A city pulsed with restless energy under the cover of night.
Blinding neon lights flickered and flashed, painting the streets in a kaleidoscope of colors and charging the air with an electric buzz. Cars sped by in a blur, their headlights slicing through the darkness with sharp beams. Passersby moved like nameless shadows, their faces flashing a mix of excitement and exhaustion. The smell of fast food and street vendors mingled with the warm asphalt and the heady perfume of the night. Cafes and bars overflowed with life—lively chatter blending with the clink of glasses. Towering skyscrapers loomed proudly against the night sky, silent witnesses to a city that never slept.
In the midst of this urban chaos, a young woman walked down a street, her face lit by the phone pressed to her ear. She chatted with a friend, soaking in the nocturnal vibe around her.
"You'll never guess who's trying to win me back," she said, her tone a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Yep, him. Gotta admit, he's got some nerve, even after all this time."
She recounted her string of failed job interviews with a self-deprecating laugh.
"It's unreal, I swear. How does this kind of nonsense even happen? I feel like bad luck's glued to me no matter what I do."
Her footsteps echoed on the pavement, punctuating her phone conversation. She kept talking with passion, glancing at the anonymous faces brushing past her.
She let out a sigh—part sadness, part resignation—as she opened up about her messy history with her ex. "It's weird, you know. It's like I still can't fully let go of him. Like he's still got a piece of me, no matter how much time's passed. It's confusing and upsetting all at once."
In the distance, a man's silhouette caught her eye.
She barely noticed him, too wrapped up in her lively chat. Still, her gaze lingered on him for a split second, almost instinctively. She kept walking, trading small talk with her friend without a second thought.
Then, piercing screams cut through the surrounding noise, snapping her to attention.
Her heart raced, worry creeping into her voice as she told her friend to hold on. A wave of dread washed over her as she veered off the main street toward the unsettling sounds. Her body froze when she rounded the corner into a narrow alley.
Before her stunned eyes lay the man who'd caught her glance earlier, sprawled on the ground—his face pale, eyes wide with horror. Towering over him was a monstrous creature, humanoid but with scaly skin and razor-sharp claws, tearing into his flesh with savage hunger.
The gruesome scene paralyzed her. Her breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening with fear. Her eyes darted around, and to her horror, she saw more of these sinister creatures emerging from the shadows—starving and massive.
A low, terrifying thud shattered the silence.
Her phone slipped from her hand, stunned by the grisly sight, leaving her friend calling her name in confusion through the device. Her gaze stayed locked on the approaching creatures.
Without thinking, she turned and ran, survival instinct kicking in. She bolted through dark alleys, heart pounding, the monsters' eerie roars chasing her. She aimed for a busier street, hoping to find safety in the crowd.
The terrified faces of the city's residents mirrored her own panic, everyone scrambling for a way out of this nightmare.
Her head buzzed with frantic thoughts as she prayed this was just a waking dream. But the grim reality forced her to keep running, joining the terrified souls fighting to escape this devastating threat.
The monstrous humanoids seemed to pour from every corner, flooding the streets like a ravenous tide. Their sharp claws ripped through everything, leaving deep gashes in the pavement.
Storefronts shattered, objects toppled, and people were knocked down and trampled in the chaos. Screams of pain and terror filled the air, adding a jarring note to the predators' gruesome symphony. The creatures moved with inhuman agility, darting between buildings and scaling walls in a terrifying dance.
The city streets looked like an apocalyptic battlefield—strewn with debris, awash in blood and agony.
Police forces arrived, struggling to restore some order, but they were quickly overwhelmed by the relentless threat. Their weapons barely scratched the monsters' scales.
The young woman, a helpless witness to the growing horror, kept up her desperate escape, dodging the main streets now crawling with ravenous beasts. One thought consumed her: survive. She raced through tight passages, leaping over wreckage, frantically searching for a safe spot to hide from this destructive wave.
Fear gripped her—her breaths ragged, her legs shaky. But she pressed on, driven by survival, desperate for shelter.
Sweat beaded on her forehead, mixing with silent tears. Her panting drowned out every other sound that might've guided her. She risked a glance back and saw a towering monster closing in fast.
Her exhausted body stumbled over a pile of debris, crashing hard onto the ruined ground. She struggled to get up, her limbs numb.
Suddenly, a scaly, monstrous hand clamped around her ankle. A scream of terror tore from her lips. She thrashed with desperate strength, but the creature's grip tightened, threatening to snap her bone.
She shut her eyes, bracing for whatever fate had in store. Terror devoured her reason, squeezing her heart with an icy grip. She felt the beast's rancid breath on her face, expecting its jagged fangs to sink into her flesh.
But against all odds, the unexpected happened. A deafening boom ripped through the air, loosening the monster's hold. A blinding flash erupted from its head, spraying chunks of skin and bone everywhere.
A stunned silence followed, broken only by her gasping breaths.
Her eyes cracked open, and she watched in disbelief as the monster's head exploded, splattering flesh and blood in all directions. The impact's roar echoed through the desolate streets.
She sat up slowly, staring at the man who'd appeared out of nowhere, dressed in a dark suit that blended seamlessly with the shadows.
He wiped the blood splattered on his suit with casual indifference before stepping toward her.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice steady.
She couldn't speak, torn between disbelief and relief. She tried to answer, but her throat was too tight. Words failed her.
With a smooth motion, Nero approached and offered his hand to help her up. His warm presence seemed to spark a flicker of courage through her chilled skin.
"Thank you," she finally managed, her shaky voice still laced with the remnants of her fear.
A faint smirk curved Nero's lips. "Just someone who stepped in at the right time," he replied with a calm that put her at ease. "You can't stay here. Take that path—it's safe."
As he spoke, he pointed toward a route through the ruined alleys.
Still rattled by the horror she'd endured, she looked at Nero with a mix of grateful awe and curiosity. Her gratitude was overwhelming, and she felt a burning need to know her savior's name. Her lips parted to ask, but a sudden crash cut her off.
Deep, menacing growls filled the air, shaking her to her core.
She looked up, horrified, as another pack of monsters closed in. Fear reignited her weary body, mingling with the gratitude she'd felt moments ago.
The situation looked hopeless, but Nero didn't flinch. With a graceful move, he stepped in front of her, a cold smile playing on his lips.
Then, Nero struck—crushing the monsters' heads with a devastating kick.
She stood rooted to the spot, unable to look away from the brutal display. It was both dazzling and terrifying.
So this is what a deviant's like?
When the last creature was down, Nero turned back to her, brushing blood off his boots with a careless flick. Without a word, he took off toward other parts of the city where more monsters lurked.
She stayed there, dazed but safe.
Guess I forgot to ask his name after all…