Nathaniel

The director hung up the phone and closed the door to his office. "Marley, come here," he called. A striking woman with long blonde hair and a curvy figure entered. "Yes, darling," she replied in a sultry tone, sitting down at his desk. The director, with a serious expression, said, "Call the Delta unit immediately. There's an important mission."

Ten minutes later, five people entered; three men and two women. The man in the lead stepped forward and said, "Hello, sir. We heard about the emergency. Can we know what it is?" The slight arrogance in his voice didn't catch the director's attention; after all, these were members of a special unit.

The director, intensifying the seriousness on his face, said, "There is an individual with a DNA ratio of around 60. It's a dangerous situation. He doesn't work for any special family or organization; he's a rogue Vex user. Capture him and try to persuade him. If he resists, eliminate him without creating a threat."

The members of the team left the office immediately with their orders.

Emilia, thoughtfully, said, "So it's someone with a 60 ratio… It's been a long time since we've had a mission with such a high ratio. Most have always been low."

Sebastian scratched his head, saying, "How can someone with such a high ratio not be part of a family or organization? I don't understand."

Nathaniel interjected with a gentle smile, "Most likely, he's someone who has just awakened. That's why organizations haven't discovered him."

Isabella, in a stern tone, said, "Cut the chatter and focus on your work."

Alexander, noticing Isabella's expression, added, "Isabella is right; let's focus on the job."

Isabella shot a cold look at Alexander.

Alexander tried to ease the situation, saying, "I'm sorry; don't be angry. We've done so many missions together; we must have grown a little closer."

Nathaniel interrupted their conversation, "Come on, we're teammates; let's not be so harsh on each other."

Emilia nodded, "Nathaniel is right; let's not break each other."

Sebastian stared intently, "Alright, let's move out. We need to act before any losses occur," he said.

Meanwhile, Aren, feeling hungry, went to the market. As he entered, the female cashier noticed him and smiled, "Welcome."

Aren nodded and headed to the meat section, examining different types of meat. The spider in his bag was curiously looking out. Aren whispered to it, "Don't worry; we'll eat once we get out."

As he headed to the checkout with his purchases, the cashier, after taking his money, shyly asked, "Could I have your number, please?"

Aren replied, "No," and exited the market. The cashier looked at his departure in surprise.

As Aren walked toward the nearby forest on the outskirts of the city, he fell into thought. "Those two will probably come with support," he mused.

Upon reaching the forest, he immediately opened the meat and started eating. The spider in his bag stared at him intently. Noticing its gaze, Aren expressionlessly said, "Here, you eat too." The spider immediately jumped onto the meat and began to eat slowly, making crunching sounds.

Aren savored the taste of the raw meat. This moment in the forest became a relaxing break for him.

At that moment, the Delta Unit was examining Aren's apartment.

Sebastian, glancing around, murmured, "Everyone living here is dead." There was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Alexander, carefully observing the surroundings, turned to the team. "Nathaniel, use your abilities to track the fleeing person."

Nathaniel nodded with a calm smile. "Understood, leader," he said, ready to take action.

After tracking, the Delta Unit arrived at the market. Alexander approached the cashier and asked calmly, "Hello, ma'am, has a strange person come here?"

The cashier paused briefly before answering, "No, sir, I haven't encountered anyone strange. What kind of person are you looking for?"

Emilia stepped forward, "A tall, black-haired guy."

After thinking for a moment, the cashier's eyes lit up. "Ah, yes! That handsome guy came here. He bought meat."

Sebastian raised his eyebrows, "Do you remember which way he went?"

The cashier thought for a short while, then said decisively, "I think he went toward the forest."

The Delta team set off toward the forest and arrived at the entrance about 20 minutes later. Alexander quickly scanned the surroundings and turned to his team to outline the plan:

"We'll split into three teams here. I'll search the middle section alone. Emilia and Nathaniel, you check the left side. Isabella and Sebastian, you check the right side. Let's finish this quickly. After the mission, the meals are on me."

With Alexander's orders, the team quickly separated and began searching for their target in the dark forest.

Aren was currently sitting at the top of a tree. The footsteps and conversations coming from below caught his attention. The voices belonged to Emilia and Nathaniel.

"Nathaniel, what do you like?" Emilia asked in a curious tone.

Nathaniel, after listening to Emilia's question, spoke with a gentle smile, his voice soft yet impactful. "Art gives me deep meaning. Painting is a way to express the inner journey of a soul. Each brushstroke tells a story."

He paused for a moment, staring off into the distance, lost in thought. "Music is similar… Every note carries an emotion, and these emotions can become a force that brings people together. Therefore, listening to music is not just a pleasure for me; it's also a journey of discovery."

Finally, he added, "And books… They are the doors to knowledge. Exploring different thoughts and expanding my mental horizon is an essential part of my life. For understanding oneself is the first step in understanding the world."

Emilia wasn't expecting Nathaniel to be so knowledgeable and couldn't hide her surprise as she listened to him. Just as she was about to speak, Aren's voice suddenly filled the air. "I see you've found me. Are you here to kill me this time?"

Aren jumped down from the tree and looked carefully at the two. Emilia said to Aren, "If you cooperate with us, everything will be fine." Aren looked at her and replied sternly, "I've heard these words from previous people. I don't care anymore. You're all my prey."

Aren's eyes darkened, and his muscles tensed. Nathaniel sensed this and looked at him calmly.

As Nathaniel watched the fear emerge in Emilia's eyes, a mysterious smile appeared on his face. When he inserted his fingers into Emilia's mouth, her skin suddenly turned green, and a thick tension filled the air.

"Nathaniel, what are you doing?" Emilia exclaimed in panic as she tried to pull away. A moment of terror flashed in her eyes. Her heart began to race. "Let me go! Please!"

However, Nathaniel, indifferent to her desperation, deepened his grip. Emilia felt pressure in her throat; her breath was restricted. Blood began to gush from her eyes, and she let out a pained scream: "Aghhhhhhhhhh!"

As her body trembled, she weakly collapsed to the ground. With one last hope, she looked at Nathaniel, but betrayal was etched on his face. "Save me!" she whispered, but her voice faded into silence.

Her eyes slowly closed as the world was enveloped in darkness. With her last breath, Nathaniel watched her; the moment of her suffering echoed in his mind.

Nathaniel coolly observed Emilia's fall, slightly closing his eyes.