The Phantom Riser

CHAPTER TEN - TARGET

“Yo, guys! Wait up!” Kiro said, as he chased after the two. Somehow, it looked like they were running around in a Resort. While it might have looked fun at that moment, he was far from switched off defensively. He knew how quickly these games could turn into bloodbath. “Hey,” Kiro beckoned calmly, just before he wrapped Victor and Karenia in a force field ball, halting their movements.

“Hey, what’s the deal man? We’re just taking a look around---” Karenia said, but the explosions that followed interrupted her. They were not aware until that moment that they had been surrounded by other teams and Kiro had just shielded them from one of their attacks.

“I’m pretty disappointed. You are supposed to be our lookout, Karenia. You have the keenest of senses and we are still being caught off guard! Focus Karenia, or we’re going to be skewed Kebabs for whatever monsters that find us once they kill us,” Kiro cried.

“Skewed what now?” Victor was perplexed.

“Oh. About ninety percent of the creatures here eat humans. So, don’t get too friendly to them,” Kiro replied casually.

“What!” Victor and Karenia exclaimed in unison. Victor for one was never comfortable with his new environment. But now, the added fact of possibly being eaten dead or alive made him sick. Karenia on the other hand was heartbroken. She had it in mind that she would make friends with the creatures there. Due to her beast origin, she felt very much at home. But no one could be friends with their food. Or maybe they wouldn’t see her as food. In a way, she felt like one of them. But what of her friends? Surely, she would never see them get hurt, much less eaten. It was a big let-down for her and she was itching to let out her anger somehow. Kiro let up his shield after he was sure there were no more attacks.

“You have quite the strong shield, I’ll give you that. But it won’t be long before we break through. We have no interest in you or the girl. Give us the Ascient and we will be on our way,” one of the men said. There was a total of fifteen people gathered against them; five teams. Kiro was well aware of who had spread the news about Victor; Jovak! He was testing them. Surely, he wasn’t going to let them take Victor. He wanted him, but he also wanted to see just how special an ‘Ascient’ was. Or was it just all a baseless myth?

“Ascient this, Ascient that. When will you all shut up,” Karenia cursed under her breath. She had been struggling to keep her temper cool. She wasn’t usually the type to quickly get angry. But ever since she got her abilities, she found out that there were things that ticked her off rather easily. Inconsequential they may seem to others, but once it was a matter of pride, she would find herself unable to shake it off until she did something to change the narrative. Just like when she increased her intelligence.

***

System Update

Karenia Zari

Special Skill Activated: Frenzy; Beast-types enjoy limited period of a power boost as much as five times their original strength and speed. Active time is replenished once a month.

Active Time: One minute

***

“Let me at them,” Karenia said with a mischievous grin. She took a leaping stance, her eyes blazing with bloodlust. Claws sprung out of her hands and feet and her eyes were that of a feline. Blue, with black lines spreading from her dark vertical pupils. Her opponents watched in confusion, not knowing whether to be scared of her bravery or humoured by her foolishness. What can one Riser do against fifteen? They were soon to find out.

“Go,” Kiro said. In an instant, she vanished. And in the next, one man’s head was off. And another’s. And another’s. It was like simultaneous fireworks being shot off, or rockets. Only this time, it was heads. Karenia leaped through great distances in less than a second, taking out the head of whoever she passed by.

Victor was petrified at the sight. And, so were his opponents. Rightfully so. They couldn’t read Karenia’s movements at all. The random nature of her attacks also didn’t help matters. No one could tell who was next. But Victor had other reasons to be shocked. His friend, a girl he had known since they were kids was killing people like it was fun. And his other friend, a guy he had also known since his childhood thought nothing of it. And even the teams that were after him. Everyone deemed it normal. This wasn’t a video game, it was real life, as hard as it was to accept. Was he the only one that still retained his humanity since the start of the apocalypse? It didn’t take long before he found himself throwing up.

Kiro sympathised with him. Karenia was lucky. Her origin made it easier for her to accept it all. And with his experience, none of this was new to him. As for Victor, his origin had no effect on his personality. There was only so much that Kiro could shield him from. It was only a matter of time before the full experiences of his surroundings hit him squarely. And they hit hard.

“Karenia! That’s enough,” Kiro beckoned on her. She glanced back at Kiro. It was clear she wanted to continue. Half of their enemies were already dead. And it was barely ten seconds. “Power down. We have more serious enemies ahead,” he said in a bit to persuade her. Reluctantly, she withdrew and she was back to normal. She walked towards Victor to console him, but he shrieked in fear.

System Update

Karenia Zari

Special Skill Deactivated: Frenzy

Active Time: Fifty seconds

***

“Stop being such a wuss. We both knew this was bound to happen. This is our reality now,” she said. But that didn’t help calm him down however. In fact, at that time it was unlikely that anything could calm him down.

“Do you still want him? You can’t even handle one of our members and you dare to challenge my team. Leave now while we are feeling chivalrous. I assure you that you will not get such an opportunity again,” Kiro declared.

“Know your place lowlife. You may have gotten lucky on the train but don’t for one think you can get out of this,” a lady threatened. She looked at Kiro with contempt. Whatever her ability was, she was extremely confident in it.

Kiro was unfazed. Whatever they threw at them, he was sure they could handle it. The fact that he couldn’t remember her either meant that she didn’t make it very far or she turned out to be someone unimportant. And that fact alone reassured him. But it also meant that he had no idea of what her ability was. And for that reason, he was cautious. “Go on then. Show us,” Kiro dared her.

“Fine. Entertain me while you can,” she gloated.

***

System Update

Lea Plone

Skill move: Cherry Blossom; A Cherry Blossom tree is summoned and its leaves scatter causing an illusionary effect.

***

A giant Cherry Blossom tree appeared beside Lea, the lady that had challenged Kiro. She looked to be in her mid-thirties. The flowers from the tree burst forward and quickly surrounded the entire area. A beautiful sight it was. So beautiful that they were all lost in its beauty. Even her team mates were caught in the illusion. She walked majestically like a predator whose prey had been caught and there was no way it could wriggle free.

“Beast types have good senses, making them especially susceptible to illusions. And you all are still far too inexperienced to deal with me,” she proclaimed. She was face to face with Kiro, who like the others wore a smile in awe of the sight before him.

“Sponsors do come in handy, don’t they?” Kiro said, startling Lea. The illusion had no effect on him. “He’s very right. But I wouldn’t blame his oversight. After all, he probably has never seen a phantom type. You see, illusions have no effects on us. So, I’ll say this one more time, leave now while I’m still feeling chivalrous. Or your grave will sit next to that Cherry Blossom tree of yours,” Kiro threatened with all seriousness.