Lord Of Beasts

Meanwhile, high above the battlefield, Mark stood frozen inside one of the watchtowers. He was supposed to be providing cover fire, but the rifle Elara had given him might as well have been a piece of furniture for all the use he was getting out of it. His hands remained wrapped tightly around the weapon while his eyes stayed locked on the battlefield below.

Kaela punched a mutated man through a wall.

Elara blinked behind another and sent him flying with a single strike.

One mutant regenerated from injuries that should have put him down permanently, while another’s claws tore through a metal railing as though it were nothing more than paper.

Mark swallowed hard.

’I’m in so far over my head.’

He’d always known Titled were powerful. He’d known Ethan was powerful as well, and he almost seemed capable of anything with his array of abilities, but this was still a fascinating sight.

Especially seeing it from so close and from people he knew personally.

Teleportation, mutations, instant recovery, superhuman strength - none of these things should have been possible.

Yet they were happening directly in front of him.

These weren’t ordinary people anymore; they were all monsters among men.

Or rather than monsters, maybe they truly were just superior.

Mark tightened his grip around the rifle as another massive impact shook the courtyard below.

’I wonder if I used that-’

A hand suddenly tapped his shoulder.

Mark screamed.

A high-pitched, completely involuntary scream escaped him before he could stop it.

”AH!”

He spun around and immediately raised the rifle, his finger almost finding the trigger before Ethan casually caught the barrel and pushed it away from himself.

Mark stared at him.

Ethan stared back.

For a moment, neither said anything.

Then Ethan burst into laughter.

”Big Mark screaming like that? I never thought I’d see the day.”

He shook his head, clearly finding the entire situation far more amusing than he should have.

”That’s fucking hilarious.”

Mark’s face flushed.

”I wasn’t expecting anyone to be standing behind me!”

Ethan released the rifle and gave him an amused look.

”Clearly.”

Mark opened his mouth to respond, but then stopped. There wasn’t even time to be embarrassed properly, because his attention was already being drawn back towards the battlefield below.

Ethan stepped beside him and looked down as well.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Below them, Kaela and Elara continued tearing through the mutated attackers. The courtyard had become a full-scale battlefield, with broken concrete covering the ground, vehicles overturned across the compound, buildings damaged from stray attacks, and dozens of mutated men scattered throughout the area.

Yet the two women continued fighting as though they were enjoying themselves.

Ethan leaned against the railing, casually watching the destruction below.

”It’s crazy, right?”

Mark nodded slowly.

The blue-eyed man looked down at his own hands, and for a brief moment, his expression became thoughtful.

He remembered the person he’d been when he’d first left prison. Back then, the world had seemed completely alien to him. Gates, beasts, monsters, Titles - everything had appeared to belong to a world that he had somehow been left behind by.

Now he found himself somewhere in between a beast and a Titled.

Ethan couldn’t help smiling.

’Funny how things change.’

He looked back towards the battlefield.

”This is our new reality.”

Mark glanced at him, struggling to accept that this superhuman was the same person he had grown up alongside.

But that’s when Ethan suddenly smiled and said, ”See ya!”

”What?”

Before he could ask anything else, Ethan stepped onto the edge of the tower and jumped.

Mark’s eyes widened.

”Ethan!”

He flipped through the air, his body rotating effortlessly before he extended his legs and landed on the roof of a small building several metres away with barely a sound.

Then he straightened and walked off casually while Mark stared at him.

”What a showoff.”

Below, Kaela and Elara continued tearing through the mutated attackers. They looked like they were having the time of their lives, completely unconcerned with the destruction surrounding them.

But Ethan’s attention was already elsewhere.

His eyes slowly scanned the compound, uninterested in fighting.

Something else had drawn his attention the moment they’d entered, something familiar and drawing him in. But as Ethan moved across the rooftop, another thought crossed his mind.

He glanced back towards the battlefield.

The mutated men were still fighting Kaela and Elara, their bodies displaying all sorts of strange characteristics as the drugs continued to fuel their transformations.

Those pills were important.

And there was no guarantee this place would still be standing by the time they finished.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’We should probably take some.’

He’d already seen how chaotic things could become whenever his group got involved. There was always the possibility that the entire base would be destroyed before they could properly investigate it. If that happened, who knew when they would next get their hands on the drugs.

Ethan glanced towards a small crate which seemed to contain them.

The red and purple duo hadn’t seemed interested in grabbing any for themselves. Hell, Elara, who was supposed to be protecting Mark, was competing with Kaela to see who could beat up more of the mutants.

But Ethan just found it amusing.

He changed direction without hesitation and dropped down from the rooftop, instantly heading towards what he was looking for. Several small vials sat within the container, each containing the same dark-coloured pills the Brotherhood members had swallowed.

Ethan picked one up.

He turned it over between his fingers, studying it for a moment.

Then slipped it into his pocket.

’Just in case.’

He wasn’t even entirely sure what he intended to do with it yet, but having a sample was better than having nothing.

Ethan glanced towards the battlefield once more.

’If this whole place magically blows up and we didn’t end up getting any, I’d be so fucking pissed.’

He couldn’t help smiling at the thought.

Then he paused.

For a moment, he looked down at the vial hidden inside his pocket and actually surprised himself. He’d thought ahead and secured evidence before charging off to investigate whatever strange mystery was hiding in the compound.

Ethan gave a quiet chuckle.

’This whole Enforcer role is getting to me.’

The thought amused him more than it probably should have.

But with the vial safely secured, Ethan continued on his way to what had truly fascinated him...