The Dark Before The Light

"Interesting. So they want to become strong, but they're not fit for it. There was a reason they weren't given abilities in the first place. Everyone has a place in this world, and it's high time people stop thinking they are beyond their limits," Lucian mused, a cold conviction in his eyes.

'The weak should understand that they are weak, the animals should know they are animals, and the strong should guide as they have the responsibility to do so,' Lucian thought.

"But we should administer justice for those that suffered," Barachiel suggested, a slight edge to his voice.

"We will. There's no need to do much about those people obsessed with drugs. I will find a way for them to be useful. Let's focus on fixing everything little by little, then we will handle... her. She is the last of my priorities at the moment. I'm more focused on Inez coming back with Kiirion," Lucian stated.

"Does her resemblance not bother you?" Barachiel asked, his jaw clenching almost imperceptibly.

"It does, but lookalikes exist. We need to rebuild our manpower to prevent such unfortunate circumstances from happening again," Lucian replied, his gaze unwavering.

"What about the Slitherwing?" Barachiel asked, his voice cutting through Lucian's musings.

"I'm not that worried. Sure, they could try to raise it, but it's a beast. An intelligent one," Lucian countered, a dismissive wave of his hand. "It won't stay under the leash of its master forever. They won't bow down to a mere human once they're old enough to understand prey. I'm not sure we can handle it ourselves unless we use something to forcefully tame it." He smirked. "I'm not worried. They'd be doing me a favour by raising it. Hopefully, they won't die before I get my hands on it. Thank you for your update, you are dismissed."

"Yes... sir." Barachiel bowed his head slightly, a subtle grimace flashing across his features before he turned and left the office.

'I'll just give those drugged folks to the berserk beast-men; they need toys anyway,' Lucian thought, walking towards the exit of his office. He stopped abruptly, a faint shuffling sound reaching his ears from his desk. He looked over his shoulder, then walked back and bent down, his gaze falling upon a skinny, legless man.

"Help... I... need your help, Lucian..." The man croaked, painfully crawling out from beneath the desk. Lucian frowned in disgust, standing upright and stepping away from the pathetic figure.

"Who are you? How did you enter?" Lucian demanded, his voice laced with cold annoyance.

The man slowly raised his head. "It's me... Elric..."

"Oh? The traitor?" Lucian's eyes softened instantly, though not with sympathy, but with a chilling, predatory amusement.

"No, I didn't betray you. They tricked... me! You have to help me get revenge, Lucian! Please!" Elric crawled to Lucian's feet, desperately tugging at the hem of his pants.

"What value has your existence ever given me, that I would waste my time and energy to help you after you brought so much damage?" Lucian asked, his voice a silken veneer over chilling disdain.

'Seeing him beg, elevates my mood quite a bit. This is where someone like you should be,' Lucian thought, a slow, cruel smile gracing his lips.

"Vincent is working for them! Acacia can turn herself into a different individual; she could be here right now, and we wouldn't know!" Elric blurted out, desperation lacing his voice.

"Vincent? Seeing as I don't remember him, he's unimportant to me. And I'm aware of that ability. The woman you brought in was her, wasn't it?" Lucian countered, his gaze piercing. Elric averted his eyes.

'Could she be using my sister's face to torment me? An enemy from the past or present?' Lucian thought, his gaze drifting to Elric's missing legs. 'I guess they abandoned him as well... I don't like leftovers.'

"Please, I will do anything! I was used and tricked—"

"Do you know that I hate incompetent individuals? The fact that you were used means that you are stupid. And this is your second mistake already." Lucian crouched down to Elric's level, his voice a low, dangerous purr. "The first was delaying information for personal interest during your first mission. The second was bringing an enemy and causing so many deaths and damages. You had a second chance, but now, you are worthless unless you give me any information that is remotely useful in ten seconds."

"I... they were talking about something... I couldn't hear it properly," Elric stuttered, tears welling in his eyes.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven..." Lucian began to count, his voice slow and deliberate, each number a hammer blow.

"They built a wall! And something about gods! I was stuck in a room, and their voices were unclear... please..." Elric begged, tears streaming down his face, his voice cracking with agony.

"Six, five, four..." Lucian continued, unwavering.

"Please... I don't have anywhere else to go. I couldn't get any information. I was wrong, I should've tried... should've been better," Elric whimpered, staring up at him with desperate, pleading eyes.

"Three, two, one..." Lucian tapped Elric's forehead. A trickle of water seeped from the man's skin, and Lucian stood, drawing the water from his body. Elric gasped, his skin sinking, his face growing horrifically more gaunt. Lucian continued to pull until a visible bubble of water detached from Elric's shrunken form. Instantly, Elric dropped lifelessly to the ground. Lucian then dropped his hand, and the extracted water splashed onto Elric's withered corpse.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Lucian raised his wrist to his face and tapped on the wristwatch. "There's a bug in my room, clean it up." He ended the message and walked out of his office.

Acacia POV

A week later, the Apex Conquerors and the Mimickers stood outside the towering wall. Acacia gazed up at the shimmering barrier, then turned her attention to the small group gathered.

"I'm very happy that you decided to follow," Fafea said, pulling Acacia from her thoughts.

"I just want to see this 'pit' you keep mentioning," Acacia replied, her tone flat.

"And Miss Bella, won't you follow your lover?" Fafea then turned to Bella, who stiffened noticeably.

"What's the matter, Lucia? Don't you want to follow me?" Edwin asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

"How... could I? I'm just a simple lady. I don't think I would fit in your lifestyle... Kanar," Bella stammered, averting her gaze.

"Are you calling each other by your middle names? I didn't think... your relationship was that deep," Fafea said in awe, her eyes wide.

"It's just a middle name?" Acacia raised a brow, sensing something amiss.

"It's a Lalan custom," Fafea said, a hint of sympathy in her voice. "You know that you might not meet him again..."

"...I will follow. Tosic and Jahir will take over with Barcello, and I've reported everything about the bionic leg. So far, I haven't felt different or weak. It's also good to test it out for a short period and... I'm also curious about the place," Bella murmured, her gaze distant. Fafea clapped her hands excitedly.

"Don't worry, we're already working towards that. When you come back, tell us everything that happened with your leg, its durability and such," Jahir said. Maximus grunted in agreement.

"Alright, birdies. It's your turn!" Kel yelled, and Vincent nodded in response, transforming into a burst of tearing clothes and growing green feathers. He unfurled immense wings, just as a small voice rang out.

"Senior! You are leaving again!?" Poppy cried, running towards them with Henry close behind. She stopped abruptly in front of Acacia. "And Mister as well! When will you come back?"

"Soon. You might have grown bigger by then," Acacia replied gently, and Poppy's ears flattened in disappointment.

"That sounds too long," Poppy pouted. Acacia ruffled her hair.

"I will be back before you know it," Acacia promised.

"I will definitely be taller when you come back!" Henry declared, puffing out his chest.

"As if. Your short height suits that short fuse of yours," Edwin commented, earning a fierce scowl from Henry.

"Poppy..." Jia called out softly. Poppy glanced at her, then quickly turned away.

"Come back safely! We will be waiting for you!" Poppy shouted, her voice echoing as she ran back inside.

"Stop running!" Henry called out, chasing after her.

"Kids... the joy of the world," Kel smiled, then added, "Also confusing entities."

Acacia glanced at Jia, who had her gaze fixed on the ground. Then, the Mimickers began to transform into their true forms. Their clothes tore away as they grew, covered in feathers, their naked chests disturbingly displaying faces. They flapped their wings repeatedly before settling, ready for flight.

"Here's a white crystal for each of you. It will allow the monsters to pass through," Jahir said, handing one to Edwin, Acacia, Fafea, and Bella.

Acacia gripped the crystal tightly as one of the colossal birds, she figured it was Vincent, gestured with its head towards its back. She walked towards the creature, then leapt up, settling firmly onto its back and gripping its feathers. Bella and Edwin climbed onto the immense wings of another Mimicker, settling on its back, while Fafea took a perch on the last adult. The young Mimickers simply huddled close to the adults, preparing for the journey.

"Be careful! Don't forget our stuff!" Kel yelled, his voice barely audible as the colossal birds began to ascend.

"Don't overdo your abilities! You're strong, but I don't want to meet a burnt face when I get back. Otherwise, I will kick your ass!" Acacia yelled back down, seeing Kel grinning from ear to ear. Maximus and Jahir waved as they flew higher and higher. A small ripple formed as they passed through the barrier, which instantly closed behind them. The birds soared further and further away, the figures of their family shrinking with each passing moment.

"It's so high!" Bella exclaimed, clinging tightly to Edwin's back.

"Don't do anything stupid or look down and freak out. If you fall, that's the end," Edwin warned, his voice strained against the rushing wind.

"Be nicer! You'll send your lover away with that attitude!" Fafea yelled.

"Oh, don't worry, the only good thing is his face. Otherwise, I wouldn't spare him a glance," Bella shot back, her tone playful.

"The things I do..." Edwin grumbled under his breath.

"The world must look tiny to you! Since you fly all the time!" Bella shouted to Acacia.

"Kinda, I don't usually fly this high!" Acacia yelled back, her hair whipping around her face. She lowered her body, using the bird's head as a shield. She glanced at the world below, which indeed looked incredibly tiny.

They continued their journey through the air, Acacia's eyes squinting against the speed. The Mimickers were astonishingly fast. After only a few hours, she could discern the edge of Central Encer, a distance that would typically take days to traverse on foot, or a few hours by car, or, in their current case, on the back of a monstrous bird.

Acacia's eyes sparkled at the new scenery, futilely trying to spot something amidst the blur of speed. "How long does this take by air?" she yelled, her voice barely cutting through the wind.

"Since Lalan is one of Encer's neighbours, it should take at least seven hours at this speed! If it were by plane, maybe five hours! I'm not exactly sure of the specifics but it is a good guess." Edwin shouted back, struggling against the harsh breeze.

"Lalan is really beautiful! You won't regret it!" Fafea yelled, her enthusiasm undimmed by the journey.

Acacia nodded and turned her focus to the journey ahead. Flying through the vast sky, she watched other bird herds pass them by, each on their own distant trajectory. As evening approached, they reached a massive body of water.

"I don't remember this route!" Fafea yelled, her voice strained against the wind.

"It's a shortcut! Since we had travelled on land before, our journey was longer, especially with us moving aimlessly. You should study your maps!" Edwin shouted back, his voice cutting through the rush of air.

"He's not wrong. We'll get there faster this way," Vincent suddenly chimed in, his voice deep even in bird form.

"Okay," Acacia murmured, her gaze fixed on the seemingly endless ocean below. Her heart quickened at the sight.

'Beautiful...' Acacia thought, mesmerized by the vast expanse.

As they continued across the ocean for what felt like hours, Acacia stared at the deceptively still water until her eyes caught a dark, shifting shadow beneath the surface. She furrowed her brows, a sense of unease creeping in, when a loud, guttural roar ripped through the calm, rippling from the depths of the ocean.

"Fly faster! Unless you want to be blown away!" Edwin said in a tense voice, the Mimickers surging forward with frantic speed. The water below began to sink rapidly before abruptly rising, forming a monstrous maw. A colossal mouth stretched open, the creature's immense form rising to the surface.

"Spread!" Acacia yelled, gripping her bird's feathers as they were positioned directly above the gaping abyss.

They scattered in different directions instantly as the mouth snapped shut with terrifying force. Behemoth tightened around her neck. The sheer shockwave of the creature's movement violently tumbled their birds, sending them spinning wildly as they fought to control their flight. In the chaos, the crystal in Acacia's hand slipped, falling away as she desperately tightened her grip on the feathers. It took a few agonizing seconds before they wrestled back control, finally stabilizing themselves in the air.