An irritating chime rang inside Alexander Shen’s head: ding ding ding ding.

~

[WEEKLY CULMINATION REPORT]

ALEXANDER SHEN - CIVILIAN

PROJECTED SLAYER RANK PROJECTED GROWTH POTENTIAL E6 D6 PROJECTED SKILLS PROJECTED TITLES PROJECTED HONORS

Better Together [C]

Certain Shot [B]

Iron Knuckles [B]

Inexhaustible Flurry [B]

Master Chef [C]

Necessary Killer [E]

Night Owl [D]

Still-Standing Bastion [S]

Taunt [E]

The Wolf of Ordo Street [E]

Wisely Educated [B]

Best Big Brother [C]

Demon of High Home [A]

Survivor of Hangzhou [A]

NONE

[SLAYER SYSTEM ALERT]

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A SLAYER?

YES NO

~

“No.” Alexander tapped at the floating blue screen, missed. “No.” He tapped again and whiffed. “No.” Missed. He groaned and lifted his head from his desk, properly tapping [No] this time. “No. Finally—”

Another ding came. He blinked. There wasn’t a screen, but just in case, he tapped where where [No] should be but nothing happened. A second ding followed, to his left this time. His phone. He ought to change the notification noise. Or take a nap, the preferable option. Who bothered him this time? A scathing email, a hardass professor, or was it some celebrity complaining on social media?

It was worse.

Remember to delete his number:

yo big bro

whens theas birthday again?

Alexander:

dont call me that

im at my internship

Alexander sighed.

Alexander:

and its next tuesday

Remember to delete his number:

awesome been surfing online

what dya think?

Vernon sent a picture of a dazzling necklace, pieced together with jewels beyond Alexander’s elegance, wrapped up with a pretty little chain that whispered the word “debt” in his ear. He wanted to vomit.

Alexander:

jesus

Remember to delete his number:

dear god is right

pretty cheap too

just under 50k stands

Alexander:

jesus jesus

she’ll hate it

its too big why bother?

Remember to delete his number:

matches her big chest

Alexander:

READ ✓

Remember to delete his number:

i mean headt

heat

hart

heart

i mean heart

dont kill me

alex?

cmon alex

Alexander called him.

Vernon picked up almost immediately. “Yo, Big Bro—!”

“Go to hell,” Alexander said.

“How’s work? You doing your job?” Vernon asked mockingly. He was typing on the other end, probably searching for more outrageous gifts for Althea.

“Keep it under two-point-five.” Alexander looked at his monitor, glaring at his half-written report. “Speaking of work, aren’t you supposed to be in class?”

“Not right now.”

“You got a big project coming up.”

“Due at the end of the month, yeah.”

“So work on it.”

“You first.”

“Tch.”

“Anyway!” sung Vernon. “How about this: a crystal pendant from an E-Rank expedition? It’s a bit over two-point-five though.”

“Ugh…” Alexander rubbed his face, scratching the crust from his eyes. He swore he had bags too when leaving this morning.

Vernon commented, “Sheesh, and you call me ‘irresponsible’. At least I get eight hours of sleep; you sound like you got none.”

“I told Thea you were a bad influence and look at me now,” Alexander muttered. “A few more peaceful months left, Vernon. When Thea enrolls in OU, you’ll learn the value of labor.”

“Ah well, I can handle it,” said Vernon confidently, or as confidently as he wanted to be heard. “A few sheets of what? Calculus? Reading, I don’t know, Kafka or some other dead guy? Wanna help me out then?”

“Eh?”

“You sound like you woke up as an insect this morning.”

“Go to hell.” He rubbed his eyes. Of all things, this was the last thing he needed. Alexander recounted the horrible years prior: late nights writing essays, countless hours spent studying with Leona, watching Ordo News Network about recent expeditions while punching in numbers—no more, this was his last year. Two more months and he’ll graduate, land a trading analyst post in System Articles, and he could enjoy his summer vacation to Seoul. Himself, Leona, and Althea.

For Vernon? Different story. College or not, he would still be rich. Degree or not, he could own a small part of Korea. Scary thought.

Alexander groaned.

“Sheesh…” muttered Vernon, sounding somewhat concerned.

“Regardless,” he began, “you can’t handle Thea. She’ll set you straight; maybe your family will be proud of you then.”

“Hey, my family’s proud of me! I—” Vernon paused, murmuring something to himself. “Well, they’re not exactly proud, but they aren’t disappointed either. I got my whole life ahead of me, got enough time to prove my stuff, unlike you, old man—”

“I’m twenty-three.”

“Well, you see me as a kid, don’t you?”

“Oh, a bit less than that.”

“Yeah? Like diapers?”

“Plus a pacifier, a baby bottle and the whole nine. Wanna cry about it?”

Vernon laughed. “Anyway, I think I see something great and cheap—err, reasonably priced for Thea. Lemme get your thoughts about it.”

And that was exactly when Alexander refused, tuning out, knowing that he’ll get annoyed listening to Vernon’s perception on “reasonably priced” items. Though he caught a few words here and there: necklace, shiny, eyes popping, she’ll love it. Had Vernon put one one millionth of this sort of effort into his coursework, then dammit all, he’d be the most accomplished man in Ordo University.

Then Alexander heard a familiar clicking of footsteps behind him. He swiveled around in his black office chair to greet her with a kind, slightly strained, slightly awkward smile. There he met a kind woman, kinder than him always, whose drawing caramel hair bounced and had amber eyes that always seemed to shine. In her hands were two identical coffee cups and she held a smile, which was far from a barista’s who smiled out of professional courtesy, but rather a smile because it was him, of all men.

“Who are you talking to?” asked Leona Ahn, a bit teasing, a bit reprimanding as she set Alexander’s coffee on his coaster.

“Uh.” Alexander let Vernon drone on about nothing, making his voice clear and evident and annoying.

“I see.” Leona leaned close, lightly grabbed Alexander’s wrist to get closer to his phone. “Is that you, Vernon?”

Vernon replied with an “Oh!” and said, “Hey Leo, this guy over here was acting a little moody today so I’d thought—“

“He needs to work, I agree.” Leona tilted the screen towards her. “You too. If you need help with your project, I’m here. But not now.”

“Wait—!”

She hung up.

There went that nuisance. Alexander sighed, having a good grin on him. He put his phone down and took his coffee. “Thanks. For Vernon and the coffee.”

“Of course. And Alex, I meant to ask this earlier but”—Leona circled a finger around her eyes—“your bags. Studying or trading?”

“Trading. It was a good night. I made about”—he said while sipping his coffee and burnt the words right out. He yelped.

Leona couldn’t help but giggle. “By the way, the coffee’s hot.”

“Yeah…” He winced, setting the bastard down. “Yeah, just a little bit, yup. What was I talking about again?”

“Trading. You said it was a good night.”

“Right! It really was!” Alexander’s words fluttered. The tilt of his voice gave cause to a pretty sparkle in Leona’s amber eyes. “Made just over ten thousand stands. Most I made in a single night. Thank God for Slayers.”

“Mhm. Remember to study. It’ll be a disaster if you fail.” Leona blew into her cup and took a small sip.

“I’m a responsible student unlike someone.” Alexander eyed his phone. He should check on Vernon again later; if Vernon didn’t do his work, then he’ll sic Althea on him.

“I hope so. If you don't graduate, then I guess Thea and I will have to go to Seoul without you,” threatened Leona.

“You wouldn’t.” Alexander thought she wouldn’t follow through, but at the same time…

“I would.” She looped around the cubicle to her desk, directly across from Alexander’s, and gave an intentful look. “It’ll just be me and my second-favorite person.”

“Really?” Alexander inched closer, elbows on, interested. “Who’s in first?”

“Well, a lot of people.” Leona set her coffee down, teasing.

“...In first?”

“They’re all tied, okay? There’s Ryeom Yongsun—”

“The actor?”

“Yup. And there’s Ji Daeseung—”

“That’s another actor.”

“And…?”

Alexander sighed. “Give me someone who isn’t an actor.”

“Hunter, Chae Hamin,” she immediately answered.

“Like, the No.1 in Korea? That guy?”

Leona smirked, acting like she could read his mind. “Who else?”

"Can you make your type any less obvious? Your favorites are what?" Alexander raised a finger. "Tall." Then a second finger. "Strong." A third. "Abs, broad shoulders, all that." Fourth. "Dark hair." Five. "And pretty eyes."

“And what are you, Alex?" She mimicked him. "You're embarrassingly short at six foot, you only go to the gym everyday, you only have a toned chest, your hair is oil-black, and you have hideous silver eyes.” Leona smirked. “You should hear Althea’s list. She has several tied at first.”

“I feel like I'm getting insulted," he mumbled. "Okay, smartass. Where am I on your list?”

Leona laughed and sipped her coffee.

“Oh, now you're ignoring me?”

“I’m listening to you,” she said.

“Uh huh. What did I ask?”

She sipped again.

“Amazing.” Asking any further was a fool's game, he knew that. Leona was very particular with her men, absolutely cutthroat. In Ordo University, she was notorious for crushing men's hearts and breaking their spirits so they could never know the feeling of love again. She was also a complete airhead and Alexander wondered why anyone would like her. Additionally, she didn't how how to cook. And what else? Right, she was a witch.

"...Hey Alex," she began, squinting at him, "what are you thinking?"

"How long have you been a witch?"

She giggled. "Since I went to witch school."

"Fun. No wonder you want strong, handsome men."

Leona winked.

Alexander sat back in his chair and gazed out the nearest window, the horizons blocked by towering commercial buildings where people just like him worked, wearing the same ties and dress shoes. Altogether, they faced wide electronic billboards, flickering faces like Seraph to the latest trends and products: carbonated drinks, streaming services, movies, and a limited-time chip flavor. People like Ryeom Yongsun or Ji Daeseung would rule tabloids and conversations, and especially Chae Hamin, Hunter, being the No.1 Slayer in Korea and an international icon. A part of Alexander wondered what it’ll be like to have a name as heavy as theirs, then concluded that the burden would be too great for him to handle.

He’d rather live a simple life. “Hey Leo, would you want your face plastered on those billboards?”

“Would I?” Leona looked at the same billboards. “My parents, as notable as they were, didn't participate much in marketing campaigns or social media in general. So I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know.” Alexander picked up a pen and began twirling it. “I was thinking about stuff. After Seoul.”

“If you pass your exams.”

“Ha-ha, shut up,” he playfully retorted. “But yeah, after Seoul, I’ll be a productive member of society. I’ll make my own money, don’t have to rely on Uncle so much anymore, and I’ll get to watch Thea go through the same pain that we both experienced.”

“Heh, at least she has us though. She’ll have it easier.”

Alexander frowned. A single word dug a pit in his stomach deeper than he expected.

Leona curiously tilted her head. “Is something wrong, Alex?”

He sighed, drinking his coffee to hopefully burn the feeling away, but it didn’t. It wasn’t hot enough to turn it into ash. “Nothing. It’s nothing. I was just wondering.”

“Wondering about what?” she insisted.

“Uhm…” He struggled to find the right words. “Well, I’ve already talked to Uncle about it. We’re—’we’ as in me and Thea—we’re staying here until she gets her degree. After that, I don’t know. We might go back to High Home, we might stay here, it depends on what happens between then.”

“So you’re asking about my plans?”

“Uhm, well, yeah. Yeah, basically.”

“I…” Leona took a second or two to think about it. “I’m clueless, honestly. And to tell you the truth, as much as I want to see my aunt again after so long, I know she’s going to ask me about my future. She already offered me a good job at one of her friend’s company—”

“Why don’t you take it?” asked Alexander.

“It’s in Seoul. I’d have to move. Again.”

Alexander gulped. He didn’t want to stare, so he downed another river of caffeine.

“Personally,” she continued, “I don’t think I want to.”

“...Why not?” muttered Alexander.

“Hmm?”

“Why not?” he repeated, louder. “It’s something; I bet it pays well too. You used your parents’ connections to land us this internship, my job even. You have plenty of options already, and maybe it’s hard to pick, but there’s Seoul. You lived there already—”

“But I love Ordo. I love Dawns. I was born here, Alex. I’m not ready to leave.”

“I mean, you only came back because of college, right?” Alexander remembered. After Leona’s parents passed, she moved to Seoul to live with her aunt. “We’re going to graduate—”

“I know, Alex.” Leona’s tone silenced him. “If I move to Seoul again, that’s it, I think. That’ll be my home for the rest of my life. I’d be leaving everyone I know here: Seraph, Sage, all of Angels, the friends I made, Damien, Vernon…” She paused as if for emphasis. “I’ll leave Althea. And you. I’ll leave you.”

Alexander felt the plastic of his coffee cup bending; if he gripped it any harder, it’ll spill and burn his lap. It’d be a good excuse to end the conversation but not worth the pain, literally. He dropped it on the coaster. “I’m not as special as you are, Leo.”

“Alex—”

“Look: you’re talented, smarter than my dumb ass, you work harder than a truck. You have an entire encyclopedia of futures. ‘A’ is ‘astronaut’ and ‘B’ is ‘business executive’, and look at ‘C’! Here, it’s ‘CEO’. You’re someone great; you can make a legacy so damned big that your kids will have trouble living up to it.”

“I’m not that special, Alex. You shouldn’t flatter me that much—”

“You are the sole kid of two S-Rank Slayers, in Cherub One. Seraph is pretty much your aunt. Sage is…” Alexander didn’t know what to think about her. She was weird, always referring to herself in third-person. “Sage is Sage. What am I compared to you? Sure, they like me. Sure, Kosmos knows my name. But—”

“But? I genuinely mean it. I love Ordo. I have many reasons to stay, so many reasons, and you’re one of them.”

Alexander massaged his rough, scarred hands. “I don’t know, Leo. As your friend, it’s not right for me to hold you back. And before you ask, Althea would be sad if you left, but she’d be happy for you. I’d be happy for you. Don’t chain yourself here because you know what, four years later I’ll still be here, and the only thing different is I’ll be older.”

“Alexander—”

“I need to do my report,” he said, pulling his keyboard close.

Leona looked defeated. “Alright. Before I forget: next Saturday, Seraph and Sage want to see you at Angels.”

What do they want with me? “Thanks for letting me know.”

***

The rest of the day was awkward after that conversation. Even lunch. They had a somewhat enjoyable conversation about Althea’s cooking, but there was still that tension. For the report, Alexander had to personally explain why his analysis was sub-par, and he blamed it on his lack of work ethics, which resulted in some scolding from the manager-in-charge. But the day was over, thank God for that. He was on the ground floor’s lounge, waiting for Leona to finish for the day.

He occupied himself by scrolling through his timeline.

“Expeditions have surged 10% globally!”

“Will Gadabout be the second SSS-Rank Slayer?”

Same old, same old.

From the corner of his eye though, he spotted a familiar face: Damien Fayer, an annoying ass like Vernon. A real bastard. Grinned like a bastard too, always flashing his orderly row of silvers. He was a dark-skinned man, hailing as a prince from New York, New York. Had black hair like himself but lighter and the ends faded into crimson, having dark rubies for eyes. Had a fire he did, however it was the fire to frustrate any poor man who spoke to him.

Damien saw Alexander and by the way his eyes lit up, Alexander was already frustrated.

“Alexander!” Damien exclaimed, approaching him with wide, taking steps.

“Why are you here?” asked Alexander, glaring. “You stalking me?”

Damien hummed, undeterred. “I was. Really though, I was near the area so I thought I’d look to see if you’re here. And you are, and I’m here. Where’s Leo?”

“Finishing up. Guess we can wait for her together,” he replied.

“Is something wrong?” Damien asked. Alexander forgot. While this guy talked like an idiot, and sort of looked like one too, he was incredibly perceptive. He must’ve picked up on something in his voice.

“Yeah,” admitted Alexander, taking one good look at his friend’s ugly face. “I think you need to lose a tooth.”

Damien took several steps back. “What made you sour today? Exams? A bad manager? A headache?”

“Why do you want to know?” Alexander put his phone back into his pocket. He thought back to the conversation prickling at him, taunting him. He wished he was smarter, knowing exactly what to say and how to say it and everything’d be fine and dandy then. “Actually…”

“Hmm?” Damien approached him carefully. “Hmm? Hmm?”

Alexander wanted to punch him, but for once he needed his advice. “After you graduate, do you want to go back to New York?”

Damien shrugged, rubbing his neck. From the body language, he wasn’t uncertain but rather indifferent. “Better question: Does New York have anything for me? I’m still thinking about it. Why do you ask?”

“Nothing really. I’m staying here until Althea gets her degree. After that? Let God help me, or whoever you believe in.”

Alexander will be twenty-seven by then, having worked at System Articles for a grand total of four years, maybe earning a meager raise at some point, if only he was so lucky. What better ways to spend his years by gossiping novels with his co-workers about trivial things like Slayers or other worlds or how stupid this manager is, and the latest tearjerkers and action flicks, and the romances, both on the big, big screen and in their tiny, tiny hearts.

And what would Leona do during those four years? Perhaps she would stay in Ordo, or move to Seoul with her aunt, or visit the Big Apple because she always wanted to go there but Alexander thought it was overrated—he never told Damien that. Maybe Leona, inexplicably, thought staying here would be best for her, tying herself to the Shens.

And the thought…

Something nudged his shoulder. He flinched, almost ready to punch something but it was Damien—still punchable anyway. “Jesus, didn’t I tell you to never touch me?”

Damien awkwardly chuckled, raising his hands. “You looked troubled. Let me guess: it’s about Leo, isn’t it?”

Alexander didn’t answer.

“Let me guess again: you two had a small discussion about your future.” Damien sighed as if disappointed. “What did you say?”

“You ask like I fucked up.”

“Did you?” Damien leaned in close, irritatingly close. He whispered so that no one could hear, “Did you fuck up?”

Alexander scoffed, crossing his arms. “I did not fuck up.”

Damien looked like he wanted to laugh.

“...I might have screwed up a little.”

And Damien really wanted to laugh.

“Okay, I somewhat fucked up and made things awkward. I told Leo my plans, and for her, she didn’t know what to do. Her aunt offered her a place in her friend’s company, in Seoul, so I told her, ‘Why not take it?’ It’s not like it’s a big change or something. She lived there before—“

“After her parents passed, I know. You have that in common with her.”

“Yeah, we’re both orphans, no need to remind me.” Alexander scratched at a scar. “Anyway, it’ll mean she has to move. Again. Why shouldn’t she take it? Leo is the smartest person I know, so she deserves to get out there and make a name for herself.”

“And how did she react?”

“Not that happy. I sorta…” Alexander sighed, rubbing his mouth. “I told her that she shouldn’t worry about me. That I shouldn’t tie her down to Ordo, me or Thea. It’s not fair to her. I’d feel guilty if she ends up regretting it.”

“Is that what Leo wants?” and Damien asked the one question Alexander feared. “I wouldn’t call myself an expert in psychology, neither would I call you that. I can’t read minds and you obviously can’t, so how can you say that it’s unfair?”

“I don’t know,” he answered. “We both…” Alexander began wringing his knuckles. “We both have promises to keep. You know Leo’s Growth Potential; she can absolutely be one of the best Slayers in the entire world, but her parents wanted her to be safe and happy and live the greatest life she can.”

“What about you then? Is that what you want?”

“I mean, Thea—”

“I’m not talking about your sister; I’m talking about you. Do you want Leo to pursue whatever life she wants? Even if it means going her own way?”

Alexander couldn’t immediately answer that.

“You can tell her to stay,” Damien told him.

“I don’t want that.” But denying it tugged him the wrong way. “I’m not worth it. She shouldn’t stay for a guy like me.”

“A guy like you? What kind of ‘guy’ do you think you are?”

“You tell me. I’m no one special.” He scratched his cheek. “I mean, I’m pretty ordinary-looking. Not outstandingly smart unlike your beautiful mind over here.” (“Thank you.”) “Can’t be much of a Slayer either. An exciting life isn’t for me. So I have low expectations for myself. It’s better that way.”

“And I know that high expectations can absolutely ruin someone,” said Damien with an ounce of gravity. “What do you want from me? Your best friend?”

“A casket.”

“Next choice.”

“Cremation?“

“That doesn’t involve my death.”

Alexander laughed; he needed a punching bag to release some of the tension inside. “Ah, who knows? Who’d want a future they’d regret?”

“That goes for everyone.” Damien glanced through the glass walls of System Articles, watching people drift by on the wide, warm streets. “Do you really think you’re an ordinary person?”

He knew the answer. “I try to be.”

“And you think you’re average-looking?”

“What? Are you calling me ugly? I try to not look like a mess.” Alexander thought he didn’t compare to some of Leona’s favorites. Like Hunter for example. For one, he was not an esper. Two, he wasn’t the sole survivor of a disastrous expedition.

Damien murmured, “You should hear the rumors about you…”

“What rumors? Who’s talking about me?”

Damien whistled.

“Oi.”

“Anyway!” Damien shrugged with a smile. “We don’t have to finish this talk here. Let’s cheer you both up, that’s more important. So tonight, all of us will have hot pot at your place and we can watch whatever’s on. How about that?”

“That…” Alexander was planning on inviting Leona over anyway to cook her something. “Fine. I'll ask you about this rumor thing later. You’re paying.”

“Alright—”

Alexander’s phone buzzed violently in his pocket. Damien’s too. They looked at one another, a flash of concern and worry striking through, and they took it out.

ORDO ALERT SYSTEM:

CATASTROPHIC OUTBREAK IMMINENT! SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

Alexander blinked. He scrolled his screen up for any further messages, and a follow-up did not appear. He tapped Ordo Alert System. The message redirected him to the official government website. The front page was blazed in red, repeating the same warning. He refreshed the page, and it remained the same. He did it again, refreshing, the same. He did it until he convinced himself that it wasn’t fake and smelled incense in the air.

He looked out the nearest window with Damien. The people outside had the same alert and were searching for the supposed danger just like them. Birds flew and the cars came to a snail’s pace. Yet there was not a danger to be found. There was nothing. Nothing was out of place. Nothing felt off. The air wasn’t disturbed; there weren’t any outbreaks. Not like Hangzhou. Not yet. Sirens needed to blare.

Slowly, an all too familiar pit was forming in Alexander’s stomach. He rubbed his scarred knuckles.

“Alex,” said Damien, “do you see anything?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

Alexander’s phone buzzed again. Twice.

Lovely Leo (Don’t Change it Alex):

Are you okay? What’s happening?

Little brat:

did you get that too alex? what’s going on?

He responded to Leona first.

Alexander:

idk, stay where you are just in case

im with damien on the ground floor, he stalked us

Lovely Leo (Don’t Change it Alex):

Tell Damien to be on guard

Be safe

Alexander:

i will

want hotpot later?

Lovely Leo (Don’t Change it Alex):

Alexander.

Alexander:

trying to lighten the mood

let me know if anything happens

Then Althea.

Alexander:

are you still in school?

Little brat:

for tutoring yeah

Alexander:

stay there and listen to your teachers

Little brat:

alright

stay safe

Alexander:

you too

Althea typed for a little while, then stopped. Alexander didn’t need to know what she was going to say.

Alexander:

it wont be hangzhou

if it is

He hesitated.

Alexander:

ill protect you like always

Alexander was stronger now. He hoped. God, he thought about what Uncle Ali must be doing right about now. It’ll take about five, maybe ten minutes for this news to be heard across the world. Once the headlines hit his TV, he’ll be glued to it.

He nudged Damien. “Let’s find Leo; she’s on the thirtieth floor. I’d rather not be on ground level if there’s something going on.”

Damien nodded. “Agreed. Let’s go.”

They left the break room. Other employees rushed to the windows to see what happened just moments earlier: nothing. Then bursting at once, a long, choking whine sputtered—the emergency sirens. It was like stretching rubber had a voice. Hangzhou’s were different. Deeper, groaning like the dead’s sleep, a vibration so low that your chest felt it. Ordo’s made Alexander’s ears hurt.

“That’s not good…” muttered Damien. Of course not. The alarms dug up an all too familiar feeling.

Alexander and Damien reached the elevators and waited. Both were in use.

They anxiously stood, checking over their shoulders for any new developments. They waited for a few seconds before declaring it too long, Damien being the first to break from his patience: “Alex, do you watch those natural disaster movies?”

“Yeah,” replied Alexander. He checked behind him. Nothing was on the streets.

“In them, whenever there’s elevators, they’re only useful because the power always goes out while the main characters are inside?”

“…Yeah.”

“It’s a random thought I had.”

“So we’re taking the stairs?“

“Let’s take the stairs.”

Five flights later, Alexander wanted to die. He had good cardio but he never liked stairs. Wish someone would abolish them. “Why did we decide to take the stairs?”

“You suggested it, Alex! I went along!”

“Because you talked about elevators in a natural disaster movie!”

“Well, it’s too late now!”

Ten flights in, Alexander wished to bang his head against the railings. “I seriously think this alert was an error. I don’t hear the sirens anymore.”

“A follow-up alert hasn’t been made yet. We won’t know for sure until then.”

“I know. Meeting with Leo is a good idea either way.”

“Walk faster then, eh?”

“You’re the one who dragged us here!”

Fifteen flights in, they heard a set of footsteps above. Although panicked, he recognized them. He shot up and saw a familiar sway of brown hair. “Leo?”

“Alex? Damien?” said Leona above them. “Oh thank goodness—!” She quickly scaled down the steps and met them on the landing, immediately taking Alexander’s arms and checking for injuries. “Are you alright? Are you okay? What about Thea, I’m—!”

“Hey!” Alexander yanked her arms lightly to get her attention. “What about you? I asked you to stay where you are—where you were!”

“I was more concerned about you!” Leona defended. “Who knows what could’ve happened on the ground floor!”

“Wait,” raised Damien. “Why did you take the stairs?”

“The elevators are occupied, and frankly, I don’t trust them during an emergency. Have you seen natural disaster movies? They’re steel coffins,” she said.

Damien smirked.

Alexander ignored him. “Okay! Is there an actual emergency going on? It sounds like everything’s calm outside. For the most part at least.”

Leona shook her head. “I honestly don’t know. Everyone’s on their phones but as far as I can tell, we’re not in immediate danger. If there is, our Slayer System would notify us.”

“What do we do until then?” Damien asked. “Hunker down until there’s an all clear?”

Leona nodded. “It seems like it’s the best choice for now. Alex, you should check up on Althea—”

Everyone’s phones buzzed.

UNKNOWN:

WITNESS YOUR END

Alexander squinted at the screen. “Please tell me it’s a hacker.”

A ding echoed in his head, and a red screen appeared.

“Huh?” said Alexander.

[SLAYER SYSTEM ALERT]

A COSMIC BEAST HAS APPEARED.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A SLAYER?

YES NO

In a low, frightful breath, Leona muttered, “Cosmic...Beast?”

Ding.

[SLAYER SYSTEM ALERT]

A COSMIC CALLER HAS APPEARED.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A SLAYER?

YES NO

Damien stared blankly ahead. “Caller…?”

Ding.

Alexander couldn’t breathe. He saw the last message once before, seven years ago in Hangzhou.

[SLAYER SYSTEM ALERT]

YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER OF DEATH.

ESCAPE IS UNLIKELY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A SLAYER?

YES NO

~

SPECIAL EXPEDITION ANALYSIS PRINCIPLE 7 VARIATION 1053 EXPEDITION RANK: UNKNOWN DATE: March 14th, YEAR 21XX SAGA 1: STARBORN NIGHT: PERILIOUS CITY-STATE, SERVANTS TO THE STARKING