« What… what did she just say? I have to kill a big monster right from the start? I have absolutely no experience in anything like this. I'm going to fail completely, and knowing my luck, I'll probably end up in a worse unit than the one I'm supposed to join… »
"Excuse me, but… how am I supposed to succeed? I have no experience hunting Qephraï. It's even possible I might die."
"Don't worry. Qephraï are far fewer during the day compared to the night though they're also weaker. In reality, we're not fighting the Qephraï themselves but rather a projection of their shadows. They're immortal, and here in our world, they have many restrictions. For example, they rarely go out during the day, and they cannot attack humans. If some do, they break one of the established rules and neither we nor they are allowed to go against the rules.
At night, however, they can kill anyone they encounter. That's why we discovered a type of salt that exists only on the Salzwüste continent. Each evening, we spread it everywhere to stop the Qephraï from invading our cities."
"And… if they're immortal, they can't really die. So how is it that if they kill during the day, they die?"
"That's quite simple. If they break a rule, they become mortal. Even if we kill only their shadow, they will die. Unfortunately, one day their true forms may reach our lands. It has never happened, but the possibility exists. Even though some of us are very strong, we don't truly know the power of a Qephraï in its real form.
Besides, I have never fought a Nox'Ether, a Pthag-Rhûn, or a Y'shoth-Naal."
« What is she even talking about? I thought Qephraï were the only monsters in this world… Now she's listing names that sound like impossible-to-pronounce nightmares… »
"I don't think I understood correctly, but I thought only Qephraï were monsters in this world. What are the creatures you just named?"
"Oh, right. I'm also here to teach you things about the Qephraï. So yes, you're correct they are the only monsters known to exist in our world. But the names I listed aren't new monsters; they're classifications.
To summarize and give all the important details in Hell there exists a place called Tartarus, the deepest part of Hell. Or at least… that was before the discovery of the Qephraï. We now know there are seven layers below Tartarus. The weakest Qephraï come from Tartarus. So if we compare their hierarchy to a military ranking, it looks like this:
First layer: Tartarus – Qephraï of this level are named after the layer.
Second layer: Neth'rak – same name for the Qephraï.
Third layer: Nochthon – renamed by humans for convenience; we call them the Strangled Ones.
Fourth layer: Bysséon – Qephraï share the same name.
After that come the ones I've never fought. Even as a Decarques, I'm far from the strongest, so I avoid the upper levels.
Fifth layer: Nox'Ether
Sixth layer: Pthag-Rhûn
Seventh layer: Y'shoth-Naal - the strongest Qephraï. Very few have ever been seen. Some Archontes even managed to acquire their powers.
For example, even though I'm a Decarques, I only possess a Bysséon ability. For anyone who isn't an Archonte, it's extremely rare to gain a Pthag-Rhûn power. I still dream of having a Nox'Ether ability someday…"
« Everything she just said is really complicated… All I need to keep in mind is that Tartarus is the lowest part of Hell. Even in my old world, Greek mythology said the same. But I didn't know it might actually be real.
So there are six more layers even deeper than the deepest part of Hell… and humans named them to classify monsters.
I wonder how they determine a Qephraï's layer when seeing only its shadow… »
"Madam Van Hauben, that was very interesting, but… how do you know where a Qephraï comes from when you fight or observe it?"
"It's simple. When we observe them, we can judge based on their shape. The more deformed and monstrous a Qephraï looks, the weaker it is. According to one of the Seven Archontes, Aiki Zhion, the Qephraï of the seventh layer have humanoid shapes just entirely black silhouettes.
With their abilities, we can estimate their rank, but shape is the main indicator now.
Before that, however, our ancestors discovered it through battle, because both humans and Qephraï were required to reveal their rank, even back then and even now."
« So it's impossible to be surprised by the strength of a Qephraï its form gives everything away, and it must reveal its rank… And I'll have to memorize these monster names to avoid misunderstandings… Great. »
"Well then, here we are. This is your home. It's in a good district, close to several shops. It's not the best in the city, but probably the fourth most expensive per square meter so you'll be comfortable here.
And don't worry, you won't pay rent; it's part of your contract with my troop. You cannot leave unless the troop ceases to exist."
« Looking at the buildings around us, I'm relieved… My apartment in this world is going to be way better than my old one. And this place is huge she calls it a district, but honestly it looks like an entire arrondissement… »
"By the way, Madam Van Hauben, about the contract… how much will I earn each month?"
"For your current position, you'll receive 2,500Ƒ per month. Plus, you don't pay rent, even though the apartment belongs to the troop, so it doesn't bother us. For a first salary, it's already good. After that, work hard to rise in rank your salary will rise too."
« She's clearly trying to justify the salary… Back when I was a cop, I earned about the same, and that was after years of experience… If I had been older here, I'd already be set financially… »
"Well, are you ready? I'll take you to your apartment. Everyone in the building is from the troop, so stay on good terms with them. Let's go up."
The entrance hall was spacious, with large square tiles. In the back stood a staircase and an old grille elevator. The wooden stairs were simple, with a green carpet running down the center. The walls were white with moldings, and the ceiling matched. The apartment doors were royal green with golden handles.
Anastasia and Sebastian finally reached the door. She handed him the key before heading back down, waving goodbye.
Sebastian inserted the key, opening the double-locked door.
Inside, he froze.
The herringbone floor light beige and brown stretched across a wide living space. The kitchen was near the entrance, separated from the living room by a bar counter. The living room stood near the windows. A hallway led to two bedrooms and the bathroom.
He explored the rooms they were similar but he chose the one farthest from the living room, closer to the bathroom.
He would spend the night alone; his parents would arrive tomorrow. The cupboards were empty, and he had no money not enough for lunch or dinner. He also had to get used to his new home.
« Great… How am I supposed to eat? And I'm anxious about meeting my parents. What if they talk about things I should know? Did I even exist before this? What if I replaced someone when I arrived here… »
Just as he sank into his thoughts, someone knocked at the door.
He remembered Anastasia mentioning her right-hand man would come.
Sebastian opened the door and felt slightly disappointed. Unlike everyone he had met so far, the man looked… normal. A blond young man with blue eyes and a middle-part haircut.
"Hello. Madam Van Hauben informed me of your arrival. Why are you here?"
"Hello, Abel. I'm here because Anastasia can't personally handle your integration. I'll be supporting you. I'll bring you to our main building, where most of our soldiers are. You'll be able to eat there, and you'll meet the people who'll probably become like a second family.
Each unit is like that your comrades will support you.
I also heard Enette wants to make you take a test right away, where you'll have to face a Qephraï. You'll see it's very exciting the first time. Well… depending on when the unit leader gives that test. Usually, it's used to determine whether the person is truly capable of helping others and not becoming a deadly burden.
As a first test, it's also the deadliest according to studies, 80% die during the exercise. Thankfully, only a few leaders use it.
But you weren't lucky… your leader chose you.
After dropping you off with your unit, I hope we'll meet again, hehe."
« Is he serious right now? Why is everyone in this world so calm about death? I've only been alive again for a few days. I don't want to die.
Wait… I'm unique. I succeeded in the assimilation test…
…WAIT!!!!!!
I'm an idiot. They give the test only to assimilators…
I'm not unique at all…
I… I'm going to die on my first mission… »