'Huff' 'Huff' 'Huff'

Under the pearlescent rays of moonlight a crimson soaked body fell to its knees, katanas in hand the person that sat there could barely move, they're right eye was replaced by a ravine of blood and bone, they're back was tearing apart from tens of different cuts. Their face was the definition of mixed emotions as their eyes displayed a deep fear that a lions prey would convey yet their mouth was curved into a ruthless smile, a bizarre joy had combined with petrifying fear. This figure displaying such an odd combination of emotions could only be Damien.

"I hide in the shadows? Take a look at yourself mate." Damien managed to squeeze out a single sentence, he was sure his mouth would only produce blood from now on.

Damien from the moment he was called out to by that pressuring voice till now still had yet to see the assailant, he would feel the wind change and before he knew it a new wound would appear on his body. Damien had a strong ability but it was materialistic meaning it couldn't face something as profound as wind itself.

"Who... are you?" Damien knew full well talking now would be like swallowing ten thousand needles but he had to know what or who was going to end his life.

"Brat you lasted a lot longer than I imagined, you are new here so let me put this in a way you will understand, fall under my command or join the countless souls lingering in this inhumane land." A whisper that pierced Damien’s ear only increased the pain he was feeling but he finally understood what was going on, the man had tested him and now wanted control of him.

Barely able to lift up his weapons Damien felt trapped he really didn't see another option other than complying, yes he was strong willed and wanted independence but when your life's at stake who could truly think about anything other than living, this didn't mean he was submitting it just meant he could only follow along for the time being.

"I under......stand I will......... comply." Saying even a few words made Damien feel like his soul was being ripped from his body, against that onslaught of attacks he could only watch on in terror as his body was ripped to pieces.

"What is your name?" The voice spoke again less harmful than before, relaxing it's pressure a lot more.

"Damien." One word seemed to be Damien’s limit but even if he was in excruciating pain he knew he still had his regeneration ability, he thought that if he could utilise it and his quick dash fast enough he had a chance to escape.

"Your Title?" The voice resounded once again, it seemed to arrive from every direction as if an Army surrounded Damien.

"What Title?" Damien was confused by the question but he recalled when Roxanne was killed he was alerted that Gravity Jumper had done the deed, based off that he guessed people were given an alias or 'Title'.

The surrounding winds quickly become erratic and within the span of Damien blinking a tall figure appeared in front of him, his appearance obscured by a faint fog and extreme winds, even Damien’s enhanced sight couldn't see through it. The figure grabbed Damien’s arm with the echo device attached. Displayed on the device were the options of Storage, Gifts, Crafting and Clans & Guilds. The man pressed Clans & Guilds which then displayed all of the Laughing Devils Clan's information, what he then clicked was a tab that Damien hadn't looked at before, the Kingdom tag.

Through his only useable eye Damien saw a long list of Clans and Guilds being displayed alphabetically, the man slowly scrolled through the list till he found Damien’s Clan, pressing the drop down five names were displayed. The names were displayed as such:

• Lightening Genius

• Weaponized Demon

• Gemstone Angel

• Shadow Guardian

• Magma Golem

"Weaponized Demon? Hmm alright. Brat I know who you are, who your Clan members are and where your Clan headquarters are, remember this. If you manage to survive for two weeks head south until you reach the mountains, there you will find an observatory. I expect you to be there and prepared to face death itself, otherwise I will engulf the entire Desolate District in suffering. Run and you will regret not dying with the rest of this ruined city." The man disappeared with his last words and left behind a small vial the size of a finger.

Damien felt a sense of relief with the disappearance of that Monster of the wind, putting on the Gift Analysing Glasses and staring at the vial left behind.

'Lesser Healing Potion - Level 1 Item

Heal all wounds and completely recover health, unable to regenerate major limbs or organs.'

'I guess he didn't want me to live like a pirate with a single eye, honestly I couldn't even guess what kind of gift power levels he has but I know for a fact if he came with the intent to kill I wouldn't last 2 minutes. I probably have no choice but to go to that observatory I don't want to invoke that man's wrath. If he looked at my Gifts this vial would have been unnecessary but I'll keep it in case one of the others gets wounded enough that my regeneration can't help, after all it loses effectiveness when used on others.' Damien activated his regeneration and headed back to the Fire Station, he had encountered a relatively powerful group but it seemed they wouldn't prove to be a threat and then he fought or more like beaten by the Mysterious stranger who essentially scouted Damien to join him. Damien didn't expect to have this type of crazy night in his entire life but here in the Fantasy Death Land it seemed anything was possible.

"What happened? Why were you in such a rush? Why is your shirt bloody and ripped to pieces?" An onslaught of questions came Damien’s way as he entered the Fire Station, Nina stood near him with a worried expression looking for answers.

"I encountered a pretty strong opponent after I went looking around the city, but he won't be a problem anymore he must've left the city but now." Damien didn't reveal all the details because he was sure that the others would conclude the fact that he would leave the guild and with that he was sure they would become enemies, despite not having attachments to them he would still regret losing vital man power in this dangerous land after all their Gifts didn't out weigh their usefulness.

"Why didn't you wear the Kevlar Vest if you had that on the wounds that looked to be inflicted wouldn't have happened." Nina continued on with her worrying approaching Damien looking at his skin to make sure he was alright.

'I'm glad I didn't wear the Kevlar Vest otherwise it would be in tatters by now, the force behind the Wind was stronger than a bullet, I'm lucky to be alive.' Damien thought to himself that the vest item may have stopped maybe one or two cuts but over thirty? He didn't know if his Obsidian Bone Armour would've even helped, well he wouldn't know considering he didn't even have a chance to activate it.

"Nina relax I'm fine, I am not going anywhere and if I was I would bring you with me, you gotta trust me okay." Damien urged Nina to calm down waking with her to the reception area and sitting down together.

"Everyone else has fallen asleep after some effort but for me whenever I close my eyes I see Oliver and Seth's faces, what if they haunt me as long as I Live?" Nina was sensitive and naturally filled with terror from the days events, Damien helped soothe her and gave her support but even then she was still just a regular girl, who lived a normal life with her friends. Unlike Damien who was dissatisfied with his mediocre life seeking every chance of escapism as possible, Nina just wanted to smile and create happy memories everyday. Yet that reality was now in the past, Nina had to adapt and change like Damien and although she may not embrace her reality as quick as Damien she knew deep down she needed to.

"Nina I can help ease the stress your feeling, with my Fear manipulation I can make you as carefree as a butterfly or terror stricken, with your permission I can help you." Damien offered his assistance to Nina who was having nightmares of her lost friends, Damien didn't tell her that he had actually already been using Fear manipulation to relax her, however only slightly and not in a way that she would seem like a different person. When you think about it someone filled with fear suddenly becoming fearless is extremely odd so big changes would be easily picked up on.

"Please help me then, I don't want to be emotionless and devoid of fear but I also don't want to be controlled by it having my mind giving me nightmares whenever I think of the past." Nina wasn't reluctant in any way she desired to rid herself of fear but not so much that she would become a different person.

Continuing to lay on the couch in the lounge area, Damien relieved Nina of her fear, giving her a chance to relax and not feel that she would be left behind or killed constantly. After some more conversing the two felt in much higher spirits and with Damien’s fear removal they felt that they were supplementing each others joy, even the psychopathic murderer Damien felt compassion and care for this girl he had just met, he could only guess that his connection with his younger sibling in the past gave him a protective side even he was unaware of. Finally being able to cool down and rest the two fell asleep hoping that tomorrow wasn't going to be their last.