Chapter 1 - Chase

Universal Year 7651 - Day 565

Location: Planet Elvurus (Sentinel Space Force controlled Planet),

Somewhere in the outskirts of the 3rd District

The Forest near the Elmcroft hill range was quiet and peaceful after the massive bloodshed that occurred here 3 years ago. Most of the species here were pushed to extinction due to the heavy bombardment in the war. One of those species which almost went extinct is Iagunth, a 6-legged carnivore with no eyes and no ears. Its body is covered in rock-like skin which allows it to camouflage itself near the foot of the hills and wait for its prey. However, the continuous flow of poachers in the jungle is not improving its state as an extinct being.

Ezerth had just entered the forest for his daily haul of animals. After walking for some time, he sat down beside a tree.

"Ahhh" he sighed "This is gonna be hard. I didn't even find a Smeryn ye…." Just as he was trying to lay down, Ezerth felt the presence of a familiar aura. He looked in the direction of the source of the aura and saw some strange figures running towards the foot of the mountain up ahead.

Taking his blaster, Ezerth started following them carefully. He was one of the top hunters in the 3rd District, his footsteps couldn't be heard even if someone was to strain their ears all they could. Slowly and carefully he caught up with the strange figures, but he couldn't see who they were because of the darkness. He did deduce one thing though - in the front, two people were running away from their pursuers behind them. The pursuers just kept on increasing in numbers every time he checked. Knowing this forest like the palm of his hand, Ezerth knew that there was a clearing about 150 meters up ahead. He increased his speed in hopes of getting there first, hiding and seeing what this was about.

Reaching the clearing before the strangers was impossible seeing the speed that they maintained. But there was a factor because of which Ezerth was considered as one of the best Hunters in the 3rd District - his mutated powers, which allowed him to maintain speeds that an average person couldn't fathom. And while his speed would be buffed extraordinarily, he could still be perfectly silent. Another skill that he cultivated from his mutational powers which he had perfected by training in this very forest over the years. All these powers that he cultivated had come from his days fighting in the war.

For keeping up with the attacks that the Vanguard was throwing at them, the Sentinels had created another fearful power. That was how they were able to fend off attacks from multiple galaxies until the non-aggression pact. This time the newfound power was not to be wielded by huge Warships but the individuals fighting in the war themselves. A power that was cultivated by an individual's attributes and nature - Genetic Mutation that caused sudden evolution that granted abilities that were unheard of. The research was titled Project SpearHead but there was a name by which people addressed the newly evolved soldiers, Indominus.

Ezerth was 17 when he became a soldier for the Sentinel Space Force in the initial stage of the war. Ezerth was way too young and inexperienced but he still survived the battles thanks to his extraordinary instincts. He was one of the exceptional people selected to be granted this power or more likely used for trying this newly developed technology. While some died from the procedure, Ezerth survived. It was painful but he survived anyway. Thus, he and 45 others who survived were the 1st generations of the Indominus. This was the cause of his possession of such abilities.

Ezerth dashed through the shadows in an attempt to reach the clearing first. The sound of blasters being fired was now fading away behind him as he approached the clearing. The rain started pouring as he hid in a corner.

Suppressing his presence as much as he could in the fierce rain that now poured, Ezerth waited. The familiar aura that he sensed while resting was now reaching the clearing. Two of those figures soon entered the clearing. "The one in the front is undoubtedly a female," he thought "the one behind her is a man... Huh!!! Could it be ….. Keon!!!" At that moment Ezerth saw a person emerge quickly from the shadows and point a blaster at Keon.

In a fraction of a second, Ezerth put his blaster in its holder and took out his hunting rifle. His rifle fired a bullet rather than an unusual energy blast. The bullet found its target easily, such as Ezerth's marksmanship. He came out of the shadows and went towards Keon.

"Ho, I didn't expect you to be here, Ezerth. You should've told me that you were on Elvurus," said Keon, panting heavily.

"Ahh, so it is you, Keon. And how dare you say that to me, you jackass. I did tell you while leaving the Indominus legion that I'd be here." said Ezerth. He looked at the woman and recognized her, "Hey, Cecilia. Tell me, what's going on here?"

The woman, Cecilia, was holding an infant about 9 months of age. "Ezerth, it's them. It is as we thought. We gotta get out of here. I can't use my skill because I'm holding Marc."

"Get back, I sense hostiles everywhere," said Ezerth and soon enough they were surrounded by assassins. They were geared to the teeth, maybe realizing that they'd have to go all out.

"Ezerth, the Valiant is parked beside a cave in that direction." said Keon pointing in the direction opposite to where they came from "Cover my back while I clear a way to the cave."

Ezerth nodded and took out two blasters. They were now outnumbered. The number of hostiles grew every second as new guys emerged from the shadows. It seemed that they would be massacred now. But the three of them weren't normal, they were Indomini.

Keon charged ahead with no weapons. The men up ahead let their guards down, underestimating the power that Keon's bare fists held. One of the assassins fired his blaster at Keon. He took the energy blast head-on but it did no damage. It was defended by the red aura that now completely covered Keon. A punch came out of the blue for the assassin that was standing in front of Keon. His fist met the man's stomach. It seemed like a normal punch until the man's stomach exploded leaving nothing behind. While the other assassins were scared and immobilized from the shock of this scene, Keon concentrated more aura into his fist, smoothly changed his stance, and instantly killed 4 more men in front of him with the same but more intense move he displayed earlier.

The assassins at the other side, where Ezerth was fighting, were shocked seeing Keon's moves, too. He dashed towards the squad of assassins in front of him. The assassins got ready to fight Ezerth by taking out energized swords. As Ezerth reached them, one of the assassins slashed at Ezerth's chest but it didn't connect, he wasn't there. A terrifyingly sinister voice came from the assassin's back "Weak.".

That voice was the last thing he heard and at the next second the assassin's throat was slit by Ezerth's dagger. The assassin staggered, miserably trying to breathe but he couldn't and fell to his knees. He desperately tried to stand and fell. Lying on the ground he saw others of his squad being cut open. This wasn't a fight, it was a massacre.

Keon, Cecilia, and Ezerth slowly advanced, killing everyone in their way. Keon, in the front guard, took some hits due to the assassin's huge numbers. He had lost count of how many he killed. An energy blast came in from nowhere and hit Keon perfectly in the spot where his aura was thin on his right shoulder. Concentrating a huge ratio of his aura on his fists had left other areas with less defense. Keon kept going on. His cells could discharge energy much like energy blasters.

Seeing the enemy numbers increasing, he shouted "Stay back Cecilia, Ezerth." and shot the energy from the aura concentrated on his fists. The energy discharge hit the whole enemy lines and exploded. Many of them were wiped off completely, some had their arms and legs blown off. Nearly 30 of them, cleared in an instant. It did take a huge toll on Keon though. His aura was thinner now, open to energy blasts. Staggering, Keon struggled a bit to regain control. Seeing an opportunity to attack, an assassin darted towards Keon. But before he could even reach, Cecilia stepped in and cut him up with her sword. She took care of a whole squad while holding her child to give Keon a chance to recover.

Keon recovered and got back to the frontlines. They finally reached the Valiant after leaving heaps of bodies or whatever remained of their enemies.

"Cecilia, get inside and replace the engine's core. Hurry. Ezerth, hold the entrance of the Valiant. Don't let anyone in, whatever it takes. Protect my son." saying this Keon put up a barrier with the aura containing energy.

Cecilia did as she was told. Outside, Keon's barrier held up for just 2 mins because of the huge discharge he let out earlier. Swords, energy blasts, daggers, everything came at him at the second when the barrier opened. Ezerth gave Keon cover while he could but assassins soon flocked to the entrance. Keon fought on and on, receiving as well as dealing monstrous damage. His stamina soon gave out and the endless barrage of enemy attacks hit him. He fell and an assassin came at him with a sword but he was killed in an instant by Cecilia who came out of The Valiant.

"It's done. Get on. I'll cover you guys. Get out of here." shouted Cecilia. Keon got up, struggling "Don't be absurd. All of us are getting out of here alive."

"That's not possible and you know it. Someone needs to cover the Valiant while taking off. You guys are in no shape to fight anymore. Get on that damn ship."

Keon realized that she was right. He struggled towards the entrance unwillingly while Cecilia was covering him. Ezerth and Keon got on the ship and started taking off.

"Will she be all right?" asked Ezerth

"I don't know. Her powers make her lose control of herself while raising attack and defense explosively," said Keon with tears running down his face. He was bleeding profusely. Multiple stabs and burns had now immobilized him.

The Valiant took off. Ezerth looked towards Cecilia. She used her skill and was like a monster now. Killing multiple hostiles in no time at all. She was certainly taking damage too but it did not affect her attack at all. She kept on fighting, blood all over her, and most of it wasn't hers. It was a gruesome sight.

Ezerth and Keon made a quick escape with Keon's son. Engaging the warp drive, Ezerth set it to Nihtel which was a Sentinel Outpost in the war hoping that they won't be followed there.