The attacking elves dispersed throughout the vast jungles, disappearing from sight.
Before the elves completely vanished, one of the elves looked upon David with confusing, solemn eyes, as if trying to reach out with his eyes and energy.
"...Confusion?"
"Despite being in a human form, that majin may have misidentified you as one of them. A sentient majin."
"That must explain why the elves were not targeting me."
"...Is communication possible?"
"That was what the majin was trying to determine before fleeing. But realize this, Heir. They may identify you as one of them, but they will kill your comrades."
"As you further your ascension, you will be forced to pick a side. Whether to embrace your humanity or become a majin."
"..."
"Thank you for saving my life." The young girl spoke up, as she approached him.
David nodded.
"Hailey Yvette."
"David Reece."
"Gather up!" Kingston yelled out. The group then formed up into a 360 formation, hiding in an area covered with bushes and trees, covering all angles while listening to the briefing.
David approached Kingston in the middle, and stood as he glanced around.
"Some of you may have already realized this, but we are in a double gate. That means, unless all of us die or we defeat the priority beast, we are effectively stuck here."
Some of the hunters then murmured to themselves.
"...Thinking about it, the realms we call realms... aren't really realms, are they?"
"...What you 'hunters' enter to defeat us majins, you are entering a rift within a realm. This world is an actual realm, a different dimension from yours."
"...That makes sense of why the rifts we enter are all cave-structured..."
"But that still doesn't make sense, why do the gates only lead to rifts filled with majins incapable of communication and act as mindless beasts? This realm alone proves there are sentient and intelligent majins. It's almost as if it's intentional..."
"And you even said that this gate reacted to me entering... it pulled me to this realm. It identified me as a sentient majin."
"..."
"...Something else you think I'm not ready to hear, huh?"
"I will be completely honest with you all, but we may be here for months. Unless a mysterious realm break occurs, we will have to survive here without intervention from our world. There is no guarantee that we will survive."
"And by the reports I've heard, the minimum rank for double gates such as these, is B-Rank, and for the trainees here, outside of Special Field Agent Reece and myself, this is the worst possible situation for you all."
"And with those... elves... hunting us, I will be splitting the section into two separate teams."
"Kingston, are you sure?" David inquired.
"I am, sir. I may be the section leader, but you do have the authority to override me if you believe this is the wrong course of action."
"...I can see where he's coming from. These hunters will just get picked off one-by-one if we remain together in an environment that's completely foreign and unknown..."
"...I can protect them if I reveal myself, but I'm obligated to keep my true abilities secret... enough people know about me."
"No, I agree." David put his hand on his shoulder.
Kingston sighed in relief.
"However, I suggest that I take a group to find the priority beast, while you take the others outside of the combat area. The elves seem to be more skilled at using the jungle to their advantage, so they'll want to stay here."
"...As if they're guarding the priority beast and keeping the other mindless beasts in check... Well, in their case, the priority beast may be their leader."
"I can agree to that, that's actually something I thought about doing, considering you are the strongest hunter here, sir."
"...Let me borrow the other B-Rank Hunter, Trainee Yvette and any others that you decide not to go with you."
David looked over toward the B-Rank Hunter, it was a male. He seemed older then him, hispanic and had long, curly brown hair.
"Pedro, sir." The B-Rank Hunter spoke up. "You can call me Pedro."
David nodded.
Kingston then set up the groups, with two other C-Rank Hunters accompanying David's group, while the rest of the five C-Rank Hunters went with Kingston.
"...These two have had higher scores in the simulations compared to the rest, they should help you." Kingston noted. David nodded.
"We'll go deeper into the forest, Kingston. You take your squad outside of the jungle and be careful. Avoid any monsters that you can and engage only when you need to."
"...That way, I can avoid what happened last time... I will not sit back and watch my comrades die a second time."
Kingston nodded. "Godspeed."
David nodded back, as he raised a hand signal that made his squad start moving forward.
*
Queens, New York
An unmarked Sedan drove through the security blockade around the now identified double gate.
Some of the soldiers then murmured amongst themselves, some in awe and surprise.
"Isn't that..."
"Yeah, that's her..."
"Special Field Agent Holly Evers, an A-Rank Hunter from the infamous Task Force Gold and Gold-02."
"The hell is this?" Holly got out of her Sedan, as she then began walking toward the double gate that was currently observed by ARC's Gate Research Group and Special Field Agent Jackson.
"A double gate, huh?" She glanced at the large realm gate that now appeared white, instead of blue.
"Well, if it isn't White-01."
"...Evers."
"What are you doing in New York? This isn't your jurisdiction."
"You're as cold as usual. I just came here to handle some business, that's all."
"Answer my question. Not only are you away from your post, but you are in my theater."
"...Is David Reece a part of Task Force White?"
Jackson stayed silent.
"I didn't think so. Didn't you find it weird? How some random Special Field Agent, that we've never even heard of, suddenly appears and some big shot in ARC decides to put him in a training operation under your purview?"
"He just suddenly appears in the ARC federal database as a Special Field Agent, no operating history, no awards. I was thinking Intelligence had something to do with it."
"And I intend to find out what they're hiding this time."
"...But, maybe not today... finding a double gate was not what I was expecting."
"First Wesley, now you, seems like everyone is fixated on him."
"Whatever you're here for, Evers... you won't be able to do anything while this double gate remains active. Even David Reece, an A-Rank Hunter, by himself, will have a challenge trying to navigate and survive in the realm they're in."
"If only I could go..." She stepped forward and put her hand on the gate, but the gate seemingly rejected her, as her hand surged backward. She gripped her wrist, as she felt the mysterious electric current.
***
"You're doing well, being calm." David said, as he continued to glance around his surroundings while speaking to Hailey.
"...It's not easy. The first thing we learned about being a hunter is that anything can happen. While they did train us for these types of... situations in the simulations, being in one is different..."
"...Simulations, huh? So that's what it means to be scouted by ARC. Most hunters don't get to undergo simulations... while they undergo physical and mental training like a typical soldier, they have to learn on the spot in rifts against actual beasts."
"!!"
David put up a hand signal, as the group stopped. He felt majin energy ahead of them, as roars were heard in the distance. Rumbles in the ground were felt, as large beasts seemed to be approaching them.
"...Those sound like lions, sir..." Hailey said as she aimed ahead with her XM7.
"...C-Rank Beasts..."
"Agreed. Take your defensive positions around, find any cover you can use. Pedro, you're up front with me. I see you're a close range specialist like me."
Pedro nodded, as the other three C-Rank Hunters hid behind trees and crouched, aiming their assault rifles.
"...They all seem to be approaching from our forward range, there isn't any behind us..."
Enlarged beasts shaped like lions came into view, as the C-Rank Hunters began opening fire. Some of the rushing lions began dodging and shifting positions, while a few were shot in the head for not reacting in time.
"Pedro." David said, as he rushed forward. Pedro began running behind him, barely keeping up with David's intentional, slowed speed. While rushing, Pedro unslung his mace.
David launched forward, as he then landed on top of a lion and punched its head off, as the force stopped its entire body in its tracks. Its head remains splatted around.
Pedro then fought one of the lions himself, dodging its raw strength as it ruptured the ground around him. He briefly swung his mace into one of its legs, briefly stopping it then launched himself on top of its body.
The mace swiftly swung into its brain, killing the beast instantly.
The C-Rank Hunters continued suppressing fire and distracting the lions for Pedro to assault, while David handled the vast majority on his own, using his speed and agility, instead of his raw monstrous strength that could shatter the entire area around them.
"...So you use your fists instead of a weapon." Pedro said, as he swung his mace and then cleaned it with some cloth. They had finished wiping out the small horde of beasts, as the C-Rank Hunters ran up to regroup with them.
"Is that strange?" David said, as he began wiping off the blood off his hands and face.
"In a way, yes. But, there's something about you that doesn't make me question that fact."
"He may be more perceptive than I thought."
"Should we start gutting the beasts for the meat?"
"We can. I don't want us using our rations yet if we don't have to. We should have enough rations to last a week, but we won't have anything to preserve the meat with, so make sure to have your fill."
"...Since the hunters have their serum flowing through their veins, the majin blood shouldn't affect them as it would normal humans..."
The others agreed, as they began taking out their knives.
*
The squad set up camp in a semi-open space, covered by the forestry. A campfire was set, where they began cooking up the meat they had just gutted from the dead lions.
"I know we're all trainees here, but other than Pedro, I don't actually know your names by heart." Hailey started up a conversation, while David remained on watch.
"Grant."
"Kiara."
"I have to say though, this lion meat is tough and chewy, but it's really good." Grant spoke up.
"Better than the rations we have for sure." Kiara smirked.
"We do have more, if you want some."
"Please girl, this food right now is to die for."
"Is it me, or has the forest around us gotten a lot quieter?"
"Yeah, it has. Probably our squad leader had something to do with it, since he's been on watch this entire time."
Pedro walked over to the group sitting down on the logs near the campfire.
"You want some, Pedro?" Hailey asked.
"No thank you, I'm good. I had my share." Pedro said, sitting down.
"Reece took out more of those beasts further down, I took his spot while he went deeper."
"I feel a lot safer in this place with Reece guarding us. Doesn't even feel like we're hunting down the priority beast, he is."
Pedro nodded, agreeing with Hailey.
"What do you guys think about Reece?" Kiara perked up.
"What do you mean?" Grant inquired.
"I mean... What if he decides to want his own task force? Do you guys think you would volunteer to join it?"
"...I would." Pedro immediately responded.
"He's strong, fearless, confident and has an... aura about him I can't explain, but I'd follow him."
"Yeah, I'd join too." Hailey said.
"...Let's think about that after we get out of here, huh?"
"Way to ruin the mood, Grant."
"What, I'm serious... Come on, but yes, if we do survive... I'd join his force too."
*
"It has reached the three hour mark, sir." One of the gate researchers spoke up.
"They've been in there for at least three days then."
"I wonder how many of them are still alive..."
"...Whether Reece died trying to help the other hunters survive, or whether he fled in order to save his own skin, who knows... but I won't find out until that double gate reopens..."
"Be a dear and let me know when that double gate opens, yeah?" She waved off, as she entered the Sedan and left the combat zone.
"...Yeah, right." Jackson said with a snort.
*
"Shit! Shit! Shit!"
"Keep running, don't fucking stop!" Kingston yelled out.
Beasts with the frame of gorillas, but green-colored, began chasing after the hunters.
The squad began peeling, as some suppressed fire so the other hunters could run and find a suitable position to allow the first hunters to reach them at a further distance.
"They gotta be at least C-Rank, right?!" One of the hunters yelled out.
"I don't want to find out! And even if they are C-Rank, there's too many of them! We're almost out of the jungle's combat zone and if the elves catch up on the commotion, we're dead anyway!"
Some of the beasts died from the gunfire, but there was an entire horde chasing after them.
"It's almost as if something led them to us, there's way too fucking many... I really sure hope Reece's squad is still alive..." Kingston clicked his teeth as he opened fire with his light machine gun, letting the other hunters get past him. He sprayed down a few beasts effortlessly before he rushed back.
Kingston then looked upward, as if something caught his attention. He saw the shadow of an elf, as it then disappeared from his eyesight.
"...I hate when I'm right."
*
David then jumped from a surrounding tree, landing near the group sitting on logs.
"We've got company."
Pedro immediately grabbed his mace, as he swung it around.
"Company... what do you mean?" Hailey fearfully questioned.
"...COME OUT." David's yell had majin energy behind it, as it was instinctively felt by the hunters behind him.
The elves began jumping down from the large trees, their leaps leaving cracks in the ground, demonstrating a sense of strength to the lower-ranked hunters.
Clouds formed above the formation of elves that were appearing from the trees, lightning struck down, as a large clump of energy representing a vortex emerged.
A figure walked out of the black and yellow vortex, as a elf with long silver hair with streaks of yellow, wearing a medieval version of a modern parka with colors representing the forest around them. He immediately stood out, amongst the less-dignified and brown hair colored elves.
"...There's so many of them..." The hunters knew they were out of their depth.
"Just from the energy I'm feeling, each of them are at least B-Rank." Pedro said, with David glancing at him and nodding.
"...Except for the priority beast in front of me... all the rest of the twenty-nine elves are B-Rank... but this guy... he has a familiar, but completely different aura from Director Gunner... he may be considered an X-Rank Hunter..."
"...The first real A-Rank Beast I've faced... this is a first, his energy is similar to the Gatekeeper of Nilfheim..."
"You."
His voice raged in the hunters' ears as they were brought to their knees just by his words, but they couldn't understand what he was saying. They saw the frightening aura that surrounded him, seeing yellow, menacing fangs formed out of raw energy.
"...Monster... tongue..." Pedro tried to get his words out, but it came out as whimpers.
"...It is true. There is a sentient majin among these animals."
"...Did you just call them animals?"
"Even further proof... you are able to understand my words."
"..." David had no response.
The other hunters were confused, as they saw David able to communicate with them.
"You are no simple majin, are you?"
"Ma... jin?" Pedro tried to speak again.
"You may be hiding your aura... but I still feel a connection. You and I are similar."
"Similar... Are you...?"
"Yes. I am an Heir, like you."
"I am Dane, the Heir to Nalti, the Canine of Fangs."
"...Nalti... judging from your name, the Ruler of Fangs?"
"...I'm the Harbinger of Destruction, he's the Canine of Fangs..."
The hunters remained confused.
"It's amusing... it seems your Master hasn't told you everything."
"That smirk... that tells me you won't tell me what I want to know either..."
"That is for your Master to tell."
"But from your stance... your Master choosing to not share information... your anger to snap my neck... it seems you have chosen the humans to side with."
"Why, per tell, have you decided to side with humanity?"
"I don't want to have to fight against a fellow Heir, we are blood tied after all."
"...Looks like there are multiple Majins that can make living beings their Heirs... and we're blood tied?... that means they must all come from a similar origin."
"Just let my soldiers eradicate those animals from the face of this world. Their very presence vexes them, you see..."
David knew it was true. The other elves were ready to pounce on the hunters from the moment Dane gave the order, he felt their bloodthirst.
"I promise your life will be spared. You will be returned to your rightful place amongst the other Rulers... where we will educate you on the side you truly should be on. You were chosen after all... but why per say, did your Master choose you..."
"I don't have to answer your question, just like you won't answer mine."
"I see that you have chosen."
"You frustrated me by choosing not to answer me. Feel the same fucking way, bastard."
"How do you plan on fighting me and my men? You are outnumbered, and while you may be strong enough to fight, those animals are not. There are only two that are capable of even matching two of my soldiers."
"Two?... But there's only one-."
"...Kingston, you idiot."
"...Fuck."
Bullets began spraying from a section of the jungle that surrounded them, the elves immediately got into their combat stances, dodging the bullets with ease. One of the elves had their heads blown off by the rounds fired by the XM250 LMG.
The elves moved with overwhelming speed, matching B-Rank Hunters. David immediately used Frost Manipulation, raising a large ice wall to prevent their onslaught.
"RUN, NOW!"
The four were snapped out of their sense of fear, as Hailey, Kiara and Grant began running with haste. Pedro stayed behind as he met up with David.
"Didn't I say run?"
"...You don't know me well enough, sir. I won't be a burden."
"...Let's hope you can back up those words."
Screams were heard in the forest to their right, as the elves began engaging Kingston's squad that ambushed the enemy formation.
"...Shit, that sounds like two of them have already died..."
"Go help Kingston!"
Pedro nodded, as he rushed into the deeper forest, swinging around his mace.
The entire ice wall was broken into pieces, as large fangs rose from the ground and upward, those emerged from thin air.
David immediately rushed forward, leaping to throw a devastating punch toward Dane's face. He swiftly backed up, as if he disappeared. But the punch was enough to throw most of the elves into disarray as they were blown back by the strong wind pressure, most were knocked unconscious.
"Go."
The elves that weren't unconscious ran into the jungle to chase after the other hunters.
A kick was then thrown, David barely saw it as he used his forearm to block, as a fang was then launched from the ground. It scratched his cheek. Dane then slashed his vest with fangs that emerged from his hands and nails, it breaking apart.
"...This fucking guy... he's on a completely different level... I can barely react!"
Dane moved forward, seemingly teleporting again, but he was just moving at ridiculous speeds, as he punched David's face, knocking and throwing him away. He landed onto the floor, as the rocky ground under them cracked from the force.
"Argh... Hardened skin, feels like fucking fangs..."
David immediately got up, backflipping, as he wanted to keep Dane in his eyesight.
"I feel ecstatic... ever since I became an Heir, none have matched me in combat. I am going to thoroughly enjoy this."
Dane looked upward, sensing something. A large boulder of ice was moving on a swift descent, as it slammed into the ground, spreading ice blocks around.
"Don't disappoint me now, fellow Heir. Show me more!"
Dane laughed, as he rushed forward. He then manifested a scythe, covered in the same aura that the hunters felt earlier.
"...He wasn't trying earlier?"
"...Don't fucking look down on me!"
Both Dane and David rushed forward at devastating speeds, as they sped to meet each other. The mere crash was enough to throw anyone near them away by the vast winds, as the hunters and elves currently fighting each other in the jungle had their entire area crumble around them. The wind force alone was enough to rupture a city, as a city-sized portion of the jungle ruptured.
It was like they were caught in a tornado, thrown around aimlessly and randomly.
"...Is this what it means to be a hunter?" Grant said, as he was shocked at what he was seeing. The three hunters that were told to run were watching the devastation from a further distance.
"...If that was true... then why did I fucking pass?" Hailey said, with a frightening expression on her face.
"We'd be dead right now if Reece didn't tell us to run..."
"...It seems you need my help, Heir."
"Now you decide to wake the fuck up, Desim!"
David dodged the scythe's blade, but then was wrenched by the backside, throwing him to the floor. His face was palmed to the ground.
"ARGH... motherfucker..."
"You are a mere punching bag for my amusement."
Dane then grabbed David's forehead and threw him into a large tree, as the tree entirely broke and crumbled down on top of him. David did not move, as the large branches fell down on him. They were the size of regular logs.
"I will briefly lend you the power you need. Just call out the word."
Blinding memories then flooded his brain. He couldn't interpret them yet, but he felt the overwhelming energy that was associated with it and the word he was looking for.
"...Manifestation..."
Both the logs and his gear were then imploded off of his body, as black and green majin energy flooded his blood and his entire body, his veins glowing green as well.
His combat uniform shirt was ripped to shreds, falling to the floor. Replacing it, seemed to be innate biological armor that was similar to Desim's original form. His pants remained fine but were bulging, seemingly armor on his legs too.
A horn sprouted on the left side of his head and his left side of his body turned black, the green veins more prominent on that side. His hair outrageously grew, down to his waist. Black claws emerged on both hands, replacing his human nails.
He no longer looked human.
"A forced manifestation?!... But that only happens if..."
David then disappeared, his claws piercing the right side of Dane's body. Dane tried to dodge, keeping his left side safe but was still struck.
"...He still managed to keep his vital points safe, even after that?"
David then launched Dane backward, with a punch to his chest. Dane took the hit as he slid backward, leaving marks on the ground.
"...You're very persistent... it seems your body is adjusting well to your manifestation."
"That poison you tried to inject me with... we are the same, Heir. Regeneration."
David clicked his teeth.
"Seems all of your soldiers have been killed by the very beings you called animals..."
Dane looked around, seeing his soldiers all on the ground, either dead or unconscious.
"Watch your tone, you-." Before Dane could launch forward, he was then squeezed by energy itself, in the shape of a green and black hand. He saw that David's hand was also raised up, surrounded by an aura.
"...Wait, that power... the forced manifestation... that green aura... you're..."
"HE CHOSE YOU?!"
Using telekinesis, a product of Desim's power, he then slammed Dane into the ground. He then raised large boulders from the ground and pounded them together at overwhelming speeds that it seemed that the entire area fractured from the force, as did the rocks.
Dane rose, but was severely wounded. The boulders were imbued with David's innate majin energy, which struck against his.
David rushed forward, Dane unable to keep up with him, as his entire right hand and forearm pierced his chest. Both of his hearts beated in David's palm.
"Die."
David crushed them, as Dane fell dead and David took out his hand, leaving a large hole in his chest.
His manifestation released, as his black skin, claws and horn submerged back into his skin. The surviving hunters then regrouped with him.
The hunters had no words for what they had just witnessed.
"...Sir." Kingston finally spoke up, as David looked towards him. Kingston gulped.
"How many?"
"...It's just us, sir."
David looked around, as he only saw Kingston, Pedro, Hailey, Grant and Kiara. He realized they were the only survivors as he didn't sense anyone else.
"...When we crashed, it must've thrown everyone in disarray and those who couldn't recover in time were gutted... both sides included..."
The realm gate then opened up above Dane's dead body.
"...Time to go." Kingston announced as the group promptly left, carrying what they had left.
They had all left, while David stood above Dane's body. His hand then emitted energy, as he decomposed the body. It was much slower and David felt the strain of taking Dane's vast amounts of energy.
"...Dane must've had a different reason for holding back... maybe he actually valued this realm... but he was a tough opponent... he made me use a power I never thought I had..."
"...I never knew there were other Heirs out there... how many are out there... and what is their purpose?"
David's veins flashed yellow, then turned green, as he felt the immense energy filling his entire being.
"...Fangs. I have his power now..."
His eyes then flashed yellow again, as he was launched into another illusive space. It felt different from Desim's void. It was like an abyss, but filled with yellow surging energy that spread through the space like cracks in a mirror.
He saw various creatures around the space, all each with different characteristic fangs.
"...Desim?"
He didn't answer.
He then turned around, as he felt a presence watching him.
He stared at the feminine being that stared back at him.
She was a tall, very attractive young woman. Glowing yellow eyes with black outlines. Pale skin, long flowing black hair that reached to the bottom of her buttocks. A curvaceous, voluptuous figure and animalistic characteristics on her chest, arms and legs. She had a similar biological armor structure as Desim, but covered in fur. Her entire body is surrounded by a dark yellow aura.
"...Holy shit... is this Nalti?"
David froze, not only because of her beauty, but the aura she possessed. He knew.
He knew it was another Ruler in front of him.
She did not speak, but he saw in her eyes what she was trying to communicate. She seemed bloodlusted but out of care and sentiment for her minions, specifically the Heir she chose, Dane.
She walked forward, David did not move. Paralyzed.
"I can see why Desim chose you. Even Dane did not possess the incredible will and soul that you harbor within your very being, it seems both calming and destructive. The boundless and unchained thirst. Fitting for the Heir of Wrath."
David finally got his words out. "Wrath?"
"...Does that make you Lust?"
"...I do love a male who is both strong and intelligent."
"You killed one that I regarded as my child... but you are an Heir, so I can forgive that notion. But you will not stop what is coming. Earth will crack and fracture beneath our heel. The ones above demand it."
"The ones above?"
"You will learn who they are soon... My Child."
"...What?"
She then pressed upon his forehead, as he was launched out of her realm.