As the two black-suited young men of SIGIL entered the abandoned warehouse, an eerie silence consumed them. Each of their steps echoed, unveiling desolation that riddled the entirety of the concrete building. It was dreadful, yet they continued onward.
Damien observed the empty interiors of the decrepit warehouse and recalled the briefing of the mission. Generally, cases like human trafficking would be under the authority of law enforcement.
However, there was a possibility of a cryptid's involvement. As such, SIGIL was included in the investigation and was tasked with handling the supposed cryptid.
'Cryptids, huh?' He remembered the name during his hours of investigating the New World alongside the limits of the system. It was a classification of new species following the descent of the black towers during Heaven's Fall.
'The cryptids are primarily composed of vampires, lycanthropes, and faeries. The most dangerous and hostile towards humanity are the vampires.' Damien recollected and pondered with scrutiny.
The infamous reputation of the species rivalled even the most hated Aberrants. They were a significant threat to humankind and were attributed as to why the remnants of humanity hadn't recovered yet.
He remembered the history between humanity and vampires. It started after the conclusion of Heaven's Fall. The first vampires, the vampire progenitor and true bloods, made their way into society.
The vampires targeted the upper class of human society. What remained of the wealthy families and politicians were captivated by the promise of power and immortality. It was for this reason that, for the first few years after the end.
Vampires ruled over the entirety of the Americas.
It was something the Federation of North America hadn't forgotten yet. In fact, the country was currently in a civil war. The vampires currently reside in Central and South America, consolidating their power.
'At any rate, this operation should be related to the vampires.' The ones who would benefit the most from human trafficking were those blood bastards. After all, they tend to manage human blood farms in the south.
Damien wondered how strong these vampires were. Even though there was a ranking for them, he didn't have a good grasp of the difference.
After all, how strong were ghouls, dhampirs, nobles, true bloods, and finally, the progenitor, from one another?
"For efficiency, how about the two of us split up?" He suggested to his collaborative partner, who promptly frowned after hearing him. He wasn't bothered by it as he already had an idea about what plan Block 6 might have.
On the other hand, Jason furrowed his eyebrows as part of his mission was to observe the Aberrant. However, the mission must be completed with the traffickers taken care of, with the cryptids involved.
Taking his time to ponder, he shortly nodded in agreement with the plan. Although observation was somewhat essential, the operation's completion was a priority.
"Alright, I'll investigate this part of the warehouse." Damien pointed towards the southern end of the concrete building and walked in that direction.
Jason could only glance for a second before heading towards the northern end. The two separated, investigating opposite parts of the deserted warehouse.
Damien sauntered through the dusty hall of the warehouse, pervaded with cracks and moss. While walking, he surveyed his surroundings with a tinge of nonchalance and noticed some peculiarities.
There was an irregular number of cages and shackles, signifying recent operations and dangerous implications. It seemed to be abandoned. But with the equipment left behind. It was, without a doubt, a hasty one.
"They could come back and recover some of their equipment, though I'm not certain they would be dumb enough to do so." He muttered under his breath and reached the southern end of the decrepit factory.
"These bastards..." His eyebrows furrowed as his sable-tinted irises gazed upon stains on the concrete wall. It was residues of blood, reminding him of images captured from the cattle-like farms of the vampires.
Although he couldn't consider himself human anymore, his memories and life were a reminder of what he once was. Before everything, he was but a normal university student intending to reach high places in society.
It didn't matter what his body currently was. Even if it was constructed through some exotic matter, he was a human at heart.
'It seems that there's nothing else in here.' He examined the nearby surroundings and sighed in disappointment. He hoped for there to be something that could assist in the mission.
"No signs of any tampering, and the cryptid hasn't appeared yet." Damien wanted to test his capabilities against those who were strong enough. Not too strong like Miss Alastair or Francine, but something or someone he could benchmark himself against.
As if answering his desire, the entirety of the abandoned warehouse wobbled. Dust was scattered while rubble descended with noisy thuds. Turning his attention towards the northern end, his gaze narrowed.
"Jason?"
---
Meanwhile, beneath the decrepit and barren factory was an industrial basement hidden behind locked, metallic doors. Daylight barely gleamed through unmaintained ventilation, illuminating the shaded interior underground.
Jason squinted his eyes as he took a deep breath and prepared himself for what was about to come. Standing before him was a ghoul, the lowest form of the vampire species. It was a monster servant of dhampirs.
"So, a criminal organization is actually connected to the cryptids." He mumbled to himself, disappointment embedded in his tone.
The ghoul was shrouded by the dimming darkness, though its form was barely visible against the fading light, portraying a muscular body brimming with undead vitality.
It growled with unmatched ferocity, ready to savagely mangle the black-suited young man in front of it. But Jason stood undisturbed by its maddened behavior and exhaled with uncompromising stubbornness.
Without a moment's delay, a fiery crimson flame flickered beneath his fingers, resembling a torch discharging flammable glass. Immediately, the ghoul lunged at him, its claws stretched forward.
But unfortunately for the monstrous cryptid, it was already too late. Jason grunted and pointed his palm towards the monster. In mere seconds, scorching flames cascaded like a flamethrower and rushed towards the cryptid.
The ghoul's pale and hairless body was promptly engulfed by the blazing temperature of the flames, becoming a smoldering body of ash. It was propelled towards the concrete wall beside it, crashing and breaking into fine ashes.
Jason's Brand was deemed by SIGIL as Firestarter. It was the ability to convert aether into flames, which could be altered into two modes. There was the liquid fire and gaseous flame.
The possibilities were waiting to be unleashed, that was if he could survive for enough time to realize his potential. It was always time against prodigies.
As the scorching temperature calmed, Jason took a deep breath and pondered how to report the situation to the SIGIL. However, before he could deliberate, another figure emerged beside the ashen corpse of the ghoul.
Jason's body froze as a resounding chill pierced his spine. His eyes focused on the black corpse, rapidly widening. It was another vampire, not just any of those blood-sucking monsters.
It was a dhampir.
"Did you burn my pet?"
Standing beside the charred corpse, the handsome blonde man turned his sapphire-like eyes towards the black-suited young man. He was attired in a white suit, resembling a wealthy businessman.
Nevertheless, his fangs couldn't be denied.
"A Jaeger? Perhaps, it's time to replace my pet. It was a piece of trash in the first place, don't you think?" The dhampir tilted his head while Jason prepared for another attack. The blonde monster grinned and remarked.
"You're petty trick wouldn't work-"
In the blink of an eye, the concrete ceiling above the two of them crumbled as a monstrous and slender black hand plummeted from above. It crushed the descending rubble of the ceiling, pulverizing concrete.