicule or one of even worse - madness.

She approached the source of it to investigate.

A man abruptly stood up, grabbed his drink and gulped it in one go, then slammed it on the table triumphally. He has prevailed over the challenge set upon him.

His buddies applauded when the punishment round for skipping a round ended.

Being many drinks in, the man cheered alongside them, brimming with joy. Then suddenly some switch had been flicked in his nearly out of commission brain. Lowering his arms and laughing no more, he turned his attention to the outside, staring into the distant night. The depression mode was on.

"The weather's shit. This storm’s not going to stop any time soon. This shithole offers nothing, maybe apart from cheap firewater to warm up or else id freeze my fucking balls and they would fall right off. Fuck!"

"Thoms, you can't swear so much *hic*, your a no~bility, no? So act like one." A girl just as drunk (if not more) lectured the man about his sudden outburst and then she swallowed another shot to keep up with the rest of the gathered, as everyone else had already drunk theirs.

Another man with a fancy feather hat poured everyone another glass of alcohol, grabbed snacks, and sat down on his seat with a ‘birthday boy’ plaque. He was, after all, the reason for the party. He watched in anticipation, as a show was about to begin.

While all that happened, the former man whose name was Thomas finished processing what was just said to him.

"Suck my scytel, Lisa" he shouted angrily. "Also, it’s you’re, I can hear the difference…” He shook his head. ” Just because I have noble blood running through my ve-*burp*-ins, doesn't mean you have to target me with unreasonable expectations of behavior and prejudice. Tell me, what’s so good about being a son of a noble anyways? I get to take pointless education, uptight upbringing, only to get thrown away to the edge of the country to an understaffed, falling apart mansion in the middle of fuck-knows-where, only to work a boring ass management job. I hate it. Taxes this; Peasants tha~at. How can anyone do these things willingly? Fuckin' BOOOORING. I was made for greater purposes. Great deeds, I tell you!

I, the second son and arguably the smartest have to be nothing short of exiled when that little shit princess spends all of my family’s fortune on her every goddamn wish, while my older brother is a regular to every brothel in the capital and spreads his seed and STDs. Little midget goblin-looking duo. I hate them as much as this rundown place. Actually, more."

Saying all of that in one breath exhausted Thomas.

“What’s an STD?”

“Dunno. I made it up.” He took a large bite of grilled sausage and glanced beyond the fence of a patio into the dark wildernesses which surrounded the large mansion. Upon finishing chewing the large chunk of meat, Tomas continued his rant.

"If only the boring stuff and putting up with all this unfairness was the extent of my problems. There’s also the fact that monsters often roam this forest. Sometimes you can see one of these hellspawns reach the edge of the forest and they eye you like a snack." He looked at the sausage in his hand. To the top of the food chain monstrosities from the deepest parts of this groove, he was no different from an immobile snack already on their plate, when they started craving human meat, his fate would be the same as this sausage.

*Chomp, Om nom nom*

Everyone looked at the drunk, redface noble as he moved his jaws. He was as pessimistic as he could get while his mouth was filled with the sausage.

"I think my parents want me to quickly kick the bucket here, just like previous lords of this mansion."

Nobody laughed anymore. It became so awkward to talk during this rant that silence penetrated the small party. That, and also that one person who parties the hardest fell asleep during all that monologue.

“Fuck ‘em. I’m gonna sell this house and become an adventurer. Whos with me!”

“YEA! I’m with ya on that!”

“If I’m going to be eaten by monsters, at least I’m going to have some fun beforehand!”

“I am not so much with you anymore.”

"Damn, Peter, you no fun.” He grumbled before looking into the distance once more. Then he suddenly spat out all the contents of his mouth “...Holy shit!"

The noble shouted as sausage rolled from his hand.

Lisa stumbled to him and put her hand on his shoulder and was about to say something comforting but-.

"Yo is that a fucking gal standing over there?! I’m too drunk to see sharp. You seeing this too?"

"Where?"

"Tiny gap between these large trees.” He pointed his finger ”It’s hard to see, but it looks like a person wearing white peeking around the corner."

"Eh, no way. just playing with us, it’s probably laundry. Lisa, did you forget to collect it before the storm?" - Asked Peter, the party boy.

“No, I didn’t forget about the laundry.” Lisa answered.

Confusion arose and from it silence, during which everyone (except one sleeping person) stared at the weird white spot. It then disappeared behind a tree.

"Hey, kid! Yes, you in the forest, come here, don’t stand out in the storm!"

They were all intoxicated to a point none of them could be sure it was a person or an inanimate object, so they stared intensively for any signs of movement. If it were to reappear, it would truly be a surprise.

Time passed, nothing happened and the people leaning over the fence gave up.

“Must be seeing things. Well, more food for us.”

“...Food?” - A beautiful, yet quiet and wavering voice resounded among the teenagers.

the white figure started shyly approaching them; they were all scared out of their wits..

She approached them and stopped just barely past the edge of the darkness, enough to reveal herself, and close enough to disappear into the night in an instant.

"What are you, you foul mo-? Huh- Oh it's just a cute little miss- *hic*" Lisa spoke up. The initial hostility for the stranger was gone as she got a good look at the unexpected visitor's face. The stranger was a short, adorable girl. Her skin was the most spotless, perfect complexion she has ever seen. It was white and glossy, even more so from the wetness of the rain. One could confuse her with a masterfully crafted porcelain doll. The girl’s face was just as perfect as if it belonged to a deity, albeit a child’s version. She gazed at them with uncertainty with her pitch-black irises. She partially looked divine, pure and innocent, and at the same time, these characteristics were contrasted by a pair of crystalline, thin and elegant, but sharp as razor horns. The horns extended from her temples and pointed upwards. If one looked closely, one could notice intricate golden ornaments deep inside the core of the horns as the outer structure was translucent and faintly glowing, showing the beauty inside.

"Um... Come here, don't stand in the rain. You will catch a cold." Said fancy birthday hat owner, Peter.

"What’s your name, little one? I’m Thomas but you can call me Thoms." The one wearing the most expensive-looking clothes tried to be as friendly as he could.

The small girl genuinely did not understand their reactions. It was... unprecedented. Reactions varied from terror to hostility. This time, however, was bombarded with questions about her wellbeing, whether she was lost, or about the whereabouts of her parents. She did not answer anything and simply stood and observed the teenagers.

"You're completely drenched" Lisa gently pulled her under the roof, wiped the stranger's face and hair with a dry towel. The little horned monster decided to play along and see what they were up to. She made sure to try to not harm the girl who helped her get dry. While Lisa rummaged her long straight hair, the stranger always twisted her head ever so slightly to avoid cutting Lisa with her horns.

"You shouldn’t wander alone this late in the night, kid. Especially, and I mean especially here, where monsters roam around all the time."

Thoms said with a resolute face, mimicking his father’s expression whenever he was reprimanded. The girl simply looked back and innocently smiled. Candlelight reflected on her beautiful black eyes and danced through her crystal horns, revealing a few chips sustained from blades here and there. Her appearance and behavior were mysterious, yet also alluring enough to keep the man gazing at her without looking away.

"Uh- Yeah, there’s a lot of monsters here. Youuuu~ , I forgot what I meant to say." He slurred at the end.

She tilted her head in confusion.

'This man is essentially unconscious, yet he is still speaking. How? He should pass out from the amount of alcohol in his blood.'

She looked at everyone’s faces one by one, stopping at the last person who did not approach her. It was a short girl, looked fourteen at most, but could be older. She was sleeping with her face on the plate by the large wooden table where the party was taking place. It was large and made of sturdy dark oak. It was covered in plates of half-eaten food, and a lot of empty bottles of alcohol. Drool was pooling on the fancy porcelain plate beneath the sleeping girl's face.

Thomas lifted her by the collar which led her to wake up, look at the newcomer, ask “Oh, a demon?” and fall asleep immediately. Her name was Bethy, apparently.

While her neck was exposed for a split second, the stranger noticed a very familiar tattoo of a phoenix bird encompassing a map.

Glancing once again at the people around her, the monster decided to use them.

The drunk teenagers took turns addressing the strange girl while completely not noticing her rather… inhuman... features. They shared their food with her, even poured her drinks, alcoholic ones in particular and the party could be resumed.

With the addition of the new member, the party became livelier than ever, though the newcomer was mute throughout all the conversations.

Several empty bottles later,

“Forgive me, most beautiful ladies under the sun *hic* for… while it pains me to no end that I have to do it - That is, leaving your radiant presence, albeit for just a moment. I wish not to do this, but it’s a calling of a force beyond my strength to compete against, and I must excuse myself. Deepest apologies. Do enjoy the party in my absence. This Thomas will come back shortly to keep you company.” and he gently kissed Bethy’s hand as she groaned, still fast asleep before kissing Lisa's hand, this time more passionately. He looked towards the stranger with hazy eyes, nodded, and started heading away into the building. He would rather not kiss someone that young-looking. Just to be safe.

Peter watched this scene in shock. “It’s the most pissed state I’ve seen him in... So after depression, he enters the noble playboy state ey?”

Lisa blanked out after the ‘beautiful ladies’ part.

“What happened? What is Thomas doing?”

“I’m going to take a shit. *buuuuuurp*”

He staggered off into the mansion in dance-like strides and went into the left hallway. Moments later, he was in the doorway once again.

“Wrong way…”

…and went right.

‘Doesn’t he live here?’

Hopefully, he found the restroom this time. While that was happening, everyone had one last drink, which knocked out Peter and Lisa on the spot. Three of them fell fast asleep on the benches by the table.

The stranger's head was spinning like crazy too.

“Are you all asleep?” - The monster asked in a weird language nobody spoke. Seeing no reactions, she stretched and stood up. She could not feel drowsiness looming over her as they did due to her peculiar physique. Nevertheless, she enjoyed spending time with the carefree teenagers.

The stranger walked behind the one girl who was unconscious the longest. Bethy still slept soundly with her mouth open.

The humanoid monster pondered on the next course of action. She had some bad blood with the organization called Old World Order, which had the exact same logo as this girl’s tattoo. At the moment she gained consciousness, she was already within their secret camps, on an operating table at that. She patiently waited for a chance to escape man-made hell known as Site 17 - the monster lab. When there was a chance, she took it and managed to get out, albeit pursuit continued even to this point. Who knew, maybe her pursuers would be here the next minute?

She knew many people from Site 17 and their crimes.

“You should be from Site 17 too, right?” She whispered in Bethy’s ear, which caused her eyelids to tremble.

Taking a pause for a large breath, she shouted.

“Wake up! Site director Miller is in danger!”

As soon as she said that, the girl immediately sprung up in a battle stance, only to slip and fall on her behind with a loud thud. This made the monster giggle in glee.

Still half asleep but terrified Bethy unwillingly muttered:

“No! Dad’s in danger.”

The smile disappeared.

“You.”

Their eyes met.

Bethy suddenly shot up to barf over the balcony. Bethy couldn't believe what she just saw. Glancing to the side, she hoped the person she just saw was an illusion. She saw this monster countless times before and was terrified to see it unchained.

“Do you know how much I suffered?”

The monster disappeared from Bethy’s field of view. The next instant, the girl was already kneeling on the ground, with obliterated knees into pieces, and her legs bending in ways never meant to be. She wanted to scream, but the air felt thick in her throat.

“I spent four years chained to a table, drained of blood and had my flesh cut off, only to regenerate it overnight so the process could continue the next day.”

Grabbing her by the hair, she lifted her slightly off the ground, such that their eyes would be on the same level.

The previously black eyes now had a sliver of vibrant pink in them.

“You then used what you got from me to create these abominations that are now in the forest, looking for me, wanting to suck me dry.”

The monster had a calm expression, almost as if she wasn’t mad at all.

“P-please” Uttered Bethy “Entity Zero, I can help you.”

“I don't need you, nor your help.” The monster grasped Bethy’s wrist with its freehand and effortlessly crushed it like an empty can. “In case you haven't noticed, I am absolutely fucking livid right now. I just don't get this whole controlling facial muscles part.”

Being overpowered by pain, Bethy struggled to say anything, and only managed to utter one sentence.

“I… don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“What? Oohhh right. We aren’t speaking the same language. I never got to learn yours. My bad. Well, not that I need you to understand. I just need you to pass a message to Dr. Miller.”

The monster tossed Bethy on the table, then grabbed a knife and aimed at the throat. Bethy was scared of death and life started flashing before her eyes.

*Slash* Her neck was cut.

Oddly enough, the cut felt deep, but there was no bleeding. The breath she held escaped her lungs, but not via her mouth. With an extremely painful grab, her trachea was pulled out.

“Worry not, you’ll live.”

The devil smiled sinisterly.

“Your organization is after my black blood, right? The miracle liquid which heals all wounds and cures all illnesses. At the same time, it is a drink so good, it gets you addicted to the point of losing your sanity. Here, have a taste.”

Bethy was terrified. She heard how people were reduced to mindless beasts after being exposed to Entity Zero’s blood. She had personally witnessed the termination of one such individual.

She tried to turn away, but she was so tense up her body refused to move. All that she could do was watch how the monster cut its wrist above her mouth, and how drop after drop dripped into her forcefully opened mouth and land on her tongue.

Soon, warmth spread throughout her body. Her head felt light, dizziness from alcohol disappeared, pain from crushed bones and a cut throat subsided. Few drops more, she felt good, better than ever before.

Next, as drops kept being poured in, she was ecstatic. Each subsequent drop felt exponentially better than the last.

She tried to say something, however, no sound came out of her mouth.

Then, Bethy completely lost herself in the pleasure and her mind went blank.

***

Noticing the shift in the way the girl before was looking at her from fearful to lustful, she decided this much is enough. She lost a lot more blood than she would like, but Entity Zero decided to commit to the end.

*Cough*

She spat a mouthful of blood at Bethy’s face.

‘I have to stop using mana, Ugh.’

And just as she thought, she did, and the color of her eyes returned to pitch black.

Wiping her mouth with the sleeve of the ragged lab coat she escaped in, she stood, pondering while looking at Bethy.

She grabbed the knife and decided to do some more work on her. It took her over half of an hour to finish. To her surprise, despite all this commotion, none of the drunk teens woke up. They were out cold.

Shaking her head, she turned to the forest once more.

“Thanks for the treat.”

As she reached the darkness of the night, she noticed light in one of the windows. Inside, Thomas slept, having folded and fallen into a toilet.