Chapter 4 – An Encounter with a Monster

Alex decided to write Violet a text before they completely left the city and its excellent cell service. Omnius told him that his training will be long and challenging, and he cannot afford any distractions. If he had anything to say to his friends, now’s the time.

His text read “Hey, Violet, it’s Alex. I had such a great time with you at the anime themed café. Great news, I just got adopted by the man who brought me home a week ago! That’s the good news. Bad news is he lives far out into the country and there’s not much cell service or wifi, so I’m sorry to say I won’t be able to hear from you in a while. I will be doing some training with Omnius for how long I don’t know. But I will let you know as soon as possible when I can return for our second date. Take care. Love Alex xxx”

Alex: … And send… Hmm, maybe I should’ve made it shorter.

Alex looks down at his phone and notices the little bars in the top right corner were going down the further away from the city they travelled. Thankfully, the message reached Violet before he lost connection. Unfortunately, he didn’t have enough time to send a message to Jason, to let him know he’ll be gone for a while. Now he’s worried he’s gonna think he’d forgotten about him.

Alex: I’m sorry, Jason. I promise, as soon as my trainings done, I’m coming back for you.

Omnius: Are you alright, Alex? You’ve been quiet since we departed.

Alex: Yeah, I’m okay. I was just texting my friends that they won’t be hearing from me in a while. Well, except for Jason.

Omnius: The boy with the white hair?

Alex: Yeah. I feel awful, Omnius. He was so hurt when he found out I was leaving with you. He thinks I betrayed him.

Omnius: I’m sorry to say this, but what we are going to to do together is far more important than his feelings.

Alex felt a little hurt buy Omnius’ harsh words. He knows he wasn’t intentionally speaking callously about his friend, but he still didn’t like it. Jason’s been through enough hell in his life. He can only hope that whatever kind of training Omnius had in store for him wouldn’t take too long. The faster he masters his powers, the sooner he can return to help him.

The wild horse soon arrives at the bottom of the mountain and stands still to allow its hitchhikers to climb down. Omnius thanks him with a couple gentle strokes down its mane and feeds him an apple. The horse cheerfully galloped away to rejoin her herd, leaving the wise man alone with his newly adopted protégé.

Omnius: Here we are, home sweet home.

He starts trekking up the mountain, following a hidden path up and motioning Alex to follow closely.

Alex: Ugh, I wish your home wasn’t so high up.

Omnius: By the way, Alex, how have you been feeling lately? Did you have any more issues?

Alex: No, I feel… fine?

Omnius: Good. That means your body has finally adjusted to the Chaos Energy.

Alex feels his own body and realises that he was right. He’d been so distracted with his chores and hanging out with Jason that he hadn’t noticed the side effects suddenly stopped. No more painful electric discharges. No more accidently ripping off doorknobs or smashing alarm clocks. Or at least, unintentionally.

Alex: You’re right. Was that why you waited a week to train me?

Omnius: That and I wanted you to spend some time with your friends before leaving them… Were you able to say your goodbyes?

Alex nods and checks his phone. Every text he sent out had reached everyone he knew, and they have read them.

Omnius: Excellent. Listen very carefully, Alex. Training to master your powers will take absolute concentration. The energy may be stable for now, but if your mind is constantly thinking about them then you will lose focus, and your powers will consume you. Do you understand?

Alex: I- Yeah, I understand. But I will be free to return when I do master them, right?

Omnius: That could be a while. Training must never be rushed. If you wish to be with the people you care about, you must first control the energy inside you. Only when you’re not a danger to yourself and them will you be free.

Alex: Well then, when do we start?

Omnius: As soon as we reach the monastery. Remember, Alex. Patience.

Omnius and Alex inevitably reach the peak of the mountain side and move into the cave entrance that leads to the monastery and its magnificent grounds of foliage.

Emerging from the other side of the cave, the duo is back in the front gardens of the Japanese-themed monastery. It still blows the young boys mind how beautiful and untouched by technology this place was even if he’d already seen it before. He kneels down to touch one of the daffodils grown in the grass next to the stone covered path he was walking on. Everything here screamed traditional Japanese architecture, but Omnius himself didn’t look Japanese at all.

Alex: Hey, Omnius, why’s everything here Japanese? You a fan of their culture or something?

Omnius: You could say that. I’ve visited Japan a few times on my many travels. I find their methods of training warriors to be effective. Its people are also among the kindest I’ve met and don’t look down on those who are different, much like most of the people in New London.

Alex: If you liked Japan a lot, why live here?

Omnius pauses momentarily as he guides Alex around the building to the back gardens. At the back was a large courtyard filled with all kinds of traditional training equipment. There were targets for archery. Training dummies to practice hand-to-hand combat, an obstacle course for agility training, and much more the middle-aged man deemed necessary to help Alex.

Alex: Whoa! You’ve got a whole training course back here?! That’s cool! So, I’m gonna be using all this to train?

Omnius: No. You will be starting over there.

He points the ecstatic teenager over towards the lake with the waterfall. There was a large wooden circle floating in the middle of the lake.

Omnius: This is where your training starts. That platform there is a monument to balance. Today it’s going to help you learn the first and most important lesson. Finding your inner balance.

Alex: …You could’ve told me to put on a swimsuit.

Omnius: A little water won’t kill you. Hop in.

Alex reluctantly takes his shoes and socks off and dips his foot in the water. His body reacts harshly to the freezing cold and causes him to back off.

Alex: Argh! it’s cold!

Omnius: Course it is. That’s natural spring water from the mountains. Now get in and climb up onto the platform.

Alex slowly lowers himself into the water and shivers constantly as he wades through the water until he reached the platform. The platform starts to tilt sideways as he places his hands on one side and starts putting some of his weight on it.

Alex: It’s tilting! How am I supposed to climb on? It’s gonna sink if I put any more weight on it.

Omnius: Just relax. The less you tense your muscles, the lighter you’ll feel. Take it slow.

Alex tries his best to relax his muscles and slowly make his way onto the deck. It continued to tilt under the weight of his legs, but it didn’t sink. Alex carefully crawls to the centre of the deck and takes his time standing up whilst trying hard to keep his balance.

Omnius: …And to answer your question. I chose to live here because it is one of the very few places on Earth where everything is perfectly balanced. Nature is at its purest here. No pollution in the air, sea, or land. It’s a reminder of what this planet used to be like before corporate greed started poisoning it… Like the plants and animals I share this place with, you must also learn to find your balance.

Alex: Okay, but I don’t see why I have to do this over freezing water when I could do this on the sturdy ground.

Omnius: On the ground it’s hard to sense when your opponent is moving. But on the deck, you will feel even the slightest of movement… Close your eyes. Steady your breathing. Find your balance.

Alex does as he’s told and stands as still as he possibly can on the floating platform. So far, he seemed to be doing well even though his body did wobble slightly. Omnius slowly circles the lake until he reaches the waterfall and circles round the other side. His eyes haven’t left Alex once since he started, keeping an eye out for the inevitable slip up.

Alex’s confidence begins to lead to his downfall as his body started wobbling harder than before until finally, he slips and falls into the ice-cold water. He screams in shock and wraps his arms around himself, shivering intensely and chattering his teeth.

Omnius: Alright, not a bad start. You lasted longer than I anticipated. You’ve got a lot of potential, Alex.

Alex: IT’S BLOODY FREEZING!

Omnius: Hahaha. Get back up and start again.

Alex: Seriously?! How many times do you expect me to do this?

Omnius: Once you’ve found your balance we will move onto the training equipment. But don’t expect that to be the end of your training. You’ve still got a long way to go before we move on to the more advanced lessons… Now, let us continue.

Omnius continues to train Alex, patiently keeping track of his progress. It took several attempts over almost two whole weeks, but Alex was starting to find his balance on the deck. He started moving around the edges of the platform in sync with the rippling water, maintaining concentration with each step. Omnius smiles and tries to make things challenging by shifting the water with his staff. Alex wobbled a little but quickly retained his balance and stood perfectly still in the middle of the platform, his eyes being closed the whole time in concentration, further impressing Omnius.

He was now ready to begin training in the courtyard with the all the equipment. Each one will teach him a new skill but all of them require balance in order to get through them and move onto the next phase of his training.

Omnius started off with a demonstration of one of the most common of fighting styles, Karate. A well-known martial art that originated from Japan in the early 20th century. There were many other styles he wished to teach him, but karate was the best one to start off with at as a beginner. In time he will teach him the rest.

But not all lessons were about fighting. Others revolved around the obstacle course, strengthening his body, stamina and agility. The first couple of tries ended in predictable failure. But in time, Alex would come to master them as well.

Once all the basic training was mastered, Alex was finally ready to move on to the first stage of the advanced training regimen. The time had come to begin harnessing his Chaos Energy and learning to control and discharge it in stable amounts.

Three targets used for archery have been set up on the far end of the courtyard. Alex was told to stand on the red X painted on the opposite side of the courtyard, standing around fifteen feet away from the targets. Omnius was standing on his right, instructing him to hold out his right hand and point it at the target.

Omnius: You are halfway through your training, Alex. It took you 2 months, but we finally made it. The time has come for you to harness your Chaos Energy. See those targets over there?

Alex: Yep.

Omnius: I want you to destroy them using only your powers.

Alex: How do I do that?

Omnius: Concentrate a portion of the energy and channel it into your right hand.

Alex follows through and tenses his muscles in his right arm, but nothing was happening. He looks to Omnius for a more in-depth explanation on how to do this.

Alex: Nothing’s happening. Are you sure this is something I can do?

Omnius: I am sure. Focus. Feel the energy flow through you. Channel it into your right hand and eject it out of your palm. Imagine you are slowly drawing back and letting loose an arrow from a bow.

He does as instructed and closes his eyes, remembering his first lesson to find inner balance. The sounds of the world around him faded to silence, allowing him to concentrate on the infinite energy flowing through his veins. He imagines the energy travelling through his nervous system and reaching the palm of his hand and it happens. Sparks of blue energy stream from his fingertips and coalesce in the centre of his palm. The energy started to grow the more it absorbed, forming a ball of Chaos Energy.

Alex slowly opens his eyes and was awestruck by what he was doing, but he didn’t let it distract him and aims his hand at the target on the far left. He discharges the energy ball, and it thrusts itself in the direction he was pointing, hitting the target almost dead centre.

Alex: WHOA! I can shoot energy blasts from my hands! Cool!

Omnius: Congratulations, Alex. You have tapped into your powers for the very first time.

Alex: How did you know I could even do that?

Omnius: It was a hunch. But do not lose focus. Discharging one Chaos Spear does not mean you’ve mastered the technique. There are still more targets for you to hit.

Alex: Chaos Spear? That’s its name?

Omnius: Yes. It was written in the books I found about the emerald. In time you will understand how important the name of an ability will play in the future… Go on now, there’s still more to learn.

Alex should have figured there’d be more to his powers then shooting energy blasts. Now his mind began to wonder what other powers he had. Could he fly? Turn invisible? Teleport? The possibilities were endless, and he was beyond excited to discover them all with his mentor.

Meanwhile back at Aegis HQ, Michael continued training with Alice Magna. Her methods of training were more direct and a little intense than Omnius’. She didn’t hesitate to flip the young Mercer on his ass the second he left himself vulnerable. She needed to make sure he kept their motto engrained in his head. They cannot allow a weak link in their chain to weaken further, or else they risk the fall of their team-mates.

Whenever Michael wasn’t training in hand-to-hand or blade combat with the captain of Wolf Squad, he was learning how to use firearms with his father at the shooting range. Chase’s preferred weapon of choice was an M16 custom rifle equipped with a M203 grenade launcher attachment. He was firing high caliber armour-piercing rounds at a monster dummy with armour plates all over.

Michael was starting off with something simple. A Glock 19 handgun. He showed little difficulty handling a real gun which Chase noticed straight away.

Chase: I gotta say, Son. I’m surprised you picked up gun training so quickly. Have you had any past experience with guns?

Michael: Sort of. Jackson had this big BB rifle in the basement that he said I could have a go at. He took me out into the fields and set up a couple bottles for target practice… Strange that Jackson would even have a gun. He doesn’t seem like that kind of person.

Chase: The Monster War forced a lot of ordinary people to take up arms and fight back for a while. You learn fast when you have to… I hear he’s been homeschooling you and the other kids.

Michael: Our town’s school was destroyed in the war, so we had to learn from him and May Li. It was either that or go to that fancy school for rich kids in New London. Neither of us would’ve fit in there, even if Jackson could afford it.

Chase: Oh, you mean The Magna Academy for Gifted Children? Alice used to go there when she was a little girl, long before the war.

Michael: Makes sense. She is the founder’s daughter.

Chase and Micheal continue to converse as they reloaded their guns for the second round of target practice. Michael’s eyes remained focused on the moving targets heading his way even during their conversations. He was improving superbly as a marksman.

The same was true for his fighting skills as well. Alice couldn’t remember the last time she lost a fight to a rookie. He memorised her moves and came up with the best ways to counter them, knocking her down on the mat for a change. She wasn’t even mad about it; she just laughed it off and accepted the outcome like a champ.

Alice: Hehe, nice moves, Lil Mercer. You really have improved.

Michael: Thanks Ali-

Michael offers her his hand to help her up on her feet again. But instead of accepting it, Alice takes advantage of this opportunity he unintentionally created and wraps her legs around his neck, trapping him in a head lock, flipping him over and sending him hurtling onto the mat hard.

Alice: You let your guard down again. You let one moment of victory trick you into believing the fight was over, but it’s not! You make it easy for a monster to sneak up behind you and take you out. A fight isn’t over until one of you is unable to continue!

Michael: Okay! Okay, I get it! Can you let go of me now?! I can’t breathe!

Michael pleaded, slapping his palm down on the mat while desperately trying to break free of Alice’s grip. Chase was walking by as this happened and peeks in on them. He can’t help but let out a small chuckle at his son’s oversight. He won’t deny he’s improved since he first arrived here, but he’s still a long way from graduating to a solider.

Both Michael and Alex had been training their hardest for five whole months. To say the way each of them has been trained was so very different was a gross understatement. Omnius trained Alex to find peace within himself and use his powers for defence only and handle with responsibility, never at all for selfish intent.

While Michael was taught to strike first and always face an enemy with an intent to kill. To never show mercy because the monsters never will. They don’t know the meaning of the word. All they know is killing those who are beneath them like a predator hunting its prey. But monsters never hunt humans for food or survival. They’re only doing it for sport and are only driven by their desire to kill. After the Monster War, humanity had very little mercy left to give. The first one to develop this mindset was the leader of Aegis himself, General Chase Mercer. It happened the day he lost almost everything he loved.

March 14th in the year 2012. The first day of The Monster War. Chase was on the frontlines in an abandoned high street of London. He and his men were forming a defensive perimeter out into the open, drawing most of the monsters towards them and away from the armoured vehicles evacuating the civilians.

The sky was covered by black smoke from all the fires. The air was thin, making it almost impossible to breathe. People often complain about how loud and busy the city sounded every day, but now the only noise they hear are the horrifying sounds of monsters roaring, people screaming, bullets firing, and the worst of them all, the sound of death. There was no escaping it. It was coming from everywhere. The soldiers kept a stern expression, but inside they were terrified. How can they not be? This is their first time fighting something they know nothing about.

Soldier: Sir! The monsters are rallying to our position! I don’t think we can hold them back much longer!

One of the soldiers shouted out as he unloaded the last of his bullets into the monster charging in his direction. He managed to kill it, but as he was about to reload the next clip into his rifle, a flying monster swooped down and snatched him off the ground. Chase looks away as the soldier was bitten in half by the sharp teeth under its beak.

Chase: Stand your ground! We need to buy the rescue vehicles more time! Keep shooting! Don’t stop until they’re all dead!

The soldiers followed their leader’s orders and continue to exterminate the vermin that have plagued their once graceful city. But faith, hope and determination weren’t enough to ensure victory today. This wasn’t an action movie where if the protagonist believed in themselves, they would overcome all obstacles in his way. No, this was reality. The harsh truth of it came at them in a swarm of monster who overpowered and killed the soldiers one by one.

Poor Chase had to stand there and watch the men and women he’d felt responsible for get torn to shreds by these monsters. Their blood painting the streets red. He learned an important lesson that day. In this war, faith and hope was a myth. The only guarantee that he’ll live to see tomorrow is to kill and show no weakness. Show no fear in the face of death and despair.

In that moment the only two most important people in his life appeared in his mind. His wife, Jade, and his son, Michael, who was only 5 years old when this war started. One of the armoured vehicles might’ve been passing by his neighbourhood but not everyone is picked up and sometimes left for dead. The chances of his family being among them were too great. He needed to be there to save them even if it meant deserting the mission.

Chase clutches his rifle tightly in his arms as he races down the ruined streets of his neighbourhood. He was lucky their home was near the centre of London, but there was still much distance between him and his family.

On the way he would get ambushed by a few monsters and put them down instantly and without hesitation. They were just lowly pawns to him, easily dealt with. But some monsters were much stronger than others and pumping a few bullets into them will not be enough to kill them. But the chances of him running into one were slim. Unfortunately… not slim enough.

Out the corner of his left eyes, another flying monster came down like a bat out of hell and slashing him across the face with its claws, blinding him in his left eye. The general fell flat on his back and cries out in agonising pain as he places his hand over his eye, trying to stop the bleeding. This gave the monster the opening to land and kick him in the side so hard that it sent him flying into the side of an abandoned, ruined van.

Chase coughed up blood and continues to groan as he held his hand over his eye. Blood trickled down his cheek. His whole body was writhing in pain. He can feel a few of his ribs had broken from the impact. He was lucky those were the only bones he broke.

The monster that attacked him landed a few feet in front of him and slowly approached him on foot. His black feathered wings folded and tucked themselves away in his back. With his only eye Chase barely managed to make out its appearance. It looked equal to a human in size and posture, but its skin was red, and its face resembled that of a stereotypical devilish character with pointed ears, fangs, yellow eyes, long black hair and curved goat-like horns. It also acted more intelligently compared to most monsters he’s seen as it appeared to be laughing at him in an insulting manner. It then did something not many other monsters seemed capable of. It spoke to him.

Chernabog: Human beings, such small and fragile creatures. How you’ve lived this long is beyond me. We’ve only been here a day, and we’ve already demolished so much of your precious city.

Chase grits his teeth at the mocking winged monster. Adrenaline allows him to fight through the pain and pull himself free from the van. He takes a gauze and medical pad form his first aid kit and patches up his eye.

Chernabog: Hmm, you’re more resilient than the other humans I’ve killed, I’ll give you that. I see your title is not all talk. I’m a leader too, you know.

Chase: Is… that right?

The monster general quickly closes the gap between them and grabs him by the throat. His black claws begin to dig into his flesh, drawing blood. Other monsters start to close in around him but keep their distance in the presence of their leader, like he’d ordered them to do so without uttering a single word.

Chernabog: I am Chernabog. General of the Deus. I know all about you, Chase Mercer of Aegis. Such a lucid name for Earth’s mightiest warriors… Any last words?

Chase: Just… one.

He secretly reaches for the handgun he keeps hidden in the holster behind his back for emergencies and aimed it at the fuel barrel of the van behind Chernabog and his monsters.

Chase: Boom!

The fuel in the van ignites instantly into a large fiery explosion once the bullet has been unloaded into the tank. The blast hits Chernabog and his monster minions like a bulldozer, sending them hurtling across the empty road whilst setting them ablaze. Chase is freed from the monster’s grip and takes his only chance to escape knowing some of them may still be alive and come after him. He didn’t have the time to kill them either. All he cared about was reaching his wife and child and make damn sure they get out of the city alive.

It took longer than he would have liked, but he finally made it to his old home. The situation was much worse than he was then he thought. Many of the apartment buildings have crumbled to the ground and the armoured vehicle tasked with evacuating the people in the area had been destroyed.

The apartment his wife and son were staying was still standing but was on the brink of collapse. His family might still be in there. He has to get them out before the whole building comes down on top of them.

Chase charges up the stairs. His heavy boots sound a loud echo with each step he took on the metal steps. His apartment was on the fourth floor in room 42. He kicked the door open so hard it broke in half and flew off its hinges. His rifle was immediately raised forwards ready to gun down any monsters hiding inside. But when he reached the living room his eyes widen in horror and his body froze up at the sight in front of him.

A feminine monster with grey, rock-like skin and glowing red vein-like patterns, yellow eyes and four curved horns was standing over his wife who was bleeding out on the floor. Its head resembled an owl, and she had brown feathered wings tucked into her back. Blood was dripping off the blade tip of a long golden staff with a glowing red gemstone imbedded in the head. Michael was in the corner to the left of his mother, cowering in fear. The monster’s eyes were trained on him, preparing to do to him what she did to his mother.

Chase: JADE!

Chase roars with a vengeance and opens fire on the monster once he’d come back to his senses. The monster queen uses her staff to put up a forcefield to block the hail of bullets, though that did not stop the general who was fuelled by anger.

With a wave of her magical scepter, a black swirling inter-dimensional portal appeared outside the hole in the building behind her and the monster falls backwards into it. Instead of chasing after her, Chase tosses his rifle aside and checks on Michael still hiding in the corner. As expected, he was scared by his sudden grasping of his shoulders, thinking the monster was still there.

Michael: No! Don’t hurt me!

Chase: Michael! Hey! Hey! It’s me… It’s Dad… I’m here.

Michael’s tear-filled eyes slowly turned to his father and was beyond happy to see his dad and jumps into his embrace. However, he started breaking down into tears again upon seeing his mother struggling to breathe and putting pressure on her stab wound in her chest.

Michael: Mummy’s hurt!

Chase: Don’t worry, Son. Daddy’s gonna get you both out of here.

Jade: There’s… no time.

A bit of blood spat out of her mouth trying to communicate. Chase rushes to her side and reaches into his gauze for the first aid kit but Jade stops him.

Jade: Forget about me. Her blade… grazed my heart… I’m not going to make it.

Chase: Shut up! You’re gonna make it, Woman!

Jade: I don’t have the strength to move.

Chase: Then I’ll carry you both outta here!

Chase grabs his wife and tries to lift her up but a sharp pain in his sides prevent him from lifting her even a few inches off the floor.

Chase: Agh! Damnit! My ribs!

Jade: You’re too injured to carry us both out. Please, just save yourself and Michael.

Chase: I’m not leaving you!

Jade: Just shut up and listen to me this one last time!

Just raising her voice alone seemed to have worsened Jade’s condition to the point she coughed up even more blood. Chase holds her in his arms and helps put pressure over her wound. They dying woman cups his right cheek with her hand one final time, looking into her husband's eyes behind her glasses.

Jade: … We both knew the risks of becoming soldiers and parents. Our son needs you now more than ever. Please, get Michael away from here and take him somewhere safe… Promise me you’ll take care of him. Give him a good life.

A single tear trickles down Chase’s only functioning eye.

Chase: But… I don’t want to lose you… Jade, I love you. I was in a horrible place until you and Michael came into my life. I can’t be alone again! I don’t want to become that man again.

Jade: I love you too, Chase. I love our son more than life itself. If you really care for me, then give Michael a chance to live his life. Will you do that for me?

Chase: I will. I’ll protect him no matter what. You have my word.

Chase and his wife share one last loving kiss. She takes off her glasses and dog tags and hands them to him, mementos for the two of them to remember her by. Michael, who’d been watching from the corner all this time, crawls over to his mother and throws himself on top of her, rubbing his tear-filled eyes into her shoulder. Jade shares his sorrow and holds him for the last time.

The whole building starts to rumble and the ceiling cracks, dust and debris seeping through. Time was running out for the Mercers. If Chase wanted to keep his promise to his wife, they’ll have to leave immediately. If only they had more time to say goodbye. Chase gently lowers his wife back down onto the floor and picks Michael up. But the boy wasn’t ready to leave her side.

Chase: Goodbye… Come on, Michael. We’re getting outta here.

Michael: What about Mummy?! We can’t leave her!

Chase: …I’m sorry.

He flips the 5-year-old Michael over his left shoulder and starts running for the exit. Michael flailed and kicked about to break free but couldn’t escape his father’s grip. All he could do was watch the distance between them and his mother grow larger until she was gone from his sight. He desperately reaches out for her.

Jade: Goodbye Michael. Have a good life, my son.

Those were the last words he heard her say before Chase carried him down the stairs and out the front door into the ruined, empty streets. The flames are now on the verge of completely consuming the building. Its internal structure was growing so weak that it could no longer support its weight and came crashing down hard, kicking up more dirt and smoke.

Michael: No! Mum!

Chase: Close your eyes, Michael. Don’t look.

He whispered to him calmly holding him tightly close to his chest in a grieving hug. He turned himself towards the destruction of their home so that his son wouldn’t have to face it. He’d seen so much death and devastation in his time as a soldier but seeing good people who didn’t deserve to die in such a dreadful way still hurt his heart. It hurt even more knowing his wife is now among them. He shared his son’s despair, but that despair quickly changed into rage as he watched his home burn. He had to resist the urge to clench his fists tightly to avoid harming his son.

Chase: They’ll pay for this! Whatever they are, wherever they came from, I don’t care! I will find and kill them all! Every last one of them!

That day he’d lost almost everything he ever cared about. He made a promise to give Michael a good life and at the time he believed dropping him off at Hillside House was the right call to make. He deserved to grow up having a proper childhood first before giving him the choice of becoming a soldier. Chase never got to experience a true childhood. He’d been trained from birth to be a soldier of Aegis by his father, the general before him. He did terrible things under his command. Killed many people who were deserving… and many who were not.

He would never put his own son through those same hardships. He vowed to be different. He would balance his responsibilities of being a leader with being a good father. Ensuring Michael doesn’t grow up becoming like him. But there are still secrets he’s keeping from him. He’s unsure if he’ll ever find the right time to tell him either. All he can do is keep up his training until he feels in his heart when the right time comes.

The flashback was suddenly interrupted by a loud alarm sounding off throughout Aegis, startling the general out of his chair. He picks himself up rather quickly and just in time as a random solder came bursting into his office.

Soldier: Sir! One of the monsters we’ve captured alive has escaped containment! It’s running loose in the base!

Chase: Lockdown Monster Containment! Make sure no more of them escape! Find the escapee and terminate on sight!

Solider: Sir yes sir!

The soldier races out of his office. Chase reaches for the microphone on his desk and speaks to everyone in the base. Aegis was so massive that the alarm may not have reached every part of it. But the speakers carrying his voice should.

Chase: Red alert! A monster has escaped containment! All soldiers be on guard! If you see it, your orders are to shoot on sight! All cadets are to evacuate and retreat to the emergency bunkers! Do NOT engage! That’s an order!

Alice and Michael were sparring with blades in the training area when the alarms went off and the announcement reached them.

Alice: Guess trainings over for now. We better get-

Before she could finish her sentence the escaped monster smashes through a wall to their left and enters the training area. Any trainees near the wall were tragically crushed by the flying debris. Any who survived were impaled by the monster’s tentacles coming out of its back. The monster was walking on all fours like a gorilla and had rubbery brownish skin like a lizard. Its head had two mouths, one where a mouth normally is, and the other was on top of its head. Both mouths opened wide as the creature roared.

Alice: Shit! We need to move! We’re not equipped to take it out!

She wastes no time bolting for the exit only to realise Michael wasn’t following behind her. He was just standing there, frozen with fear, breathing faster and faster as he watched the monster cut down and throw the other soldiers and cadets unfortunate enough to be caught by its tentacles. Their lifeless bodies smashing against the concrete walls.

Seeing the monster standing over its prey and stabbing this one soldier trying to pierce its thick hide with a knife with its blade tipped tentacle brought back memories Michael had long since forgotten till now. The memories of his mother’s death and what occurred from his perspective before the arrival of his father.

What went down that tragic day remained clouded in Michael’s mind until he was first told about what happened to her by Chase the day they first arrived at Aegis. He was five years old when the war started. He remembered seeing monsters coming out of black hole-like portals and wasting no time causing destruction. People were screaming and running away in terror. Cars were being thrown and crushing those unlucky enough.

It was around 11 o’clock at night when they first arrived. The sounds of death and fear woke him up and drew him to his bedroom window. He pulled back the curtains and looked down on his street from above. The things he saw were sights no child his age should bear witness too.

He remembered smelling smoke coming from his bedroom door and it was getting warmer all of a sudden. His home was suddenly going up in flames, scaring him even more. He then remembered his mother bursting in and pulling him away from the window and closing the curtains, acting distressed.

Jade: Michael! Get away from there! Quickly, we must get out of here now!

Without any explanation, she picked her son up and began carrying him out of his bedroom and through the living room to reach the exit. But they only made if halfway across before the wall on their left was unexpectedly blown open by a powerful monster attack. Jade holds Michael close to her chest to shield him from the impact of the opposite wall, taking the full force of the impact.

The monster that caused the explosion was the same one Chase described to Michael as the one behind his mother’s murder. A female monster with some owl features and carrying a golden scepter with a red jewel in its centre. It was casually standing on air a few feet away from their building and simply stepped through the hole she made like she was invited in.

Jade puts Michael down and tells him to hide before she pulls out two custom made handguns from behind her back and takes aim at the intruder. The bullets bounce off a red forcefield she’d put up before entering. The monster laughs at her feeble attempt to kill her and levitates the guns out of her hands and tosses them aside.

Oculus Abyssi: Aww, how cute. Thinking that your petty bullets can ever reach me, let alone harm me, Oculus Abyssi, the Queen of the Deus. Is that really all you’ve got left to offer? What ever happened to that burning charisma you had inside you? Don’t tell me I’ve snuffed it out.

Jade ignores her opposer and focuses on her son, having only eyes for his wellbeing. Until now the queen of the monsters hadn’t noticed him hiding in the corner. Now it all became clear why the mother was holding back. She didn’t want to get him involved.

Oculus Abyssi: Ah, a son. Now I see. You don’t want him to see you as a fighter. He only sees you as his mother. Is that right?

Again, Jade doesn’t respond. Oculus closes the gap between her and Jade, standing tall over her like a man looking down at an ant. That is how she sees all humans. Nothing but insects that will be crushed underfoot. Obstacles that she will charge through to accomplish whatever goal she had on this planet.

Oculus Abyssi: If you’re not going to fight then you can just sit there and die!

Jade: Michael, run!

Was all she was able to say before getting stabbed in the chest by Oculus’ blade. Michael heard her instructions but was too scared to even move. All he could do was sit there helplessly and watch as the monster queen kills his mother right before his innocent eyes. She would’ve killed him that day too if it wasn’t for Chase’s arrival.

Those memories filled the young Mercer with unquestionable hatred towards all monsters. His fists clenched tightly, and he grits his teeth. The monster spots him and Alice trying to pull the young Mercer towards the exit and decides to go after them next. Michael pulls his arm free of Alice’s grip and starts walking towards the monster.

Alice: Michael, what are you doing?! Get back!

He ignores her and pulls out his handgun and knife as he continues towards the monster.

Alice: Do you have a death wish?! Chase’s orders are to evacuate all cadets!

Michael: I don’t fucking care!

Michael venomously replied without looking back or thinking of the consequences for his disobedience if he survives his foolishness.

Michael: These things took away my home! My mother! I will make them pay!

Alice: Do you want to die, you idiot?!

Michael: Not until I kill the monster that killed my mum. You may not be her, but you’ll make for good practice for when I do find her.

The monster drops the half-eaten soldier and sets its sights on its next target. Both of them have a strong desire to kill the other in their eyes, but what separates them is Michael’s resolve to avenge those these monsters slaughtered.

The monster roars and begins to charge him. Michael lets loose a rage-induced battle cry of his own and meets the monster in the middle of the room. The monster swipes at him with its right claw but Michael slides underneath it, dodging it. He stabs his knife into its chest and slices it down the middle as he slid out from underneath, gutting the beast like a fish.

The monster cries out in pain and holds its wound closed with both front claws. It launches another attack at the cadet with its tentacles. Michael efficiently slices them of with his knife by holding it in a reverse grip. Now the creature was completely defenceless. Michael finishes it off by firing two bullets into the beast’s eyes, blinding it. It’s arms flail about and causes its blood and guts to leak out all over the training mat until eventually it fell hard to the floor and died. But as an added measure, Michael emptied his magazine into its head, making sure it stays dead.

Alice and the surviving cadets were dumbfounded by what they just saw. That monster was three times his size and yet, somehow, Michael, a cadet with only five months of training, was able to take it down quickly without getting so much as a scratch. He was making the other cadets look bad by comparison.

Cadet 1: I-I don’t believe it. He just killed that thing without breaking a sweat.

Cadet 2: And he’s just walking that shit off like it was nothing. How can he do that when he can’t even beat the captain in a sparring match?

Michael sighs a breath of relief and puts his weapons back in their holsters. Like the others, a part of him also can’t believe he’d just did that. In the heat of the moment he wasn’t thinking, he just went in and took that thing only with adrenaline and a need to prove himself. It felt so natural to him that he didn’t need time to think about how to kill it.

Eventually, Chase arrived with a squad of Aegis personnel wearing hazmat suits to come and clean up the monster’s remains and disinfect the area in case it had any toxins in its system. When he asked Alice and the other soldiers who killed the monster, he shared the same surprised expression as the others when they all pointed simultaneously towards Michael.

Chase: Michael did this?

He approaches his son with a stern look on his face which worried Michael. He regretted what he thought earlier about not caring about the consequences for disobeying orders.

However, instead of telling him off and telling him what he did was dangerous, Chase instead seemed to be impressed by his actions and gives him a pat on the back.

Michael: I- I thought you’d be furious. Say that what I did was dangerous.

Chase: It was. Normally I would be mad at you for disobedience. But I’m even more relieved to see you alive. Part of me didn’t think you’d ever be ready to face the monsters, but you proved me wrong… You’ve come a long way since I first brought you here. Alice has trained you well.

Alice: Well, there’s obviously some things we still need to sort out, but I’d say he’s ready… Guess I’m a good instructor after all.

She thought that last part to herself. Michael takes one last look back at the monster’s corpse, feeling proud of himself for how he was able to take it out so effectively armed with only a knife and pistol. Just imagine the things he could do with a little more experience and even better weapons. He’s more than willing to find out.

Michael: Like you said, Dad, I have the blood of a Mercer in me. After this, I’m ready for anything.

A few days later, after the cleanup crew disposed of the monster’s corpse and decontaminated the training room, Chase decided to hold the cadet’s graduation ceremony early this year, allowing the cadets he deemed fit and ready to serve to become fully fledged soldiers and choose which squad to join. Michael was standing among the chosen with a medal pinned to the left side of his graduation uniform, similar to the medal Chase and Jade had in his study in the mansion. Michael was happy to have one of his own. He and the others stood at attention with their heads held high as they listened to the general’s speech. Standing behind him were the other high ranking commanding officers such as his second in command, the head of Aegis’ science department and the captains of the three squadrons, including Alice.

Chase: …Therefore, it is with great honour that I officially dub you all true soldiers of Aegis. Do you all solemnly swear to serve and protect humanity from any and all threats beyond this world?

Graduates: We swear!

Chase: Do you swear to put everything on the line to defend the innocent, even your own lives?

Graduates: We swear!

Chase: Excellent! May you serve us well, and may God give you the strength to fight for your country for many years to come. You may now choose your squad but choose wisely. Once a decision is made there is no backing out. Is that understood?

Graduates: SIR, YES SIR!

Chase: Welcome to Aegis, Cadets. Dismissed!

Once the ceremony had concluded the graduates approach the three captains and receive their new uniforms bearing the symbols of each squad. Before Michael was about to make his decision, he was called over by Chase who wanted to personally congratulate properly.

Chase: Well done, my son. I’m so proud of you.

Michael: Thank you, Sir.

Chase: I assume you’ve chosen a squad.

Michael: Yeah. I’m joining Wolf Squad.

Chase: Oh? Why Wolf Squad?

Michael: Because I want to rid the world of the remaining monsters and make the world a peaceful place. I know it won’t be easy, and I may not even accomplish that goal with what you’ve told me. But I at least want to make a difference and ensure humanity won’t have to live in fear of them anymore. And maybe one day I will encounter the one who killed Mum and avenge her death, so she can finally rest in peace.

Chase: I understand. Just promise me something, Michael.

Michael: Sure, Dad, anything.

Chase: Don’t let your desire to avenge your mother completely take hold of who you are. I made that mistake once and regretted it ever since. I don’t want you going down the same path I took.

Michael: I won’t, Dad. I know that Mum wouldn’t want that either. But I can’t let that monster do what she did to us to others. I will kill her, but I won’t lose myself in the process.

Chase smiles and tussles his son’s hair much to his annoyance. Michael soon approaches Alice and grabs a uniform from her, confirming with her that they’ll be seeing much more of each other from this moment onwards. She smiles and shakes his hand, welcoming him into the pack.

Alice: I had a feeling that I wouldn’t see the last of you.

Michael: Hehe, you ain’t getting rid of me that easily.

Alice: Welcome to Wolf Squad, Graduate Michael Mercer.

Michael: Thanks for having me, Captain.

Alice: Don’t be thinking I’m gonna go easy on you just for being the general’s son, you hear me? You’re getting the same treatment as everyone else.

Michael: Like how “easy” you were going on me during training?

Alice: Oh, that was me going easy on you. I won’t be now that you’re in my squad.

Michael: Oh… Shit.

Chase observes the exchange between the two of them and smiles. He was beyond pleased with how far Michael has progressed in his training and how much he was able to prove himself worthy of the Mercer bloodline. Maybe someday, when the time comes for him to retire, he can entrust Michael to lead Aegis into the future and hopefully one day bring a permanent end to the Monster Race.

To Be Continued